Richard Boone wanted to bring a movie operation to Hawaii

The Western actor became a permanent resident of the island and wanted to create a tropical Hollywood.

On Now
See the First and Final Seconds of These Classic TV Westerns | Part 1
Up Next:

It's common for movies and television shows to be filmed in various areas. Some scenes need to be on location, and some are shot in a production studio. Hawaii has been used as a vacation setting in many scripts, but back in the 1960s, only a few episodes or film scenes were actually filmed there.

Richard Boone, the star of Have Gun - Will Travel, dreamed of bringing a full-scale movie operation to the island.

The actor had a lot of trouble convincing networks that it was possible, though. In an interview with The Record in 1964, Boone talked about the process of making his dream a reality.

"It's the hardest thing in the world to convince the networks that a television series can be made entirely in Hawaii," he began. What was his selling point to networks? A television series in color with a major star. That star was Richard Boone himself.

"Naturally, I'd have to be in it, so I can sell it to the networks. I don't mind. I spent a lot of years building up this name. I might as well cash in on it."

According to the article in the newspaper, the series would've been the start of a tropical version of Hollywood. Boone once met with contractors to talk about his proposed two-stage studio. He even had them inspect facilities at CBS Television's station center that served as prototypes.

The actor already had an outline for his plan. "After we get the series rolling, we'll go after feature production(s)," he added. "This year, there were seven features shot in Hawaii — four Americans and three Japanese. Our stages would be mighty attractive to producers."

Boone loved Hawaii so much that he became a permanent resident of the island. His wife and son adjusted to the move, even making friends in their new neighborhood.

With his skills, Boone persuaded some people to film their productions there, including the film Hawaii Five-O.

Watch Have Gun - Will Travel on MeTV!

Saturdays at 5 PM

*available in most MeTV markets
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Close

7 Comments

Runeshaper 20 months ago
I can see his Boone's point. I went to Maui on my honeymoon and it is gorgeous!
15inchBlackandWhite 20 months ago
Everything in Hawaii is more expensive than on the mainland. Any studio there would have had greatly inflated costs. As it is movie production has been fleeing Hollywood for lower-cost options. In the long run this might not have worked.
I was thinking the same thing.
LoveMETV22 20 months ago
Richard Boone was offered the role of Steve McGarrett, (on Hawaii Five -O), which he turned down. I can imagine him in that role. He obviously had a great love for Hawaii.
cperrynaples LoveMETV22 20 months ago
TRUE! They couldn't meet his terms so they went with Jack Lord! Bonus Question: What MeTV show did Lord turn down several years earlier?
MrsPhilHarris cperrynaples 20 months ago
Wasn’t it Capt. Kirk.
cperrynaples MrsPhilHarris 20 months ago
Yep, and I can't really see that, Shatner had it down perfectly!
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?