Ghosts of the Backlot is an examination of a specific period in history. The middle of the twentieth century saw massive changes in the entertainment industry, leaving so many creatives struggling to keep up.

These are their stories. These are snippets of the reality faced by so many in Hollywood during this time of transition. This is a look at the humanity hiding just beneath the shimmering surface.

****

“Pete, we’re cancelling the show.”

They hadn’t even bothered to send one of the studio executives to deliver the news. Peter had never seen this kid before.

He barely needed to shave.

They sent a—

fucking—

assistant.

“Give me a second here,” Peter said,

passing his faithful Appaloosa

Penny

to the trainers.

The kid they sent was barely twenty years old

and judging by his eyes, 

he was fucking terrified.

“Can you say that again?” Peter asked, praying he’d heard wrong.

“The show’s being cancelled”.

“And they sent a goddamn assistant to tell us?”

Peter asked, more out of shock than anger.

What did the last ten years mean?

Was all that work for nothing?

“I’m sorry, sir… I…” the baby-faced executive knew how it looked.

And he didn’t like it either. 

“Did they say why?” Peter asked.

He already knew the answer.

“No one’s watching westerns anymore.

Cowboys are dead.”