Just a couple of interesting bits of info, maybe you already
know this, but Dean told us this the first time we were there. He's
been at that address since 1960! Dean also did work as a stuntman!
One of his stunts was to jump a short wheelbase dump truck across
an opening where a bridge had been removed! He made the jump & landed
with just inches to spare, but he pumped up his air adjustable
seat instead of softening it & when he landed he broke his back!
He couldn't raise his leg to
put it on the brake, so he had to lift it up with his hand &
sit his foot on the brake pedal, then he pushed on his knee
to push the brake pedal so he could stop. He flips a u-turn &
drives back to where the director is & the director wants to
start talking about stuff & Dean tells him that he needs to go
talk to his buddy who's helping him with the stunt about some things they
need to do. He drives to where his buddy is & tells him to get him
to the hospital ASAP! The had Dean lying out in a hallway for a long
time & Dean drags himself out to the reception room because he's
tired of waiting! Well, a doctor happens along about this time &
expedites Dean getting attention. Dean said all he could think of,
was how people get operated on for something minor & they
die! The doctor had told him they could operate or put him in traction!
So he manages to get up & get dressed & he goes to his shop &
hand forms an aluminum girdle, getting it as tight as he could stand
& he was able to get around pretty good...so....the next day
he goes back to work on the movie & he was able to finish shooting
it! But wait, there's more...Dean built his own traction device,
it was a pair of boots mounted on a rack so he could "strap
in" & hang upside down to stretch his spine! Is that amazing or
what? Anyway, I'll get some more interesting stories from him for you.