The Rockford Files - Episode: In Pursuit of Carol Thorne (1974) Seward Reservoir 1971 is Castaic Lake State Recreation Area, Thrifty / Kragen 842 S. Pacific, Guillermo's Beautique and Beauty Salon 522 West 9th Street in San Pedro, "Drive-Away Car Rental Systems" 828 S Grand in San Pedro, Peppy's Restaurant 584 West 9th St. San Pedro, Cigo's Restaurant 911 South Pacific Ave. San Pedro, The Evergreen Motel 12787 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles - Carol Thorne / Lynette Mettey, Sal Viscuso played the conventioneer, Lee Delano played the man following Carol Thorne, Sandy Ward (Born Sandy Brown) played Police Officer Boris Sausman, Robert Symonds played the dual role of Mr. Hoad and Miles Keeley, Irene Tedrow played Mrs Hoad (Dixie), Vince Howard played the gun drawing uniform cop, Horse Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. played himself, Bill Fletcher played Nate Spinella, Jim Antonio played Cliff Hoad

 

In the top image of this set you can see James Rockford (with suitcase and hat on) walking to the telephone booth. In the background is Thrifty Drug Store. Thrifty is now a Kragen store. The business is located at 842 S. Pacific Ave in San Pedro / Los Angeles, California.

 

UPDATE: 2016 - It is now an O'Reilly's Auto Part Store

 

 

 

 

Actress Lynette Mettey can be seen in these images visiting the Guillermo's Beautique and Beauty Salon. This business was once located at 522 West 9th Street in San Pedro / Los Angeles, California. The last image shows how this filming location appears as of today. In the first photo their is a little girl sitting in the back seat of a car that is traveling past this filming location. I wonder if she ever knew she was once on The Rockford Files? She has to be over 40 years old now.

 

 

 

 

 

In the above set of images actress Lynette Mettey played a recently released prisoner by the name of Carol Thorne. Here she is attempting to purchase or rent a car from "Drive-Away Car Rental Systems". This car lot is was located at 828 S Grand in San Pedro / Los Angeles, California. The last photo shows how this filming locations appears today.

 

 ABOVE PHOTOS: Inside Peppy's Restaurant which was once located at 584 West 9th St in San Pedro / Los Angeles California. It is now the J. Trani's Restorante. Its restaurant sign can be seen in the third photo up. In my upcoming trip to the Los Angeles area the J. Trani's Resorante is one of the places I will be visiting and having dinner at. I heard it is a fantastic place!

We need a little help with this restaurant/lounge. It was decorated with all horse racing photos, ribbons and trophies. Anybody know which restaurant this once was?

UPDATE: On 02/19/2016 I was able to talk with Laffit Pincay Jr today via phone. Mr Pincay called me after writing to him via U.S. Mail. Mr. Pincay believed this was an actual restaurant (not a studio set) but could not remember which one it was. We thank Mr. Pincay for responding to our letter and calling us.

On 03/08/2016 I received a returned letter via the U.S. Mail from Lynn Mettey in which she stated that this was a movie set on the Universal Studio Lot.

Mr. Pincay and Ms. Mettey are the only two surviving actors from this restaurant scene.

Since Lynn Mettey was more "sure" of her answer, I will say that this restaurant scene was filmed on the Universal Studio Lot.

I truly thank both actors for answering my letters.

Rocky walks through the parking lot of Cigo's Restaurant which was once located at 911 South Pacific Ave in San Pedro / Los Angeles California.

The very beautiful Lynette Mettey played a great role in this episode of The Rockford Files. The tough but beautiful female recently released prisoner. She truly made this episode work well.

 

ABOVE TWO PHOTOS: Seward Reservoir 1971 is Castaic Lake State Recreation Area

 

 

The motel in the above four images are from the scene where Jim Rockford finds Miles Keeley and Nate Spinella going through his motel room. Jim is able to flee and a "Rockford" car chase follows. This filming location and motel is located at 13055 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA.
UPDATE: One of the men (the one closest to the railing) Jim Rockford is walking with has been identified as actor Sal Viscuso, who was born in New York in 1948

The above three images are from another scene and were shot at a motel located at 12787 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA. The motel has "The Evergreen" painted on its entrance.

The car chasing Jim Rockford crashes into a street sign pole just off San Fernando Ave at El Dorado Ave as the street sign so states.

ABOVE PHOTO: Lee Delano played the man originally following Carol Thorne
Oddly he had a speaking role in this episode but his acting was unaccredited

ABOVE PHOTO: Sandy Ward (Born Sandy Brown) played Police Officer Boris Sausman. Ward died in 2005 at age 78. He starred in three episodes of the ROCKFORD FILES
The Rockford Files (TV Series) 
Peter Henshaw / The Sheriff / Det. Boris Sausman

- So Help Me God (1976) ... Peter Henshaw

- Chicken Little Is a Little Chicken (1975) ... The Sheriff

- In Pursuit of Carol Thorne (1974) ... Det. Boris Sausman

 

ABOVE PHOTOS: Robert Symonds played the dual role of Mr. Hoad and Miles Keeley - Symonds died at age 80 in 2004 & was a WWII era Veteran.

Irene Tedrow played Mrs Hoad (Dixie) and died in 1995 at age 87.

Tedrow had two appearances on the ROCKFORD FILES

The Rockford Files (TV Series) 
Mrs. Tooley / Mrs. Hoad / Dixie

- The House on Willis Avenue (1978) ... Mrs. Tooley

- In Pursuit of Carol Thorne (1974) ... Mrs. Hoad / Dixie

 

ABOVE PHOTO: Actor Vince Howard who is 78 years old in 2015 played the gun drawing uniform cop.

Howard had four appearances on the ROCKFORD FILES

The Rockford Files (TV Series) 
Billy Mayhue / Kleinschmidt / Police officer dealing with vending machines / ...

- The House on Willis Avenue (1978) ... Billy Mayhue

- The Trouble with Warren (1976) ... Kleinschmidt

- Chicken Little Is a Little Chicken (1975) ... Police officer dealing with vending machines (uncredited)

- In Pursuit of Carol Thorne (1974) ... Patrolman

 

ABOVE PHOTO: Horse Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. retired in April 2003 as horse racing's all-time winningest jockey until that time, with 9,530 victories.

Pincay played himself in this episode of the ROCKFORD FILES

 

ABOVE PHOTO: LEFT is Bill Fletcher (Born 1922 & is 93 years old in 2015) played Nate Spinella - The other actor pictured with him is unaccredited, if anybody knows his identity, please let us know.

Fletcher had two appearances on the ROCKFORD FILES

The Rockford Files (TV Series) 
Hitman / Nate Spinella

- The Gang at Don's Drive-In (1978) ... Hitman

- In Pursuit of Carol Thorne (1974) ... Nate Spinella

 ABOVE AND BELOW PHOTOS: Then and now.... is actor Jim Antonio who was born in 1931. Antonio played Carol Thorne's boyfriend Cliff Hoad

ABOVE PHOTO: I always wondered if these kids in this park car knew they were going to be in an episode of the ROCKFORD FILES or were they just parked there???

ABOVE IMAGE: Anybody know what make, model and year Cliff Hoad's car is???
A blog viewer named Christopher left the following comment:
The car is a 1955 Ford Country

 

The motel in the above four images are from the scene where Jim Rockford finds Miles Keeley and Nate Spinella going through his motel room. Jim is able to flee and a "Rockford" car chase follows. This filming location and motel is located at 13055 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA.

The above two images are from another scene and were shot at a motel located at 12787 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA. The motel has "The Evergreen" painted on its entrance.

The car chasing Jim Rockford crashes into a street sign pole just off San Fernando Ave at El Dorado Ave as the street sign so states.