All of Taft’s a Stage--and Proud of It : Townsfolk Turn Out to Help Film Video for Anti-Poverty Fund-Raiser

A cadre of Hollywood heroes and several thousand residents of this small oil town lined Center Street Saturday and held hands in what was billed as a show of solidarity for America’s poor and hungry.

But the only hand Carolyn Smith wanted to hold belonged to Kenny Rogers, the handsome, silver-haired country singer who is a favorite among the farmers and oil men of the San Joaquin Valley’s west side.

When Smith spotted Rogers, she shrieked like a schoolgirl half her age. “I need some oxygen, call 911,” hollered Smith, a local paramedic. Seconds later, she bolted toward Rogers, who was talking with a group of celebrities, and grabbed his hand.

“I’ll never wash this hand again,” she said, mission accomplished.

And so Hollywood met Taft.

Not Entirely New

This was not the first time that the lights, cameras and titillating action of the film industry had touched Taft.

But when super-agent Ken Kragen and company, representing the fund-raising organization Hands Across America, descended on this town of 6,100 Saturday, about a third of the population turned out to get in on the act.

Kragen, manager of such rock stars as Rogers and Lionel Richie, was the mastermind of last year’s USA for Africa campaign, with its recording “We Are the World.” The song led to a multimillion- dollar outpouring for African famine victims. Now, Kragen has set his sights on delivering relief to America’s poor and hungry by attempting a coast-to-coast human chain over Memorial Day weekend.

Super Bowl Sunday

An estimated 6 to 10 million people will be required for the 4,152-mile line stretching from Los Angeles to New York, and at $10 a head for the privilege of participating, sponsors hope to raise up to $100 million.

To attract some of that help--and tap the pocketbooks of America--Kragen and award-winning video producer Bob Giraldi picked Taft to film a video that will be shown for the first time before next Sunday’s Super Bowl football game.

“It is the spark to light the fuse,” said Fred Drooz, the national director of Hands Across America. “We came to Taft because it is Middle America. America is not L.A. or New York. It’s 100 miles inland from the East and West coasts.”

More accurately, Taft is about 110 miles north of Los Angeles, and it’s been called a lot of things. Middle America is among the nicest.

“This town has been called everything from hick, tiny and backward--and a few things you can’t even print,” said Jerry Gibby, 40, who was born and raised here and is now the town’s historian.

Cultural Landmarks

“But when they say we’re middle class, it’s right. People here care about one another. And this town is movin’ up. We got a McDonald’s last year and this spring we’re gonna get the first four-way signal in town.”

Gibby was one of 1,200 locals issued special tickets to star in the three-minute video, which “pre-created” a small version of the line planned for May 25. In exchange for their time, they got T-shirts, a hot dog lunch and a chance to score an autograph or two.

At midday, ticket holders were ushered into the town’s lone movie theater, where they were given a copy of “Hands Across America,” an upbeat anthem about caring and sharing among Americans. Country singer Juice Newton then “walked” the group through the song. An hour later, the whole theater was singing and swaying to the words and music.

“Chilling, just chilling,” said Newton, wearing high-top tennis shoes, red tights and lots of glittery jewelry. “It’s gonna work. I just know it’s gonna work.”

After lunch, the crowd assembled along 4th and Center streets to line up for the filming.

Then the celebrities arrived--Cathy Lee Crosby, pop singer Michael McDonald, radio personality Casey Kasem, and others, more than 100 according to organizers, though few of the faces were as easy to identify as Kenny Rogers.

At the same time, Taft city crews, at Kragen’s behest, shoveled dirt on the street to give the town a grittier look. American flags hanging from every street lamp flapped in the breeze, and several dozen 12-foot speakers were placed along a six-block route for the video.

Shortly after 2 p.m. the music kicked in and the cameras started rolling.

“I came out here for the excitement. Nothing ever happens in Taft,” said Sandy Skiles, 25, a Taft housewife. “I never expected this. It is so moving.”

Les Causey said he came for a chance to be seen by a TV audience of an estimated 100 million next Sunday.

“My daughter called me from college and ordered me to get out here,” Causey said. “I decided we only get one chance at fame. This is it. Besides, I guess it’s for a good cause.”

Research for Film

The decision to try and duplicate the enormous success of the “We Are the World” video with one for Hands Across America was made two weeks ago. After scouting several locations, Taft was selected last Monday by Kragen and his crew.

Drooz said Taft was picked because it is close enough to Los Angeles to move equipment and celebrities there in a few hours. Besides, several full-length films, such as “Five Easy Pieces” and the yet-to-be-released “Best of Times,” have been filmed here successfully.

Early in the week the Taft City Council held a special session to approve the closing of streets and committing city resources to the project. The cost to Kragen? Next to nothing--a $500 business license and a few thousand dollars in overtime for local police and cleanup.

Taft’s Big Chance

“We agreed to it because millions of people are gonna see this,” said Assistant City Manager Wade McKinney. “Who knows. Maybe Taft will become a household word.”

Not if barber Dennis Kirschner can help it. He moved back to Taft several years ago from Downey, and would just as soon Taft was not discovered by the masses.

“I was born and raised here, but my folks moved to Southern California when I was 12,” said Kirschner as he leaned back in one of his chairs and lit a cigarette. “I never got used to the lines down there--at the market, the gas station and the bank. Everywhere there were lines. Here, you know everybody. It’s friendly and predictable.”

As for all the commotion outside his shop on Center Street, Kirschner said he wasn’t pleased. On most Saturdays, his two-chair shop is a beehive of gossip. But this day it was empty.

“If it gets any slower,” he said, “I’ll have to stop breathing. Besides, how can you compete with Kenny Rogers?”