A LIFE WELL LIVED - - - In Memory

Have you ever really "known" something   - - but were really afraid to find out for sure - - - well, I am most guilty  - - last March I sent an e-mail to a friend of mine who I knew had been diagnosed with cancer inquiring as to how he was doing - - knowing it was difficult for him to answer, I waited (and hoped) I would hear back - - 8 days later, I received this E-mail - -"
Hi, Charlie!

Just spent six days in the hospital--some kind of infection related to the chemo. We have asked the doctors to discontinue the chemo since it seems to be causing more harm than good. My hand is very shaky and it's hard to type accurately. Perhaps in a few days, when I get all the hospital drugs flushed out of me, I can send you more. (I had to retype almost every sentence in this message because of typos.)

Thanks for checking,

Mike

That was the last correspondence I received from him - - and deep down I knew it was the last I would ever hear - -  Mike and I had been collaborating on putting together a book surrounding the sinking of the Grand Glaize, a sightseeing boat which capsized over Memorial Day weekend in 1954, which still holds the record as the single most fatal boating accident on the Lake of the Ozarks as 8 souls were lost in that tragedy.  Even while undergoing treatment, Mike gathered and researched hundreds of pages of court testimony and followed leads for background information.  Mike wrote many stories about Lake area history and we worked together on the River Monsters filming and story back in April of 2011 which was loosely based on the Grand Glaize incident.

There is not enough room on this blog (or the web) to describe Mike and how much he will be missed -
Although, I am embarrassed that it has taken me this long to accept his fate - but it can NEVER be to late to remember him, his work and to express my most deepest sympathy to his family.

Mike was also a writer for The Pointe Newspaper, in Grain Valley, MO - - I believe that POINTE staff writer Christopher Fischer wrote the best tribute to Mike in his article "

From publishing books, to traveling rivers by steamboat, to cycling the circumference of Pluto, Michael Gillespie’s was a life well-lived

PLEASE READ HIS ARTICLE -- HERE

MISS YOU MIKE - - FAREWELL

Another proud Princess perishes

In January of 2009, I posted a story "CLASSIC LADY - DOWN" about the winter sinking and loss of a Classic 1955 Chris Craft Cruiser.  Sadly we must report the recent sinking of the "Tranquil Woods Princess", a 1949 Classic 36ft Chris Craft Cruiser -  The "Princess's" most recent accomplishment was her cameo appearance in the 2012 "River Monsters" season opener, "American Killer's", where she played the role of a ill fated Lake of the Ozark's sightseeing cruiser (Grand Glaize) that capsized during a storm over Memorial Day weekend in 1954.  Unlike the Grand Glaize tragedy which resulted in the loss of several lives, the Tranquil Woods Princess, simply, quietly slipped beneath the surface of the Lake at her home dock.  She was recovered and towed to Boat Doc's in the Big Niangua, where she will be evaluated and her ultimate fate determined  - - - -

The "Princess" with her head still above water, awaits rescue

On the Road to Recovery - -!

PROUD LADY -
BACK ON TOP WHERE SHE BELONGS -
Getting a little help from TowBoatU.S. 4703

Click on this "River Monsters" link or the one above which has several shots of the "Princess" during shooting of American Killers segment - -

YOUR WELCOME!!!!! -

"RIVER MONSTERS" SEASON 4 "OPENER"

Some "MISSING CREDITS" - -

RIVER MONSTERS - SEASON 4, AMERICAN KILLERS - CREDITS

I would also like to thank the following for their help:

CAPTAIN DAVE ANDERSON, TOWBOATU.S. LAKE of the Ozarks

JOE, RYAN & JONAH DUBINSKI - "Grand Glaize" boat passengers & victims -

Joe Dubinski with Host

Ryan boarding the ill fated "Grand Glaize"

Jonah Dubinski - struggles for air as "filming" camera is hitting him
in the chest and face - (from "capsizing" of Grand Glaize)

Joe Dubinski boarding the "Grand Glaize"

Ryan & Jonah Dubinski

NOT EVERYONE CAN BE A STAR, BUT I FEEL THESE BOYS DESERVE "HONORABLE MENTION" for their brief (and blurry) role in this film and for jumping in to some "very" cold water and thanks to their dad (& uncle) Joe,  for letting them do it - -  (of course the fact that RYAN is our grandson - - has nothing to do with it - - -  :-)   FOR SOME OF THE FILMING BACKGROUND SEE PREVIOUS POSTS  - CLICK HERE

STAY TUNED AND WATCH MORE NEW "RIVER MONSTERS" !!!!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! RIVER MONSTERS - SEASON 4, APRIL 1st

SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2012, 8:00 P.M. CENTRAL

SEASON 4 PREMIERE!! 

Nearly 11 long months ago we had the privledge to work with the RIVER MONSTER'S Production Team, Host and crew, filming some segments for the upcoming season.  We can only HOPE that after 3+ days of work, cold water, "hurry up and wait", we may be able to see some of our efforts actually played out in the alleged 2 hour opening special of this popular Animal Planet series hosted by Mr Wade.  RIVER MONSTER'S is keeping details about SEASON 4 tightly held and we have so far been unable to uncover any hints that our brief role even made it to the final production. - - On March 14, they released this "Teaser" on YOUTUBE:

NOTHING on the "Teaser" hints to the LAKE OF THE OZARKS portion of the SHOW, so I guess we will have to stock up on the Popcorn, and turn on the "Tube" Sunday April 1st and see how it goes - - -
As I said in the posts on this I made nearly a year ago, having been involved in film productions in the past - - Our little 15 seconds of fame - - may have been reduced to less than 1.5 seconds of "bubbles" and splashing water - - if that.  If you would like to review the RIVER MONSTER'S, Lake of the Ozarks stories from the filming last May - - click HERE or go to the "SEARCH" box in the top left corner of this Blog and enter "RIVER MONSTERS" - - - - -

Grandson RYAN DUBINSKI (Left) RM Host and Cousin JONAH DUBINSKI after Filming last May

"RIVER MONSTERS" The FINAL TAKE -

We leave our "RIVER MONSTERS" saga with a few final photo's taken by Laura during filming - - and with some fun memories and stories that will stay with many of us for some time to come.  As a result of this, new friends were made and some "true" mystery's have been uncovered.  Mike Gillespie has been doing research (still on going) which has uncovered some very interesting "facts" surrounding the incident on Memorial Day weekend of 1954, when a Lake of the Ozarks excursion boat capsized during a storm and as many as 8 persons were drowned.  This was the largest number of fatalities, resulting from a single boating accident on record for the lake so far. (SEE MIKE'S ARTICLE IN THE "POINTE" PAPER HERE).  We look forward to seeing the "final cut" of the RM story next season and hope that maybe one or more of our folks will be recognizable in the 2 seconds of blurred action, followed by brief flashes of underwater bubbles, thrashing arms and legs - - - - ahhh well - thats showbiz.

"VICTIMS" Pose with Host of RM, before their big "take"

FILM CREW CHECKS OUT "LOCATION"

APPREHENSIVE "VICTIMS" (Ryan Dubinski, left, and Jonah Dubinski)
Air Temp = 46 deg, Water Temp = 58 deg

VICTIMS GETTING THEIR INSTRUCTIONS FROM FILM CREW

CAMERA "TESTING" They were only going to do this ONCE

2ND THOUGHTS?

Our job with the boat was to provide some waves and lots of 'white water" around the area where the "victims" would be in the water.  They would "fall" in (fully clothed) one at a time and thrash about and were to quickly come out on to the swim platform. Because we were busy "making waves", Laura was unable to get a shot of them going in to the water - - Jonah (below) was able to get back out on to the swim platform.  When RYAN went in, the wash from the boat jet produced such a hard current, he was unable to get on the swim platform and had to go to shore - -

NOT TO BAD - -  BRRRRR!

FINAL TAKE

THE FINAL TAKE - - As we got the boys dried off and wrapped up the filming, we had one final shot to make - - the film crew hopped back aboard the boat and we headed for open water with the State Park in the back ground, we stopped and the "Director" pointed to the "Life Ring" we carry aboard and asked if he could use it, I said "of course".  Shutting the engine down, they set the lonely "Ring" adrift behind us - - -, using some small underwater camera's on pole's, they rolled several different shots and angles from above and underwater of the drifting Life Ring - - - after all the "commotion" and the "excitement" of filming  - watching that Life Ring drifting alone in the water was a sobering reminder of what really took place 57 years ago when 8 souls were lost and "Reality" came rushing back to me - - - - - BOAT SAFE - -   WEAR A PFD

"RIVER MONSTERS" The final Chapter, Part 1

On a cold and chilly Sunday, MAY 1st, we completed our work with the "RIVER MONSTERS" team in the Grand Glaize Arm near the State Park.  Our mission for that day was to provide a moving "camera platform" for the RM film crew.  Along with several others from Kapilana Resort, our son-in- law Joe Dubinski, grandson Ryan Dubinski and cousin Jonah Dubinski of Overland Park, KS and Columbia, MO were given the honor of being "extra's" and the two boys were given the dubious honor of being "victims" - - - (fact is the air temp that day was 46 deg with water temp hovering around 58 and they were the only two who "volunteered" to go in to the water  :-).  We think, since both boys are HUGE River Monsters fans, that had the "host" asked them to "swim" across the lake they would have done it!!

Filming began early with several "takes" of "Excursion" passengers boarding a 1949, 36ft Chris Craft Cruiser, graciously provided by Jan and Dan Mitzel.  The Mitzel's cruiser is an on-going restoration process which requires a great deal of work and expense and they have done a fabulous job with her.

"ALL PHOTO'S BY LAURA MEYER" 

Passenger's boarding the sightseeing boat - TAKE 2?

Filming passengers boarding the "Excursion" boat

The next step in the process is where things began to get a bit "hairy" - the cruiser was to get underway and make maximum speed and we would follow with the camera crew - -
The "Director" told me to follow behind the cruiser "as close as possible" while the cameraman sat on the bow (sometimes, gripped firmly by the "director")  - O.K. you want "close" "here we go" - -

WARNING - "DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!"

"CLOSE"

"CLOSER"?  (Cameraman turned to me and gave a big "thumbs up")
Note:  He also had to pick up his feet

 Well, that went fine  - and I figured we were going to settle down and do some routine filming - - WRONG! - the "director" now says to me - - (in that stern and precise British accent) - "that was fine, can we now do it in the front"? - - - uhhh - O.K. - (doing things up close and in dangerous situations is pretty much a regular occurrence with this business) -  but he sorta wants me to defy ALL safe boating practices - - perform some maneuvers that usually result in our being called out to "pick up the pieces" AND he wants me to do it on CAMERA!!!!  I looked at my wife Laura, who was just beginning to recover from the previous "takes" astern (in which she managed to get some pretty good shots) and the realization of what the "director" was asking had just sunk in with her - - - - before she could say "let me off!!!" I pushed the throttle forward while the camera crew moved to the stern - - and caught up with the unsuspecting cruiser - "Task 1" - run close down the starboard side and then cut 'CLOSE" in front so the  camera crew would be under the bow - - o.k. - - boys -  here we go - -

One of several "passes" close to starboard

Cutting "close" across the bow (Shades of "Whale Wars")

"BOW SHOT"

Cameraman saying; "that was good! Now let's do it again!"

We repeated this little maneuver a couple of times, the last time we were close enough the camera crew got soaked by the cruiser bow wash - - -.  I want to compliment Captain Dan Mitzel for his STEADY HAND at the cruiser wheel - - it took great courage to remain calm and steady while being "run down" by a TowBoat - - .  Over the years, Laura has made quite a number of calmer "boat calls" with me, on this one, she really hung in there and rode it out!  She also somehow managed to get some GREAT SHOTS in spite of her "white knuckle" grip on the hand rail and "ashen color" from having the "bejeezes" scared out of her - -  enough excitement for now -.  WE WILL CLOSE THIS FINAL CHAPTER in OUR "RIVER MONSTERS" ADVENTURE WITH A LATER POST - -

Writer Note:  Before the comments come in - - Trying to get a British film crew in PFD's is a struggle - and I am at fault for not insisting on they being more than just "close at hand" - should the occasion arise again in the future - - it will be a much different story.  In my defense - "Brits" are a stubborn lot - and they sorta took to PFD's with the same attitude as they did when they chose to wear "Redcoats"in 1812, the outcome of which we all know - - - - - -

RIVER MONSTER UPDATE - (By a REAL writer)

Local Historian's "moment of fame on TV’s River Monsters"

Photo by Laura Meyer

Michael Gillespie, staff member and writer for The Pointe, a weekly newspaper based in Grain Valley, Missouri, focusing on local news, sports and events. The paper was established November, 1998. The paper serves Grain Valley and the surrounding communities with a circulation of 4,500.  Mike also provided us with lots of Lake area history,  interesting facts and legends on LAKE AREA HISTORY PAGES.

As a follow-up on our first "River Monster" post here on MAY 2nd,  the link (and story) below is from a "real" writer's perspective -

http://www.grainvalleypointe.com/?p=2157

READ AND ENJOY !

RIVER MONSTERS, DAY 1 AFTERNOON

AFTERNOON DAY1

The afternoon was spent providing transport and assistance for filming some underwater footage with TIM McNITT and the ATLANTIS DIVE crew.

NAUTILUS APPROACHES LOCATION FOR FILMING

"HOST" AND "TIM"

(IT'S ALL ABOUT TIM)!

SUITING UP 

READY TO TAKE THE PLUNGE

FINALLY IN THE WATER AND OUT OF SIGHT WHERE HE BELONGS

PHOTO'S BY LAURA MEYER

RIVER MONSTERS? - - RIGHT HERE?

"RIVER MONSTERS" COMES TO THE LAKE!

A Well known ANGLER, and the ICON FILMS PRODUCTION TEAM investigate Lake Myths and Legends and look for GIANT CATFISH!

The Producers of "River Monsters"  (Icon Films, Bristol, U.K.) contacted us a little over a month ago and requested we assist them in developing and filming a segment for the upcoming 4th season of this great cable network "Animal Planet" show.  They would be visiting four states in the U.S. and Lake of the Ozarks was one of the places they planned to film.  They were pursuing "GIANT CATFISH" stories, along with possible "MYTH'S and LEGENDS" of the area.  Lake area Historian and Author "Mike Gillespie" (LAKE AREA HISTORY PAGES)  provided them with some possible material to use.  We also provided them with some background and research on various topics over the following weeks.  We had no idea exactly what "story line" they intended to use until about a week before they arrived.  Along with Captain Tim McNitt (ATLANTIS DIVE) and his crew, we provided support vessels and filming platforms for them over two days.  The 4th season may have a 2 hour special which should include the Lake of the Ozarks.  We enjoyed meeting the "host" and found him and the entire team a great group to work with.  The Actor is very calm and easy to talk to and of course enjoys "Extreme Fishing".  Having watched the show often and now meeting and working with him, I have even more respect and admiration for the show and his efforts.  I will be posting more in the future from this and related stories.  (PHOTO'S BY LAURA MEYER)

DAY 1 (MORNING)

Myself (left)  Extreme Angler and Mike Gillespie (right) at Wilmore Lodge

Production Crew checking out the sights above the dam

Discussing location for filming 

Delivering a signed photo to Laura for Grandkids

Going over notes for the interview with Mike Gillespie

Filming Mike Gillespie interview

 MORE TO COME - - -