Acting with Logan Ramsey and George Murdock in the Chicago Conspiracy Trial

Here I am in 1979 in the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble performance of the Chicago Conspiracy Trial in Santa Monica with the late wonderful character actor Logan Ramsey, a 50-year veteran of movies, television and stage. The rough-and-tumble of this scene (I violently shake up Ramsey) was eventually too much for Logan, who had a heart condition. He had to leave the show. The blonde guy next to me is David Watkins, an actor who appeared on a national beer commercial and then faded into obscurity.

Logan’s wife Anne was also an actor and played Mama in Throw Mama from the Train with Billy CrystalBilly Crystal and Danny DeVitoDanny DeVito.

The Chicago Conspiracy Trial is still a legend in equity waiver (less than 90 seats) production in Los Angeles. It boasted a fine cast including George Murdock, a semi-regular on the Barney Miller Show whose endless credits go all the way back to the Twilight Zone in 1960.

Such brilliant actors and the play recreating the trial of the Chicago 7 fascinated the public. Lines stretched around the block to get in, and the play was a sold-out smash with critical raves that lasted for over a year. It became a live performance record album and was later restaged with a different cast.