I have your address but I need your zip code for the “Big Bash”
invitation.

Owner of movie star truck,

Henry

PS: I will just address the invitation to the “Newport Guy.”

That sounds awesome, I’m sure the movie will be out before we know it!

That is good that Universal Studios took care of you. They were also fairly friendly for me, especially the security, they were really good about letting me take pictures. Last time I tried take pictures of a show was in the summer in downtown Chicago at Grant Park. I forget what they were filming, but it was some sitcom. I figured since it was a public park, I could stand outside the set and get a couple of pictures. I was quickly threatened to be arrested before I got no more than a couple of pictures.

Have fun enjoying the company of your new found friends and family again. :)

No no no Newport guy. They did have a warming room for us at the rear of the “Black Horse” tavern. They had two propane heaters in
there for us and we would hang out there when we got cold. They also
had a hospitality area at the west end of Newport where they had hot soup, coffee, fruit and anything one wanted. The Universal Studios
people did everything possible to accomodate us. Thanks for the invite. You are very kind. You know we are living in a global village. The Univeraal Studios people invited me to stay on the set another night but I politely declined. I did thank them for asking but explained to them that I was 73 and two nights was about all I could handle at that time. I told them that if they needed my services in the future, I would be available. All of a sudden, my popularity has gone from 0 to 100 among my family and friends. I can hardly handle it. I think I am going to take my phone off the hook and leave town for a while. Smiles :-) :-) My daughter Lois is planning a big bash for friends and family when the Public Enemies movie comes out in 2009. We will send you an invitation.

Regards,

Henry

I was actually sleeping during that time, so I missed Johnny :( I didn’t think he was going to show up, and I had already been up for 24 hours. During earlier in the night I had thought about offering people to come in and have a beer or coffee what not, but they would barely let people on the sidewalks, much less the street. I am surprised they didn’t have a place for you to keep warm, those jerks!

Anywho, if you are ever by 908 W. Newport again, don’t be afraid to ring the door!

It is me again. I heard about all of this from my daughter Lois
who was there on the set with me. She called me about two months ago
and told me that Universal Studios was looking for 1930 vintage vehicles. I, therefore, took the old gem (I am 73 and the old gem was born in 1930.) out of storage in my garage. It happened to be a nice warm day with no ice or snow on the ground. I drove it to the
Schaumburg Hyatt on highway 58. After filling out some forms they came out to the lot and asked me to back away from the snow bank.
After taking pictures of my truck, they said I would be hearing from them sometime late March or early April. As I was sitting on my recliner late last Saturday night, the Universal Studios call came in. They asked me if I could be on the set for two nights and I was to report to a garage on Halsted and Addison.

I have a question for you in that you live on Newport? I was sitting there in my moviestar truck at about 4:00am on Thursday
morning waiting for 6:00am to arrive. I was cold and had to make a potty stop just praying that a friendly neighbor would appear. Where were you?? Smiles :-) :-) All is foregiven. OK?

Regards,

Henry

Just a correction!!!!!!!!!! It was Johnny Depp speeding east on Newport with his black Buick coupe while picking up his girlfriend.
I previously mentioned that he was going west. I am still thawing out and getting my life back together. OH My wife Lynne was standing there on the first night while we were watching the crew
strap Director Mann and another photographer to the fender of the
Buick. It took about 1/2 hr for all this to happen. My wife Lynne told me that Johnny Depp smiled at her. She only stayed one night as
she said “My life is complete now.” She is stil talking to me. Smiles :-) :-) I might say that everyone connected with Universal Studios treated all of with kindness and respect. They did everything to acommodate us. There food and hospitality were the best. It was a once in a lifefime experience. Now all my family members want to ride with me in my moviestar truck.

Regards from the 1930 Ford Model A truck driver,

Henry Walli

Thank your very much for filling in some details! It was really cool experience for me as well, even though I was just a bystander, I can only imagine how fun it would be actually to have been on the set! It will be fun once the movie comes out to see how all of it actually looks on film.

I definitely think your car is a star now, there are only so many 1930 Ford pickups that get a role in a major motion picture!

If you don’t mind me asking, I am just curious as to how you found out they needed vintage cars and what the process was to get in the film?

I have went ahead and edited the description on the photo of your truck to include the year and model!