When the television series “Petrocelli” was filming here from 1974 to 1976, the cast and crew made the news several times for offscreen incidents. There was a parking ticket incident, a near mistrial and a cemetery shootout. Star Barry Newman was sued over a car accident.
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1974 Star photo
Barry Newman threw a football to start the Salvation Army Kettle Fund Drive.
During the filming of one segment, in August 1974, the script called for a car to pull up to the sidewalk near the Southern Arizona Bank. The driver got out and walked away. It just so happened a Tucson policeman was in the area and he walked right into the scene to write up a parking ticket. CUT!
The film company had received permission to use the curb and street for their filming. Word had apparently not been passed down to the officers.
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The old Pima County Courthouse played a prominent role in the series. One day, while Petrocelli, aka Barry Newman, was resting on the courthouse patio, three women approached him for an autograph. They started talking and told Newman they were jurors on a murder case. “Ask him if he needs another lawyer,” he quipped.
Well, Judge Robert O. Roylston apparently did not appreciate the humor in that remark. Newman was called to the judge’s courtroom to explain himself. The judge denied the mistrial motion.
In 1975, the script called for a nighttime cemetery shootout. Passersby called to report the commotion at Southlawn Cemetery on S. Park Ave.
While here Newman was involved in an accident involving a Green Valley couple. He ran a stop sign at E. 29th St. and S. Columbus Blvd. The couple were treated and released from the hospital. The man died five weeks later.
The actor paid a fine for the traffic violation. The wife sued him over the accident. The jury deliberated and Newman was ordered to pay $5,500 for damages. He was exonerated of the wrongful death allegation.
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