Jimmy Stewart Funny Story: Flying Airplanes When LAX was Celery Fields 1935

Jimmy Stewart, in this 1989 interview with Johnny Carson, tells funny stories about the early days of flying airplanes at LAX in 1935. Watch this full Tonight Show episode at bit.ly/carson010986 and more Jimmy Stewart at bit.ly/jimmy_stewart. Watch more full Tonight Show episodes at bit.ly/carson_episodes. Airdate: 1/4/1989
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[@reggierico]

Jimmy Stewart retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Brigadier General. He not only flew in WW2, but advanced into jet aircraft after the war, flying the B47 bomber and the B58 Hustler, which was our first supersonic bomber. Great pilot, great advocate for aviation and a great American.

[@SteelbeastsCavalry]

Rumor has it that he flew in 52s in Vietnam for a few flights.

[@jackcurran1122]

He did fly missions over North Vietnam

[@artlover1477]

@@Texas76302 And u Conservatives complain that everything is politcal these days. I am sure there were a few Democrats that died in those B17s over Germany. Was, Stewart a great American? Absolutely! But stop with this we Republicans are more patriotic nonsense. Shows your ignorance.

[@ffjsb]

@@artlover1477 We'll stop saying it when it's no longer true.

[@artlover1477]

@@Texas76302 Neither are Republicans, Kenny.

[@DiabloOutdoors]

Jimmy Stewart is certainly among the classiest persons in Hollywood ever. Great actor, great person!

[@teatonaz]

And I would add,.. one of the classiest persons ON THE PLANET. Very humble,… a rare trait indeed.

[@CMC050]

Yes. Sir.

[@lancer525]

I met Jimmy Stewart once. Or rather, I got on the same elevator he was on. This was back around 1983 or so. I didn't realize who he was at first, and then it hit me. It was Jimmy Stewart! The doors opened, he took a step towards them, and I blurted out "You're Jimmy Stewart!" He stopped, turned to look at me, and said "Um, well, yes... I am..." Smiled, stepped out of the elevator, the doors closed, and that was that.

[@neils5539]

Johnny was at his best with the legends like Stewart. He would just throw out a simple question and let him go. No interruptions, no upstaging.

[@daleandkaren6316]

Johnny was a very respectful interviewer. You could certainly tell he enjoyed interviewing Jimmy!!

[@bigdmac33]

Jimmy Stewart. A real gentleman. A real legend.

[@markmarsh27]

It didn't matter what question you asked Jimmy Stewart, the answer was ALWAYS a beautiful, amazing little story.

[@vernieistooold]

It is impossible to not like and admire Jimmy Stewart as an actor and an American patriot.

[@dougdavis8986]

What makes him a patriot?

[@vernieistooold]

@@dougdavis8986 Put his life on the line by flying bombing missions over Nazi Germany. Read his life story.

[@dougdavis8986]

@@vernieistooold back when being a patriot actually meant something. I am sure he rolls in his grave seeing what today's so called patriots are up to.

[@vernieistooold]

@@dougdavis8986 Yes, a different time for sure.

[@deecee784]

He never "cashed in" on his military career and that he became a general. It was 20 or 30 years after the fact that the general public became aware of it. A CLASS ACT !!

[@ChrisHyde537]

Many of his peers knew though. They held him in such high esteem when they talked about Jimmy. Now I know that there was far more that they admired beyond his acting career.

[@favouritemoon4133]

My dad was a RM Commando and my mum was Women's Royal Navy during WW2. I think everyone in the Militaries of the Allied nations [and their relatives] knew! 😀

[@mjlejer3241]

Jimmy was 81 at the time of this interview with Johnny, and 8 more years to live. He was a long-time favorite of mine. Jimmy was an accomplished pilot who began flying at about age 27 and never stopped what he loved (except perhaps the last few years of his life, but he was a bomber pilot during the WWII!) As a pilot myself, I was fascinated hearing about his ride in the Curtis Jenny! (In 1926, the Jenny was a two-seat trainer, used for training U.S. pilots during WWI and for mail service .) At my home airport, years ago, I got to fly in the FBO's tandem two-seat Stearman aircraft and help land it, same with a DC-3 that my FI bought and had at my airport. Exciting, and years later, probably the top of my flying experience was when I flew on the Concorde and was invited up to the flight deck. I worked a short while, playing piano in the top deck of a B-747 during my younger days. I still love flying to this day, and probably would DIE to be able to fly in a couple of today's military bombers and fighter aircraft, but that's not likely to ever happen! I get vicarious thrills now, by watching them in many videos!

[@ardshielcomplex8917]

He also flew missions during the Korean and Vietnam War.

[@brandspro]

Suffered very badly with PTSD from his experiences in the war. In fact, he channeled that in his first movie after the war: “It’s A Wonderful Life”. During the bar scene where he breaks down Capra didn’t get the shot he wanted. Jimmy Stewart had been going back to his wartime memories to bring up the emotions. When Capra talked about reshooting the scene Stewart responded “I can’t do it again, don’t ask me”.

[@ellenlehrman9299]

That’s such a moving scene.

[@dockennedy8091]

Always love Jimmy's stories.

[@outthere9370]

If the world was full of people like this man with true honour? What a wonderful world it wood b.

[@nathanfugate8210]

"Strategic Air Command" with June Allyson... one of the greatest aviation movies ever made. Especially for B-36 snd B-47 fans!

[@markphillips6154]

A wonderful man and national treasure

[@jerrythegaffer]

Always liked James Maitland Stewart affectionately known by his fans as "jimmy" a great man in all aspects of his life. RIP Brigadier General. Missed but not forgotten.

[@TomokosEnterprize]

How wonderful to see and hear this fine man again. I sure do miss him.

[@jkorshak]

Saw Mr. Stewart in "Harvey," live on stage in London 1975. The show was hilarious.

[@sb859]

The Man, The ...Legend. There is no Myth here, just pure Legend.

[@darrelljourdan3687]

Would have loved to have met him. My grandfather had the same demeanor as Jimmy Stewart so I have always been completely enamored with him. Friend of mine wrote him a letter stating their appreciation of his talents and abilities to bring roles to life. She received a hand written letter thanking her for her compliments. Such a gentleman.

[@MobbyG]

I’m only a student pilot, and haven’t been to anything bigger than my local airport that has a 5300’ runway, so imagining LAX as a small field with 1000’ is crazy to me!

[@oldwave6106]

My grandfather used to entertain us with stories like these. He went on to become VP of sales for Douglas Airlines in the 50’s. Flying was obviously so different back then. People used to dress up.

[@Bravo21]

My dad was fascinated by flight when he was a child too and got a ride in a Jenny at a barn-stormers show in Corbin KY in 1930, he was 9yo. Grandfather gave him $5.00 for the flight. He learned to fly and went on to join the Army Aircorps when he graduated from High school in 1938. Dad was a math wiz and because he was already a pilot he went through Flight Training in Texas and became a 'Sargent Pilot' _ This is what they called those who were Pilots but not officers. He was then assigned the position of co-pilot in the B-17. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and WWII started he and his squadron were onboard ship heading to the Philippines with their bombers, wings off in the hold of the ships. He flew the B-17 in Europe until he was injured in a crash. The injury took a while to recover from and he lived the rest of his life with a steel plate in his skull. When he recovered he was not allowed to fly bombers and was assigned to de-brief the bomber pilots as they returned from their missions. He got his Glider wings and flew a glider into France on D-Day. He continued to fly after the war, worked 28yrs for Pratt&Whitney Aircraft and was a Certified Flight Instructor until 1992 and continued to fly until he had a stroke in 1998. He passed away in 2007. Thanks for reading this, watching Jimmy got me misty thinking back. I miss my Dad every day. Thanks for everything Pop, love you.

[@alonespirit9923]

Sounds like your dad was quite a guy. :)

[@Depressed_Dinosaur]

Incredible story and an incredible dad. Flew a glider into GERMANY on D-day? Love to hear more about this.

[@Knutis35]

Your Pops was a good man!

[@jakeyskywalker66]

lovely. sounds like you had a great childhood and great dad! im a brit and you and your dad sound like great Americans!

[@Buckarooskiczek]

Cool story! Keep memories like this alive for his heirs!

[@cdp200442]

I remember Jimmy telling his stories and retired from the USAF as a Brigadier general. One ⭐️

[@chancevonfreund1156]

A fantastic man! I could listen for hours.

[@Bonzman]

My wife and I have landed and taken off from Mines field many time love LAX! It's amazing how small airstrips or fields became international airports.

[@donniejohnston8676]

Retired a Brigadier General. Great man

[@MJLeger-yj1ww]

Probably my second-favorite old-time actor, next to John Wayne. I never met the man but always liked and respected him -- he had a way of telling jokes that was unusual and funny. He had a great sense of humor, was a good man and great American., who was well known for his military career as well as his acting career.

[@bobdylan7120]

Difference is Jimmy Stewart (33) joined up and flew throughout WWII. John Wayne (34) filed 3-A (Deferred Draft) paperwork to stay out of the war. When the War Department changed his status to 1-A (Fit for Duty) he used Studio lawyers to keep him out of the military. No wonder the American troops booed him when he did a USO show.

[@brianhampson2314]

Marion was regarded by the other great actors of the day as somewhat of a coward, a fake, and not really a very good actor…..that’s why he had to have his characters named “John”, so he could remember which lines were his in the script.

[@pechaa]

And John Wayne was also a white nationalist racist.

[@michiganspencer6920]

Ladies and gentleman.....WW2 B-17 pilot and retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General James Stewart....a REAL American HERO!!! Btw... I still LOVE that line from the movie "Flight of the Phoenix" when Stewart's character tells the German airplane designer that "He didn't always fly for CRUMMY outfits like this one"...and the designer responds "I'm sure you've had a COLORFUL career..." The UNDERSTATEMENT of any line to Jimmy Stewart!!!

[@kelleysimonds5945]

I miss this guy, and others like him, so much.

[@csnide6702]

" It's LAX today...."...... classic !

[@ernestitoe]

I think he flew the Curtiss Jenny in the movie The Spirit of St. Louis. But even he conceded that he was too old to play Lindbergh. He was 47. Lindbergh was 25 when he flew the Atlantic. Also, Stewart had that folksy charm, and Lindbergh was a remote kind of guy, although he could be charming when he wanted to be. Damn good movie.

[@chrisruthford4492]

His best friend was a rabbit, can't blame him for worrying about the rabbits.😂

[@CMC050]

That joke about LAX and Mines Field is gold

[@moncorp1]

Col. Jimmy Stewart. Flew bombing missions in WWII winning the Distinguished Flying Cross and well as the Air Medal. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

[@machia-mw1lm]

He was one of my boyhood Heroes . I fell in love with flying in 1965 , Kupper Field in Mansville , NJ . It was me , my Dad and my Uncle who was a B-17 pilot in WW2, who was an American Airlines Captain flying 707's at the time . Everyone considered Jimmy Stewart as a " pilots , pilot ". He was well respected in all branches of service and in general aviation . Quite a guy .

[@jphforex2151]

Brigadier GENERAL James Maitland Stewart! (c: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart

[@daleandkaren6316]

Sure they do…….just not out of Hollywood! 😃

[@GregorySinclair-id5sj]

Still my favorite actor, an incredibly classy gentleman.

[@robertphillips6296]

Ed McMahon learned to fly in the US Marines and during World War 2 and the Korean War. He had the rank of Colonel. Jimmy Stewart flew bombing missions during World War 2 and became a Major General in the Air Force reserve. Johnny Carson learned to fly after the war when he was no longer in the US Navy.

[@jerrydiver1]

It's not widely known, but after losing his son in Vietnam, Jimmy asked for and received permission to come back into the Air Force and fly a bombing mission in Vietnam.

[@mark9531]

@@jerrydiver1 Jimmy Stewart flew 20 missions in the B24. However, he was also rated in the B36, B52, and B58. He flew a bombing mission in Vietnam in a B52.

[@GavinScrimgeour]

If you really admire Jimmy Stewart, I would recommend you watch Orson Well’s roast of Jimmy Stewart. You’ll get a lump in your throat listening to it.

[@MrPJS001]

I've flown into jimmy stewart field in indiana pa. quite a few times when i was working as a line crewman for allegheny beechcraft i had my commercial license, but was working my way through school during the summers. I was flying into Jimmy Stewart field to repair the single wide trailer that one of our mechanics lived in, we were replacing the plumbing getting our pvc pipes and fitting from his families hardware store.

[@ellenlehrman9299]

Indiana PA was his hometown.

[@MrPJS001]

@@ellenlehrman9299 yes it was and we had an account at his families hardware store. i think its still there although i'm not sure if its still in his family.

[@scottrobbins6216]

What an absolute jewel of a man

[@conniecrawford5231]

Indiana, PA- birthplace of Jimmy Stewart!

[@bighands69]

A truly great American.

[@JD-gj2rj]

Mr. Stewart was a true gentleman. He was a war hero and a devoted husband and had a good heart ❤

[@eriklapparent4662]

What a great man!

[@loyddussaultsr4181]

Jimmy Stewart was the real deal

[@ronhaworth5471]

General Stewart led A Wonderful Life!

[@stephenpowell5912]

R I P Jimmy "James" Stewart,Thank you for your service to your country 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 Duty Done 🥀💐🙏🌹

[@dickbudig6693]

Jimmy tells about dodging rabbits when taking off from what is now LAX. I had something of the same experience when taking off from a very small airstrip in Kayenta, AZ. The strip is at the base of a bluff which meant that landings and takeoffs were always to the north because the south end of the field butted against the bluff. Additionally, wild horses roamed that part of the world, and would often loiter on the runway. It was often necessary to buzz the field to drive them off before landing.

[@geoffcushnet3675]

I can top that Dick! I once flew into a small airstrip in a game reserve n Kenya. When I went to take off, there was an elephant on the runway! My pilots notes didn't mention them! I have always loved Jimmy and enjoyed all his films. His humour was always understated but so funny. Wonderful man. I live not far from Seething Airfield in Norfolk, England, where he was stationed in WW2. They have a museum there. All the best, Geoff.

[@dickbudig6693]

Chuckle . . . flying is not a boring activity . . .

[@starguy2718]

@@dickbudig6693 Hours of boredom, separated by moments of sheer terror.

[@starguy2718]

General Stewart: a class act, all the way.

[@dirtcop11]

I loved the story Jimmy Stewart told when he was making the Glenn Miller Story. He took trombone lessons and they wound up giving him a dummy mouthpiece because he claimed he was that bad of a musician.

[@ashleymarie7452]

Jimmy Stewart was such a fine person. He's on my top-ten list of people I'd love to meet on the other side!

[@mediterraneandiet2483]

Hollywood Legend. 👑

[@davy1458]

One of the greatest americans....a national treasure.

[@loumelillo1790]

A Real American Man

[@linderella54]

Omg I sooooo love you

[@ronammologist16]

We miss you, General.

[@skipgetelman3418]

Never be another man like him

[@bobbyricigliano2799]

Jimmy Stewart is in my view one of the greatest Americans who ever lived. If you haven't read about his life story, please do.

[@j.dragon651]

He flew the Phoenix rather well. My mother was born where Laguardia airport in NYC is now.

[@lillycucu5173]

Thank

[@Idahoguy10157]

Towards the end of his flying career Jimmy Stewart was a Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve. He supposedly flew some B-52 missions over Vietnam.

[@Flies2FLL]

The building he talks about is now known as Ontario Air Service. NO they did not shoot scenes of "Casablanca" there!

[@boba2984]

When guys like John Wayne were making war movies Mr. Stewart was living WW2.

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

The King of Hollywood, when Hollywood was worth being king over.

[@legneil]

Damn i miss the old days.

[@linderella54]

James is the besteds most sweetest man i cud ever hope to meet bad on me:-(

[@stvnbryan5542]

Wow! Jimmy Stewart and Ed McMahon both flew in WW2 and Korea. They don't make them like that anymore. Not since Pat Tillman.

[@kenadams3951]

how cool this is

[@zoob8590]

When actors weren't politicians.

[@SafetyProMalta]

The greatest generation.

[@josephwiese3937]

Ironic Jimmy Steward was dodging rabbits (Harvey's cousins)...

[@linderella54]

Can't believe I will never meet him

[@christinecoleman1727]

I’m just loved all his Movies,,love him as well,,,😊❤️😊❤️😊❤️😊❤️😊❤️😊❤️

[@commentatron]

Why, are you immortal?

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

A superb pilot who coped with the responsibilities of high command and the horror of a vicious war and came home with all the demons but who held everything together. Compare him with Wayne and Reagan.

[@lightningsmokerXx]

0:26 - Mines Field - LAX

[@harmonicajohn1059]

Never realized JC was a licensed pilot

[@bobdylan7120]

I wonder what he thought about John Wayne. Jimmy Stewart joined up to fight in WWII at the age of 33. John Wayne (34) on the other hand hid in Hollywood and filed 3-A (Deferred Draft) paperwork to avoid the draft. When the War Department changed his status to 1-A (Fit for Duty) he used the Studio lawyers to keep him out of the war.

[@iskandartaib]

He would get together every so often with Henry Fonda and they would build and fly stick and tissue models together.

[@alonespirit9923]

Those models are a pleasure to build and fly. :)

[@Lee78072]

for some reason i see Charles Lindberg there on the left

[@linderella54]

Lee780

[@jtstacey83]

back when talk show hosts let the guests talk and the guest wasn't there to plug a project.

[@sblack48]

He is the generation that was set alight by lindberg which was inoy 8 yrs before he came to CA

[@sharonschall9226]

Imagine Rabbit Crossing Signs

[@OrcoDevelopment]

Check out a never before aired interview with Jimmy Stewart and more stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood on our KZbin channel, thanks!

[@rabindrapalai9672]

Yes 1

[@barrykendrick3146]

Jimmy Stewart was denied key promotions because he was an actor. This type of prejudice was & is widespread & so unfortunate. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.-for example-was given a Silver Star instead of the Medal of Honor he deserved. If man or woman does the job, then he/she should receive just promotions & awards. Period.

[@jcf20010]

He rose from Private to Major in just four years and was a full Colonel before the end of WWII. When he retired from the AF Reserve he was a Brigadier General. Your claim is baseless.

[@barrykendrick3146]

+@@jcf20010 Check out, e.g., Marc Eliot's book Jimmy Stewart: A Biography pp.304-306. In 1957 President Eisenhower put forth his nominees for promotion to Brigadier General including Jimmy Stewart. Stewart was to be SAC Deputy Chief of Operations, a meaningful job which, assuming Stewart continued in his sterling manner, would lead to opportunities for further advancement. Lt. Gen. Emmett(Rosie) O'Donnell was at the Senate Armed Services Committee meeting to defend these recommendations, but he was not prepared for Senator Margaret Chase Smith's vicious attack on Jimmy Stewart's nomination. Part of her motivation may have been her administrative assistant William C. Lewis Jr.'s failure to make the final list of nominees. She said to the press a few days later:"What would it be, if an actor, someone who plays heroes on the screen, is passed over those who are actual heroes?" Thus, as Marc Eliot says, she not only ignored Stewart"s war record but appeared to belittle it. In an effort to support Stewart's nomination, the AF had him pilot a B-52 across the US, but this carried no weight & his nomination was rejected 13 to 0. Two years later he was again nominated & this time did indeed achieve the rank, but his position was a fluff job: Public Information Officer at the Pentagon. Marc Eliot said that when questioned by a reporter as to her approval of the lesser assignment "she sniffed: that's more like it" meaning the relatively minor position he had been awarded. As Vincent X. Flaherty of the L. A. Examiner wrote at the time of his first nomination: "there isn't a member of the AF Reserves better qualified...just thought I'd set something straight about a man who not only was a hero but was long ago recognized as a great flyer & leader of men."

[@DiabloOutdoors]

denied key promotions? If Brigadier-General ain't a key promotion, then I don't know what it is. Just saying...

[@bobmcrae5751]

What did Douglas Fairbanks Jr. ever do to deserve a Medal of Honour? According to witnesses, all he did during the war was drink himself senseless.

[@SomervilleBob]

I hope they clone him. Amazing guy.

[@linderella54]

Hey don't Make them like this no more

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

James Maitland Stewart (Indiana, 20 de mayo de 1908-Beverly Hills, 2 de julio de 1997), (o Jimmy Stewart, especialmente en Estados Unidos), fue un prolífico actor de cine, teatro y televisión estadounidense ganador de un Premio Óscar.

[@tedbaxter5234]

Like Jimmy Stuart a lot - at least his public persona.

[@TheHawkeye61]

I thought “Mines Field “ was the ancestor oh Santa Monica’s airport? ?

[@classicalhollywoodfilm8378]

He was in the military from 1941-1968 Army air corp 1941-1947 before the us Air Force came along Us Air Force 1947-1968

[@theart9163]

B52 missions over vietnam....a three war pilot....

[@andrewpena9041]

It should have remained a celery field.

[@pilotboy3328]

I read somewhere that President Reagan promoted him to Major General upon his retirement. Not sure if that is true.

[@1rubberduck]

Why do people call him Jimmy Stewart. His name is James Stawart. He even disliked to be called Jimmy.

[@KB4QAA]

Because they liked him. If he wanted to be called James he should have said so.

[@MsVictoria4ever]

I think Irene Marjorie will be great, there is in my Knowlege no other with that name....now let's carry on and do God's work!

[@savagecub]

WTF ??? Where’s the rest of it ?

[@arthouston7361]

I can tell you why we don't have men like Jimmy Stewart anymore. It's because the teacher's unions and their membership refuse to raise boys to be that kind of man. Men of great character who hold to foundational ideas that made our nation great are unsatisfactory to the left and the woke movement.

[@QuadMochaMatti]

Who exactly is preventing them from seeking out alternate routes? I'm so sick of this incessant squabbling from both the left and the right wings. And then folks like you wonder why so many others like me have become so apathetic about politics in general.

[@arthouston7361]

@@QuadMochaMatti Who? It's the left who does not want to approve school voucher programs so people can CHOOSE schooling alternatives for their children. That would mean fewer unionized public school jobs, and the left will not allow that. Apparently, you have not been paying enough attention. This is my look of surprise.

[@mac10watp31]

Get to the point fs

[@richardeast3328]

Two years later and are you any smarter?

[@mac10watp31]

@@richardeast3328 og bigg Beefy Roaster u don't want no smoke

[@richardeast3328]

@@mac10watp31 Nope