Published: February 07, 2007 09:23 am         

Gloria Moran

Gloria Moran was just minding her own business, waiting in line to get a T-shirt from the “Hoosiers” film crew when the first assistant director approached her and asked her if she was in line to be an extra.

Moran, who was already a locality scout for the state’s film commission, thought “why not?” and began an endeavor that would eventually lead her to a red carpet premiere and mugging for photos with the film’s star, Gene Hackman.

Her memories of the film are displayed in numerous photo albums and poster and picture frames, but she hasn’t shared them publicly in 20 years.

“There were so many community members of Rush County in this film. I think that’s why it is so special to me and to so many others,” Moran said. “John Anderson, Gordon Young, Bob Gulde, and even the Ging family’s automobiles took part in this film, and that’s something we’ll all remember for the rest of our lives.” The Hollywood lifestyle was definitely harder than the newly designated “film extra” had anticipated.

“Extras had to be committed. We had to wear the same costumes every day, be on-set bright and early for make-up, had to wear the most vibrant bright red lipstick,” she said. “Our hairstyles were slicked back like 1950 greasers ... it was hard work,” she said. Although it wasn’t a starring role, Moran had a speaking part in the film and was thrilled to be barking orders at Hickory player Ollie McClellan, played by Greene County native Wade Schenck. Moran can still remember her lines to this day, even though they were cut in the fifth take: “Ollie, you passed the ball four times. Coach Dale says you passed the ball four times!” Moran remembers one particularly rough night on set, when the film’s star helped to break the tension. “One night, we were filming the Oolitic game and it was supposed to be a particularly tense moment as the team was exhibiting some tough competition,” Moran said. “To show this to film-goers, the crew shut all of the fans off in the gym. The crowd extras and the stars were all perspiring profusely and it was just miserable. After seven takes, Mr. Hackman called for a time-out. He was just exhausted and I think he had had enough. About five minutes later, a folding chair comesflying out on the court, just like Bobby Knight had done a few months earlier, and the ice was broken. Everyone was laughing and applauding. It was just the relief we needed.” She remembers the stars as very genuine and congenial to the community.

“News reports said that Barbara was uncooperative, but what most people don’t realize is that she was making two other films plus ‘Hoosiers’ at once. I thought she was a superb actress.” The red carpet premiere of the film in Indianapolis was also the experience of a lifetime for Moran and her husband.

“I was invited by the film commission to go to the preview, since I was a volunteer for them. I remember the ticket prices were astronomical, but I got to go for free, so my husband and I got decked out to the nines, he in a tux, me in an evening gown,” she said. “We went to dinner first at the Columbia Club on Monument Circle, and Dennis Hopper was there, along with the other ball players and cheerleaders. We got huge film posters as souvenirs, which are endearing to my family and I.”

The party then moved across the street for the moment of truth.“The film premiere was at the Circle Theater, and it was a true red-carpet event,” Moran said. “The media was there, snapping pictures left and right, fans were there screaming. We sat in the back mezzanine and a man came up to my husband and I and said, ‘Do you mind if we sit next to you?’” The man was none other than the great Bobby Plump, whose famous “last shot” was the film’s inspiration. Moran feels that her experiences with “Hoosiers” were beneficial in terms of lasting memories.

“It was great to not be a major player, because I got to sit back and watch reactions from all involved--the director, the stars, the newbies,” she said. “It was just luck that I got to do it. To know that the stars are just as ordinary as we are was also a real eye-opener. It’s just their job.”