Steven Spielberg wore a North Carolina Highway Patrol hat while directing an Indiana Jones movie 34 years ago. You asked me to find out more. I found the man who gave it to him.
I was one of the Troopers working on the set of Color Purple in 1985. Two Troopers, both now deceased, had roles in the movie. Spielberg, a very down to earth guy, was a bit of a practical joker and was in on a joke played on me during the filming of Oprah slapping the Mayor. He even rode with a couple of local Police Officers.
Fascinating. Given that the hat appears to have been custom made, never-sold, I have to wonder about the apparent cottage industry for counterfeit hats that leads them to be rare rather than nonexistent, and whether your friend from the Facebook group has a counterfeit cap or if Spielberg sold it at some point (and if he ever does DM you, I'd love to know why if so).
Yeah, I thought they were just rare hats, but after learning (just yesterday) that it was custom made, I'm wondering if he, too, had it made. I can't tell for sure, but it looks like a different hat.
Thanks, Elijah. That was my first thought too. I would love to know who is out there making hats and where they are getting their "vintage" yellow caps and NCSHP badges.
My husband was Spielburg’s body guard in Anson County while he filmed The Color Purple. He is now retired from the Anson County Sheriffs Office. His name is Calvin Lambert.
Great post! The whole time I was waiting for the payoff only to be surprised and delighted to find out it was a custom made hat. What a great story!
Also, if it helps, I upvoted your Reddit post from 0 to 1. Not sure what you had gotten down to, but it seems you've had others help get your karma back up.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this post. My first newspaper job was at the Union News & Home in Marshville, NC...right across the railroad tracks from White Street, where some of the "Color Purple" filming went on. I got thrown off the set a couple of times by over-zealous town cops. Spielberg was often seen tooling around town in a Chevette, his curly hair spilling beneath a fedora. Never saw him in the homemade trucker cap, though. What a great story.
So proud to read that you are willing to take one for the team and get pummeled in a subreddit all in the name of research! And mad props for actually finding the guy that gave it to him.
This was worth every minute of time you put into it. I especially loved the description of creating the custom hat and this: “We made only one movie in Anson County last year, but it got 11 Academy Awards nominations,” said the local arts council president in 1986. “No telling how many the next one will get.”
I was one of the Troopers working on the set of Color Purple in 1985. Two Troopers, both now deceased, had roles in the movie. Spielberg, a very down to earth guy, was a bit of a practical joker and was in on a joke played on me during the filming of Oprah slapping the Mayor. He even rode with a couple of local Police Officers.
!!!
Fascinating. Given that the hat appears to have been custom made, never-sold, I have to wonder about the apparent cottage industry for counterfeit hats that leads them to be rare rather than nonexistent, and whether your friend from the Facebook group has a counterfeit cap or if Spielberg sold it at some point (and if he ever does DM you, I'd love to know why if so).
Yeah, I thought they were just rare hats, but after learning (just yesterday) that it was custom made, I'm wondering if he, too, had it made. I can't tell for sure, but it looks like a different hat.
Thanks, Elijah. That was my first thought too. I would love to know who is out there making hats and where they are getting their "vintage" yellow caps and NCSHP badges.
My husband was Spielburg’s body guard in Anson County while he filmed The Color Purple. He is now retired from the Anson County Sheriffs Office. His name is Calvin Lambert.
WOW- that's some next level digging! Excellent
Nice hole. I jumped in and read your whole piece. It’s amazing what a hat can tell. 👍
Great post! The whole time I was waiting for the payoff only to be surprised and delighted to find out it was a custom made hat. What a great story!
Also, if it helps, I upvoted your Reddit post from 0 to 1. Not sure what you had gotten down to, but it seems you've had others help get your karma back up.
Thanks for getting me back in Reddit black on that post!
Well done Jeremy
Like this story.Interesting as my son is a NCHP.Thanks for posting.
Enjoyed reading this also.
This is really impressive, Jeremy. Good stuff!
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this post. My first newspaper job was at the Union News & Home in Marshville, NC...right across the railroad tracks from White Street, where some of the "Color Purple" filming went on. I got thrown off the set a couple of times by over-zealous town cops. Spielberg was often seen tooling around town in a Chevette, his curly hair spilling beneath a fedora. Never saw him in the homemade trucker cap, though. What a great story.
This is a fantastic story. Thank you 💛
Fun story AND I never knew farbeit was 1 word
Thanks!
/fruitlessly checks dictionary for "farbeit"
well it's a word *now*
So proud to read that you are willing to take one for the team and get pummeled in a subreddit all in the name of research! And mad props for actually finding the guy that gave it to him.
Lost a lot of Reddit karma but it was worth it.
This was worth every minute of time you put into it. I especially loved the description of creating the custom hat and this: “We made only one movie in Anson County last year, but it got 11 Academy Awards nominations,” said the local arts council president in 1986. “No telling how many the next one will get.”
I love NC.