Leon Thompson is given a police escort home from Southern High School in Baltimore, Maryland. While white northerners did not mount the South's "massive resistance", they did not readily accept school integration. Baltimore initially followed the Brown decision, integrating 34 blacks with 1758 whites at Southern High, but pro-segregationists soon rallied a mob of 800 people around the school to halt desegregation. Source: Life Magazine, 10-11-1954.

1955 segregation demonstration at Southern High School

. . Lights . . . camera . . . action cut "Tin Men," Barry Levinson's latest comedy filmed in Baltimore City, cut away to Southern District Police Station to shoot one of the movie's more hilarious scenes. The film is about two Baltimore aluminum siding salesmen bent on wrecking each other's businesses and personal lives.

The film stars are "Taxi's" Danny DeVito and "Jaws'" Richard Dreyfuss, "Tin Men," Levinson's third film set in Baltimore, promises lots of fun and laughs. Levinson, a native Baltimorean, wrote and directed "Diner" filmed in Baltimore in 1980. His film "Justice for All" includes several scenes filmed also in Baltimore.

The scene shot at Southern District captures BB (Richard Dreyfuss) coming from the police station to swear out a warrant for Tilly's (Danny DeVito arrest.

Although the film shot at Southern District constituted some 6 hours, after editing, the scene could be reduced to 2 or 3 minutes, if not cut completely. At least 3 Hollywood hopefuls hope not.

Sergeant Robert Wolfe of the Education and Training Division was cast as an extra in the station scene where he plays the role of a detective involved in a telephone conversation while Tilly ( DeVito) is being booked on an arrest warrant.

Sergeant Wolfe, a 33 year veteran of the police department, who was actually a detective in 1963 investigating property crimes, found himself providing valuable technical advice concerning the general overall appearance of the station house. Sergeant Wolfe would quickly peruse the scene and advise, "You need lots of coffee cups and cigarette butts, a real part of police work." Wolfe said that within seconds Directors responded providing dingy coffee cups and mounds of cigarette butts. It appears that Sergeant Wolfe is not only a veteran to the Department, but also to the silver screen. Wolfe, in 1951, played a three minute background part in "Flying Leathernecks," starring John Wayne.

Wolfe comments that, "An acting career is a lot of fun, but a lot of hard work."

The directors were quite pleased to have real officers playing some of the parts. It gave the scene, 1963, authenticity.

Sergeant Hessie T. Sessomes Jr., Ill, Crime Resistance Unit, also had a role in the movie. He played the part of a court clerk who calls the court to order and ask that Ernest Tilly come to the hearing room.

Sergeant Sessomes auditioned for the part with 20 professional actors before he was selected. "Tin Men" is not his first try as an actor. He appeared in the Hollywood film "Bedroom Window," filmed last spring.

Sergeant Robert F. Fischer. of the Education and Training Division may also be headed for Hollywood stardom. In addition to acting in a small background part, Sergeant Fischer assisted the directors in collecting authentic 1963 objects required in the station house scene. Fischer loaned his 1963 badge, he shared photographs from his personal collection, and generally tried to relocate the past for the directors.

While fame and glory have touched but 3 in the ranks, the Department has played a supportive role in the production of the film. Sergeant Robert C. Novak, Community Relations Section, supervised security, making certain that expensive equipment was not stolen. Because of the crowds and excitement that always accompany movie-making, the Department was on call during filming for parking, crowd and traffic control.

Members of the Department are to be on the lookout for the 3 actor's debut when the film "Tin Men" is released in 1987.