25 years ago: Animal trainers in town to prep pigeons for movie roles

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Oct. 14, 1989:

Professional animal trainers from California were in town this week, preparing about 50 pigeons for their roles in the TV movie “Where Pigeons Go To Die.” Gary Gero, owner of Birds and Animals Unlimited of Orange County, California, said he and an assistant trainer had been working with the flock at a house north of Lawrence for the Michael Landon movie, which was to start filming soon in Lawrence, Baldwin, and Overland Park. An extra crew of about 350 birds was to be brought to Kansas for the filming of one specific scene depicting the start of a pigeon race. Most of the training involved getting the birds to fly in the right direction at the right time, Gero said. He was also training the “star” pigeon to fly to the hand of the little boy playing the role of Art Carney’s grandson in the movie.

Movies showing in Lawrence theaters this week included “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” “Halloween 5,” “Look Who’s Talking,” “An Innocent Man,” “Black Rain,” “Lethal Weapon 2,” “Dead Poets Society,” “Turner & Hooch,” “Parenthood,” “Sea of Love,” “Uncle Buck,” and “When Harry Met Sally.”