A Star of a Car

            Not everybody gets to hang out with and work with a movie star all the time. But Jamie Schworer isn’t like everybody else. Her dad saw to that.

            Jamie’s father, Jim Schworer, saw an opportunity back in 1972. The Beverly Hills Supper Club was going strong, bringing in all kinds of artists to treat their guests to an evening of quality entertainment. What Jim saw was the need for someone to chauffeur those stars around while they were in town. And so he created the Schworer Beverly Hills Limousine Service.

            Even back then Jim realized that he needed to treat these celebrities with style. So rightfully so his first limo was a 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I which he kept for about five years.

            While the business thrived and grew over the years, a big event would send both Jim and his company into the national spotlight. In 1980 he bought a 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III limo. Complete with British right hand drive this car was unlike anything else in the region at the time.

            “Many ask me if it is difficult to get used to driving on the right, but the Rolls was the first car that I ever drove,” said Jamie, adding, “My dad was a brave man.”

            In addition to the uniqueness of the right hand drive, the Rolls features a very rare expansive moon roof. Though Jamie has heard that there were only ever about 50 of these cars made with the moon roof, she said that she has never been able to confirm that.

            The summer after Jim had purchased the car came its big Hollywood break.

            “Dad had just bought the car and he heard about a movie being shot down in Atlanta that needed a limousine,” said Jamie, recounting the story. “So he drove it straight to Atlanta where they picked it to be in the movie.”

            That movie, The Cannonball Run, featured an all-star cast of Hollywood A-listers including Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jack Elam, Adrianne Barbeau, Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, Burt Convey, Jamie Farr, and Peter Fonda among others. It was also the first time American audiences got to see a 27-year-old Jackie Chan.

            The movie was a smash hit and has remained a classic all these years. And among all of that star power and the amazing cars were Jim and his ’64 Rolls.

            After that first appearance, other movie rolls followed. “Melissa Gilbert did a movie called Sylvester, and the Rolls is parked in front of a mansion in some scenes,” said Jamie as she began listing out the Roll’s credits. “In The New Breed, with George Kennedy, Don DeFore, and Forrest Tucker, the Rolls has Italian license plates and my dad did some ‘stunt’ driving in the snow.  In the miniseries, Bluegrass, with Cheryl Ladd and Mickey Rooney, my dad plays, Carter, Mickey Rooney's bodyguard and chauffeur.  Luckily, the Rolls won the part as Mickey Rooney's limo, as well.  My brother and I had small parts as valets at a party in the movie.”

            In addition to being used in all of those movies and television programs, the Rolls has chauffeured around quite a few celebrities.

            “Our Rolls has chauffeured hundreds of celebrities such as Liberace, Cyndi Lauper, Alabama, NSYNC, Jerry Lee Lewis, Yul Brynner, Boomer Esiason, Charo, Raquel Welch, Johnny Rivers, Rosemary Clooney, Rodney Dangerfield, Mickey Gilley, Gary Sandy from WKRP in Cincinnati and the list goes on,” said Jamie. “We had the honor of chauffeuring Muhammad Ali in the Ky Derby parade in 1981.  He was the Grand Marshall and there were guards all around the car.  It was really neat!”

            When asked about meeting some of these people Jamie told of when she was 16 and got to meet Cyndi Lauper. “I was a huge fan. You wouldn’t believe it,” she said.

            Since 1988 Jamie has kept up the company and the Rolls, taking over after her father tragically passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 44. At the time she was only 20-years-old.

            In addition to seeing the car used in various media for local bands, banks, magazines and restaurants, it was also the backdrop for one of the most anticipated celebrity calendars that came out in conjunction with the new millennium.

            “In 2000, our Rolls was chosen for the cover of Morris the Cat's Millennium calendar.  Many cars did test shots for it, and my car won!  They flew Morris in first class to do the shoot here in Cincinnati,” explained Jamie.

            These days, according to Jamie, the Rolls is mostly used for weddings, proms, birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. And in order to keep up with the changing times and to ensure comfort for her guests, Jamie has made a few changes to the car.

            “I had a custom illuminated champagne bar installed in the back window, along with rear heating and air conditioning,” she said. “I also had to update the 8track player with a CD player.”

            There are also some special things she does for events, particularly weddings. She will decorate her classic Rolls with white satin bows, adding a streamer across the front and a “Just Married” sign on the trunk. She literally rolls out the red carpet and chills some non-alcoholic Champagne.

            “Brides and grooms love to toast their glasses as they are posing through the moon roof,” she said. “That picture is worth a thousand words.”

            Since it is a working car, Jamie doesn’t take the Rolls to very many car shows but no matter where it goes it is something people want to check out.

            “My classic 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III is always a hit and I feel I am doing my dad proud by continuing the tradition,” she said. “I will never part with it, because it is all I have left of my dad and he was the greatest!”

            And who would ever consider parting with a movie star that reminded you of you dad?

          To see more pictures or to find out more about this beautiful car and Schworer's Beverly Hills Limousine Service, check out the web site at http://www.classicrollslimo.com/.