I bought a set of public domain Christmas programs and we launched the season by watching a couple last night.
First choice: A "Love that Bob" with Bob Cummings in a dual role as the playboy photographer star and also as his own grandpa from Joplin, Missouri. Bob Cummings, who was a health-food fanatic back in the day, was a native of Joplin, was the first certified flight instructor in the U.S. and was the godson of Orville Wright.
Did you realize that Dwayne Hickman, who played Bob's nephew, Chuck, in the show and went on to TV stardom as Dobie Gillis, is 75 years old? Rosemary DeCamp, who appeared as Bob's sister and the mother of Chuck, was not a health-food fanatic as far as I know. She and Bob were almost the exact same age but she outlived him by 10 years, dying at age 90 back in 2001. A very likable character actress. Kind of a "with it" Della Street.
And, of course, long before "The Brady Bunch" Ann B. Davis was famous for her portrayal of Bob's secretary, Schultzy.
The episode was nominally a Christmas episode. It gave Grandpa a reason for visiting and there were some Christmas decorations in Bob and Margaret's house.
2. Second show was a Burns and Allen program where some relatives of Gracie come for Christmas. It was funny but there are definitely some bad vibes coming from the house next door, where Blanche and Harry live.
3. The finale was an Adventure of Robin Hood where some kid's pet goose (and his only friend in the world) was convicted of assault on the local lord. The lord had one redeeming feature: he loved his daughter. The daughter intervened and the goose's life was spared. The little girl was played by Jane Asher. She went on to better things.
First choice: A "Love that Bob" with Bob Cummings in a dual role as the playboy photographer star and also as his own grandpa from Joplin, Missouri. Bob Cummings, who was a health-food fanatic back in the day, was a native of Joplin, was the first certified flight instructor in the U.S. and was the godson of Orville Wright.
Did you realize that Dwayne Hickman, who played Bob's nephew, Chuck, in the show and went on to TV stardom as Dobie Gillis, is 75 years old? Rosemary DeCamp, who appeared as Bob's sister and the mother of Chuck, was not a health-food fanatic as far as I know. She and Bob were almost the exact same age but she outlived him by 10 years, dying at age 90 back in 2001. A very likable character actress. Kind of a "with it" Della Street.
And, of course, long before "The Brady Bunch" Ann B. Davis was famous for her portrayal of Bob's secretary, Schultzy.
The episode was nominally a Christmas episode. It gave Grandpa a reason for visiting and there were some Christmas decorations in Bob and Margaret's house.
2. Second show was a Burns and Allen program where some relatives of Gracie come for Christmas. It was funny but there are definitely some bad vibes coming from the house next door, where Blanche and Harry live.
3. The finale was an Adventure of Robin Hood where some kid's pet goose (and his only friend in the world) was convicted of assault on the local lord. The lord had one redeeming feature: he loved his daughter. The daughter intervened and the goose's life was spared. The little girl was played by Jane Asher. She went on to better things.
