Paul Petersen Remembers TV Mom, Donna Reed
By Nick Thomas ~ While most of us will be remembering mothers on May 10 this year, entertainers who worked as child actors in television sitcoms may also have special memories of their ‘TV mom.’ For Paul Petersen, that was Oscar winner Donna Reed, the matriarch from “The Donna Reed
The Science of Garlic
By Nick Thomas ~ If you plan on celebrating National Garlic Day on April 19, remember the old New York Yiddish saying, “A nickel will get you on the subway, but garlic will get you a seat.” Even a well-known Muslim prophet supposedly once informed his followers: “Whoever has eaten garlic should
Pat Priest Shares Munster Memories
By Nick Thomas ~ When Universal Pictures assembled the cast of the popular TV series “The Munsters” for its 1966 big-screen adaption, “Munster, Go Home!,” another actress replaced Pat Priest as Marilyn Munster. “I was devastated not to be in the film,” said Priest, from her home near Boise,
James Drury Remembers ‘The Virginian’ Co-stars
By Nick Thomas ~ Originally airing on NBC from 1962 to 1971 and currently rerunning on several cable networks (INSP and Starz), the enduring popularity of the “The Virginian” doesn’t surprise 85-year-old James Drury who starred throughout the series in the title role (see www.thevirginian.net).
Visiting with Lil’ Ole Winemaker, Donna Mills
By Nick Thomas ~ Toasting the New Year with a glass of wine on December 31 is a tradition for many. But unlike most year-end revelers, actress Donna Mills can welcome the New Year with a bottle of wine from her own vineyard. Schlepping up a hillside harvesting grapes probably wasn’t an activity soap
Dee Wallace: Battling More Critters
By Nick Thomas ~ The Critters are back and meaner than ever. Fortunately, Dee Wallace has also returned to take aim at the miniature alien monsters in “Critters Attack!” Released straight to Blu-ray, DVD, and digitally over the summer, the film had its television premiere on the Syfy Channel in
Growing Up with ‘Dracula’ in Your Blood
By Nick Thomas ~ Above photo: Bela Lugosi in “Dracula” ~ Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó was a veteran more than 170 stage plays and several silent films in his native Hungary when forced to flee to Germany in 1919 for political reasons. Known under the stage name Arisztid Olt, the 6’ 1”
The Charm of Bob Newhart
By Nick Thomas ~ Known for his gentle satire, basset-hound eyes, and witty routines, former Chicago accountant-turned-comedian Bob Newhart turned 90 this month, on September 5 (see www.bobnewhartofficial.com site). Newhart suspected he lacked the temperament to remain in the accounting profession back
David Hedison’s Hollywood ‘Voyage’
By Nick Thomas | Recognized widely as Captain Lee Crane in Irwin Allen’s 1960’s sci-fi adventure TV series “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” David Hedison, 92, died on July 18. Hedison’s acting credits extended back long before and lasted well after his underwater voyages, and he shared
