I went into the vault this week to create a 3-Pack of favourite TV stars from the ’60s. Two are from interviews conducted in 1997 at a Hollywood Collectors autograph show. This one featured about 70 stars from the past including the co-owner of the hotel, Beverly Garland (My Three Sons).
First up is Dawn Wells (Mary Ann), who was signing autographs with her old Gilligan’s Island pal Russell Johnson (the professor). Wells was one of the stars who died (at 82) during the worst of the COVID pandemic in 2020.
The second interview is with Bob May. Bob Who? He was the guy who for three seasons was stuffed inside the robot suit on Lost in Space. May, who died at 69 in 2009, talks about the time he was nearly electrocuted in that tin can. Danger Will Robinson!
Behind Door No. 3 is Monty Hall, the co-creator and long time host of Let’s Make a Deal. Hall was a spry 91 when I spoke with him in 2013 as he was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the game show. He passed away at 96 in 2017.
These interviews were recorded back in the day on cassette tapes. Producer Phil Hong has worked miracles spiffing up the sound. While their voices are not as clear as today’s digital standards, they all have plenty to say about working on television shows back in the 1960s.
To listen to this podcast, simply click on the white arrow in the blue dot, above.
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2 Comments
Love Dawn Wells. She was in Niagara Falls back in 2018 and was such a trooper. If there was anyone who fit the mold of America’s sweetheart it was her. It seemed when her mother died in 2004 she started to unravel. She lost Bob the following year and then the financial crisis of 2008 nearly wiped her out and then had to have surgery on her legs, and then losing Russell. At this time, she was starting to lose her mind.
Sad end to a great lady Brian, thanks for sharing.