Thursday, June 16, 2016

TV Dads

In honor of Father's Day, I would like to give a "shout out" to all the wonderful TV Dads from my childhood.  These dads were pretty amazing. They dealt with problems big and small. But most of all, these dads loved their kids, no matter what.

Happy Father's Day!

Jim and Kathy
Father Knows Best (1954-1960)
Jim Anderson played by Robert Young
KIDS: Betty, Bud and Kathy




Ward and Wally
Leave it to Beaver (1957-1963)
Ward Cleaver played by Hugh Beaumont 
KIDS: Wally and Theodore "Beaver"




Mark and Lucas
The Rifleman (1958-1963)
Lucas McCain played by Chuck Connors 
Lucas's job: Rancher
KID: Mark




Little Joe and Ben
Bonanza (1959-1973)
Ben Cartwright played by Lorne Greene
Ben's job: Rancher
KIDS: Adam, Hoss and Little Joe





Andy and Opie
The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
Andy Taylor played by Andy Griffith
Andy's job: Sheriff
KID: Opie




Steve and Chip
My Three Sons (1960-1972)
Steve Douglas played by Fred MacMurray 1960-1972
Steve's job: Aeronautical Engineer
KIDS: Mike, Robbie, Chip and Ernie




Mike with kids 
The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)
Mike's job: Architect
Mike Brady played by Robert Reed
KIDS Greg, Marcia, Peter, Jan, Bobby and Cindy


Who are you favorite TV dads?


Wednesday, June 8, 2016

The Rifleman and Books




I was visiting my dad on his acreage in Oklahoma last week. He lives in the country and doesn't have a satellite or cable TV. He uses an antenna to get TV reception.

One of his favorite shows is "The Rifleman" so we watched the show everyday day while we were there. I remember watching it on TV when I was a kid. It's about a widower in the Old West named Lucas McCain and his son, Mark. Lucas is handy with a rifle and he and Mark work the ranch.  

On one episode, the school hired a new teacher from "back east." The teacher was a prim and proper gentleman and wasn't used to the ways of the West. He and Mark did not get along. Mark's friend ruined the teacher's book by putting blue berries in it and slamming the book closed. Mark was blamed for the prank and his father found out.

Lucas told Mark that it was wrong to ruin a book. Books are precious and hard to come by. He also told him that everything you learn from a book you will be able to use sometime in your life.

I have found this to be true. I have always valued books. They have enriched my life. 

If only all kids had a dad like Lucas McCain.