I’m on vacation this weekend, so I can’t bring you a complete installment of Family Affair Friday. Instead, I’m offering this cute photo feature on Anissa Jones and Johnny Whitaker from the November 1967 issue of TV Radio Show. (Does anyone recognize this amusement park? The signage looks pretty rinky-dink, even by 1967 standards.)
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I’ve Got a Date with a Couple of Chipmunks
I’m heading to Walt Disney World today to partake in Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, and any chance I get for a photo opportunity with my favorite rodents.
I won’t be posting much in the next few days, though I do have a couple entries scheduled to pop up, including an abbreviated version of Family Affair Friday.
When I return on Tuesday, I hope to post some election-themed old-time radio shows.
Because I hate to post empty-handed, I leave you with this vintage Walt Disney World commercial
Spin Again Sunday: Dr. Kildare Game
Dr. Kildare Game, Ideal, 1962
It’s time to take two aspirin and enjoy the latest installment in my series about vintage board games.
Today’s Game: Dr. Kildare
Copyright Date: 1962
Mystifying Subtitle: “Medical Game for the Young.” I wonder why they felt the need to specify that it was for the young.
Game Box: I’m sure the draw for potential buyers was the large photo of dreamy Richard Chamberlain as Dr. Kildare, who is staring intently ahead and listening to an invisible person’s heartbeat.
The Analyzer
Recommend Ages: 7 to 14. Actually, it says “Approved for ages 7 to 14.” That’s a strangely officious way to put it.
Game Board: The board offers a cute representation of a hospital, with green corridors, patient rooms, an operating room, and more. The patients all seem happy, even the one traction.
Game Pieces: Dr. Kildare’s dreamy face again.
Game Play: Pretty cool. Players make their “rounds” through the hospital and diagnose their patients with the help of the “Analyzer.” Patients’ conditions are written in code on diagnosis cards. I decoded two of them just for fun—nose bleed and sprained back.
Nice Touch: The instructions say that you can play the game by yourself. I used to play board games against myself all the time—my brother was not really a board-game guy.
My Thoughts: I’ve never actually seen an episode of Dr. Kildare. It was a bit before my time. I saw The Thorn Birds at an impressionable age, though, so I can appreciate Richard Chamberlain’s charms. The game looks pretty entertaining—what kid doesn’t love decoding messages?
Another photo of Dr. McDreamy from the box insert. Okay, we get it, he’s handsome!
If you enjoyed this post, read the whole Spin Again Sunday series!
Family Affair Friday(ish): Season 1, Episode 6, “Room with a Viewpoint,” 10/17/1966
This is the latest installment (and, this week, the late installment) of my weekly series on the TV show Family Affair.
Season 1, Episode 6, “Room With A Viewpoint,” 10/17/1966
Written by: Austin and Irma Kalish. Directed by: William D. Russell.
Synopsis
The arrival of Cissy’s pink princess phone provokes a surly reaction from Buffy.
Every 1960s girl’s dream phone.
Her mood worsens when Uncle Bill’s current girlfriend, Nedra Walcott, redecorates the girls’ room.
This is the woman who designed this living room.
Refusing to do homework or sleep in her own room, Buffy won’t tell anyone what’s bothering her. Things come to a head when a workman arrives with a room divider, and Buffy locks herself in. Finally, she confesses that the changing room is not the problem; it’s the way “the room made Cissy change.” The episode ends with some sisterly bonding.
Random Thoughts
A-ha! Uncle Bill has used Miss Walcott’s decorating services before–so now we know who is responsible for the Festival of Fug that is the Davis apartment. (Seriously, there is so much to admire in mid-century décor—and so little of that made its way onto the Family Affair set.)
Nedra Walcott decorating tip: A bunch of old Funk and Wagnalls encyclopedia sets can make any homeowner seem erudite.
Buffy’s return to deadpan “Yes, sir” and “No, sir” replies keeps the viewer guessing along with everyone else about what the problem is. Personally, I think she just had better taste than the other Davises.
This is the bedroom as Nedra designed it originally. And you’re giving her another chance?!
Nedra Walcott decorating thought process: Let’s keep the green walls and bring out their vomity properties with a gay print.
See the artwork Nedra adds to Buffy’s wall? The poor child is an orphan–hasn’t she suffered enough?!
Guest Cast
Miss Walcott: Kathleen Crowley. Ted Gaynor: John Hubbard. Telephone Man: Wayne Collier. Kathleen Crowley was Miss New Jersey 1949. She made a slew of TV appearances in the ’50s and ’60s on such shows as My Three Sons, Perry Mason, Bonanza , Batman and Maverick. She would appear in Family Affair again in “A Family Group.” I’m happy to report that she’s still alive.
Remember ladies: Remove one white glove to hold your cigarette. It’s okay to leave your cape on.
Fun Facts
The Davises live on the 27th floor, in apartment 27A. Buffy’s favorite colors are pink and green.
The Davises share a happy moment, despite their hideous surroundings.
Continuity Notes
Another Velvet Vultures reference. Dinky, Jody’s turtle, is mentioned.
Random oddity: Buffy is learning multiplication in first grade. (And she only attends half-day sessions.) Also, she does her homework on a slate.
Notable Quotes
“All this kids’ stuff is new to me, Ted. I don’t know the difference between stomachache and heartache.”—Uncle Bill (He’s also mystified by teenage slang, including “outasight.”)
Today’s Bonus Feature
An article from TV Picture Life, May 1967. It’s best to take these fan magazine articles with a grain of salt. The photos are great, though.
Family Affair Friday Postponed Until Saturday
I’m dealing with the migraine from hell today, so I have to postpone my regular Family Affair Friday entry until tomorrow. Don’t miss it–it’ll be a good one!
Carole Lombard, October 6, 1908-January 16, 1942
Carole Lombard was born on this date in 1908. I’ve always felt that, though she certainly had Golden-Age-Hollywood glamor, she also had a strangely modern quality–I can envision her as a 21st century movie star. Dell published this special magazine in 1942 after her death.
Some Blog Updates and a Posting Schedule
Later today, I will post my regular Monday blog entry, my 30th since starting Embarrassing Treasures on August 15. I would like to thank my little band of followers, here and on Twitter, for helping me survive my first month of blogging.
As a nostalgia and pop culture blog, Embarrassing Treasures covers a wide range of topics—possibly too wide. That’s what you get when you combine a lifetime’s worth of Generation X memories with a fondness for Greatest Generation entertainment. Everything falls under the heading “bygone amusements and guilty pleasures.”
To make it easier for readers to know what to expect, I’ve worked out a posting schedule:
Spin Again Sunday—Reviews of vintage board games from my collection.
Memories Monday—Personal reflections inspired by some pastime, artifact, or place from the past.
Classic Movies Tuesday—Thoughts about classic movies that have inspired, amused, or moved me.
Weird Words of Wisdom Wednesday—Humorous insights from my collection of vintage advice books for teens.
Old-Time Radio Thursday—Commentary and context on unusual, excellent, or odd old-time radio episodes.
Family Affair Friday—Episode reviews, information, images, and articles on the classic TV sitcom Family Affair, which holds a special place in my heart.
Surprise Saturday—Quick takes on pop culture; anything goes!
Of course, these topics overlap frequently. Vintage toys or classic TV shows or movies might inspire Monday’s reflections. Celebrities sometimes figure into advice manuals, either as authors or examples. Most of my vintage board games have television connections. Movie stars often pop up in surprising roles in old-time radio shows—heck, movie stars like Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, and Joan Blondell even pop up in Family Affair.
“Treasure Map,” in the left-hand sidebar, provides the best guide to posts on particular topics.
I also wanted to let you know that Embarrassing Treasures is on Pinterest and Facebook. On Pinterest, I’ve started some pretty cool boards on classic movies and vintage toys—check them out! My Facebook page is brand new, so you can be among the first to like Embarrassing Treasures. Don’t forget that you can also follow this blog on Twitter and by e-mail.
Thanks again for reading this blog, and feel free to suggest ideas for future posts. What coverage areas do you like most? What would you like to see more or less of? I’d love to hear from you!
Embarrassing Treasures 