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.)
Tag Archives: Family Affair
Family Affair Friday(ish): Season 1, Episode 8, Who’s Afraid of Nural Shpeni?, 11/7/1966
I apologize for my lateness in bringing you this installment of my weekly Family Affair series.
Season 1, Episode 8, “Who’s Afraid of Nural Shpeni?”
Written by: Cynthia Lindsay. Directed by: William D. Russell.
Synopsis
A Middle Eastern theme pervades this episode, which begins with French reading to the twins about Sinbad the Sailor.
Jody seems pretty excited about this story.
With Uncle Bill soon to return from a project in Beirut, French decides to brush up on his Lebanese culinary skills. But a trip to Fuad’s Middle Eastern Delicacies leads to cooking lessons from Nural Shpeni and then to her family’s demands that French marry her.
The prospective bride. French could do a lot worse.
Dr. Sarkis, an associate of Uncle Bill, reminds Nural’s brothers that the traditions they are relying upon to force French into marriage also demand a large dowry from them.
When Buffy and Jody open the door and see this group, they scream and run. It’s kind of funny, if politically incorrect.
French is thrilled when Nural finally announces she’d rather marry Officer Chamas, the local cop on the beat.
Vic Tayback as the cop. Hmm, Mr. French or Mel Sharples? Tough call.
Random Thoughts
This is the episode the Cleveland Amory mocked in his TV Guide review of Family Affair. It is pretty bad, actually. It’s always fun to see Mr. French in a state of extreme discomfort, however. And it has some other compensations.
Compensation 1: French using a hookah!
Compensation 2: Uncle Bill buys Mrs. Beasley this cute outfit in Lebanon.
Here she is later wearing the outfit.
Guest Cast
Fuad: Nestor Paiva. Nural: Magda Harout. Alam: Henry Corden. Mohad: Peter Manahos. Policeman Chamas: Vic Tayback. Old woman: Kay Koury. Dr. Sarkis: Abraham Sofaer. Most familiar is Vic Tayback, who played Mel in the 1974 movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, as well as the subsequent TV series Alice. Nestor Paiva, who had a long career in movies, died before this episode aired. Magda Harout, on the other hand, is still alive and continued to act as recently as 2010, with an appearance on Fringe. Attention Seinfeld fans: she appeared as Stella in the 1991 episode “The Pen.” Henry Corden voiced many cartoon characters, including Fred Flintstone. He was Marcia’s boss, Mr. Haskell, in the ice cream parlor episode of The Brady Bunch.
Fun Facts
Mr. French speaks Arabic and once worked for the Shah of Morocco. Jody is five minutes older than Buffy.
Read my whole Family Affair series!
Today’s Bonus Feature
An article from TV Radio Mirror, July 1967. These fan magazine articles are not to be trusted completely, but the photos are nice. Here, you can see Johnny Whitaker’s real family.
Family Affair Friday: Season 1, Episode 7, Mrs. Beasley, Where Are You?, 10/24/1966
My 10-inch Buffy doll with her Mrs. Beasley. They’ve never been removed from the box, but Mrs. Beasley has plummeted to the ground–hey, just like in this episode.
This week, the latest installment of my Family Affair series features a classic Mrs. Beasley episode–and some dolly digressions.
Season 1, Episode 7, Mrs. Beasley, Where Are You?, 10/24/1966
Teleplay by: Phil Davis and John McGreevey. Story by: Phil Davis. Directed by: William D. Russell.
Synopsis
A seeming tragedy occurs when Mr. French accidently knocks Mrs. Beasley off the terrace, and the doll is nowhere to be found below.
What could go wrong here?
Yeah. That.
Meanwhile, a related subplot finds Uncle Bill’s weekend plans to “sleep, play golf and do a little mild socializing” thwarted by conflict with a neighbor–a neighbor whose little girl suddenly owns a doll (Effie Boots) the spitting image of Mrs. Beasley.
Effie Boots’ owner is the spitting image of Pamelyn Ferdin.
A despondent Buffy, however, testifies that the doll isn’t hers. The whole Davis family suffers along with Buffy.
See the clothes these two are wearing while Cissy makes the scrunched-face-of-concern at Uncle BIll? Well, keep them in mind. We’ll get back to them later.
Jody offers to let Buffy sleep with his turtle. Awww.
A sweet sisterly moment. Double Awww.
When all seems lost, Uncle Bill and his girlfriend du jour find Buffy’s doll in the apartment building’s garbage cans.
“Competition is the lifeblood of free enterprise,” the ragpicker notes approvingly when he sees Bill and his date rifling through the trash. Aren’t ragpickers amusing?
The happy reunion.
Random Thoughts
It would take a cold heart to remain unmoved by Buffy’s suffering. As a Barbie collector, though, I enjoy the toy store scene the most: drool-worthy Mattel dolls as far as the eye can see. I don’t know if Mattel had released the Mrs. Beasley doll yet, but obviously the show had forged its relationship with the toy company.
The mid-1960s was a golden era in Barbie history. In this scene, you can see several “American Girl” Barbie dolls. These were only made for two years and are highly sought after today. The long-haired doll in the background is Barbie’s cousin Francie. The Barbie clothes of that era were especially glamorous. The doll in the foreground is wearing Fabulous Fashion. You can spot other dolls wearing Fashion Luncheon and Pan American Airways Stewardess. One price guide I own values the latter at $900 if it’s still in the box! The little dolls on the shelf above the saleslady are Barbie’s brother and sister, Tutti and Todd, along with their friend Chris. Mattel made a Buffy and Mrs. Beasley doll in that same size.
Guest Cast: George Nelson: Frank Maxwell. Diane: Joan Vohs. Clara: Ann McCrea. Saleslady: Cathleen Cordell. Melissa: Pamelyn Ferdin. Scotty: Karl Lukas. Ragpicker: Andy Albin. Maid: Pauline Drake. Pamelyn Ferdin is a familiar face, and voice, from the 1960s and ’70s. Among other roles, she played Edna on The Odd Couple and voiced Lucy in A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Fern in Charlotte’s Web. She also appeared (with Johnnie Whitaker) on Sigmund and the Seamonsters and was in the ’70s version of Lassie. On The Brady Bunch, she appeared in the episode where Jan sports a wig. She also played Francie in a 1972 made-for-TV version of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. She would appear in three more episodes of Family Affair. Joan Vohs appeared in a second-season epidsode as Mrs. Scofield, then appeared in six third-season episodes as Miss Cummings. Andy Albin was a regular performer on Bob Newhart’s short-lived first series in 1961.
Continuity Notes: Cissy explains that after the death of her mother and father and separation from her siblings, Buffy had only Mrs. Beasley left as a friend.
Continuity error–Cissy and Uncle Bill are wearing the same clothes in this scene as they did in the “concerned conversation” scene above, but this scene takes place the next day.
Notable Quotes: “People you love always go away–I know.” Buffy
Well, that quote’s a bummer. So I will close instead with two random Buffy pictures. In Buffy’s happy scenes in this episode, Anissa Jones seems more animated than usual.
Anissa Jones cuteness.
I love that outfit, too. It reminds me of the Gymboree outfits I tried to get my daughter to wear when she was 4 and 5. (No dice.)
Today’s Bonus Feature
An article from Doll World, December 1996, about the small Buffy and Mrs. Beasley doll.
Read my whole Family Affair 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: Episode 5, Season 1, “Marmalade”
This is part of my weekly series about the classic CBS sitcom Family Affair.
Season 1, Episode 5, “Marmalade,” 10/10/66
Written by: Henry Garson and Edmund Beloin. Directed by: William D. Russell.
Synopsis
Uncle Bill’s latest love interest, Ellen Latimer, is an advertising firm employee who thinks French would be perfect in a “small” ad for Dunholt Marmalade.
The lovely Miss Latimer
French reluctantly agrees and endures the photo shoot.
“Must I go through with this pitty-patting on my brow?”
When the resulting full-page ad attracts contempt from fellow gentleman’s gentleman Withers but adulation from the ladies, French begins to like and even court the attention.
French and his fan club
He readily agrees to a five-week national promotional tour–until he actually tastes the marmalade.
The taste
Random Thoughts
Sebastian Cabot is very funny as he runs the gamut from disdainful to enthusiastic and back in the world of advertising.
This script seems to have more funny lines than most.
The kids react to the ad:
Buffy: “He’s pretty.”
Jody: “Maybe he’s smiling ‘cause we weren’t there.”
Notable Quotes
“We are not a male model, sir.”—French
“Never let it be said that Bill Davis didn’t do his best to promote a pretty girl.”—Uncle Bill
“It might have been easier with Laurence Olivier”—Uncle Bill
Guest Cast
Ellen Latimer: Mary Murphy. Mr. Hayden: Woodrow Parfrey. Withers: Richard Peel. Miss Reynolds: Nora Marlowe. Miss Peters: Peggy Rea. Miss Howard: Pauline Drake. Woman: Kathryn Minner. Photographer: Lou Krugman. Mary Murphy’s other TV credits from the ’60s include Perry Mason, Outer Limits, Honey West and The Fugitive. She had a memorable movie appearance with Marlon Brando in The Wild One.
Random fashion note–I like hats.
Woodrow Parfrey appeared in many TV shows and movies. Of note are roles in Planet of the Apes and Back to the Planet of the Apes. He also played Ike Godsey in The Homecoming, the original Waltons special that preceded the series.
Woodrow Parfrey plays Miss Latimer’s boss. Hmm, his office sports the same green paint that pervades the Davis apartment and Bill’s office.
Nora Marlowe also had a Waltons connection—she played the recurring role of Mrs. Flossie Brimmer. And Peggy Rea played Rose on The Waltons. Her other TV credits included the role of Lulu Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard and regular roles in Step by Step and Grace Under Fire. Both Murphy and Rea died last year.
Fun Facts
WXOY is having a Velvet Vultures festival. Mr. French reads Punch.
Continuity Notes
This is the first appearance of the snooty Withers.
A Withers-ing glance
Bonus Feature
Coloring book, Whitman, 1968
Family Affair Friday: Season 1, Episode 4, A Matter of School, 10/3/66
This is part of my weekly series about the classic CBS sitcom Family Affair
Season 1, Episode 4, “The Matter of School,” 10/3/66
Written by: Henry Garson. Directed by: William D. Russell.
Synopsis
It’s time to enroll the kids in school. While it’s a simple matter to enroll Buffy and Jody in first grade, Uncle Bill is less certain about what’s best for Cissy. He rejects immediately French’s suggestion of Miss Haycroft’s School in London but reluctantly considers sending her to Bryerfield, a boarding school in Connecticut. Cissy really wants to go to Lexie High, a public school in the city, especially after grocery delivery boy Freddy sings the school’s praises.
Freddy wants to share more than Sugar Pops with Cissy.
But she misinterprets Uncle Bill’s mention of Bryerfield as a hint it would ease a burden on him if she lived at school. She chooses Bryerfield, and Uncle Bill promises her a big evening her first weekend home–dinner at 21, a musical, and a visit to a nightclub. Business makes him forget his promise, though, reinforcing Cissy’s idea that she should be “out of his hair.”
Cute dress. This is a good fashion episode for Cissy.
When she mentions this to Buffy and Jody, they decide to get out of Mr. French’s hair and attempt to take a cab to Connecticut. Talking to the kids, Bill uncovers Cissy’s misconception, and French reminds him about the plans he forgot with Cissy. Uncle Bill rushes to Connecticut to bring Cissy home, and later he finally escorts a lovely Cissy on that special date.
Cissy dressed for her evening out
Random Thoughts
The bonding between Cissy and Uncle Bill is touching, and the ending is sweet. Buffy and Jody provide comedic counterpoint to main story, especially in the scene in which exasperated Mr. French registers the twins for school. (First grade is taught in morning and afternoon sessions, and French asks if the kids can attend both!)
Buffy tries to show her principal exactly where she got vaccinated
This episode introduces a pervasive Family Affair idea that the children will be interacting with peers from many different backgrounds. Freddy tells Cissy and Uncle Bill that kids from penthouses and kids from basements attend Lexie High, and Buffy and Jody quickly make friends with a cabdriver’s son. The principal also notes that the twins will hear a variety of languages spoken in their class.
Uncle Bill’s clients from Afghanistan. The Davis world is a cosmopolitan one.
Guest Cast
Ted Gaynor: John Hubbard. Mrs. Brown: Sarah Selby. Mrs. Hedgemot: Gertrude Graner. Mr. Kabul: Aly Wassil. Freddy: Eugene Martin. Mr. Razini: Naji Gabbay. Mr. Chill: Reginald Lal Singh. Barbara: Liza Garson. Murray: Tony Campo. Sarah Selby had a recurring role for many years as Ma Smalley on Gunsmoke, and she was Aunt Polly in a 1974 TV version of Huckleberry Finn. She would appear in four more Family Affair episodes. Campo, who would return as a different character in season five, was the third Scotty Baldwin on General Hospital; Johnny Whitaker was the first. Gabbay and Wassil would both reappear in season two’s “The Beasley Story,” and Martin would appear once more as Freddy. Hubbard, who would reappear in several episodes as Uncle Bill’s partner, starred in many largely unmemorable films of the 1940s. I strongly suspect Liza Garson is a relative of producer and sometimes writer Henry Garson. Her character struck me as oddly superfluous in her scene even before I noticed the familiar last name.
Barbara’s job is to stand awkwardly behind the principal
Fun Facts
Buffy and Jody attended kindergarten in Terre Haute. In his reluctance to progress to first grade, Jody shows the first sign of being less academically minded than Buffy. The Davis’ apartment building is at 600 E. 62nd Street.
Continuity Notes
Cissy’s desire not to be a burden to Uncle Bill stems from her fear that she was “dumped” on him. We have Terre Haute references. Miss Faversham is mentioned.
Notable Quotes
“She’s like Cinderella, but tomorrow she’ll be our sister again.” Buffy, on Cissy
Today’s Bonus Feature
A Family Affair parody from Mad Magazine, April 1969
If you enjoyed this post, read all my Family Affair entries!
Family Affair Friday: Season 1, Episode 3, A Gift Horse, 9/26/66
This is part of my weekly series about the classic CBS sitcom Family Affair
Season 1, Episode 3, A Gift Horse, 9/26/66.
Written by: John McGreevey. Directed by: William D. Russell.
Synopsis
Uncle Bill returns from East Africa with gifts for the kids, and Cissy gives him a hand-knit tie. With $1.07 between them, Buffy and Jody decide to find the perfect gift for Uncle Bill. Baffled by French’s suggestion of a gift certificate, they search in vain for something Bill needs. Soon they learn that their friend Mr. McGovern, who operates a hansom cab with a broken-down horse named Rosie, is giving up his cab and parting with Rosie. Of course, they decide a horse is the one thing Uncle Bill needs.
Rosie. She really does look broken down.
When French learns that McGovern sold the children the horse, he bawls the man out for taking advantage of children. Realizing what the gift means to the twins, however, Uncle Bill accepts it and makes arrangements to send “the Rose of Killarney” to live with friends near Danbury, Connecticut.
Mr. French sees the horse. I love Sebastian Cabot’s reactions!
Random Thoughts: Kids, horses–Uncle Bill’s apartment is becoming a real dumping ground. A cute episode. At first, I did think Mr. McGovern was unethical for allowing the kids to “buy” the horse, but he obviously wanted to make sure his friend had a good home.
One big happy family
Not a “Helicopter Butler,” Apparently: When French leaves to confront Mr. McGovern about the horse, no one is at home to supervise 6-year-old Buffy and Jody.
Gratuitous twin cuteness
Guest Cast: Emmet Parnell McGovern: Paul Hartman. Scotty: Karl Lukas. Hartman’s film career included Inherit the Wind and The Thrill of it All. He had a regular role as Bert Smedley, the barber, on Petticoat Junction, and as Emmet Clark in the 1967-68 season of The Andy Griffith Show and on its spin-off Mayberry R.F.D. Lukas would return as Scotty in quite a few Family Affair episodes.
A thaw in Anglo-Irish relations
Fun Facts: Scotty, the doorman, makes his first appearance.
Scotty. Gee, do you think that big sign will figure into the upcoming scene?
Notable Quotes: “It’s just what I wanted, if I knew there was stuff like this.” Jody, receiving an ant farm
Gratuitous Uncle Bill smile
“Mr. Davis is not running a home for superannuated horses.”—French
In the episode’s tag, the twins give Mr. French a gift–kittens!
Of course, he takes this turn of events in stride.
Another kitten shot because…well, I love kittens. And it’s my blog.
Today’s Bonus Feature
TV Guide, December 16, 1967, with a first-person Sebastian Cabot feature. Some things we learn:
* He thinks Michael Redgrave is a better actor than Laurence Olivier.
* Walt Disney doesn’t pay well.
* Brian Keith loves kids but doesn’t suffer foolish reporters gladly.
Embarrassing Treasures 
