Leave it to beaver . . .

One thing about old Chatty - she may be slow to answer questions, but she eventually gets it done.

I had a lot of people ask me about what happened to the rest of the cast in Leave It To Beaver - and here are some facts from Wikipedia.

Remember too I have a new camera - well I have been practicing but have a long way to go - think I'll throw some in so somewhere along the line I can see my improvement! Okay so for today's questions - or plea - send me some hints about taking pictures! HELP!

It looks like I am torturing my grandson with the flash.

Barbara Billingsley:
She and her first husband, Glenn Billingsley, a successful restaurateur, had two sons, Drew and Glenn, Jr. Since 1974, Drew and Glenn have owned and operated Billingsley's Restaurant in West Los Angeles, in the tradition of their father and their great-uncle, Sherman Billingsley, founder of New York City's very fashionable 1940s-era nightclub, The Stork Club. Billingsley divorced Glenn Billingsley, but kept his surname professionally. She later married Roy Kellino, a director. After Kellino's death, she married Dr. William Mortensen, who died in 1981.

Billingsley is related by marriage to actor/producer Peter Billingsley, known for his starring role as Ralphie in the seasonal classic A Christmas Story. First husband Glenn's cousin is Peter's mother, Gail Billingsley.

Her son, Glenn, Jr. is married to Karen Zappas since 1976; they have three children: Logan, Morgan and Taylor. Drew has a son, Drew Jr. (all of whom are Barbara's grandchildren).

Her hobbies included: tennis, listening to radio, watching dramatic (before comedy) movies, traveling, wine tasting, sewing, spending time with family, gardening and dining. She frequently played poker with good friend Rod Serling until his death in 1975.



Tony Dow:
Unlike his Leave It to Beaver co-star, Jerry Mathers, Dow attended Van Nuys High School, alongside future Dallas star Steve Kanaly, and graduated in 1963, the same year Beaver ended. On June 14, 1969, Dow married Carol M. Marlow. In 1973, they had one son, Christopher T. Dow, before divorcing in 1978.

Dow is currently married to Lauren Shulkind, whom he wed in 1980. They live in the Santa Monica mountains.

In the 1990s, Dow revealed that he has struggled and was eventually diagnosed with clinical depression. He has since starred in self-help videos chronicling this battle, including "Beating the Blues" (1998).

Dow has become a serious, respected amateur sculptor, creating abstract bronze sculptures. In his artist statement, he says the following about his work: "The figures are abstract and not meant to represent reality but rather the truth of the interactions as I see and feel them. I find the wood in the hills of Topanga Canyon and each piece evolves from my subconscious. I produce limited editions of nine bronzes using the lost wax process from molds of the original burl sculpture."

One of his bronze pieces is on display in the backyard garden of Barbara Billingsley, who played his mother on Leave It to Beaver. Dow was chosen as one of three sculptors to show at the Société Nationale Des Beaux Arts exhibition, in the Carrousel du Louvre, in Paris, France, in December 2008, representing the United States delegation comprising artists from the Karen Lynne Gallery. The sculpture that will be shown at the Louvre, titled "Unarmed Warrior", is a bronze figure of a woman holding a shield.



Jerry Mathers:
Mathers suffered from dyslexia in his early life.
Mathers graduated from Notre Dame High School, in Sherman Oaks, California, in 1967. He went to college at the University of California, Berkeley and graduated with a BA degree in philosophy in 1973.
Mathers was a member of the Air National Guard (1966-69).
With Rhonda (second wife), married fourteen years, he had three children; his son Noah Mathers (1978) works in film and video production. Two daughters; Mercedes (1982) and Gretchen (1985)

Mathers is a spokesperson for the National Psoriasis Foundation to raise awareness of psoriasis, educate the public about new biologic therapies, and generate hope for people with this serious, lifelong disease.

Mathers was diagnosed with diabetes in 1996. He took preventative action, lost 45 pounds and became one of the leading lecturers on living with and dealing with diabetes. Mathers has partnered with diverse organizations to bring awareness of this epidemic to the public and is currently the national spokesperson for Johnson and Johnson’s OneTouch Ultra2 System blood glucose monitoring system.

I did go to lunch last Thursday with Sue and Denise at the Marietta Fish Market - fellow bloggers.

Kenneth Osmond:
(Born June 7, 1943) is an American actor known for his role of Eddie Haskell on the original Leave It to Beaver television situation comedy, which ran on CBS from October 4, 1957 to 1958 and then on ABC from 1958 to June 20, 1963.

Osmond's playing of Eddie Haskell in the original series became a cultural reference, recognized as an archetype for the "behind-your-back" rebel. Teenager Eddie Haskell would be polite and obsequious to grown ups, but derided adults' social conventions behind their backs. He was constantly trying to involve his friends in activities that would get them into trouble. Eddie was the kind of friend parents such as Ward and June Cleaver wish their children would limit association with, but need to have to gain learning experiences. Even today, the phrase "Eddie Haskell" is known to refer to an insincere flatterer or a suck-up.

Contrary to the urban legend, Ken Osmond did not grow up to become porn star John Holmes, rock star Alice Cooper or die in the Vietnam War. After his child acting career, Osmond served 18 years as an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), joining in 1970. During his time on the force, he worked in vice, narcotics and as a motorcycle officer. He grew a mustache to help secure his anonymity. He was placed on disability and eventually retired after getting hit with three bullets while in a foot chase with a suspected car thief. He was saved by his bulletproof vest and belt buckle. He still earns a medical disability pension from the LAPD.

He eventually returned to acting with appearances on Happy Days and the TV movie High School USA. Osmond starred in the role in the Still the Beaver situation comedy and the 1997 film Leave It to Beaver. In that film, Osmond played Eddie Haskell, Sr., and Adam Zolotin, a younger actor, played Eddie Haskell, Jr. In the new "Leave It to Beaver" Osmond played Eddie Haskell Sr while his sons Freddie and Edward Jr. (were played by Osmond's real-life sons, Eric and Christian, respectively).

Osmond makes personal appearances at film festivals, collectors' shows and nostalgia conventions. He has been married to wife Sandy since 1970. Since his retirement, Osmond handles rental properties in the Los Angeles area.

On September 18, 2007, Osmond filed a class action lawsuit against the Screen Actors Guild, alleging that SAG has collected $8 million in foreign residuals for U.S. actors, but has not distributed them to the actors.

Here is a beautiful picture of my glass (teehee).

Happy Birthday to Ron Howard - wikipedia

On June 7, 1975, Howard wed his high-school sweetheart, Cheryl (née Alley), a writer with a degree in geriatric psychology. They have four children; daughters Bryce Dallas Howard, Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Carlyle (twins), and son Reed Cross. His daughters' middle names indicate where they were conceived, Bryce in Dallas, twins Jocelyn and Paige at the Hotel Carlyle in New York City. Son Reed Cross was named after a London street because "Volvo isn't a very good middle name", according to Howard. Daughters Bryce and Paige are actresses. The family lives on a 35-acre
(140,000) estate in the exclusive gated community of Conyers Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut. In February 2007, Howard became a grandfather when his daughter, Bryce, gave birth to a son, Theodore Norman Howard Gabel.

Howard is a sixth cousin to his Andy Griffith Show co-star, Don Knotts, through Howard's ancestor Lucinda Knotts.

In the June 2006 issue of Vanity Fair magazine, Ron Howard was asked, "What do you consider your greatest achievement?" He replied, "Forty-eight consecutive years of steady employment in television and film, while preserving a rich family life."

I THINK I NEED CAMERA LESSONS!