In Memoriam

Beatrice Arthur and Estelle Getty are gone now but their spirit will live on forever in everything that they did together. God Bless You Both...you were angels on Earth and now you are angels above. For me the best moments were when Sophia would say something outrageous and Dorothy would shout back "MA!" The episode where Sophia is suffering from memory problems is a fond one for me. There is a scene where Sophia and Dorothy return to their old apartment in Brooklyn. They knock on the door and a Hispanic gentleman answers and Sophia simply utters "Oh God" and almost like instinct Dorothy clamps her hand over her mother's mouth. It is hilarious. Even though Beatrice was a year older than her on screen mother the performance was totally believable. It was magic...simply magic. The very sound of the theme song makes me smile and the sight of those "Golden Girls" on screen makes me laugh out loud. They will forever be in my heart and in my brain....

This loss is so very sad....another 'Golden Girl' has left us. Beatrice Arthur spent the early days of her career on Broadway...mainly in the 1940's and 1950's. In the 1950's she began to appear on fresh television shows like "Studio One", "Caesar's Hour" and "Kraft Television Theatre." By the time the last sentence in the book of pages of Beatrice's life was written she appeared on "Laugh-In", "Soap", "The Mary Tyler Moore Hour", "Dave's World", "Malcolm in the Middle", "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "Futurama", "The Perry Como Show", "The George Gobel Show", "Saturday Night Live", "The Mike Douglas Show", "Ellen", "The View", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and many many other tribute shows, reunion shows, and award shows. In 1971 she was called on by her old friend Norman Lear to...

Marilyn Borden...the last surviving member of the Borden Twins acting duo. Along with her sister Roz, Marilyn appeared on a handful of television shows, many cruise ships and several fan conventions. She made appearances on "The Colgate Comedy Hour", "The Jimmy Durante Show", "The Joan Rivers Show", "Four Star Revue", "CHiP'S", "Maude" and "The Ropers." Her most famous role though was as "Teensey" in an episode of "I Love Lucy." The episode "Tennessee Bound" originally aired on January 24, 1955 as part of the show's adventures revolving around the gang's trip to California. While driving through Bent Fork, Tennessee Lucy goes a little too fast and is pulled over by the grouchy old sheriff (Will Wright). Ricky agrees to pay the fine but Lucy stands on principle and find herself behind bars. Ricky and the Mertzes along with "Cousin" Ernie (Tennessee Ernie Ford...

On September 20, 1954 the very first screen production of "12 Angry Men" aired during an episode of the anthology series "Studio One." It is very important to note that this performance was a live broadcast. Norman Fell (1924-1998) - Juror #1 John Beal (1909-1997) - Juror #2 Franchot Tone (1905-1968) - Juror #3 Walter Abel (1898-1987) - Juror #4 Lee Phillips (1927-1999) - Juror #5 Bart Burns (1918-2007) - Juror #6 Paul Hartman (1904-1973) - Juror #7 Robert Cummings (1910-1990) - Mr. Davis, Juror #8 Joseph Sweeney (1884-1963) - Mr. McCardle, Juror #9 Edward Arnold (1890-1956) - Juror #10 George Voskovec (1905-1981) - Juror #11 Larkin Ford (1920-2007) - Juror #12 Joseph Sweeney and George Voskovec went onto reprise their roles for the 1957 motion picture version.

This lady was a very talented Japanese voice actor and actress. Beginning in the 1960's she worked regularly on Japanese television live action shows and animated programs. She usually could be seen playing an evil witch, queen or some other form of head villainess. Some of the titles include "Obake no Q-taro", "Pyun Pyun Marv" and "Saibogu 009." In 1992, she played the witch Bandora on "Kyoryu sentai Jurenja." A year later that footage was transported to America and would become the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers." The witch Bandora was re-named Rita Replusa and her voice was dubbed by American voice actress Barbara Goodson. Rita became an instant hit in America and Machiko became well known in many households. Because of her elaborate costume and shrilling voice she became a favorite to children and adults. Footage of the original Japanese series was edited in with the American actors and whatever voice overs that were n...

Let's take a moment to remember the first family that took us into the future. George O'Hanlon (1912-1989) - George Jetson Penny Singleton (1908-2003) - Jane Jetson Daws Butler (1916-1988) - Elroy Jetson / Henry Cogswell Jean Vander Pyl (1919-1999) - Rosey the Robot / Mrs. Starla Spacely Don Messick (1926-1997) - Astro Mel Blanc (1908-1989) - Mr. Cosmo G. Spacely Janet Waldo (Judy Jetson) is still alive at the time of this posting at the age of 91.

They began as a middle class family that lived next door to Archie Bunker in Queens on "All in the Family." In 1975 they "moved on up" into a show of their own and became "The Jeffersons." Many of the wonderful cast members have left us but their legacy will live forever. Isabel Sanford (1917-2004) - Mrs. Louise "Weezy" Jefferson Roxie Roker (1929-1995) - Mrs. Helen Willis Franklin Cover (1928-2006) - Mr. Thomas "Tom" C. Willis Paul Benedict (1938-2008) - Mr. Harry Bentley Mike Evans (1949-2006) - Lionel Jefferson #1 *Zara Cully (1892-1978) - Mother Olivia Jefferson Still with us at the time of this post: Sherman Hemsley (71) - George Jefferson Marla Gibbs (77) - Florence Johnston Berlinda Tolbert (59) - Jenny Willis Jefferson Ned Wertimer (85) - Ralph Hart, the Doorman Damon Evans (59) - Lionel Jefferson #2 Jay Hammer (63) - Allan Willis *=Look for an in-depth tribute to Zara Cully elsewhere on this blog. Also, Paul Benedict was...