Brian Damage
12-20-2009, 10:52 PM
http://nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/article_2e55a209-8b1b-57bd-92f3-0fb84625534e.html
Last month while in Chicago I felt like I was in a television time warp.
It was days before Halloween and I had spent the morning at the Ford Center for Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre interviewing the finger-snapping cast of the new Broadway show "The Addams Family" and was on my way for lunch at Macy's with actress Kathy Garver aka older sister Cissy on the CBS TV show "Family Affair."
Ironically, both of these shows were on the air at the same time, though the creepy Addams clan couldn't have been more different, in addition to airing on competing network ABC.
(Check out my "Black Friday" Off Beat column for the complete scoop on the new "Addams Family" Broadway show debut in Chicago.)
As for Garver, she has written a great new cookbook with some help from author Geoffrey Mark. It even includes a foreword by actress Dawn Wells aka sweet farmgirl Mary Ann Summers from "Gilligan's Island."
This 170-page paperback called "The Family Affair Cookbook" (2009 BearManor Media $19.95) really packs in plenty of rare, vintage photos, in addition to great facts, tidbits plus a nice selection of recipes.
Remember, of the entire show cast, actor Brian Keith (1921-1997), who played the father, fussy Sabastian Cabot (1918-1977), who played butler Mr. French and child actress Anissa Jones (1958-1976) who played Buffy, all died years ago.
Today, only Garver and child actor Johnny Whitaker, 50, who played Jody, still remain.
Making things even more difficult is that this book had been planned more than a decade ago. However, a tragic fire destroyed Garver's house in California and most of her personal records and memorabilia from her career was lost. Amazingly, she's been able to replace many things.
Last month while in Chicago I felt like I was in a television time warp.
It was days before Halloween and I had spent the morning at the Ford Center for Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre interviewing the finger-snapping cast of the new Broadway show "The Addams Family" and was on my way for lunch at Macy's with actress Kathy Garver aka older sister Cissy on the CBS TV show "Family Affair."
Ironically, both of these shows were on the air at the same time, though the creepy Addams clan couldn't have been more different, in addition to airing on competing network ABC.
(Check out my "Black Friday" Off Beat column for the complete scoop on the new "Addams Family" Broadway show debut in Chicago.)
As for Garver, she has written a great new cookbook with some help from author Geoffrey Mark. It even includes a foreword by actress Dawn Wells aka sweet farmgirl Mary Ann Summers from "Gilligan's Island."
This 170-page paperback called "The Family Affair Cookbook" (2009 BearManor Media $19.95) really packs in plenty of rare, vintage photos, in addition to great facts, tidbits plus a nice selection of recipes.
Remember, of the entire show cast, actor Brian Keith (1921-1997), who played the father, fussy Sabastian Cabot (1918-1977), who played butler Mr. French and child actress Anissa Jones (1958-1976) who played Buffy, all died years ago.
Today, only Garver and child actor Johnny Whitaker, 50, who played Jody, still remain.
Making things even more difficult is that this book had been planned more than a decade ago. However, a tragic fire destroyed Garver's house in California and most of her personal records and memorabilia from her career was lost. Amazingly, she's been able to replace many things.