About three weeks into fifth grade a new boy had just moved to town and joined the class. Chris was seated next to me. As we talked I was bragging that my father, Don DeFore, was going to be co-starring in a new TV series called "Hazel." He was very excited but not so much for me but for himself. "Wow, my Dad just won a Tony award and we just moved to California because he's going to be in a TV show too." To which I replied, "What's a Tony Award?" "What's a Tony Award?" He asked mockingly. With great indignation he blurted, "My Dad is Dick Van Dyke!" "Who is Dick Van Dyke?" I asked. From that point on Chris Van Dyke and I remained good friends. He, Barry and I would hang out a lot at either our home in Brentwood on Mandeville Canyon or his up Westridge Road.
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Ron DeFore

About three weeks into fifth grade a new boy had just moved to town and joined the class. Chris was seated next to me. As we talked I was bragging that my father, Don DeFore, was going to be co-starring in a new TV series called "Hazel." He was very excited but not so much for me but for himself. "Wow, my Dad just won a Tony award and we just moved to California because he's going to be in a TV show too." To which I replied, "What's a Tony Award?" "What's a Tony Award?" He asked mockingly. With great indignation he blurted, "My Dad is Dick Van Dyke!" "Who is Dick Van Dyke?" I asked. From that point on Chris Van Dyke and I remained good friends. He, Barry and I would hang out a lot at either our home in Brentwood on Mandeville Canyon or his up Westridge Road.
Join DonDeFore@groups.facebook.com and visit www.defore.net
Ron DeFore

Hi, Ron

Wow ! You're Don DeFore's son ?! Neat ! I never got to watch much Hazel in my lifetime, unfortunately. But I must tell you that I absolutely loved your dad as Thorny in the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ! His was my favorite supporting character in that show. I wish there were more seasons of him. [For that matter, I wish the studios would do the decent thing and release all of O & H in a season-by-season form instead of this 'best of' nonsense. I will determine what the 'best' episodes are, thank you, and I like all of those I've seen ! :D] (Btw, coincidentally, I've also just recently watched your dad in episodes of Murder, She Wrote and Ellery Queen.

Anyway, thanks for posting this interesting story about you and Chris Van Dyke ! :)

Very cool story! Here's another unique way Hazel and The Dick Van Dyke Show are connected-- the title logo for both shows use the same typeface. And I've never seen it used anywhere else in 50 years.