I always get a kick out the opening credits.
Do kids kiss their parents goodbye like the kids do in Donna Reed?.
I never did. Specially Mary and Jeff were 12 and 14 when the show began. I can see kissing mommy and daddy at age 5 but beyond that??? They all seem so lovey dovey.

"The Donna Reed Show" is probably one of the most fondly-remembered '50s comedies because of that "lovey-dovey" feeling. And yes, in 1958, many moms and dads got goodbye kisses from their kids before they went their separate ways.

Fact is, some still do even 55 years later! Not to mention grandmas and grandpas!

I love how extremely close this family was on the show. Even outside the set they truly remain a "family" for so many years. Carl & Donna were like 2nd parents to Shelley, Paul & Patty.

I found it interesting how Donna Reed's opening sequence changed in later years at the end. Originally she leaned on the door after shutting it when Alex left. In later years, she hurriedly followed Alex out the door, showing that now she had somewhere to go too.

I found it interesting how Donna Reed's opening sequence changed in later years at the end. Originally she leaned on the door after shutting it when Alex left. In later years, she hurriedly followed Alex out the door, showing that now she had somewhere to go too.

I vaguely remember that opening sequence. Donna had the helmet hair and indeed she walked out the door. Kind of had that hidden symbolism I'm assuming.

All Donna Reed opening sequences can be found here.

http://youtu.be/INic3Gwgot8

I notice that Shelly Fabares is NOT present in the last season and Paul Petersens' sister becomes
a cast member. Anyone know the story behind why Shelly wasn't in the last season? How did they
explain it on the show and what's the real true story behind her blatant absense?



http://i.imgur.com/PqRIXTn.gif (http://lunapic.com>)

I haven't seen all of the last season, but I believe they explained it by having her go to college, and she came back to do two episodes in season 7, and one in season 8.
I believe she left the show because she wanted to do more films.

I haven't seen all of the last season, but I believe they explained it by having her go to college, and she came back to do two episodes in season 7, and one in season 8.
I believe she left the show because she wanted to do more films.

Shel did 4 episodes in season 6 too!
At least she managed to appear in all 8 seasons of the show (OK sporadically in 6,7, & 8)

All Donna Reed opening sequences can be found here.

http://youtu.be/INic3Gwgot8

I notice that Shelly Fabares is NOT present in the last season and Paul Petersens' sister becomes
a cast member. Anyone know the story behind why Shelly wasn't in the last season? How did they
explain it on the show and what's the real true story behind her blatant absense?



http://i.imgur.com/PqRIXTn.gif (http://lunapic.com>)


The Petersen sister didn't do much on the show except be a seat filler imho.

I haven't seen all of the last season, but I believe they explained it by having her go to college, and she came back to do two episodes in season 7, and one in season 8.
I believe she left the show because she wanted to do more films.

I also think that her marriage to music producer Lou Adler led to her leaving the show as a regular, as she had the responsibilities of a new wife then as well.

Paul's sister was a cute kid, and they had a decent storyline leading up to her character's adoption. But generally I found the storylines revolving around Mary & Jeff to be more compelling, as far as the kids went.

Donna was one smokin' hot lady. I really think she could've pulled off the kinds of long-hair looks that Shelley later got into as the '70s drew near, and into them. Regardless, her face was so pretty that more-or-less any style looked pretty good on her...! :)

Paul's sister was a cute kid, and they had a decent storyline leading up to her character's adoption. But generally I found the storylines revolving around Mary & Jeff to be more compelling, as far as the kids went.

Donna was one smokin' hot lady. I really think she could've pulled off the kinds of long-hair looks that Shelley later got into as the '70s drew near, and into them. Regardless, her face was so pretty that more-or-less any style looked pretty good on her...! :)

Any pics of Donna with long hair :confused:

I remember seeing Shelley in a movie with that beautiful long dark hair years after sporting that tight flip on Donna Reed Show.

Any pics of Donna with long hair :confused:

I remember seeing Shelley in a movie with that beautiful long dark hair years after sporting that tight flip on Donna Reed Show.


http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTE-6rXfM7RkNBeAjizEOiD_TvGmTlsV9hLT_qzZR1gSxCFrIh9mg:userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/89491913/Donna%2BReed%2B33.jpghttp://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3UUPYddXwz20Bm5JxOxplt-ZXj1llxDi8zvr8WN7o0s3AjuCJ:imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/27/2770/SYXTD00Z/posters/donna-reed.jpg

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTE-6rXfM7RkNBeAjizEOiD_TvGmTlsV9hLT_qzZR1gSxCFrIh9mg:userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/89491913/Donna%2BReed%2B33.jpghttp://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3UUPYddXwz20Bm5JxOxplt-ZXj1llxDi8zvr8WN7o0s3AjuCJ:imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/27/2770/SYXTD00Z/posters/donna-reed.jpg

Thank you, Kindly :happyface

I wished Donna grew her hair out in later years. I know she did a season of Dallas and a horror TV movie (name escapes me) but she kept that short bubble hair I believe.

Thank you, Kindly :happyface

I wished Donna grew her hair out in later years. I know she did a season of Dallas and a horror TV movie (name escapes me) but she kept that short bubble hair I believe.


She really was a beautiful woman. I love her in 'It's a Wonderful Life', she really was so pretty.

I always get a kick out the opening credits.
Do kids kiss their parents goodbye like the kids do in Donna Reed?.
I never did. Specially Mary and Jeff were 12 and 14 when the show began. I can see kissing mommy and daddy at age 5 but beyond that??? They all seem so lovey dovey.

not sure about everyone but I am gonna be 40 in a few weeks and I always do...hug and kiss my husband, parents and bro whenever I am saying hello and goodbye and always tell them I love them...we have always been that way...that's the norm to us...

Wow. Maybe it is certain family traditions. I hardly ever hug anyone. When someones relative has died or someone is ill, I will, but other than that, I just say hello.

I never did when I was a teenager.

I always get a kick out the opening credits.
Do kids kiss their parents goodbye like the kids do in Donna Reed?.
I never did. Specially Mary and Jeff were 12 and 14 when the show began. I can see kissing mommy and daddy at age 5 but beyond that??? They all seem so lovey dovey.

When I was a kid/teenager during the 1980's I don't recall kissing my family. But my mother, grandmothers, and sister would often give me a kiss on the cheek and a hug and I really never thought anything about it. I grew up in the south and women tend to be very affectionate here.

I would have returned for a kiss goodbye from Donna again and again (like Dopey and Snow White)!

I never kissed my parents, I have hugged them before. I had a grandmother who came to visit from Michigan every few years when I was young. She wore this vivid red lipstick and was always trying to kiss us kids. You'd end up with this big red lip print on your face. None of us liked it.

I think some keep kissing right along. But yes, I think there is an age limit to it.

Thoughts on my thread that I started. I didn't know my grandparents- and aunts, uncles and cousins were in different locations than where I lived. But I did sometimes hug at funerals, weddings but never actually kissed on the cheek. Maybe having no husband, the tradition of kissing loved ones goes nowhere with me.

Some relatives were kissy-types when I was a kid. I never liked it.

Fortunately those relatives weren't local--we visited them once in awhile.