I have always wondered when they kill off Fran (though I don't know why they had to kill her off) Was Iola Bolin brought on as a replacement for the mading prud replacment for Fran

I always wondered why Frannie got killed off too. Vinton's kids just disappeared, & they never said what happend to them, but poor Frannie died. I thought it was awful & funny how she died. Poor Frannie got choked on a toothpick cause Thelma got her laughing! I think Iola was kind of a replacment for Frannie.

Originally posted by Blair85
I always wondered why Frannie got killed off too. Vinton's kids just disappeared, & they never said what happend to them, but poor Frannie died. I thought it was awful & funny how she died. Poor Frannie got choked on a toothpick cause Thelma got her laughing! I think Iola was kind of a replacment for Frannie.


Vicki Lawrence's book that came out years ago called "Fireball"
talked a bit about her Mama days ( though not a whole lot ).

The was a gap between the NBC Mama's Family and the syndicated one that featured Iola and Bubba. Its been ahile since I read it but I remember reading that Allan Keyser ( Bubba ) was brought in to add youth to the show. I assume Vint's kids in the first shows may have gotten too old to continue.

The death of Fran: Maybe its because the actress who played her ( Rue ) went on to do the Golden Girls and a sidekick for Mama was needed so they brought in Iola.

Thats my guess.

Shame Vicki didnt spend more time talking about Mama's Family in her bio.

Thanks for the info bb. That's cool we're in the same state! offtopic: I've been to Martinsburg & it's a pretty place. I think people around here can kind of relate to "Mama's Family." It would be nice if it was still on!!!!

And didn't Rue Mclannahan(sp?) have Cancer? In about the third season of "Golden Girls", her hair looked like a wig.

Originally posted by ClesStahn
And didn't Rue Mclannahan(sp?) have Cancer? In about the third season of "Golden Girls", her hair looked like a wig.

Yes, Rue M. did have (breast) cancer. However, this was after she had finished The Golden Girls and Golden Palace. I think it was during her run in Nunsense II that she found the lump. She was able to survive it, fortunately. Last I heard, she was doing a play called "The Women" in NYC.

Plus, "Blanche's" hair changed more than anyone could imagine. Every season she had a new "do." I don't think she ever wore a wig on the show.

Lol, there goes my theory..