Read somewhere a few years ago that Elaine Stritch was first considered for the role of Dorothy. Writers wanted Bea Arthur all along but thought she would command too much dough. So, they went for an Elaine Stritch "lookalike" and wanted Barbara Billingsley. She auditioned and went into negotiations until Bea Arthur expressed interest. I guess Barbara got the shaft...

Hmmmmmm :lookaroun

I guess I could see Barbara in that role. Who knows? We're so used to seeing Bea portray Dorothy that it's hard to picture. But I guess she probably would have won our hearts too. Rue has revealed that Bea only agreed to play Dorothy when it was explained to her that Rue would play the "nympho" and Betty the naïve girl from Minnesota, not the other way around. She didn't want to play off of two characters that she had played off of again.

Hmmmmmm :lookaroun

I guess I could see Barbara in that role. Who knows? We're so used to seeing Bea portray Dorothy that it's hard to picture. But I guess she probably would have won our hearts too. Rue has revealed that Bea only agreed to play Dorothy when it was explained to her that Rue would play the "nympho" and Betty the naïve girl from Minnesota, not the other way around. She didn't want to play off of two characters that she had played off of again.

Sophia was going to go to Joyce Van Patten has this happened because they felt she would fit better with Billingsley. Blanche would have been played by Sheree North and Rose MIGHT have been played by Betty White...

I cant see Mrs. Cleaver calling Blanche a slut or Rose an idiot. Plus, I dont know if she could pull off the sense of humor that Bea had.

I cant see Mrs. Cleaver calling Blanche a slut or Rose an idiot. Plus, I dont know if she could pull off the sense of humor that Bea had.

Who would have thought she could pull off "speaking jive"...:D

"Who would have thought she could pull off "speaking jive"...


Yeah....... "I can dig it." :D

"Who would have thought she could pull off "speaking jive"...


Yeah....... "I can dig it." :D

"Speaking jive"? What does that mean in reference to Barbara Billingsly?

Or, is this some kind of inside joke that the two of you have?

"Speaking jive"? What does that mean in reference to Barbara Billingsly?

Or, is this some kind of inside joke that the two of you have?

It's from the movie Airplane:

https://youtu.be/fXSLcYQHqFQ

It's from the movie Airplane:

https://youtu.be/fXSLcYQHqFQ

My soon to be new Husband's ex wife was in the movie Airplane! ;) No, not really, just kidding!!!:) :D Disregard my post!:crazy: Moving right along...... :lol: :D


Now this IS an inside joke!!! :crazy: :lol: :D :wave:

I loved her in that movie!! It's a classic!

@WatcherOfOldTV, :wave:

As the posters above have explained, the "speaking jive" reference was from the movie, "Airplane!". With the notable exception of making jokes about pedophilia, (very poor judgment, in my opinion) it was one of the funniest movies of all time.

My "I can dig it" reference was a quote from Dorothy, in an episode where she was mocking Stan for trying to talk like a young, hip, guy.

I would love to know the sources of the Barbara Billingsley rumor. I've never heard that, and don't recall it mentioned in the recent "Golden Girls Forever" book.

"Who would have thought she could pull off "speaking jive"...


Yeah....... "I can dig it." :D

I just love Stan for some reason, he cracks me up when he always announces himself at the door and says "Hey Babe... its me... Stan."

Not sure why I get such a big kick out of him but I do...:crazy:

My soon to be new Husband's ex wife was in the movie Airplane! ;) No, not really, just kidding!!!:) :D Disregard my post!:crazy: Moving right along...... :lol: :D


Now this IS an inside joke!!! :crazy: :lol: :D :wave:

There are at least 2 of your friends here who are on the inside of that joke! :wave: :wave:

There are at least 2 of your friends here who are on the inside of that joke! :wave: :wave:


Maybe more..... :lol:

Maybe more..... :lol:

:lol: :D :wave:


I think Barbara Billingsley would have been too old to play Dorothy! She was born in 1915. So that would make her in her 70's when Golden Girls was on! Dorothy was written as a middle aged character with an elderly Mother, Sophia. I couldn't see Barbara playing Sophia's daughter. :confused: Nothing against Babs! I love her, but I think she would have been too old for the part! ;)

While undoubtedly Miss Billingsley was quite the character offscreen, even when she did the 'jive' bit, she always seemed more like a genteel matron attempting to loosen up but never entirely forgetting that she wasn't meant to be 'down and dirty' with the hoi polloi . Moreover, it would taken a LOT more stuff happening to the character for Miss Billingsley to have believably pulled off being . . .peeved whereas, it didn't take much for Miss Arthur's Dorothy to let any offenders have it with both barrels. Sorry, but as much as I adored Miss Billingley in 'LItB' and her other works, I just can't imagine she'd have been as good as 'Dorothy' as the late Miss Arthur proved to be.

P.S. Also, with Miss Billingsley having been born in 1917, WHO could they have found to have played her MOTHER who herself didn't have one foot in the grave?

It's from the movie Airplane:

https://youtu.be/fXSLcYQHqFQ


I got that right away!! :lol: :lol:

I just love Stan for some reason, he cracks me up when he always announces himself at the door and says "Hey Babe... its me... Stan."

Not sure why I get such a big kick out of him but I do...:crazy:

I love that also!! I saw him in an episode of Kojak a few days ago and the first thing I said to my Goddaughter that was watching with me I told him his classic line was "Hi its me Stan..." :lol: :lol: :lol:

While undoubtedly Miss Billingsley was quite the character offscreen, even when she did the 'jive' bit, she always seemed more like a genteel matron attempting to loosen up but never entirely forgetting that she wasn't meant to be 'down and dirty' with the hoi polloi . Moreover, it would taken a LOT more stuff happening to the character for Miss Billingsley to have believably pulled off being . . .peeved whereas, it didn't take much for Miss Arthur's Dorothy to let any offenders have it with both barrels. Sorry, but as much as I adored Miss Billingley in 'LItB' and her other works, I just can't imagine she'd have been as good as 'Dorothy' as the late Miss Arthur proved to be.

P.S. Also, with Miss Billingsley having been born in 1917, WHO could they have found to have played her MOTHER who herself didn't have one foot in the grave?

I agree 70 in those days was older than 70 today, if that makes sense. But Barbara Billingsley was only eight years older than Bea Arthur, and every character on the show with the exception of Rue McClanahan was playing someone younger than them (Betty White was born in 1922 but Rose was made out to be born around 1930; Bea also was born in 1922 but Dorothy was at least five years younger than that; and Estelle Getty was born in 1923 but made up to look like Sophia was born around 1905).
My issue with the casting would be what most everyone else's in this thread is. Barbara Billingsley just didn't have the personality to be the Dorothy we know.

I agree 70 in those days was older than 70 today, if that makes sense. But Barbara Billingsley was only eight years older than Bea Arthur, and every character on the show with the exception of Rue McClanahan was playing someone younger than them (Betty White was born in 1922 but Rose was made out to be born around 1930; Bea also was born in 1922 but Dorothy was at least five years younger than that; and Estelle Getty was born in 1923 but made up to look like Sophia was born around 1905).
My issue with the casting would be what most everyone else's in this thread is. Barbara Billingsley just didn't have the personality to be the Dorothy we know.

Yes, you are right, Bea Arthur nailed that part.

How about BB as Rose? Nothing against my idol Betty White who owned that role but I think BB could have pulled off that character more easily than that of Dorothy.

And while am at it do you think Elaine Stritch would have been a good Dorothy? Similar personality type. Maybe she would have been TOO bitter in the part. I liked later Dorothy when she lightened up and wasn't so strident.

How about Debbie Reynolds as Blanche? That might have been interesting.

All in all though they had the PERFECT cast and I am glad we got who we got.

My favorite character is Blanche and NOBODY could have pulled that role off better than Rue. She was born for the part.

I am still thinking of alternate Sophia's and I am stumped. Wild card choice. Lucille Ball? :crazy: :lol: :crazy:

The 4 had great chemistry on the show so it would be hard to say that anyone could replace them. I don't think Barbara Billingsley would work as Dorothy. I think she was too sweet and nice. Face it, could you picture her calling Blanche a slut? The same person who was Wally and the Beaver's mom?

Sofia could have been played by Selma Diamond. I could see her to tell Dorothy off a few times..

Sofia could have been played by Selma Diamond. I could see her to tell Dorothy off a few times..

Selma would have been a very funny Sophia had she lived long enough. I loved her wisecracks and deadpan delivery. :D

Selma would have been a very funny Sophia had she lived long enough. I loved her wisecracks and deadpan delivery. :D

I think it would be a role she would have been perfect for. I'm glad to have seen her in Night Court for a couple of years. :) :)

Barbra as Rose? I could see her in that role.

Barbra as Rose? I could see her in that role.

That I could see...

And while am at it do you think Elaine Stritch would have been a good Dorothy?
watch?v=ntxKRj9DRnc

Just kidding, Anna. :lol: