I grew up hanging out with my uncle Rusty and heard all the good stories about the show from he and my father. I have many promo shots of them all, some signed and unsigned. Rusty had no children so I was like a son to him while he was around. He was a good man but very depressed about the way Hollywood treated him after the show ended. He wasnt a drunk loud violent man like the papers said when he died. he liked fishing and cooking, like a normal person! feel free to reply or e-mail me Ian Hamer

Hi Ian................ You know...... I grew up watching your Uncle when I was a young girl and I use to watch the show religiously. I felt so sad to hear what happened to Rusty because he was so comical on the Danny Thomas Show. He always made me laugh especially with Danny Thomas. When the 2 would argue on the show I would just love it. They had such comraderie........ I'm glad you came here to tell us
about him. :wave:

I loved my uncle very much and saw how unhappy he was everyday. We used to go fishing together and he taught me about guns and things. He lived alone in a small mobile home in the woods on our land and didnt talk alot, but loved to stop by my grandmothers and talk to her and help her in her garden. Alot of people thought he was weird or mean, but he didnt mean to hate people. Hollywood really messed him up!! Paul Peterson (Jeff on the Donna Reed show) has started a child actors support group type of thing after Rusty died and Jay North (Dennis the Menace) had problems. They all were on the Sally Jesse Rapheal show after Rusty died to talk about how bad Hollywood treated em after there shows ended. Its a damn shame!!!! If anyone knows how to get a copy of the Sally show let me know I have abadd copy thats been played many times but would like to have a better one. Iwill check with Sally's web site to see if I can get one from them. thank you all for your support of The show and if we all do more maybe we can get it on Nick at Nite? hope so I miss seeing it on TV Ian H

Ian You're right I had seen the Sally Jesse Raphael Show after Rusty had died and I remember Paul Peterson talking about the pressures of fame and how Hollywood just forgets about their young actors. It's sad to hear what happened to Rusty. Always remember the good times with your famous uncle...........

PS I always wondered if he ever had a crush on Angela Cartwright........... She was so pretty too... :lol:

My uncle had never talked about his personal relationships with Angela or the other cast members other than Danny. Ill ask my father next time I talk to him. My father appeared on the show 3 times as a walk on or as the college boyfriend/friend later in the show. I need to refresh some of the old stories now that I have peoploe to talk to about it. Ill get back on here with some stories soon. bye for now Ian H

I just found out Rustys death was sucide. thats sad. i never was sure about his death and was shocked about it being sucide. i cant imagine what goes through peoples heads when they have no hope in anything. im really sorry about your Uncles death Ian.

Hello Ian ! Like so many others, I grew up watching your uncle and felt a kinship to him. He was a wonderful and talented young actor and it's really a shame that Hollywood has a terrible track record in the way they treat their own. Can you tell me at what point did Rusty leave Hollywood and had he kept in touch with any of the cast members since he left ? Thank you.

Uncle Rusty did keep in touch with Danny but not really any of the others for he became very distant and alone after his 20's. He stayed in Hollywood for a bit doing odd jobs and some small nothing roles in b movies (Fort ty) was one. I cant find it. My father was in it also. He then moved to Louisiana in the early 80's and stayed near us and becasme a fisherman and ran a local paper route to give him something to do during the day. He became very distant and somewhete mean after about 86-87 or so. But calmed down some around the time of his death when he helped out at the family resteraunt cooking and such and then was located by a local TV man and interview a couple times and that may have brought back some old memories wich had led to his ending of his own life in his home by way of a S&W 357 Magnum to the head. We all miss him so and I regret the last time he and I spoke I was 12 and we were fighting. If U can hear me Unc I Love U!!! and we are all doing well, and I just had my first Baby boy born in August and he looks so much like U!!!

bye for now Ian H.

WHOA!! Thanks for all the great info about your uncle! I learned alot!:)

nevermind

Ian - I just saw your post on the baby so Congratulations! I'm happy for you.

Also do you have that wonderful head of hair that Rusty had?

hi i just wanted to say ive been a big fan of your uncle since i saw my first rerun at 11 i even have quite a few on tape my fave ep that he was featured in was the one where danny tries to convince rusty not to beleve in peter pan and also there was one where hugh o brien guest stared he even had his wyatt erap getup on rusty even sang in that one anyway im sorry for your loss hollywood may have forgotten but we true fans sure havent

Ian, it is a pleasure and an honor to be able to chat with you....Rusty was one of my favorite young actors...I was growing up when the Danny Thomas was first being showed, and I never missed an episode.

You are correct when you mention about how Hollywood can mess up the lives of young actors...there have been far too many beautiful lives lost there, and it has not stopped...we just lost Jon Brandis. Paul is a wonderful person, I have exchanged messages with him several times, and he feels the pain of each and every child actor who has been hurt by the industry.

Please keep posting here, it is wonderful to hear your memories of one of our favorites!

No I unfortunalty didnt get his Curly hair but my son does. I have also been informed by my mother that the show has been picked up by one of the Big guys (TV Land or Nick) Let me know if you guys hear as to which one has it and lets all support the greatest show of the 50's. Take care all. Let me know if you see where it will be playing e-mail ianhamer@bellsouth.net

Message to Ian Hamer,

I guess you know that your UNCLE RUSTY was also a semi-regular in the final season of "The Joey Bishop Show" on CBS.
If you don't have those episodes, get back to me. I have at least 2.

you guys know 10x as much about his career than I do. All I know of him in was Fort ty and MRFD and MRFGD. Anything that you may have would be nice to see.

My name is Michael Menkin. I was Rusty Hamer’s next door neighbor in 1956 and 1957. I lived on 27 Latimer Road in Santa Monica, California. I had three brothers, Thomas, Peter, and Kit. Thomas died of cancer in 1991. Rusty Hamer had two brothers, Johnny and Walter. Johnny is my age, 64. Walter was 18 when he drove my Paul Revere Junior High School Club to Palm Desert in April of 1957. James Whitmore lived across the street from us. He had three boys who I used to baby-sit. Lee Marvin lived down the street.

In 1957 we moved to Greentree Road in Pacific Palisades, about a mile away. Not far from where James Arness of Gunsmoke lived. I still saw Johnny when I was a teenager. He was into cars as I was. He drove so fast on Latimer Road that they put speed bumps on the road just to slow him down. Your uncle would be interested to know that the “Uplifter’s Ranch” sign still hangs over Latimer Road.

As I recall, Rusty’s father was a Hollywood cameraman who died when the boys were young. Rusty became the family breadwinner. Maybe he was spoiled then but it was still hard on him. I remember one year he got 100 silver dollars to play with as a present.

I have not seen any of the Hamers since 1962. I am deeply sorry about Rusty’s death. We all liked him. My father, Lawrence Menkin, was a Hollywood writer so we were all part of show business. He wrote many of the TV series in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. When that dried up he got a job in public relations in San Francisco.

Ian, who is your father, Johnny or Walter? I haven’t seen them since 1962. If they are interested in contacting me, please have them email me at mmenkin@hotmail.com. It would be great to see them again. Michael Menkin

My name is Michael Menkin. I was Rusty Hamer’s next door neighbor in 1956 and 1957. I lived on 27 Latimer Road in Santa Monica, California. I had three brothers, Thomas, Peter, and Kit. Thomas died of cancer in 1991. Rusty Hamer had two brothers, Johnny and Walter. Johnny is my age, 64. Walter was 18 when he drove my Paul Revere Junior High School Club to Palm Desert in April of 1957. James Whitmore lived across the street from us. He had three boys who I used to baby-sit. Lee Marvin lived down the street.

In 1957 we moved to Greentree Road in Pacific Palisades, about a mile away. Not far from where James Arness of Gunsmoke lived. I still saw Johnny when I was a teenager. He was into cars as I was. He drove so fast on Latimer Road that they put speed bumps on the road just to slow him down. Your uncle would be interested to know that the “Uplifter’s Ranch” sign still hangs over Latimer Road.

As I recall, Rusty’s father was a Hollywood cameraman who died when the boys were young. Rusty became the family breadwinner. Maybe he was spoiled then but it was still hard on him. I remember one year he got 100 silver dollars to play with as a present.

I have not seen any of the Hamers since 1962. I am deeply sorry about Rusty’s death. We all liked him. My father, Lawrence Menkin, was a Hollywood writer so we were all part of show business. He wrote many of the TV series in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. When that dried up he got a job in public relations in San Francisco.

Ian, who is your father, Johnny or Walter? I haven’t seen them since 1962. If they are interested in contacting me, please have them email me at mmenkin@hotmail.com. It would be great to see them again. Michael Menkin

I was on three "Make Room for Daddy" shows, with my Little League team in 1955, then as the drummer in Sherry Jackson's band from an episode in 1957/58 called I believe, "Memories" and finally in a show just released as part of the new DVD package, "The Saints Come Marching In", as the drummer once again. My dad was an actor announcer and so I grew up in the business, but I had a regular childhood compared to what your uncle experienced.

From the first show, I remember being impressed with Rusty Hamer's acting chops. He was a terrific actor, with excellent comedy timing far beyond his years. I also remember thinking how lonely this boy was in that environment. When my Little League team was on the show, Rusty got to hang with us, but we were older and so it was brief in nature. The other two shows, when we were required to be in school ( a teacher there on the set and specific time devoted to school only) I remember Rusty being in the class setting, but little else. The enduring memory I have of your uncle in breaks during rehearsals was seeing him outside playing catch with one of the crew. There were no friends his age on the lot and even at 13 years old, it struck me as being a tough way to go through childhood. I had my best buddy in the band with me, the trombone player, and since this was an once in a while thing (being on tv) we went to the same junior high, high school and college. In contrast, this was a full time job for your uncle. and because of that, he had to do all his schooling on the lot and that meant there weren't any kids close to his age to play with, only adults. I do remember Sheldon Leonard ( the producer) spending time talking to Rusty. Danny Thomas I'm sure like Rusty, as well. The writers did for sure, since your uncle could pull off his lines the way they were written to be said, but your uncle paid a heavy price for his fame.

I thought he was a wonderful child actor and the sad end to his life was not what should have happened, but so often does to adults who were famous as child stars and aren't able to translate their talents to adult life.

Best regards,
Bill Baldwin, Jr.
Los Angeles

Ian- Here's something on a positive note about your uncle. Everybody remembers him, his talent, and his great sense of humor. Even though his death was very unfortunate and his treatment unfair, he did leave his mark.
That's something many of us will never have.

Yes, a great actor to be so young. I really liked watching him on this show.

Hi Ian: I don't think you'll ever get this message. You and I are second cousins. My mother, Karen Hamer, was your uncle's first cousin. Her father was Frank Hamer. Anyway, I grew up knowing some of the Long Island Hamers who may be even more closely related to you. Kathy

Mr. Hammer I appreciate you being so open about your uncle here with us. When Nick at Nite got that show, I used to watch it quite a bit. I enjoyed it much.:)

Ian, I remember Danny Thomas saying on one of his last appearances what sounded like an embittered statement, "The young man I had on my show was a disappointment." He didn't even mention his name. I guess Danny thought of Rusty like a real son. I read also Danny was going to use his real daughter Marlo on the show but Mrs. Thomas put her foot down and said no.
I believe Sherry and Angela really loved Rusty like a brother. To think that this bright and talented youngster could have been another Ron Howard who also played Opie for years. What a wonderful legacy you have for your children and grandchildren. Their uncle was one of the first child stars of television. He should be forgiven. He was a victim of circumstances.

Hello again, Ian. Several years ago I taped some of Rusty's many
appearances on THE JOEY BISHOP SHOW in its final season for you.
Hope you are well.

Yes, we're still around. some of us are even still involved in the industry in one way or another. (smaller markets though)

Arthur (Walter) is living in Regina, Sask. - and doing well.

Rusty, John, and Arthur's father was not a cameraman but a salesman for menswear.

Mr. Menkin, my father would love to chat with you contact me at cahamer AT bellsouth.net and we can get you two in touch (he uses Skype)

Kathy , my father says he remembers Frank Hamer, and his brother Arthur being moved to Brookyln from Lancashire by Grandma Lova

Walter (Arthur) from the West Coast contingent is my father, and I have 3 children

I have some other informaion, might be able to fill in some gaps.

Ian, who is your father, Johnny or Walter? I haven’t seen them since 1962. If they are interested in contacting me, please have them email me at mmenkin@hotmail.com. It would be great to see them again. Michael Menkin

I don't see a response to your question from Ian, but since his family lived in Louisiana at one time, I think his father was John. John was the one who owned a restaurant in DeRidder where Rusty was living at the time of his tragic death.

I believe Rusty's oldest brother Arthur Walter Jr. died in 2010. Rusty was the youngest.

I agree with the poster who said Rusty had entertained us for years with his talent, his comedic timing, and his musical ability. It's sad that Hollywood treats its talented youngsters so shabbily. None of them deserve that.

In late December 1966, Rusty was accidentally shot when his weapon fell out of its holster onto the street and went off, wounding him in the abdomen. Danny Thomas visited him in the hospital in Santa Monica. He moved from California to Louisiana in 1976.