View Full Version : I'm "Thorny's" son, Ron DeFore


RD4
05-03-2020, 01:29 PM
It's been a while since I first joined this group (more than 10 years ago) and last logged on more than a year ago...but a lot has happened since. O&H fans may be interested to know I have since written a book about my Dad, Don DeFore - - "Growing Up in Disneyland." The title is both a metaphor for my life in a Hollywood celebrity family and surviving!, but also literal as Dad was the only person to own a concession inside Disneyland bearing the name of a real live person, "Don DeFore's Silver Banjo Barbecue" restaurant in Frontierland 1957 -1962. This photo is of him and my Uncle Verne who managed it. A photo on the cover of my book shows the DeFore family in the Autopia Cars riding up Main Street in the Park's opening day parade, July 17, 1955. The first part of the book that chronicles much of my Dad's career is in his own words as I have had his unpublished manuscript for nearly 30 years. You can get the book on Amazon or B&N or you can order a paperback copy, autographed by me, using this link: https://checkout.square.site/buy/W7KZ7YVIDRBKBS3GF4JHKTQI
https://defore.net/dadverne.jpg

Hazel Anyday
05-03-2020, 10:18 PM
From the dates looks like Thorny/Mr. B started this business when he was done on Ozzie and then dropped the business just as he was starting into Hazel. Great info. I never knew your Dad was in any other biz other than show.:)

samnsara
05-19-2020, 02:58 PM
I was never a Hazel fan but YES thats where I have seen your dad before! I loved him on OnH