Mrs. Garrett worked well on both shows, first as a housekeeper of three kids then as housemother for seven girls, dietitian of a girls school and finally business woman. And Charlotte Rae's acting was terrific! You really have the impression she is their mother, for both the three orphans kids and boarding school girls.

I think Charlotte could have had good chemistry with a rock, if needed.

It's really a shame she was sidelined partway through her FOL run.

I think Charlotte could have had good chemistry with a rock, if needed.

That's funny you say that, Retro, because I myself find that rocks are frightfully

-

:lol: As soon as I said "rock", that's who I thought of! Great minds think alike.

:lol: As soon as I said "rock", that's who I thought of! Great minds think alike.

:lol:

:cheers:

Back to the original thought, FOL-FAN-ITA, my experience is kind of different because I saw the show at such a young age. Because I was such a young child, I never saw Charlotte as "mothery" or ever thought of her as a "mother figure". To me, she was grandmotherly, and she was like a surrogate grandmother for the girls. (and a 3rd grandmother for me! :wave:)

(to a kid as young as I was, she was old! lol)

Back to the original thought, FOL-FAN-ITA, my experience is kind of different because I saw the show at such a young age. Because I was such a young child, I never saw Charlotte as "mothery" or ever thought of her as a "mother figure". To me, she was grandmotherly, and she was like a surrogate grandmother for the girls. (and a 3rd grandmother for me! :wave:)

(to a kid as young as I was, she was old! lol)

3 of Mrs G.'s girls (Molly, Felice, Julie Anne) are now about the age of Mrs. G when she was on the show and have preteen kids so it's possible those girls could have seen her as a motherly figure. Some people think Molly is too old to be a mother in Riverdale despite that her real life kids as as young or younger than Archie.

3 of Mrs G.'s girls (Molly, Felice, Julie Anne) are now about the age of Mrs. G when she was on the show and have preteen kids so it's possible those girls could have seen her as a motherly figure. Some people think Molly is too old to be a mother in Riverdale despite that her real life kids as as young or younger than Archie.

Charlotte was 53 when FOL started, so she could easily have been a grandmother. She could have had kids in their 30s, and those kids could have had Char's grandkids who would have been teenagers.

It's no wonder I saw her as a grandmother when I was a tot! :lol:

3 of Mrs G.'s girls (Molly, Felice, Julie Anne) are now about the age of Mrs. G when she was on the show

I think they are all about the age of Mrs. Garrett, but Molly is considerably younger than Felice.

I think the chemistry was equal with her Facts family and her Different Strokes family. Mrs. Garret was great with both families.

I think the chemistry was equal with her Facts family and her Different Strokes family. Mrs. Garret was great with both families.

She really, truly was! :)

I think they are all about the age of Mrs. Garrett, but Molly is considerably younger than Felice.

I mean currently. Molly is just 3/4 of a year away from being the age of Charlotte when she first started on the FOL. Molly has one 16 year old and two 11 year olds. Both Julie Anne and Felice currently have preteen kids and they are definitely old enough to have grandkids.

I mean currently. Molly is just 3/4 of a year away from being the age of Charlotte when she first started on the FOL. Molly has one 16 year old and two 11 year olds. Both Julie Anne and Felice currently have preteen kids and they are definitely old enough to have grandkids.

I think this is a product of changes in social mores over the years.

Charlotte married at age 25-ish. But nowadays, women are having families later in life. They're choosing to have careers and waiting longer to have kids. Kim has a young child, too.

And with better fertility medicine, moms can wait a few years longer than they used to be able to wait. Kim was about 44 when she gave birth to her second child. That was exceedingly rare in Charlotte's day.

Both Lisa and Julie Pie got married relatively early in age and both are now grandmothers.

Charlotte definitely had the best chemistry with the Facts gals.

I agree with Johnny be good: MRS G was all heart with the FOL girls!!!!!