Grandpa Larkin - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

howilu · 07-04-2015, 09:21 AM

In the early episodes, Grandpa Larkin was seen frequently, since he was known as "The Fernwood Flasher." He also had romances with his social worker Roberta and a woman named Barbie. But as the series progressed, it seemed he was seen less frequently and would always ask "Where's the peanut butter?" Did anyone think his screen time diminished later in the show's run?

1960'sTVfan · 07-04-2015, 11:07 AM

Absolutely. I was going to make mention of that when I post again here on my thread "Halfway thru watching the 1st season". I'll be posting there again soon, now that I'm done watching season 1. I don't know why Grandpa Larkin's role was diminished as the season went on. His role basically became that of the wiser and older person, and he occasionally offered some advice to Mary, Cathy, Martha, etc. Victor Kilian, the actor who played the role, was up in years, could be his age had something to do with his diminished role in the show. He might have been having some health problems. It could also be that after the Fernwood Flasher thing, the writers couldn't come up with anything else interesting for him to do, LOL, so his role in the show got diminished.

Anyhow, I plan to post some comments soon in my "Halfway thru" thread now that I'm done with the first season.

1960'sTVfan · 07-04-2015, 11:50 AM

A side note on Victor Kilian, he was victim of a burglary and murdered in his Hollywood apartment on March 11 1979, just five days after his 88th birthday. So terrible, tragic, and very sad. Elderly actor Charles Wagenheim suffered the same fate five days earlier, which was Kilian's birthday. Ironically, both actors appeared in the All In The Family episode "The Return Of Stephanie's Father". This was the final screen appearance for both actors.

07-04-2015, 09:21 AM	#1
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,958	Grandpa Larkin In the early episodes, Grandpa Larkin was seen frequently, since he was known as "The Fernwood Flasher." He also had romances with his social worker Roberta and a woman named Barbie. But as the series progressed, it seemed he was seen less frequently and would always ask "Where's the peanut butter?" Did anyone think his screen time diminished later in the show's run?

07-04-2015, 11:07 AM	#2
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,046	Absolutely. I was going to make mention of that when I post again here on my thread "Halfway thru watching the 1st season". I'll be posting there again soon, now that I'm done watching season 1. I don't know why Grandpa Larkin's role was diminished as the season went on. His role basically became that of the wiser and older person, and he occasionally offered some advice to Mary, Cathy, Martha, etc. Victor Kilian, the actor who played the role, was up in years, could be his age had something to do with his diminished role in the show. He might have been having some health problems. It could also be that after the Fernwood Flasher thing, the writers couldn't come up with anything else interesting for him to do, LOL, so his role in the show got diminished. Anyhow, I plan to post some comments soon in my "Halfway thru" thread now that I'm done with the first season.

07-04-2015, 11:50 AM	#3
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,046	A side note on Victor Kilian, he was victim of a burglary and murdered in his Hollywood apartment on March 11 1979, just five days after his 88th birthday. So terrible, tragic, and very sad. Elderly actor Charles Wagenheim suffered the same fate five days earlier, which was Kilian's birthday. Ironically, both actors appeared in the All In The Family episode "The Return Of Stephanie's Father". This was the final screen appearance for both actors.