"LITB Cast Then and Now"

[MichaelMartinD]

I don't know if anyone here has seen these strange new AI-produced videos. Basically, they attempt to show the cast members of various movies and TV shows in a "then and now" format. (Members who have passed on appear in the video with angel wings!) Some of the AI re-creations are a bit off, but see what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KloR...ist=WL&index=1

[stevea]

Kinda clever! (Or Cleaver)

[Sgt. Saunders]

I haven’t seen the LITB one on YouTube yet, but I have seen the one honoring the cast of “Welcome Back, Kotter.”

I will check out the LITB video. However, I’d like to see them honor some of the lesser known LITB actors, like Wendell Holmes (Handyman Andy Hadlock - among several other characters he portrayed.), Jess Kirkpatrick (Who portrayed a policeman, a shoe salesman, a sanitation engineer, a car salesman and a pet store owner on the show. Were there any other roles for Mr. Kirkpatrick, I’m forgetting?)

And, of course, Diane Sayer (Who left an indelible impression on millions of young male LITB fans back in 1962 with her all-too-realistic portrayal of the sultry and sensual (or is that sensuous?) movie
theater ticket cashier, Marlene Holmes!).

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Saunders

I haven’t seen the LITB one on YouTube yet, but I have seen the one honoring the cast of “Welcome Back, Kotter.”

I will check out the LITB video. However, I’d like to see them honor some of the lesser known LITB actors, like Wendell Holmes (Handyman Andy Hadlock - among several other characters he portrayed.), Jess Kirkpatrick (Who portrayed a policeman, a shoe salesman, a sanitation engineer, a car salesman and a pet store owner on the show. Were there any other roles for Mr. Kirkpatrick, I’m forgetting?)

And, of course, Diane Sayer (Who left an indelible impression on millions of young male LITB fans back in 1962 with her all-too-realistic portrayal of the sultry and sensual (or is that sensuous?) movie
theater ticket cashier, Marlene Holmes!).

John Hoyt played the headmaster of a prep school, a clothing store salesman, and a representative of an accordion company.

Other than Andy Hadlock, Wendell Holmes portrayed Mr. Willet (a teacher in a few early episodes), and Mr. Blair (a teacher in some later episodes).

Bartlett Robinson played an attorney friend of Ward's, Mr. Compton, who Beaver wanted to help him get out of a modeling contract, and Mr. Hill, who owned an empty lot in the seedier section of Mayfield, where Eddie and Lumpy dumped the Cleavers' trash in "Yard Birds."

Ann Doran, Lenore Kingston, and Jean VanderPyl also had multiple roles.

I don't think either Doris Packer or Burt Mustin were mentioned in the video. Both were integral to the show. Diane Brewster (Miss Canfield) was important in season 1.

[MichaelMartinD]

Originally Posted by stevea

I don't think either Doris Packer or Burt Mustin were mentioned in the video. Both were integral to the show. Diane Brewster (Miss Canfield) was important in season 1.

You are absolutely right, and that slipped my mind as I watched the video. Both should have been included. Ditto for Wally's girlfriends, Penny Woods, and others. Come to think of it, one of the things the video brought to mind is what a rich story world LITB has. So many memorable characters and relationships.

[Dude111]

Thank you dues!!

[Sgt. Saunders]

Do you prefer actor Wendell Holmes with dark hair (portraying poor, down-on-his-luck, dipsomaniacal Andy Hadlock) or as a summer blond (portraying either dedicated teacher Mr. Willett or equally dedicated teacher Mr. Blair, I can’t remember which one it was?).

PS John Hart, who portrayed a Boy Scout leader and the forest ranger, who pulled a visibly nervous Eddie Haskell up out of that gully in an especially memorable LITB episode.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Saunders

Do you prefer actor Wendell Holmes with dark hair (portraying poor, down-on-his-luck, dipsomaniacal Andy Hadlock) or as a summer blond (portraying either dedicated teacher Mr. Willett or equally dedicated teacher Mr. Blair, I can’t remember which one it was?).

PS John Hart, who portrayed a Boy Scout leader and the forest ranger, who pulled a visibly nervous Eddie Haskell up out of that gully in an especially memorable LITB episode.

I think Mr. Willet had the sandy hair. It definitely made him look older.

[MichaelMartinD]

Also Uncle Billy could have been included in the video, even though he wasn't exactly a regular.

[Sgt. Saunders]

Yes, Uncle Billy, definitely.

After acting like a loud blowhard in his first LITB appearance, Uncle Billy redeemed himself in the episode where he spent the weekend with Wally and the Beaver when Ward and June took off during that same weekend.

It was great seeing Uncle Billy (who, some LITB fans believe was the inspiration for the late, great John Candy’s equally unpredictable and fun-loving character, Uncle Buck) and the boys having a great time together: bringing June and the boys such unique presents, having a barbecue in the backyard with Wally and the Beaver and preparing a delicious breakfast for them, among other neat things.

But, leave it to the scheming and duplicitous Gilbert Bates to “expletive-delete” that wonderful weekend with Beaver’s favorite uncle, by cajoling the naive and guileless Beaver to help him sneak into the movie theater just to see Tony Curtis in “Spartacus.” I can’t express what a snake and a “unit,” I think the character of Gilbert Bates was on the show.

If we had seen Beaver and his friends in high school, I think that the truly loathsome Gilbert Bates would have even made Eddie Haskell look like “Radar” O’Reilly or even Dudley McMillan by comparison. Gilbert was that much of a creep, in my opinion.