Viv's marriage to Phil Ober - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

desert_bloom444 · 10-27-2010, 01:08 AM

I read many years ago that Phil Ober possibly physically abused Viv. Does anyone know if this is true, or just gossip?

Zoneboy · 10-27-2010, 01:15 AM

It's true, Lucille Ball even went as far as to tell Viv that if she didn't divorce Ober then she would or something like that.

TV Knowledge Fan · 10-27-2010, 01:50 AM

...a good actor, yes- but sometimes, his roles sometimes reflected the kind of person he was- brusque, formal, and occasionally insensitive.

When he appeared in the "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" pilot (and fourth episode) as "General Stone", he had a line that wasn't included in the final version of the episode that aired, but I saw him deliver it in the unaired version of the pilot. It was the scene where the General and his daughter Melissa {Tony's fiancee} are visiting him after Jeannie briefly turned Tony's living room into a "Sultan's Den", blinking it out just as they walked in! Well, the General isn't pleased about Tony's "odd behavior" during the entire day, and lets him know how displeased he is:

"Great military tradition in my family! I've been in the service all my life, and my father was in the service before me, and his father, before him. If I thought anyone would tarnish that record, I'd break him!"

Very tough, the way Ober delivered those lines. I can imagine the fights he had with Vivian in that same tone...

desert_bloom444 · 10-27-2010, 02:04 AM

I guess it surprises me ... I know the 1950s were a different time, but they did not have children together, she was successful, attractive, and able to support herself financially ... why would she tolerate that??

I wonder if the marriage played a part in her mental breakdown.

Lucyeth's · 10-27-2010, 07:33 AM

I'm sure it contributed to it, yes. I've heard real horror stories between Vance and Ober - their marriage definitely contributed to her mental breakdown.

desert_bloom444 · 10-28-2010, 02:53 PM

Why would Viv stay in a marraige like that for so long?

Lucyeth's · 10-28-2010, 03:11 PM

I think, partly, she stayed in the marriage for so long is for the reason is that divorce was a stigma for woman whom initiated it; it was twenty-some years after they divorced that divorce would be accepted.

catlover79 · 10-28-2010, 09:06 PM

I'm just happy that Viv did eventually free herself and that her next (and final) marriage to John Dodds was a very happy one. (At least it was by everything I've heard/read.) They were married from 1961 until her passing in 1979.

10-27-2010, 01:08 AM	#1
desert_bloom444 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 27, 2010 Location: US Posts: 5	Viv's marriage to Phil Ober I read many years ago that Phil Ober possibly physically abused Viv. Does anyone know if this is true, or just gossip?

10-27-2010, 01:15 AM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,429	It's true, Lucille Ball even went as far as to tell Viv that if she didn't divorce Ober then she would or something like that.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

10-27-2010, 01:50 AM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Philip Ober was NOT a nice man.... ...a good actor, yes- but sometimes, his roles sometimes reflected the kind of person he was- brusque, formal, and occasionally insensitive. When he appeared in the "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" pilot (and fourth episode) as "General Stone", he had a line that wasn't included in the final version of the episode that aired, but I saw him deliver it in the unaired version of the pilot. It was the scene where the General and his daughter Melissa {Tony's fiancee} are visiting him after Jeannie briefly turned Tony's living room into a "Sultan's Den", blinking it out just as they walked in! Well, the General isn't pleased about Tony's "odd behavior" during the entire day, and lets him know how displeased he is: "Great military tradition in my family! I've been in the service all my life, and my father was in the service before me, and his father, before him. If I thought anyone would tarnish that record, I'd break him!" Very tough, the way Ober delivered those lines. I can imagine the fights he had with Vivian in that same tone...

10-28-2010, 09:06 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I'm just happy that Viv did eventually free herself and that her next (and final) marriage to John Dodds was a very happy one. (At least it was by everything I've heard/read.) They were married from 1961 until her passing in 1979.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

10-27-2010, 02:04 AM	#4
desert_bloom444 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 27, 2010 Location: US Posts: 5	I guess it surprises me ... I know the 1950s were a different time, but they did not have children together, she was successful, attractive, and able to support herself financially ... why would she tolerate that?? I wonder if the marriage played a part in her mental breakdown.

10-27-2010, 07:33 AM	#5
Lucyeth's The Craziest 'A' Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2010 Location: US Posts: 124	I'm sure it contributed to it, yes. I've heard real horror stories between Vance and Ober - their marriage definitely contributed to her mental breakdown.

10-28-2010, 02:53 PM	#6
desert_bloom444 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 27, 2010 Location: US Posts: 5	Why would Viv stay in a marraige like that for so long?

10-28-2010, 03:11 PM	#7
Lucyeth's The Craziest 'A' Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2010 Location: US Posts: 124	I think, partly, she stayed in the marriage for so long is for the reason is that divorce was a stigma for woman whom initiated it; it was twenty-some years after they divorced that divorce would be accepted.