Exclusive and Heartfelt Interview With Paul Petersen From The Donna Reed Show!

[TMC]

John talks with Paul about the first time he met Academy award winner, Donna Reed, how his family was from the county in Iowa next to where Donna Reed grew up and what kind of person Donna Reed was. Plus Paul chats about his favorite guest stars on The Donna Reed Show, a very special moment with Buster Keaton on the set of The Donna Reed Show, famous celebrities that were around when Paul was shooting on the Columbia Pictures lot and his wonderful lifetime friendship with Cary Grant. Paul talks about his special service to child actors "A Minor Consideration' and the tragic deaths from child actors Rusty Hamer to Gary Coleman to Bobby Driscoll that has influenced him to help these young actors before they go in the wrong direction and so much more! Appreciate you Paul so much!

Hosted by John Cato, actor, voiceover artist, and moderator for over 20 years for the television and movie industry. John's background brings a unique insight and passion to the podcast.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:00:57 The first time Paul met Donna Reed
• 00:02:02 Paul's first impression of Donna Reed
• 00:02:50 Paul's grandfather grew up in Iowa by Donna Reed story
• 00:03:58 Did Paul realize what a huge star Donna Reed was?
• 00:05:01 Paul talks about how low rated The Donna Reed show was when it started out
• 00:06:29 Paul's favorite guest stars
• 00:07:42 Paul talks about a special day on the set watching Buster Keaton do his magic
• 00:11:26 Paul talks about the people and movies /shows being shot on the Columbia Studio lot when The Donna Reed Show was there
• 00:14:11 Harry Cohn the head of Columbia Pictures takes Paul under his wing
• 00:17:20 Paul talks about the skill of Donna Reed when Shelley Fabares sings Johnny Angel
• 00:17:45 Carl Betz and Robert Ludlum story
• 00:19:24 Typical day on the set of The Donna Reed Show
• 00:20:55 Paul talks about working with and knowing Cary Grant
• 00:24:04 The time Paul fainted meeting Elizabeth Taylor and then Reggie Jackson
• 00:25:29 Working with Henry Fonda
• 00:27:31 Working with Barbara Stanwyck
• 00:27:54 Meeting Bette Davis
• 00:31:15 Paul talks about his service "A Minor Consideration" that helps former child stars from going in a bad direction in their lives after childhood fame
• 00:32:20 Paul talks about the tragic suicide of Rusty Hamer
• 00:33:44 Paul helped Jay North "Dennis the Menace" from taking a similar road to Rusty Hamer
• 00:35:48 Mickey Rooney shows up unexpectedly at Paul's door to help him from going down the wrong path
• 00:37:48 Paul talks about the loneliness and despair child actors face when they are done as a child actor
• 00:38:43 Paul talks about the tragedy of silent actress, Diana Serra Cary
• 00:40:52 Paul talks about Jackie Coogan and how parents take the child's money
• 00:44:55 Paul tells the story of how his grandfather helped him establish his own bank account
• 00:46:38 Mimi Gibson, a child actor from the film Houseboat left her family because of what they did
• 00:49:39 Paul talks about getting a call from Brooke Shields
• 01:00:09 First time Paul met Shelley Fabares
• 01:01:37 Shelley introduces Paul to Elvis Presley
• 01:03:22 Paul talks about his first car, a Cobra
• 01:04:27 Elvis Presley and the cars he gave away
• 01:09:45 Paul talks about the tragedy of young actor, Bobby Driscoll
• 01:11:47 Paul tells one last story about how he always was killed in the cowboy movies he was in