part one was thevwrong psrt one published. ill try one last time difficult as it is. if you nread mondays dogest e mail from me the stort on Reta Shaw runs unto the story on Enid Markey/It makes little sense.it reads like Reta was original Jane in 1914 in films no it Enid of course.I met Alan Hale twice and all i had to do in the 70s was call from my hotel like you fans could, call the lobster barel anbd ask if Alan Hale will be there for diner greeting fans coming in to eat.they always said Come on in..Its that easy. i had been writing to him 3 years prior because tv brought back tv specials on Gilligans Island.I loved his father father Alan Hale Sr the great supporting character actor who was as BIG a star first rate as Reta Shaw Vincent Barnett Anita Cosaut Burt Mustin George Cisar Hope Summers Herbie Faye Milton From and other Mayberry perrformers. How odd that Alan Hale died exactly 40 years to the day as his father in 1990 at about the very same age. But my God was he friendly outgoing very appreciated. He was touched by my praise of his role as Jeff on Andy Griffith and other television roles or his picture debut in !950s West Point Story with Jimmy Cagney who by the way was very good friends with Alan Sr in scores of pictures. Alan and he insisted i call him by his first name privately told me he appreciated it when people complimented him on other roles be it stage film or tv than just the obvious such as Gilligans Island. He loved his picture bring taking and brother was he the spitting image of his gifted father. He actually said he didnt realize i would remember him from the Andy show but i did. There wasnt a mean bone in his body. This leads me to reply to Janet who i personally thanked today by e mail. i just want to clear the air so there is no misunderstand. When Reta Shaw floored by my phonecall said to me she cthought of herself as secondrate actori can tell you she said thst in all humility. shes trying to tell me asdidAnita Corsaut in 1977 and many others that these supporting character actors dont consider themselves having performed on an upper higher level of say a academy award winning performance.these tv guest shots were done matter of factly in a routine way another days work done to pay the rent.sad but thats the way it is in their eyes.HOLD IT> not in my eyes. Reta Shaw like all the others i met called or wrote to were and told them so, were every inch as BIG POWERFUL GIFTED as any Betty Davis Joan Crawford or CARY GRANT out there. SHe was merely being modest and like all these fine performers they are indeed all the better actors.her humility makes her a better performer. i applaud these supporting character actoirs.we had a ton of them doing walk ons cameos full blown guest roles on the ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.To me they sre the STARS and thank God friends I made it va point to come to their defence and argue with them by telling them how much they meant to me.i always had a headful of warm memories to try out on them to remind them of unforgettable tv and film roles they performed in. Ive seen these performers that you fans talk about upclose on my own by call or letter or in person.To bolster my case how grateful these anything but second rate actors are let me say in passing a sad story. its thev1970s autograph book signing session in my hometown. a big i mean big legendary tv star who has the number one tv program of all time EVER in the world was there. i was in line a long line.he signed my book.he smiled. but i was SICK TO MY STOMACH> What do you think i saw ?sitting by the desk on the floor but a six pack of beer and inbetween signings he'd take a sip out of the can.i was disgusted. WRONG WRONG WRONG> To me these Reta Shaws are the finest ever. And we Mayberry fans can rest knowing they were sober humble appreciated.and i know because i made it my buisness to know. Only two great STARS disappointed me. HIM and Kstherine Hepburn who wrote to me thru her secretary that Miss Hepburns frowns on giving out autographs. All the others Walter Brennen, Jack Haley 3 Stooges Moe Larry Bud Abbott, Joan Crawford (DId she appreciate her fans. ) Betty Davis Bob Hope Bing Crosby. Pinky Lee Lon Chaney Vincent Price, Jack Benny, REd Skelton they and 900 more, were kind and decent and appreciated.they were a class act everyone of them.So Janet I know where Reta was coming from when she said what she did but its my job to defend the wrong she said by telling her and all Mayberry actors and beyond that they are SUPERB in the HIGHEST CALIBER> Dont be surprised if tomorrow in error thr part one with my footenote shows up a date after the todays part one,.i cant control that. ill sit back now and wait til another mystery pops up that hopefully if i have the answer will answer.at my age breaking in my first ever computer after 4 years of 7 blackberrys in one year alone is a big task.forgive my typing errors.i still type 60 words a minute with one left finger for 40 years..thanking you for your time this time until next time. Tom Kessel Kessel _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
