Back to Mr. Foster, he was moved deeply moved when I highly complimented him, not so much on his two TAGS guest roles, but a brilliant role in a Alfred Hitchcock episode from 1959, called Road Hog. In it Emhardt plays a heartless driver who refuses to give right of way to Richard Chamberlain and Rammond Massey who are in a rush to the hospital to have their injured brother and son tended too. The young man died en route. Chamberlain and Massey hatch a plot to TAKE CARE of Emhardt for his thoughtless misdeed. The last scene was a setup in a barber shop and our Mr. Foster meets his maker in a most undignified way by way of fright. I'll be honest. At the time I should had offered more praise to his two solid roles on TAGS and yes he couldn't get over my praise for his Hitchcock bit but I assured him he can be proud of any roles he did but folks guess what this dear man told me in 1979. "Tom I get a lot of fan mails. I did Broadway, I did films I did television. I'm proud of all my performances but you know what? Most of my fan mail these days comes from kids and you know all they talk about is my role on The Brady Bunch as the Judge from (I had to remind him.. Fender Benders )>I knew it.
He got a big kick that the power of television was that this was his lasting image at the time, the Judge . He enjoyed the part yes. But like many actors folks, I learned a long time ago on my own, one sure way to get the attention of a actor you write to is be inventive. Don't ask the same question they've heard before like "What is your favorite film? "With my big mouth rolling off all their credits with my photographic memory, I can see they thoroughly enjoy it when you go beyond a role they are famous for and talk about other roles, roles they assume fans like us never remembered. It warms their hearts. I asked him in passing of one of his best lines anywhere from Man in a Hurray, when he said (Forgive me folks I can't remember every line unfortunately exactly, but you'll know it). Ken and Joe you two among others will know the exact line, " Go Call Thelma Lou." he repeated the line several times. >>>JG Just Do it, Do it Go Take a nap! go to Thelma Lou's for TV, Just Do it!<< He was really put out by Barneys' annoyance. "Oh you like that hah?" Mr. Emhardt asked. I sure did, we all did. Actors like it when you remember quotes, scenes, performers they worked with, ask them about camera setup makeup, shooting schedule and always point out a particular line or memorable scene from a film or TV spot, big or small. They like it when you as a fan go the full 9 yards and commend them on all aspects of their career. Don't you think Clark Gable wanted to talk a lot more than his great role in GWTW? Of course he and others do. When Mr. Emhardt passed away in 1994 I forwarded a sympathy card thru SAG> I had to let someone know he wasn't unforgotten .In <http://unforgotton.in/> fact I think I did, just by calling him. Be it Mr. Foster, the Man in a Hurray, The Judge or that horrible ROADHOG , he was a brilliant thespian of the highest order. So Jimmy Dean many thanks for the kind words and yes include me in for lunch at Wally's but let's include Robert Emhardt and Reta Shaw. No exclusions here. Finally, before I shut my mouth, sincere thanks to those who been kind to me and offered prayers. The future scares me as I widdle my time away but now I found new found friends who respect me as a man and a film TV buff and historian and a friend to so many character-supporting actors, so many like Roy Robert as well were part of TAGS and much more. You make my days easier on me to know I'm appreciated, if only the rest of America would wake up and be in tune like the fans of TAGS and acknowledge these beautiful talented performers. Let them miss the train. What counts is you fans of TAGS out there who want to know more. I'm not the oddball 40 years of correspondence has made me out to be. I rather know the TAGS players and break bread with them anytime than the people I've encountered in everyday life in my home state. God Bless as always. . Tom Kessel. Joe, if you can be kind enough to add on, if you know how, a footnote when forwarding that I picked up today that Kim Chan 95 died. He had a bit part in the Andy Griffith classic A Face in The Crowd but he is well known to most as the butler in 1981s King of Comedy with Jerry Lewis. Many thanks. Tom Kessel _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
