TV Radio Mirror (Jan - Jun 1959)

IIMF^ORIVIA'TIOIM BOOTH Re-runs and Also-rans Dear Editors: I am getting tired of seeing repeats of everything I have seen on TV. We enjoyed Topper, My Little Margie, and I Love Lucy when they originally played, but think the TV producers should give us a rest before showing them again. Many movies, too, are re-run time and again while others have yet to be shown once. Can't something be done about this? J. L., Astoria, New York Editors' Note: It's true that many programs are being re-run for a second and third time. However, many viewers who, for various reasons, missed the first showings, welcome their return. How do the rest of our readers feel about this situation? Nanette's Niece Would you please print some information about Shelley Fabares, who is doing such a terrific job on The Donna Reed Show.'' /. K., Berkeley, California ^H Fourteen-year-old Shelley Fabares (pronounced Fab-a-ray) is the perfect example of a typical American teenager, with two exceptions. She is a very talented young actress, and the niece of TV star Nanette Fabray. Otherwise, she epitomizes the lively and irrepressible ponytail set, for she loves rock 'n' roll, swimming, and "baking chocolate cakes." . . . Brown-eyed, brown-haired Shelley (whose real name is Michele) actually became an actress because her mother thought dramatic studies would be an ideal way to develop poise. Soon after starting dancing lessons at the age of four, the youngster added assurance to a notable talent and began appearing in numerous TV shows and theatrical events. After an appearance on a Frank Sinatra spec in 1953, the young dancer moved easily into dramatic roles on such Typical teenager — talented Shelley Fabares fits television role to a T. programs as The Loretta Young Show, Playhouse 90, and Matinee Theater. . . . The petite young star lives with her parents and an older sister in Hollywood, where she attends Immaculate Heart High School. After graduation, she plans to study theater arts at U.C.L.A. or the University of Utah. For the time being, though, Shelley's pleased as punch with her role as Mary on ABC-TV's Donna Reed Show. Calling All Fans The following fan clubs invite new members. If you are interested, write to address given — not to TV Radio Mirror. Dick Sargent Fan Club, May Honniball, 1986 Fifteenth Street, San Francisco 14, Calif. Perry Como Fan Club, Barbara Perrier, 6 Albert Place, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Liberace Unlimited, Mrs. Virginia Malaxonis, 87-93 144th Street, Jamaica 35, New York. Edward Byrnes Fan Club, Elaine Wiggins, Route #3, Sandersville, Georgia. Bachelor Husband / would like to see a write-up on the two people who play the young couple on December Bride. Are they married in real life? M. A. v., Hohokus, New Jersey The closest Dean Miller has ever come to matrimony is in his role as Matt Henshaw, the young husband on CBS-TV's December Bride. Off-screen, the thirtythree-year-old actor is still a bachelor. Anything but the typical "Hollywood type," however, Dean lives in a modest apartment, cooks his own meals, and is very rarely seen around the town's glamour spots. . . . Dean has the distinction of being the only actor ever to have been "auditioned" in the club car of a transcontinental train. It seems he was traveling west for a vacation when he got into a conversation with three strangers. The men turned out to be top executives of M-G-M, who later arranged a screen test for their fellow passenger. As a result of that test. Miller was signed to a long-term contract. . . . Back before that eventful train ride. Dean had been enrolled in the pre-medical curriculum at Ohio State when World War II intervened. After two years' service, the young veteran returned to college, but switched from "doctoring" to radio-andadvertising. . . . One day, while working at WCPO in Cincinnati, Dean was asked to fill in for one of the announcers who had become ill. He was so successful that he was given two TV programs of his own. It was while on vacation from these duties that he launched the casual club-car conversation that was to change his career. Like her co-star, Frances Rafferty also majored in pre-med at college, but unlike him, she is married — to writer Tom Baker. As the mother of Kevin, almost nine, and Bridget, six, Frances had all but retired from show business when she was lured Ideal couple — viewers wonder if Dean and Frances ore really wed. back for the role of Ruth Henshaw in the situation-comedy series. . . . Oddly enough, the vivacious star had never intended to be an actress at all, but a dancer. Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Frances moved with her family to Beverly Hills where, at the age of ten, she won a scholarship to the Edith Jane School of Dancing, and studied there for seven years. . . . She gave up college, after two years, to dance in the Hollywood Bowl Ballet Company, and two seasons later found her employed by 20th Century-Fox to understudy and double for Vera Zorina. In 1941, she became prima ballerina for the spring season at the Los Angeles Civic Opera Ballet, and later rejoined the Hollywood Bowl group. During rehearsals for "The Firebird," she fell and broke her kneecap, thus ending her promising ballet career. Determined not to brood over her misfortune, Frances took the advice of her closest friend, actress Alexis Smith, and enrolled in a drama course under the late Madame Maria Ouspenskaya. She was later given a screen test at M-G-M which resulted in a fouryear contract, during which time she appeared in thirty-four productions. After that came marriage, motherhood, temporary retirement and, finally, her return to acting via TV. FOR YOUR INFORMATION— If there's something you want to know about radio and television, write to Information Booth, TV Radio Mirror, 205 East 42nd St., New York 17, N. Y. We'll answer, if we can, provided your question is of general interest. Answers will appear in this column — but be sure to attach this box to your ^ letter, and specify ivhether it concerns radio or TV. Sorry, no personal answers.