“The Firestorm “ Fans

[flossieskid]

nedandres - Thank you so very much for your kind words about my Mom on “The Firestorm “ and The Rockford Files. Those are my absolute favorite shows my Mom did. I think it was because she LOVED doing both those episodes SO much. She would be “tickled pink” (another one of her favorite sayings) to know her performance in both those shows were enjoyed by so many.

I think I may have mentioned, in a prior post, that she and James Garner hit it off so well and that episode was very well received, her character was going to become a semi-regular cast member cleaning Rockford’s Malibu trailer. Sadly, she died so that never happened. But, she was so happy because this was the first and only time when she appeared on a TV show, where she was given first screen “Guest Starring” billing. After being an actress for over 40+ years it was a long time coming but, I think, that was the last show she ever did, so it was most fitting and well deserved!

Keep watching Classic TV, nedandres, you will be amazed how “Everything old is new again.”

[Easton]

I really only know your mother from The Waltons and a few other video clips, but it's clear to me that she enjoyed the emotional challenges of a role, and she ran the gamut as Flossie Brimmer. She could switch emotions at the snap of her fingers, such as when she was reading Mary Ellen's tea leaves during the baby shower, or when Jim-Bob asked her about his birth. Of course, the pinnacle of her Waltons career was in The Firestorm.

[Emmy]

Miss Tracey, when I started watching the Waltons regularly one of the main things that got me into the show is the whole ensemble cast. This show was full of extremely talented actors and actresses, including your mom. I loved the fact that each episode had a central theme and certain characters were the main characters from week to week, but every week it never failed that the remainder of the cast in the show shined in one way or another whether it be they had one line in the show or were a central part of the plot. This stuck out with your mom in such scenes with the book burning and the baby shower. Or another character like Verdie in the Fighter or the episode where she gets taught to write.  This is why I loved the show so much and your mom was a huge part of that love of the show. 

[runhard]

How sadly ironic that 85 years later after this was supposed to have taken place we have censorship against books in this country. Many of the topics on The Waltons are still very present today.

[Easton]

^ The think that astonishes me is that it often takes only one complaint from one individual to change things while hundreds of protests and thousands of protesters go unanswered.

[Emmy]

Mar 29, 2023 22:19:56 GMT -5 runhard said:

How sadly ironic that 85 years later after this was supposed to have taken place we have censorship against books in this country. Many of the topics on The Waltons are still very present today.

I love books and reading and sadly many of these books that are /banned/censored in the country I live in dealing with issues today that are very important to my generation and this is what is being taken away from us being able to be read. It is not right. 

[nedandres]

Mar 29, 2023 7:02:18 GMT -5 flossieskid said:

nedandres - Thank you so very much for your kind words about my Mom on “The Firestorm “ and The Rockford Files. Those are my absolute favorite shows my Mom did. I think it was because she LOVED doing both those episodes SO much. She would be “tickled pink” (another one of her favorite sayings) to know her performance in both those shows were enjoyed by so many.

I think I may have mentioned, in a prior post, that she and James Garner hit it off so well and that episode was very well received, her character was going to become a semi-regular cast member cleaning Rockford’s Malibu trailer. Sadly, she died so that never happened. But, she was so happy because this was the first and only time when she appeared on a TV show, where she was given first screen “Guest Starring” billing. After being an actress for over 40+ years it was a long time coming but, I think, that was the last show she ever did, so it was most fitting and well deserved!

Keep watching Classic TV, nedandres, you will be amazed how “Everything old is new again.”

Thanks so much, Tracey, for responding to my post. I was so excited to see what you wrote that I revisited THE ROCKFORD FILES episode by watching it. It was called "The Battle of Canoga Park" (1977). It was so good to see the interaction between your mom and James Garner, who in my opinion could do no wrong as an actor. Neither could your mom. I always loved seeing when she was featured in a show or movie that I was watching. She also did a TWILIGHT ZONE that I saw once. But I digress. I would have been so excited to see your mom as a regular on ROCKFORD. It was a show that my dad and I watched together every Friday night (he passed away in 2018, so it brings back a lot of good memories). So sorry that it didn't happen, but I am thrilled that we have this one episode to see them together. Your mom's character was so feisty and gave Jim a run for his money. You may already know this, but the episode had another WALTONS connection. Adrienne Marden appeared in the episode. She played Mrs. Breckinridge in 4 WALTONS episodes. Alas, she and your mom did not have any scenes together, but I did not recall Adrienne from the last time I had watched it. THE ROCKFORD FILES is classic TV par excellence. The writing remained stellar throughout its run, something that I do not say about many shows. The series ended due to Jim Garner's health, leaving many of the final season's episodes undone. I have read some of the summaries of the unproduced episodes, and it is a bummer that they couldn't be filmed. ROCKFORD had excellent writers. Unfortunately, many shows run out of steam before they end. I think that's even true somewhat for THE WALTONS. In season 9 it seemed that the producers could not find their grounding any longer. A few of the episodes were good, but many of them substandard to the first five or six years.
Yes, I will continue to watch TV from "the good ole days." Can't get excited about much on TV today!

[flossieskid]

Nedandres - what a terrific post! I, too, think James Garner is a fabulous actor! I’m so happy you enjoyed the show. Our good family friend, actor James Gregory lived in a mega mansion (with only one bedroom!) ) right next to James Garner in an elegant area called Brentwood, CA. I never had the nerve to ask Jim to take me over to say hi to the other Jim. This was before my Mom was in Rockford Files. Although, Jim Gregory did take me to meet singer Pat Boone (long before your time!) when he rented the house across from Jim Garner. It was fun.

I did not know there was another Walton connection on his show besides my Mom. Thanks for sharing. Please keep watching classic TV - I can always use the residual money!!

[Emmy]

Miss Tracey, I have kind of a weird question for you. You lived a very incredible life with both your mom and dad doing film work and being around all of that growing up. Was there ever a time that you were on a set with either one of your parents who was shooting a TV series or movie that they needed a kid for an extra in a shot and they used you and some of the other actors kids? 

[nedandres]

Apr 6, 2023 3:22:11 GMT -5 flossieskid said:

Nedandres - what a terrific post! I, too, think James Garner is a fabulous actor! I’m so happy you enjoyed the show. Our good family friend, actor James Gregory lived in a mega mansion (with only one bedroom!) ) right next to James Garner in an elegant area called Brentwood, CA. I never had the nerve to ask Jim to take me over to say hi to the other Jim. This was before my Mom was in Rockford Files. Although, Jim Gregory did take me to meet singer Pat Boone (long before your time!) when he rented the house across from Jim Garner. It was fun.

I did not know there was another Walton connection on his show besides my Mom. Thanks for sharing. Please keep watching classic TV - I can always use the residual money!!

I will never, ever stop watching those classic shows. Well, Pat Boone was before my time, but I am a fan, kind of a back door fan because I started liking him after his daughter Debby charted with "You Light Up My Life." She also released some gospel albums in the 1980s, which I like very much. I was working at the radio station at my college at the time. It was a Wesleyan College, so we played contemporary Christian music. My brother-in-law, who is a gospel singer, sang back-up on one of her albums, WITH MY SONG. I think it was in 1980. Pat Boone also appeared in some faith-based films such as THE CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE and GOD IS NOT DEAD 2. Pat's wife Shirley died a few years ago, but he seems still to be going strong. Good for him.
This is totally unrelated, but Judy Garland's stand-in from THE WIZARD OF OZ, Caren Marsh-Doll, turned 104 today. Talk about a long trip down the yellow brick road!