HAZEL!!!!!

With the recent release of the movie "The Help" I had to write a blog about one of the most famous sitcoms about a lovable wisecracking maid played by the wonderful and talented Shirley Booth and the sitcom is called "Hazel" It is one of my favorites classic sitcoms. Hazel was based on the comic strip by the same name that was published in the "Saturday Evening Post" by Ted Key.

"Hazel" and "Hazel" aka Shirley Booth


Hazel ran from 1961 to 1965 on NBC ( the same network as Perry you know and in fact one of the episodes in the first season dealt with the Baxter's buying a color TV and watching Perry Como (Love Love!!)  You may not have heard of Shirley but she was an amazing actress. Shirley appeared on The Perry Como Show in 1961 and the Andy Williams Show in 1964 ( Lucky Shirley!!)

The Wonderful Shirley Booth in 1963 (Did you know this photo was taken by Roddy McDowall Aka Planet of the Apes etc..) Roddy was also a photographer!

She was royalty in the theatre and on Broadway.She also played "Miss Duffy" On the radio show "Duffy's Tavern" you know " where the elite meet to eat" Shirley was also married from 1929 to 1949 to the star of the show Ed Gardner. She also did a few movies her most famous is "Come Back Little Sheba" with Burt Lancaster. She won a Tony and an Oscar both for this role. She is one of the only actresses to win an Oscar, Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe (Go Shirley!!)  Many people told her not to Hazel because back then if you were in the theatre you absolutely did not do TV and Shirley wanted to play the role and Shirley has said in many quotes that she loved playing Hazel and that people know her from Hazel and not her movies.  Hazel starred Don Defore who incidentally played "Thorny Thornberry" Ozzie Nelsons neighbor on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" before he did Hazel.  Don played George Baxter ( who Hazel called "Mr. B") who was a lawyer. In real life Don originally started out wanting to become a lawyer but changed his mind.

"Mr B you'd  better not be raiding the Frigidaire!!"

(Did you know that Don had a restaurant in Frontierland at Disneyland from 1957 to 1961 called "The Silver Banjo." Dons children often joked about growing up in Disneyland ( pretty cool to me and knowing Walt Disney I am jealous here!!!)  His wife was and interior decorator played by Whitney Blake ( who Hazel called "Mrs. B") who was also the mother of Meredith Baxter who played  the mother on "Family Ties."They had a son Harold Baxter who was played by Bobby Bentrock and the family dog was Smiley. Many of the situations dealt within the family, neighbors etc. Shirley was funny and just wonderful in the role and it is just a great family show.

"HI" From Hazel and the Baxter's!

Another interesting thing about Hazel is the show was sponsored by Ford Motor Company and the 1962-1965 seasons where filmed in color along with the new car models I love It during the 63-64 season when Hazel drives a Mustang in the Credits  (Insert Wilson Picketts Mustang Sally here!!) or actually Mustang Hazel!!!!  Shirley's real name was Thelma Marjorie Ford I wonder If she was related to Henry somehow Hmmm?


Season 2 Is brought to you In living COLOR on NBC!!!

The last season was filmed on CBS and lasted from 65 to 66. Don and Whitney left the show and had Harold and Hazel move in with Mr. Baxter's brother, wife and daughter. Did you know Ann Jillian was in the last season also she played Steve Baxter's secretary!!

1965-1966 cast with Ray Fulner as real estate agent Steve Baxter, Julia Benjamin as Susie Baxter and
Lynn Borden as Barbara Baxter. Did you know her father Bill Freyse, drew the comic "Our Boarding House" in the 1950s and 1960s.

Shirley returned to TV in 1973 in the TV Series "A Touch Of Grace"  This show was directed by Carl Reiner on ABC. The show lasted one season. After concluding the series, Shirley retired to Cape Cod( Insert Patti Page and Jerry Vale "You're Bound to fall in love with Old Cape Cod!!" ) Shirley died in 1992 and is missed. One thing I like about Shirley besides being an amazing actress is that she was nice and down to earth and she was also shy ( like me.)  One of my favorite quotes from her is this one " Acting is a way to overcome your own inhibitions and shyness the writer writes a confident personality and that what you become unfortunately only for the moment."

Shirley with her Oscar in 1953 for "Come Back Little Sheba."