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Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 7, 2016
■ Christian Ludolf Ebsen Jr was born in Belleville, Illinois in 1908. He had four sisters, his father was a choreographer and his mother was an artist. The family moved to Florida when Christian was 12 and he learned to dance at his father's dance school. He got the nickname 'Buddy' from his aunt, so Christian changed his name to Buddy Ebsen. He attended the University of Florida with the intention of pursuing a medical career but had to leave due to family financial problems in 1920. Buddy left Orlando in 1928 to try his luck as a dancer in New York City. He teamed up with his sister Vilma and they developed a successful dance act. They got jobs in the chorus of several Broadway musicals including Whoopee, Flying Colors and Ziegfeld Follies of 1934. Buddy and Vilma were cast in the MGM musical Broadway Melody of 1936. This was the start of Buddy's film career but it was the only film in which Vilma appeared as she retired from show business after the film was made. In his next film Buddy danced with Shirley Temple in Captain January. MGM cast Buddy in a string of popular musicals over the next years and he appeared in films such as The Girl of the Golden West, The Kid from Texas, Broadway Melody of 1938, My Lucky Star and Four Girls in White.
Whatever Happened To ... Buddy Ebsen By Kevin Trask of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM Buddy was 6'3" and towered over most of his co-stars. In 1939 he was cast as the "Tin Man" in The Wizard of Oz but after ten days of filming he had an allergy to the aluminum paint and was sent to hospital. Buddy was replaced by Jack Haley in the film. During the war years Buddy served as a Lieutenant, Junior Grade with the United States Coast Guard. When the war finished, he gave up singing and dancing until 1949 when he returned to Hollywood as an actor. In 1954 Buddy starred opposite Fess Parker in the highly successful Davy Crockett television series for the Walt Disney Studios.
The principal cast members included Irene Ryan as Jed's mother-in-law, Max Baer, Jr. as Jed's dimwitted nephew "Jethro Bodine" and Donna Douglas as Jed's only child "Elly May Clampett". Over the years The Beverly Hillbillies attracted as many as 60 million viewers. Buddy had another two major television series during his lifetime; Barnaby Jones 1973 1980 and Matt Houston 1984 - 1985. Buddy Ebsen was married three times and was father to six children. Buddy continued to keep active during retirement and two years before his death, his bestselling novel Kelly's Quest was published. He wrote several other books including Polynesian Concept (about sailing), The Other Side of Oz (autobiography) and Sizzling Cold Case a mystery based on his Barnaby Jones character.[25] Buddy Ebsen died in 2003 at the age of ninety five at the Torrance Memorial Medical Center ● Buddy Ebsen in California. He was a longtime friend of Dick Van Dyke, Buddy was a guest star in many television shows which included Have Gun Will Travel, who hosted his memorial service. Kevin Trask Riverboat, 77 Sunset Strip and Bronco. Kevin can be heard on radio He also appeared in films such as Breakfast Memories Are Made of This - on Mike Till at Tiffany's. Midnight - Saturdays at 8.10pm on 3AW Buddy was 57 in 1962 and about to retire The Time Tunnel - on Remember When when he was offered the role of Jed Clampett in Sundays at 8.10pm on 3AW the television series The Beverly Hillbillies. This That's Entertainment - 96.5FM Sundays was one of the biggest situation comedies of the at 12 Noon 1960's and ran for nine years. 96.5FM is streaming on the internet.
Best of times with best of mates
■ I had a call from an old mate, Paul Hassett, from Alice Springs a couple of days ago. I haven't heard from him for a while so it was refreshing to hear his cheery voice again. After some reminiscing I asked him: "Where are you off to tonight?" "To the pub for about 30 quick beers." Which reminded me of our first
meeting. I'd wanted a rental shop in the Todd Mall, so I asked my old schoolmate Don Joyner, who had just returned from living in Alice, if he could recommend an estate agent. So after a couple of weeks getting nowhere with this gentlemen, who could hardly wait to be pestered by some bloke in Melbourne about a rental property when he had houses
to sell, I told him: "I'm flying up - I'll see you on Saturday at three." We found each other, and he asked: "Feel like a drink before we look at some shops?" Stupidly, "OK." That was 3pm. The barman left at 6, leaving us to pour and pay for our own drinks, then close the bar. That was 9pm. I lost count after 16 scotches. We've been best mates ever since. ■ I've just come back from Gippsland. I was driving by myself, but as I occasionally have US visitors as passengers, I wondered how they would react to a couple of the towns I passed - Nar Nar Goon and Koo Wee Rup. Because of my familiarity with their names, I don't find them unusual, but I'm sure any visitor would be bemused and perplexed with mirth. I would often wonder, as I drove to Lightning Ridge along the Newell Highway, how a local resident may tell an international young lady he was trying to impress - "I live in Grong Grong!" She would splutter her drink all over him. And then, in the same area was Come-By-Chance, which I visited looking for wild pigs. And I often passed through Wee Waa. And I've got some old friends living in Yorkeys Knob, and I've often had a drink in the Humpty Doo Pub out of Darwin, not to forget Fannie Bay. Whilst I have never been there, Keith McGowan often spoke of Tittybong, and recently Dunedoo was in the news - something about a racehorse. ■ Talking about pubs, I was drinking with a mate next door to my shop in Alice Springs one night, and we began to discuss our favourite times of the day. Then next morning the following sprung to my mind: It was late one night in Alice, In the bar at Scotty's Pub; There was me and a mate Ken Brumby, With our butts right down to the stub. Discussing delights of the desert, In a manner meek and mild, When I mentioned that sunsets moved me His eyes grew wide and wild.
The Outback Legend
In their cherished moonlit sand."
"Then with twigs and fronds you nurture Your campfire from the pitch, As it gently greets the darkness With its warmth and glow so rich."
"The stars so close you can touch them, And caress them with delight, Then one explodes across the heavens, And you crave for eternal flight!"
"And you lie transfixed by the silence In the embers' eerie light, And your mind just fades and shimmers As you melt into the night."
with Nick Le Souef Lightning Ridge Opals 63 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Phone 9654 4444 www.opals.net.au
"At sunset, mate, I'll marvel, Be always waxing lyrical; You'd swear the Old Fella was smiling down, Saying: "Mate, it's a bloody miracle!""
Yes, it was late one night in Alice, In the bar at Scotty's Pub, There was me and a mate, Ken Brumby, With our butts right down to the stub….
■ When I was a young teenager in Blairgowrie I spent many summer days splashing around in the water. I would, with all my mates, be swimming and diving about, and of course we'd row our little dinghies out to the I retorted, highly affronted, blue line to catch a few flatties and At my beloved hour so scorned; leatheries. "A sunrise mate just reminds you And one early Christmas morning That further troubles have dawned!" Santa brought me a goggle and snorkel and flipper set. So of course later "Further troubles?" he spluttered, in the day in I donned them all and "I can't believe that lament, flipped my way out past the last sandYou leap from your swag each morn- bank to see what I could spy slithering ing, and flashing around on the sandy sea And each day is heaven sent!" floor. There were flathead and flounders, and a gaggle of other less culi"The birds will fondle your eardrums, nary creatures such as little toadies Every creature marvels the morn; and porkies and big toadies - these The rays will gently thrill you latter couldn't be eaten because they You'll delight you were ever born!" were highly poisonous - they also had strong sharp teeth. Whilst I have never "Now listen here young fella!" heard of any problems down here, I exclaimed with a passion to tell, elsewhere in the world they have been There's something that strokes the known to bite the toes off any swimspirit mer that got in their way. As the shadows cast their spell!" Early during these years I decided not to pursue this underwater activity, "The glow of the distant mountains, because I knew that I would have enAs the silence deafens the land; joyed it so much that I'd get hooked on The whisper of the creatures stirring it. "Sunsets, mate, you're joking!" He exclaimed with a passion bold, "The sunrise mate is lyrical, But the day's end leaves me cold!"