Tinseltown Talks Here’s to You, Mrs. Robinson
: : by Nick Thomas
W
hen NASA honored June Lockhart last October, it would have been quite fitting to borrow the above lyrics from a popular Simon and Garfunkel song to salute the 88-yearold actress. Best remembered by sci-fi fans for her role of TV space mom Maureen Robinson in the ‘60s series “Lost in Space,” June told me recently that the NASA recognition was a highlight of her long career, which includes a Tony Award, an Emmy nomination, and a couple of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I was presented with the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal for my work with the space agency,” she explained. “I’ve been to two space shuttle launches and worked with NASA since the 1970s, addressing their employees and traveling on NASA’s behalf to promote the agency. So I’m absolutely thrilled by this recognition. No other actress has received this honor.”
“So I went to Mission Control in Houston and, at around 2 a.m., they played the song for the crew of the Columbia mission,” she explained. “Then a voice from space came over the speaker: ‘Some of us up here want to know what Lassie’s mother is doing in Mission Control at 2 o’clock in the morning!’” “Lassie,” one of the TV’s longestrunning shows (1954-1973), was June’s other big hit in which she dispensed maternal wisdom, this time for six seasons as a farm mom. Later, she morphed from matriarch to medic as Dr. Janet Craig for three seasons on “Petticoat Junction.” “‘Petticoat Junction’ was a delight to do with wonderful scripts,” said June. “It was great playing comedy after ‘Lost in Space,’ which was more dramatic, and ‘Lassie,’ which didn’t have many laughs.” On the big screen, 12-year-old June made her debut in the 1938 holiday classic “A Christmas Carol,” alongside both her parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, who played the Cratchits. While she went on to costar with greats such as Gary Cooper in “Sergeant York” and Judy Garland in “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “A Christmas Carol” is special because it was : : by Gayle Lagman-Creswick the only time she appeared with her parents in a motion picture. ear Old Bag: I am a 68-yearear Money: You have many But it was memorable for other old retired widow. I had one son options as I see it: Investigate reasons, too. “My daughter, Junie, who recently died suddenly. He had a reverse mortgage program, which Christianna, no children. I have no close relatives. wouldand givegranddaughter, you more income now while have never let me I feel like my life is over. I wake up you need it. You could rent forget out onethat or Gene, and June in 1953. (Phototwo ofthe first words Itoever in in theKathleen morning and Lockhart I say, “Is this all your bedrooms otherspoke seniors. provided by June Lockhart) movies were: ‘I know, I know— there is?” I used to think my husband (If you do this, be sure to screen your to and I would retire and have 20 good renterssausages!’” carefully).said OrJune, you referring could sell her on-screen guess for the of a Onetogether. of her memorable experiences years We had planned well, your home and move to acontents retirement food packageAnother Mr. Crachit brings home. occurred a spacesecure...but shuttle mission and I amduring financially for community. option would be “We all shriek with laughter when we in 1992. what? For this? The best laid plans...I to get a part-time job. Many people are watchworking it now.” into their 70s and even “I called onetoday spoke suppose youNASA are going telland me to get now In addition to being an know advocate with astronaut Ken Reightler and told off my bottom and do something. Well, 80s! Good luck. Let me howfor it NASA and many other causes, June him I had a good wake-up song for go ahead, tell me. I need something. goes!—O.B. them to use,” Signed, It’s recalled Over June, referring to continues to work and costarred in the spoof Hamlet,” which “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise,” comedy ear Old“Zombie Bag: Here come the world premiere at theI 2012 a catchy hit by ILes andto Mary again, and must Palm face ear‘50s Over: wasPaul going tell had itsholidays Beach International Film Festival Ford. you to get off the pity potty, but my daughters-in-law again, who and are was just released on DVD in December. The song held special significance on second thought, I am going to always telling me they would love to do because the lyrics werea written by her Thanksgiving In 2013, she appeared dinners. in the and Christmas suggest you get into grief support father, beloved character actor Gene interactive movie series “Tex Murphy,” group. Your son died recently, and I am 75 and they are in their 40s, so I Lockhart. a gaming thatenergy combines sure theyplatform have more than you need support for that. Grief is a am www.lovinlifeafter50.com strange thing. You cannot avoid it. You I do. However, I have been cooking cannot skip it. It is so much better if holiday dinners since I was 16 years
The crew from the original cast of the television series “Lost in Space” poses for a group portrait in Boston on Dec. 2, 1995. From left, in the back row are: Bob May, Bill Mumy, Mark Goddard, Jonathan Harris; in the front row from left: June Lockhart, Marta Kristen, Angela Cartwright. Missing is Guy Williams, who died in 1989. (AP photo) animation with full-motion video of real admits to still being quite overwhelmed actors. “That was a new experience and by the NASA recognition and is, I really enjoyed it. And in December, I she says, “over the Moon about it!” also celebrated my 80th year as a paid Congratulations, Mrs. Robinson! performer in the business! I made my debut at the age of 8 in ‘Peter Ibbetson’ Nick Thomas has written features and at the Metropolitan Opera House.” columns for more than 350 magazines and While actors are used to receiving newspapers. He can be reached at his blog: accolades for career milestones, June http://getnickt.blogspot.com
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