Forgotten Hollywood

Manny P. here…

<—MARTIN MILNER (with George Maharis) is best known for starring in two popular television series: Route 66, which aired on CBS from 1960 to 1964, and Adam-12, which aired on NBC from 1968 to 1975.

   Milner had his first screen test and began his career with his debut in Life with Father, in the role of John, the second oldest son of Clarence Day played by William Powell. Two weeks after production ended in 1946, Milner contracted polio. He recovered within a year.

   He landed a small role in Sands of Iwo Jima starring John Wayne. It was the first of several war films in which he would have both minor and major roles in the 1950s, including another Wayne picture called Operation Pacific in 1951, and Mister Roberts with Henry Fonda, James Cagney, Bill Powell (again), and Jack Lemmon. Other notable performances were in Sweet Smell of Success, Pete Kelly’s Blues, Dial M for Murder, The Long Gray Line, Gunfight at the OK Corral, Francis in the Navy, Desk Set, Too Much Too Soon, Valley of the Dolls, and 13 Ghosts.

   It was on the set of Halls of Montezuma in 1950 that he met actor Jack Webb. In 1952, Milner began a two-year stint in the United States Army. He was assigned to Fort Ord on California’s Monterey Bay peninsula, where he directed training films. Milner was encouraged by fellow soldier Clint Eastwood to pursue an acting career when his time in the military ended. While serving, Milner began working for Webb, playing Officer Bill Lockwood (briefly  as the partner of Sgt. Friday) and other characters on the Dragnet radio series. He also appeared on six episodes of Webb’s Dragnet television series between 1952 and 1955.

   He guest-starred on television programs, including a recurring part in The Life of Riley, The Twilight Zone, and Rawhide. Milner won the role of Tod Stiles in the CBS television series, Route 66. His ongoing relationship with Jack Webb led to his eventual signature performance as Pete Malloy in Adam-12. Milner appeared in three episodes of Emergency! between 1972-1976, during and after Adam-12′s run on NBC. Milner also has the distinction of having portrayed the victim in the premiere episode of Columbo.

   After retiring from acting, Milner co-hosted a radio show about fishing called Let’s Talk Hook-Up on XTRA 690.

   Martin Milner was 83.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

Manny P. here…

   Dean Jones was best known for his light-hearted leading roles in several Walt Disney movies between 1965 and 1977, most notably The Love Bug. Jones also originated the role of Bobby in Stephen Sondheim’s Company.               DEAN JONES —->

   After appearing in minor film and television roles, Jones made his Broadway debut (along with Jane Fonda) in the 1960 play There Was a Little Girl. In 1960 he also played Dave Manning in the stage comedy Under the Yum-Yum Tree, a role which he reprised in the 1963 movie version starring Jack Lemmon.

   Jones started his film career by signing a contract at MGM, beginning with a small role as a soldier in Somebody Up There Likes Me, and he played a disc jockey in the 1957 Elvis Presley film Jailhouse Rock. Jones subsequently starred in the NBC television sitcom Ensign O’Toole from 1962–1963. It also happened to be the lead-in program to Walt Disney’s The Wonderful World of Color. The producer ordered prints of Jones’ cinema catalog to analyze.

   Walt signed Jones on for a string of Disney films in the 1960s and 1970s, beginning with That Darn Cat! (actress Hayley Mills’ last film at Disney). His performance was so well-received that Disney assigned him starring roles in The Ugly Dachshund, Blackbeard’s Ghost, The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit, The Million Dollar Duck, The Shaggy D.A., and Snowball Express. What followed was The Love Bug series of flicks. He later had a small part in Clear and Present Danger.

   Jones became a devout born-again Christian in 1973. He founded the Christian Rescue Committee (CRC) in 1998, an organization that helps provide a way of escape to Jews, Christians, and others persecuted for their faith. The actor was inducted into the Disney Legends Hall of Fame in 1995.

   The very likeable Dean Jones was 84.

Until next time>                               “never forget”