Category: Television

Allan Melvin, Man of Many Characters

Allan Melvin was one of the great charactor actors of the 1960s and 1970s, appearing in recurring appearances on popular TV shows such as “The Andy Griffith Show,” “The Brady Bunch,” and “All in the Family.”

Sam the Butcher

If you watched TV in the 1960s and 1970s, odds are that you recognize the face and voice of Allan Melvin but may not know the name of the actor. Melvin — who was born on February 18, 1923 in Kansas City, Missouri — made many appearances on popular shows and voiced cartoons for several decades.  Among many roles, Melvin had recurring appearances on some of the most popular TV shows of the era, including The Andy Griffith Show, The Brady Bunch, All in the Family, and Gomer Pyle, USMC.  On top of that, he also had one of the most memorable recurring roles in a TV commercial.

Many viewers will see his face and immediately remember him as Sam Franklin, aka Alice’s boyfriend “Sam the Butcher” on The Brady Bunch. Yet, he only appeared on eight episodes of the show between 1969 and 1974.

As what many might call a “character actor,” Melvin was a great one and seemed to have been in constant demand. I became inspired to write this post after watching several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. He also appeared in eight episodes of that classic show, but in those shows from 1962 to 1967, Melvin appeared as a different character each time, ranging from a convict to a bully to a hotel detective to a recruiting sergeant. It seems the producers loved his work and kept bringing him back, ignoring how it might seem confusing to viewers that the same man was someone different even during the same season.

Melvin had recurring roles in other classic shows. In Gomer Pyle, USMC, an Andy Griffith Show spinoff, producers kept him as the same character. Perhaps because of his great work as a sergeant on an episode of The Andy Griffith Show, he played Sgt. Barney Hackett in sixteen episodes of Gomer Pyle, USMC in 1965-1969.

Additionally, he played a recurring role in All in the Family as Archie’s friend and neighbor Barney Hefner. Yet, he had also started out on that show with one appearance playing a sergeant.

After the sergeant appearance, Melvin appeared as Barney Hefner in twenty-four episodes of All in the Family from 1972 to 1979, continuing to play the character in the spin-off show Archie Bunker’s Place in numerous episodes from 1979-1983.

Melvin earned his big break in TV with the role of Corporal Steve Henshaw on the The Phil Silvers Show, often credited as “Allen” Melvin. He appeared as Henshaw regularly throughout its run from 1955-1959. Perhaps that early role helped set the stage for his many military parts in his career.

While he had recurring appearances in those shows, he also acted in many other memorable TV shows. For example, he appeared on Mod Squad (1969), Green Acres (1970), Mayberry R.F.D (1970), Love, American Style (1969-1971), The Brian Keith Show (1972), and Kung Fu (1975).

When he was not appearing in TV shows, he was doing significant voice work. He was the voice of Drooper in The Banana Splits Adventure Hour from 1968-1969. His voice appeared in Pufnstuff (1970), Wait Till Your Father Comes Home (1972-1973), Yogi’s Gang (1973), The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty (1975), and Flash Gordon (1979-1982). In the 1980s, his professional work slowed down, but he continued to do significant voice work, including The Jetsons (1985-1987).

Finally, you may also remember Melvin from his TV commercial work. In that arena, he may be best known as playing Al the Plumber for fifteen years promoting Liquid Plumr.

Melvin died of cancer on January 17, 2008. His television work left an amazing legacy. He is buried in Westwood Memorial Cemetery just a few yards from Carroll O’Connor, who played Archie Bunker on All in the Family and Archie Bunker’s Place.

Even if Melvin was always behind more famous actors and viewers did not know his name, they knew his face, his voice, and his talent. Although he never had a definitive leading role, his broad range of work in recurring roles on many landmark TV series brought him many fans and friends.


What is your favorite Allan Melvin role? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Marty Brown’s Son Christian Brown Auditions on “American Idol”

    Singer-Songwriter Marty Brown supported his son Christian Brown as he auditioned on “American Idol,” singing one of his father’s songs.

    Marty Brown and son Christian Brown on American Idol

    We have posted a lot about country singer-songwriter Marty Brown over the years. We have noted that he has passed down his talents which he inherited from his parents to his children. In addition to Brown’s daughter Emma Grace Brown who has a great singing voice, his son Marty Brown Jr. released an excellent album with his band Maceo that we reviewed. And now, Marty’s son Christian Brown recently auditioned on American Idol.

    Marty appeared on the episode with Christian, who sang one of our favorite Marty Brown songs, “Wildest Dreams.” As Christian explained, the song ,which appeared on the father’s debut album High and Dry in 1991, is about a parent’s love for their children. Still, it was a bold song choice, as judges usually prefer well-known popular songs. But Christian showed his authenticity in selecting a song written and recorded by his father decades ago.

    Though maybe the song choice was not too much of a risk as it is a great song (not to mention he likely sang other songs not shown on the TV broadcast). Either way, it was worth it many viewers to hear the song for the first time while seeing Marty so proud of his son. The father’s pride choked me up a bit.

    Did the judges vote to advance Christian to the next round? Check out the video below.

    Update: For those of you wondering why you haven’t seen Christian Brown on later episodes of American Idol, Marty explained on his Facebook page that Christian had to withdraw from the competition. Christian Brown’s baby son had to undergo surgery, so his father decided to withdraw from the competition and its demanding schedule so he could be with his son while he recovers. We wish Christian’s son a speedy recovery and look forward to music from Christian in the near future.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

    Aretha Franklin and Tom Jones Medley (Duet of the Day)

    On Tom Jones’s show in 1970, he joined Aretha Franklin on her song “See Saw.”

    In the 1970s we had some TV shows hosted by cool singers like Tom Jones. As we’ve mentioned before, having Jones host a TV show led to some great duets.

    In the clip below from 1970, Aretha Franklin starts at the piano singing Jone’s hit “It’s Not Unusual,” as Jones looks on with admiration, And then the two bust out into Franklin’s song “See Saw.” Check it out.

    Leaver your two cents in the comments.

    John Lennon and Paul Simon Presenting Grammy for Record of the Year

    In March 1975, John Lennon and Paul Simon appeared together at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards to present an award and to have some fun along with Andy Williams and Art Garfunkel.

    On March 1, 1975, John Lennon and Paul Simon appeared together at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards, presenting the award for Record of the Year for 1974. Olivia Newton-John, who was not present at the awards, would win the Grammy with producer John Farrar for “I Honestly Love You.” But it was the presentation banter between the two legends that seems most significant today. Joined at various points by Andy Williams and Art Garfunkel, the appearances and the jokes seem like a condensed snapshot of 1975 pop culture.

    The four men were connected in a number of ways leading up to this encounter.

    Andy Williams and His Connection to John Lennon

    First, there is Lennon and Simon (perhaps both drunk?) trading jokes with crooner Andy Williams. While Williams may be less known today, if you were around in the 1970s, you knew him. He was well known for his recordings, The Andy Williams Show, “Moon River,” and his Christmas songs and TV specials. He also hosted the Grammy’s that year and in fact every year between 1971 and 1977.

    Viewers would not only know Williams but would know that his former partner “Claudine” referred to in the somewhat risqué banter was his newly ex-wife Claudine Longet. Audience members probably also caught that the “three hits” he referred to from their partnership was their three children.

    Although later in life Williams explained that he was a Republican, he also had been friends with the Kennedys. And he also was outspoken against the Nixon Administration’s efforts in the 1970s to deport John Lennon. So, the affection you see between Lennon and Williams is likely genuine.

    John Lennon in Early 1975

    As for Lennon, in early 1975, he was coming off his famous “Lost Weekend” period and separation from Yoko Ono that lasted from 1973 until early 1975. He was having some success working with other artists (Elton John and David Bowie).

    Also, later in 1975 Lennon would release Rock ‘n’ Roll, his last album before his 1980 return with Double Fantasy. A the time of the Grammy’s, Yoko was pregnant. As later in the year on October 9, 1975, John’s 35th birthday, Yoko Ono gave birth to their son Sean Ono Lennon.

    Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel in 1975

    Simon of course was connected to Art Garfunkel, who appears near the end of the clip. But he also had some mixed experience with Lennon. Simon and Garfunkel had broken up their partnership years earlier. Hence, the joking about whether they would reunite or whether Lennon would reunite (a reference to the 1970’s often-discussed rumors about the Beatles getting back together).

    But in 1975 Simon and Garfunkel were doing some work together, although one might detect some tension in the onstage joking. Apparently, not long before this appearance, Simon and Garfunkel had reconciled to some extent when they visited John Lennon and Harry Nilsson during a recording session in 1974.

    Simon and Lennon’s Relationship

    Apparently, Simon and Lennon had some sort of disagreement during that Harry Nilsson recording session. According to different reports, either Simon walked out or Nilsson threw out both Simon and a drunk Lennon. Lennon also apparently called Simon some names at the time.

    But as you see in the exchange, Lennon and Simon seem to have gotten over that riff. And after John Lennon was killed on December 8, 1980, Simon referenced his sadness about the death in  “The Late Great Johnny Ace,” a song regarding blues singer Johnny Ace who had died in 1954.  “On a cold December evening/ I was walking through the Christmas tide/ When a stranger came up and asked me/ If I’d heard John Lennon had died/ And the two of us/ Went to this bar/ And we stayed to close the place/ And every song we played/ Was for the Late Great Johnny Ace.”

    Before that tragedy, though, back in 1975 for one evening, the four talented artists came together for some fun.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Loudon Wainwright III Was on M*A*S*H?

    Singer-songwriter Loudin Wainwright III brought his singing and acting talents to the third season of the TV series M*A*S*H.

    Loudin Wainwright III Unrequited

    Singer-songwriter Loudin Wainwright III has had a diverse career while creating a catalog of outstanding albums and songs. The Grammy-award winning artist’s early claim to fame was a 1972 novelty song, “Dead Skunk (in the Middle of the Road).” He was a musical guest during the inaugural season of Saturday Night Live in 1975. Through the years, Wainwright, once hailed as one of the “new Dylans,” has appeared in a number of TV shows and movies. But perhaps his most interesting recurring role was as Captain Calvin Spalding in three episodes of the third season of M*A*S*H during 1974-1975.

    Wainwright brought his musical talents to the character of Spalding, a singing surgeon. During his appearances, he played guitar and sang, as in the opening of the episode below, where he sings “Oh Tokyo” and “North Korea Blues.”

    Below, Wainwright plays some additional songs in an episode from November 1974. Wayne Rogers (as Trapper John) and Alan Alda (as Hawkeye Pierce) join in on the first song. Then, in perhaps his best performance from the show, Wainwright illustrates how the camp is missing the nurses who were evacuated due to an approaching enemy.

    Interestingly, Wainwright’s character name, “Captain Spalding,” referenced a famous Groucho Marx character Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding in the 1930 movie Animal Crackers. In the movie, Marx’s character had the theme song, “Hooray for Captain Spaulding,” which Marx often used throughout his career. During the run of M*A*S*H, there were several Groucho references and Alda even donned a Groucho Marx costume in the episode “Yankee Doodle Doctor.”

    What Happened to M*A*S*H’s Captain Spalding?

    M*A*S*H creator Larry Gelbart brought Loudin Wainwright III to the show originally. Gelbert was a fan of Wainwright’s music and wanted to try adding his musical element to the show. Gelbert even wanted to use Wainwright more than they did during that third season. But due to the tight shooting schedules for the series, they were not able to make room for more Wainwright appearances.

    During his short time on the series and three episodes (“Rainbow Bridge,” “There Is Nothing Like a Nurse,” and “Big Mac”), though, Wainwright wrote and performed several songs. They included “North Korea Blues,” “Unrequited to the Nth Degree,” “I Wonder if They Miss Us,” “Five Gold Stars,” and “Big Mac Is Coming.”

    As for Captain Spalding, who we did see briefly as a surgeon in his final appearance, the series never explained his disappearance. Unlike many iconic characters of the show who had their own exits, Calvin Spalding and his guitar just seemed to disappear from the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital” in Uijeongbu, South Korea. Maybe he got transferred to another unit or got to go back home. Or maybe he ended up in Outer Mongolia playing basketball with Chuck Cunningham. But at least for a little while, he was part of one of the biggest shows on television.

    As for Loudin Wainwright III, he continued making music and acting, and also is the father of musicians Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, and Lucy Wainwright Roche. The clip below features his final appearance on M*A*S*H, where he is asked to write a song for a visit by General Douglas MacArthur. The episode ends with Wainwright singing a part of his song to a disappointed camp (after MacArthur drove through camp without stopping). It was the last we would see of Calvin Spalding.

    What is your favorite non-major character from M*A*S*H? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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