![]() ![]() Urn:lcp:myfriendflickabo00mary_0:lcpdf:a78ebd56-c990-41aa-b9a2-8d4c919d96a9 THE STOUT SO FAR: Ten-year-oM Ken McLaughlin can ride any horse on bis familys Wyoming ranch, but he wants a colt of his. Now people say we need more shows today where parents are more restrictive.” Many episodes included a line by Gene to Johnny, “You did what you thought was right son, and that’s the important thing.” Most of us brought up on series like “Flicka” still live by those words today.Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 22:56:10 Bookplateleaf 0004 Boxid IA1124920 Boxid_2 CH113501 Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II City New York Donorīlogistics Edition 1st HarperFestival ed. Recently, when “My Friend Flicka” was on TV Land reruns, Gene told me, “Some people thought I was too strict with my son-too stern on Ken. But Gene sure got a kick out of cooling-off everyone else.” The actors couldn’t join in because of our costumes and make-up. Gene would often turn on the fire hose and wet down the crew with it. It got very hot there in the summer, sometimes up to 110 degrees. “All our outdoor shooting was done in Malibu Canyon. Pranks would be pulled to relieve tension and Evans frequently took part in the hi-jinx. I never found anyone having as much fun as I was doing ‘Flicka’.”Īt the same time, Washbrook observed that the grind of doing a series could sometimes be stressful. “I can remember visiting friends on the sets of other shows at the time. Now a New England banker, he told Ray Nielsen of the Memphis Film Festival, following Evans’ death, “Gene was one of the reasons why the company was so bonded and worked so well together.” He called Evans ‘Dad’ on and off camera to get into the feel of his role. Johnny Washbrook (born 10/16/44) was 10 years old when the series began. We shot on the Fox western street and the Fox Ranch in Malibu Canyon.” Johnny was a great kid with saucer-like eyes. Frank was a great guy to work with-a good fisherman. When we were shooting, Anita had her own schedule and Johnny Washbrook was only able to work certain hours because he was a minor so you know who got the first and last shot everyday. A year later she had a ‘whim’ to not do it any longer, leaving the rest of us unemployed. Gene recalled, “Anita Louise was married to Fox honcho (Buddy Adler) and had a ‘whim’ to do a series. Gene Evans once told me Ferguson was also a noted acting coach at Columbia. Superb character actor Frank Ferguson (1899-1978) was Gus, the ranch foreman. Born in Cape May, New Jersey, she was raised in the Brooklyn Heights, New York, mainly by her father. The horse, Flicka (actually an Arabian sorrel named Wahama), was owned by livestock supplier Ralph McCutcheon with his training handled by Les Hilton. Mary O’Hara (J Octoborn Mary O’Hara Alsop) was an American author, screenwriter, and composer, best known for the horse story for all ages, My Friend Flicka. Anita Louise (1915-1970) replaced the film’s Rita Johnson as Ken’s mother, Nell, in the half hour color series which ran for 38 episodes. Frustrated by the boys constant daydreaming, Kens father (Preston Foster) finally lets him choose any horse in. ![]() Ten-year-old Ken McLaughlin (Roddy McDowall) desperately wants a colt of his own. Toronto, Canada, born Johnny Washbrook essayed the role of young Ken McLaughlin (played in the films by Roddy McDowall) and the late Gene Evans was his father, Rob (Preston Foster in the films). A young boy is determined to befriend a rebellious horse in this touching family film based on the celebrated novel by Mary OHara. ![]() As in the films, the Fox produced TV series revolved around the popular theme of a boy and his horse and the struggles of the McLaughlin family on a ranch in Montana. “My Friend Flicka” (CBS 2/10/56-2/1/57) took its lead from two successful 20th Century-Fox films, “My Friend Flicka” (‘43) and “Thunderhead, Son of Flicka” (‘45). ![]()
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