In the Good Old Summertime

Kicked off the morning with pieces from Colliers Harvest of Holidays for Father's Day. One of the long stories was the sweet, quiet tale of a father who takes his little girl out to the yard at night so she can sleep. The other is a segment from Cheaper By the Dozen detailing how Mr. Gilbreath, father of 12 children and efficiency expert, tried to use the same logic he applied to factories at home...with mixed results.

Listened to Nat King Cole while eating breakfast. The title song of Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer is probably the best-known hit from Cole's 1963 summer-themed album nowadays. Most of the other numbers are beloved old favorites from the early 20th century like "Bicycle Built for Two," "In the Good Old Summertime," and "The Sidewalks of New York." One of the two new songs was also a hit, the dreamy ballad "That Sunday, That Summer." The other one was "That's What They Meant By the Good Old Summertime."

Headed to work a little early to get a pack of grapes, cubed muenster cheese, crackers, and tuna salad for lunch. Work was honestly not that bad. I spent the entire time pushing carts. The Sunday morning bagger and the afternoon bagger handled the indoor chores. It was too nice to be shopping anyway. It was hotter, yes, and a little humid, but breezy and sunny. 

Bought a Pearson's Salted Nut Roll for a summer treat after work, then went straight home and into tonight's Match Game marathon. Far more TV dads than what we saw last night appeared on this show! In addition to Tom Bosley, there were Robert Pine of CHIps, best known today as the father of actor Chris Pine, Michael Landon of Little House on the Prairie during that first week in 1973, Pat Harrington, and Ed Asner.

Real-life fathers occasionally brought their children on the show. Proud single dad Richard Dawson mentioned his son Gary twice. He first showed a picture of him dancing with a hula girl in Hawaii and claimed he was now engaged. Later in 1975, he invited Gary on the show near the end as a birthday present. McLean Stevenson's daughter Jennifer turned up at the end of an episode in 1978. She was adorable and funny in her Star Wars t-shirt. She even chewed her lip like her dad. As Didi Carr said, she was a "chippette off the old block." Jack Klugman often mentioned the two sons he had with Brett Somers. 

Fathers appeared on other versions of Match Game, too. Ted Knight was hilarious during the Too Close For Comfort week on Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour. His real-life daughter Elyse also appeared that week. Alan Thicke, later of Growing Pains, turned up twice on Hollywood Squares Hour with his then-wife Gloria Loring. Bill Kirkenbauer of Growing Pains and Just the 10 of Us was a frequent (and very funny) panelist on Match Game '90. 

Celebrate Father's Day the Match Game way as you and your dad match wits with some of the funniest fathers around!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Father's Day Marathon