‘Family Affair’s Kathy Garver Reveals Love Stories of Classic TV’s Biggest Stars
What To Know
- Family Affair’s Kathy Garver has co-authored Romancing With the Stars, a book featuring real-life Hollywood love stories.
- Garver talks about how the book includes heartfelt and often surprising interviews with celebrities.
- Fellow TV icons such as John Schneider, Jerry Mathers and Angela Cartwright have praised the book.
As Family Affair celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, Kathy Garver, best known for playing big sister Cissy Davis on the hit sitcom, is literally getting romantic — and her fellow thespians — from The Dukes of Hazzard‘s John Schneider and Leave It to Beaver‘s Jerry Mathers to Lost in Space‘s Angela Cartwright and others — are simply loving it.
Garver, along with writing partner Doug Hartline, has penned the delightfully entertaining Romancing With the Stars: Inspiring Hollywood Love Stories. The duo endearingly interviewed an eclectic mix of beloved Hollywood stars (and/or their widows or widowers) to get the true stories behind their courtships. Their stories go beyond meet-cute as many are completely unexpected, making the read both captivating and heartfelt. Garver and Hartline add to each of the stories by providing fresh ideas on nurturing your own relationship through romantic adventures and more.
“When Doug expressed the idea of writing this romantic book with the added bonus of a practical and engaging travel guide on how to create and re-create special spots that our celebrities had intoned, I unhesitatingly said, ‘Yes, let’s do it,’” Garver shares.
Having spent seven decades in the industry, Garver had no shortage of friends to reach out to to be involved, as well as made some “cold calls” asking for participation. She was humbled by the response and overly thrilled with each of their fascinating stories.
The list of participants is a who’s who of Hollywood greats including married couples Frankie Avalon and Kay, Alison Arngrim and Bob Schoonover, Ruta Lee and Webster Lowe, Tom Bosley and Patricia, Tony Dow and Lauren, Bob Denver and Dreama, Donny Most and Morgan Hart, Keith Thibodeaux and Kathy, Pat Priest and Frederick Hansing, Pat Boone and Shirley, and the list goes on.
“I loved Ruta Lee’s story,” Garver tells us, about the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) starlet. “I think it was interesting how she met her husband-to-be, Webb, when she was doing a charity event. Those Gucci loafers walking towards her (and Ruta is very friendly and open) and they just walk right on by her.”
Everett Collection/Peter Samerjan
As chance would have it, those same loafers — and man — greeted her on her flight home and asked: “Is this seat taken?” He introduced himself as Webb Lowe (a Texas restaurant executive), and a hilarious exchange began. Two years later, they would marry on Valentine’s Day in 1976, and welcome 450 guests to the Playboy Mansion the next day for a reception.
The 400-plus-page storybook is filled with one enthralling memory after another — intimate details you’ve never read about — that leave you feeling the warmth and love shared by each of them.
Stars who love the book …
Warner Bros. Television/Everett Collection
“I was there when Jack [Gill] and Morgan [Brittany] met. I was there the day they got married,” shares John Schneider about the book and the couple’s story. “This is a couple who are truly the quintessential Hollywood love story. Beautiful people, beautiful family, beautiful life, beautiful work, and beautiful legacy. I am honored to have not only witnessed it, but to have been a small part of it.”
Everett Collection
Jerry Mathers shares his thoughts about the story of his Leave It To Beaver costar, Tony Dow (who played Wally), saying: “Tony and Lauren’s love story was one of decades with respect and strength. … Kathy and Doug have painted a touching portrait of their love story, and I am so grateful that you can now know the story behind their inspiring romance.”
© 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
Angela Cartwright also provides commentary on the book’s back cover, saying, “I was especially touched by the chapters featuring two familiar faces from my Lost in Space days, one of whom is no longer earthbound, making his story a beautiful echo from the universe. A sweet celebration of serendipity and romance.”
To order the book, go to Kathy Garver’s website or find it on Amazon.
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Who was your favorite TV family? We cover the decades, from the Cleavers, Waltons and Brady Bunch, to the Ewings, Keatons, Partridges, Tanners and Taylors. Plus, we've got the Goldbergs, Hecks, Haungs and more. There were so many favorite TV families you can expect a follow-up Puzzler issue in the future!
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