HOW I BECAME A FAN
Diane McAulay (aka Happi)
Norco,
California, USA
It all
started in the summer of 1959; the TV Networks would air trailers of their new
fall programs. These trailers gave
me my first glimpse of LARAMIE. I
immediately recognized Bobby Crawford Jr. from the MICKEY MOUSE CLUB and
was impressed that he and Robert Fuller were going to be in the same Western.
For the
record, this was also the same season THE RIFLEMAN premiered with Johnny
Crawford, Bobby’s younger brother, whom I also recognized from the Mickey
Mouse Club. Yes, for me, it was
Bobby Crawford who was the drawing card to LARAMIE.
This was also the first season BONANZA aired.
You can see that LARAMIE had its share of competition.
From the
starting gate, I was very impressed with the format of LARAMIE.
I loved the stories and thought that the quick bond of friendship forged
between Andy and Jess was great. Within
that first week, I had written and mailed letters off to both Bobby Crawford and
Robert Fuller. In no time, to my
utter delight and amazement, I received an autographed picture of Robert Fuller.
From Bobby Crawford I received a handwritten letter accompanied by an
autographed photograph. (Boy was I impressed! I
was pushing 13 and could not believe that both Bob and Bobby took the time to
respond to my letters. Immediately,
these two became very special to me.)
In Bobby
Crawford’s letter, he shared how much he enjoyed working on LARAMIE and that
he was glad I was enjoying it. He
went on to write how much he enjoyed being around Bob Fuller and added that they
had a lot of fun together. How cool
it was that Bobby would share his thoughts about Bob with me!
As the series
progressed I could relate more and more to the friendship between Andy and Jess
and looked forward to the stories where the two of them were featured.
I started reading everything I could find on Robert Fuller and Bobby
Crawford. (Admittedly, it was
easier to find material on Bob Fuller than on Bobby.)
When Bobby Crawford left the series to attend college, I was devastated
but I knew that I could count on Jess to stay on at the Sherman Ranch.
Dennis Holmes
joined the cast with the episode, “Dragon at the Door”, and I watched the
way Jess seemed to know just what to say to Mike to help him become comfortable
at the Ranch; it reconfirmed how compassionate Jess could be.
Whether it was Andy or Mike, both boys knew that they could count on Jess
no matter what, and so could I.
Within a week
of Dennis’ first appearance on LARAMIE, I had a letter off to him.
By then, I was pushing 15 and yet I was still delighted to receive a
package from Dennis containing not only an autographed photograph, but a
handwritten letter, too.
LARAMIE’S
young men, Bobby and Dennis sure knew how to impress their fan!
They took time from their busy schedules to write to me!
Dennis also wrote how much he was enjoying himself working on the series
and he added how sweet Miss Byington was. He
went on to say that he was having a lot of fun with Bob.
I would have
given just about anything to be involved with the Sherman Ranch and Relay
Station from the Pilot Episode, “Stage Stop” to the final episode, “Road
to Helena”. To be with these
understanding people who were always willing to help their friends, as well as
strangers; to have such strong values and to live a very down to earth
lifestyle. In a way, these two
young men sharing their words with me, especially those revealing their
admiration for Bob, made me feel that I was a part of it.
I managed to settle for learning their values and incorporating these
values into creating the person I am today.
As I would
watch each story unfold, I could see the high standard of quality that Robert
Fuller brought to the character of Jess Harper and I knew what a good friend
Bob/Jess would be. Bob was Jess and
Jess was Bob.
Deep down
inside of me I always wanted to meet Bob Fuller and find out, first hand, what
he was really like. In 2001, I read
that he was to be appearing at End of Trail in Norco, where I live.
It was
Saturday morning when I located the tent where the celebrities were.
I entered the tent and there he was with his table all set up.
I was very surprised that I was not at all nervous when I approached him. Right from the beginning, we chatted like old friends.
Though he suggested another photo was his favorite, I opted to purchase a
photograph of Jonesy and Jess. Throughout
the day’s festivities, I would wander off to visit the many other celebrities
but I always managed to end up back at Bob’s table.
At one point, when he said, “You’re back?” all I could do was nod.
I did not
know, then, what an unusual circumstance I was about to experience for as I
turned around, who should be standing there but Bobby Crawford, Jr.
My fantasy day was complete… or so I thought.
Bobby and I
chatted and he asked me to walk with him over to his table, which just happened
to be next to Bob’s. (I was back
at Bob’s table again!) When Bobby
introduced me to Bob, Bob just waved and said, “I know Diane.”
(Be still, my heart!) From there it just got better and I realized how
genuine these two people really are. My
respect and admiration grew even more for both Bob and Bobby that day.
This past March when I again had the opportunity to meet Robert Fuller at the FOTW, the respect he showed to me reminded me of just how AWESOME a person he really is!
Upon spending
quality time with Bob Fuller, I can certainly agree with what Bobby Crawford and
Dennis Holmes shared with me all those years ago:
BOB
FULLER IS SO MUCH FUN TO BE WITH.
(Thank you
Bobby and Dennis, very much, for sharing your thoughts with me.)
This is why I
became a fan of Robert Fuller, and why he will always be my all time AWESOME
hero!
Diane aka Happi
Beta read by Carol Marsella
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