|
Ruben started as a writer for radio shows for such personalities as Dinah Shore, Burns and Allen, Fred Allen, Henry Morgan, and Milton Berle. He directed shows such as The Phil Silvers Show. And, in 1960, he turned to producing, as head writer for The Andy Griffith Show, a spinoff of The Danny Thomas Show. Griffith credits Ruben for "setting the tone and style" of the show, which was an instant hit; it was in the Top 10 during its entire 8-year run, and still can be seen in reruns today. "My theory is that the Griffith show is like the grown-ups' Oz," he once said. "It's the land of, 'Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful to live in a town with no drugs, no crime, no gangs, no violence. People greet each other. People are kind to each other.' That's why grown-ups love that show." He left the show after five years to launch a new spinoff series, Gomer Pyle, USMC, featuring a Mayberry mechanic who joins the Marines. He later went on to produce other sitcoms, including Sanford and Son and CPO Sharkey. Ruben also had a major effect on another career: he gave "Ronny" Howard (Opie in the Griffith show) a movie camera for his 8th birthday, which "turned out to be really significant because I actually did get into it and started making little movies almost right away," Howard said. Howard went on to become a top movie director. As for Ruben, the Griffith show "was five of the best years of my life in the business." He died January 30 from pneumonia at age 95.
From This is True for 7 February 2010
Suggestions for further reading:
Aunt Bee's Mayberry Cookbook
by Ken Beck, Jim Clark
Amazon Price: $11.55
Customer Review: this product is great, not only do you get some great recipes but if your a Mayberry fan, some great stories from the show. It brings back memories. I purchased a few and will be using then as Christmas gifts. The service was great and I received ...
The Way Back to Mayberry: Lessons from a Simpler Time
by Joey Fann
Amazon Price: $10.39
Customer Review: I love this show for its moral content. It is a devotional book for our family. Received in excellent condition. Thank you.
The Andy Griffith Show
by Richard Michael Kelly
Amazon Price: $9.95
Customer Review: I have the first issue of this book from 1981 and just started paying more attention to the reviews written in the back of the book for each episode. There are so many errors in the storylines; I have red-lined and re-written them so many times I've...
The Incredible Mr. Don Knotts
by Stephen Cox and Kevin Marhanka
Amazon Price: $23.04
Customer Review: With a delicious cover like this, who wouldn't buy this book? I'm crazy nuts over Don Knotts and his timeless comedy. This book did not disappoint. I love the extended chapter all about the making of his best (in my opinion) movie, "The Ghost and...
The Andy Griffith Show Book 40th Anniversary Edition
by Ken Beck, Jim Clark
Amazon Price: $12.11
Customer Review: If you are a TAGS lover, this book is for you. Its so much fun!
Newsfeed display by CaRP |
About the HUs
About This is True
Subscribe Free
to This is True
Prev: Mystery novelist Ralph McInerny
Next: Frisbee inventor Walter Morrison
Complete Name List
|
