| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Fabulous Farm Femmes |
Posted - Jul 20 2005 : 3:03:36 PM
Has anyone read this wonderfull book by Betty McDonald? It is the book that inspired the movie of the same title and made Ma and Pa Kettle household names. Ma Kettle was THE first Farm Girl I think. Talk about earthy.The book is a delight for anyone who loves, has loved or wants to love the country life and farming. She is simply hilarious with the dryest sense of humor. Okay, back to my weeding  bye bye. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 09 2005 : 4:00:24 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fabulous Farm Femmes
Maybe Betty was either trying to save her ex husband from feeling like the jack ass he was when her book came out (by not revealing his last name) or more likely her daughter Anne's feelings (he was her father after all). Even though I knew the history behind it all when I read the book, it always kind of tickled me that she didn't reveal it, as in my head I always called Bob "Old MacDonald" as in had a farm.Made him more villianous to me!
I agree, I think that alot of it had to do with the fact that Betty wanted NO contact with her ex husband. She didn't even want him to see his daughter's Ann and, Joan. Bob really couldn't push the visitation issue because he NEVER paid the court ordered support of $50 a month.
I had heard that Bob was offered a flat $1000 to give up his rights to any financial gain from the movie, "the Egg and I." He was left out of everything involvong the Egg, including, the law suite brought against Betty.
john
Cows are our friends! |
| Fabulous Farm Femmes |
Posted - Oct 09 2005 : 12:16:48 AM
Maybe Betty was either trying to save her ex husband from feeling like the jack ass he was when her book came out (by not revealing his last name) or more likely her daughter Anne's feelings (he was her father after all). Even though I knew the history behind it all when I read the book, it always kind of tickled me that she didn't reveal it, as in my head I always called Bob "Old MacDonald" as in had a farm.Made him more villianous to me! |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 08 2005 : 7:56:35 PM
I like the Mrs Piggle-Wiggle series. I have all 4 of them. I was surfing the net today and went into a used bookseller site and seen a Mrs. Pigglw-Wiggle book for $800, and Betty's other book, "Nancy and Plum," for $1500. I was really suprised that first editions of her books are so expensive. I got my first edition "Egg and I", with dust jacket, for 50 cents.
Your son will really like the Piggle-Wiggles books.
john
Cows are our friends! |
| KJD |
Posted - Oct 08 2005 : 6:30:34 PM
Went to the used book store today and got 3 Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books, to read to my son. I read these long ago myself. They had a copy of The Egg and I, but I already have it. I'll keep checking back for her other books, too. |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 10:05:02 PM
As promised, here is the cast list for the TV show, "The Egg andI."
BETTY MACDONALD / (1951- 1952) PAT KIRKLAND
BETTY MACDONALD / (3/10/52- 8/1/52) BETTY LYNN
BOB MACDONALD / JOHN CRAVEN
PA KETTLE / FRANK TWEDELL
MA KETTLE / DORIS RICH
The show premiered September 3rd,1951 on CBS, and ended August 1, 1952. It ended, not because it was a flop but, proctor and Gamble inexplicably stoped it's sponsorship of the show and no other advertiser replaced them. Betty Lynn went on to play "Thelma Lou" on the Andy Griffith show 10 years later.
I find it strange that Bob's last name was Heskett but, they used Macdonald on the TV show, and in the book and in the movie, Betty never told us her last name. When you watch the movie closely you will see them in the bedroom on their first night on the farm. If you look at the back wall on the left of the screen you will see some luggage with the initial "H" on it.
John
Cows are our friends! |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:57:23 PM
Shucks for some reason my posts messed up and went multiple on me
Cows are our friends! |
| KJD |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:54:52 PM
That is a great site! And a source for her other books - thank you! |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:54:35 PM
It was called the Egg and I . when I get home I will get out the reviws on it and let you know who starred in it
Cows are our friends! |
| Kim |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:54:27 PM
That would be great! I look forward to it!
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:53:27 PM
LOL
Cows are our friends! |
| Kim |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:53:24 PM
ROFL, I should have guessed. I am a big '50's buff but I have never heard of the show.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:51:50 PM
It was called The Egg and I.
Cows are our friends! |
| Kim |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:50:20 PM
Really? What was it called?
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:38:21 PM
Kim,
I would love to someday write a book on Betty but, i most likely never will unless I just put a small book together just to share with other betty Fans. I don't think I would want the responcibility of having a blog. I like forums like this. I hope to stay around here for a long time as long as I am welcome.
Did you know that in the 1950's there was a short lived soap opera based on The Egg and I? It only lasted one season.
Glad you like cows too
john
Cows are our friends! |
| Kim |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:22:19 PM
I did and it is a beautiful site John! I will be visiting it ofetn and I hope you write a book someday on her. You should start a blog!
By the way I love cows. Especially brown ones with big brown eyes. I hope to have one, one day named Sophie.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:10:22 PM
I take it that you found the site ok? I really with that there was a place where I could post some pictures and 1st edition macdonald book covers for you all to view and, hopefully, enjoy.
John
Cows are our friends! |
| Kim |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 7:06:22 PM
Uh oh. I feel another Barnes & Noble shopping spree coming along. Drat having a mother for an English teacher, book are my vice!
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 6:32:31 PM
http://www.bettymacdonaldfarm.com/ try this. if this dosent work just type Betty Macdonald onto your address bar
John
Cows are our friends! |
| Kim |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 6:24:37 PM
Argh! Didn't work!
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 6:12:24 PM
Vason is right across the sound from Seattle. if you would like to see what Betty's Vason farm looked like go to www.bettymacdonaldfarm.com, there are some wonderful pictures there.
if this link dosen't work let me know
John
Cows are our friends! |
| Kim |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 6:11:20 PM
Never mind! Re-read the posts and found out Vashon is in Washington. I always loved Ma & Pa Kettle.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Kim |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 6:08:11 PM
Where is Vashon?
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Johnftwa48in |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 5:43:05 PM
I am glad that I was able to tweek your interest in Betty's books. as you read "Onions in the Stew" you will notice that the name of Betty's husband has changed from Bob to Don. Betty left Bob in 1931. her reason for doing so was because Bob had a violent temper (he served from 1918 to 1919 in WWI and suffered from shell shock). In the divorce papers Betty claimed that after the birth of their first daughter,Ann, Bob would often kick her and belittle her. At one point he attempted to set the house on fire. In 1942 Betty met and married Donald Chauncey Macdonald, and they remained married until her death from uterian cancer in 1958. Don and Betty had no children. There are stories amoung the people in Chimacum that the "Chicken" ranch that Bob and Betty had was really a moonshire operation. Wether this is true or not I do not know. Because, even to this day, Betty is not very popular with the residents of that area who are related to the Bishops.
I do believe that you will enjoy all of Betty's adult books, and if you have any questions while reading them please feel free to ask. I would also like to add that Betty's sister, Mary Bard, was an author herself.
John
Cows are our friends! |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 5:21:49 PM
Me too!!!!
If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come. |
| Kim |
Posted - Oct 07 2005 : 4:47:43 PM
Ok, now my interest is peaked. I'm going to have to look for these books. To add to my ever expanding libary!
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
