Celebrating 60 Years of the Dick Van Dyke Show

What fun! Celebrating 60 years of the Dick Van Dyke Show with Larry Matthews (Ritchie Petry), Rose Marie’s daughter Georgiana “Noopy” Rodriques, and David Van Deusen producer of the YouTube special (available  free) called “Dick Van Dyke Show 60th Anniversary.” I spoke with the three HERE on Steve Dale’s Other World, WGN radio.

Matthews says he still recalls how he got the role. He remembers how producer Sheldon Leonard told him how to cry for a scene, how a worm was placed on his head for the woodpecker scene, and his favorite episode called Never Name a Duck.

Rose Marie’s daughter talks about how her mother was the first cast, and famously said “The Dick Van Who Show?” As close they all were, she admits her mom was a bit jealous of Mary Tyler Moore. For more on Rose Marie, check out the documentary Wait for Your Laugh.

Larry tells how Rose Marie nearly quit The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Noopy recalls Morey Amsterdam (Buddy Sorrell) and how he truly was a human joke machine.

All three guests offer what their favorite shows were and overall the favorite was It Looks Like a Walnut (an episode that nearly never got made).

Larry survived just fine as a former child star, when some of his contemporaries did not, and he talks about that.

Noopy reveals the truth about the residuals.

Van Deusen said the deal was – if you make the special, please support St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

According to IMD – this episode is the fan’s favorite:

Did you know the theme song actually had lyrics – wonderful lyrics written by Morey Amsterdam