One of my best friends in high school texted me over a week ago that Johnny Crawford had passed away. That was a sad surprise. He was only 75 and suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. It wasn't a surprise that my friend remembers because she has THE MOST amazing memory.
I remember going to his concert in Honolulu with friends way back then. He was passing out photos or flyers at the entrance and accidentally touched my finger. I don't think I washed that finger for a couple of days.
Johnny Crawford was one of the original Mouseketeers and played the part of Mark McCain on the Rifleman series. He was also a singer and put out several albums (which I just found stored in a box).
I might have even carved our initials on our mango tree way up high where nobody could see it. Yes, I was a monkey back then.
When Art and I moved to Illinois, I laughingly told my new friend and neighbor, Peggy about this crush. She smiled broadly and said she had the same mad crush when she was a kid. I think that also cemented our friendship because we could laugh at ourselves together.
I remember mom thinking I had lost my mind. She couldn't understand my pre-teen fervor. I guess teenagers have been known to lose their minds now and then.
Granted, eventually my fickle heart moved on to the Beatles, but that would be another story.
Whatever the case, it's really sad to know that this part of my childhood has passed on. Did you have any heartthrobs when you were a kid?
I honestly cannot remember any.
ReplyDeleteI only knew him in the Rifleman and not the Mouseketeers or as a singer. I don’t think I had nay heartthrobs. Maybe it is a girl thing. Obviously, I liked Annette and Doreen on that program, but not a whole lot.
ReplyDeleteI was going to be Mrs. George Harrison, but that didn't work out.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your heartthrob Kay, but you gave me a chuckle when he touched your finger, that's too sweet :^) I certainly remember Johnny Crawford, saw pieces of The Rifleman but don't think I ever watched a full episode. Didn't know he was a singer or had albums though! My first crush was Sally Field on The Flying Nun, but then I added Yvonne Craig (who played Batgirl) and Barbara Eden to my TV harem.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Rifleman himself. There were a couple of other stars that I cared for madly, but today I cannot remember their names.
ReplyDeleteLike Mage above I know there were some TV stars that I loved to watch but naming them now? No luck there. I vaguely remember the show Rifleman but don't think that was a regular show for me.
ReplyDeleteThat kid was a good actor in The Rifleman, which I've roamed into reruns late at night. I didn't watch Mouseketeers, nor was aware that he was a singer. I googled his name recently and learned of his Alzheimer's and passing. So sad.
ReplyDeleteI've swooned over Bobby Vinton and all of his '60s tunes. He performed at the Worlds of Fun theme park in the mid-70s, when I was on their year-round public relations staff and completed the various performer contracts. I was able to see him backstage in the performer trailer, he signed some of the album covers, then gave me a kiss on the cheek! (Yep, I knew he was devotedly married, and I was too: my husband took the photo...) I saw him later in Branson, front-row seats with my parents and teenage son in tow. He'd not aged well at all and looked a tad scary. My folks went on stage to ballroom dance to one of his tunes during his show. Later, during one of those late-night ads selling his records, I saw that Bobby Vinton had some facial plastic surgery and looked much better. Sigh, Linda in Kansas
Good gracious! I remember Bobby Vinton! He sang Blue Velvet. How totally cool that you were able to meet him and even get a kiss. I looked him up and found he is now 86 years old.
DeleteFunny - we were just talking about him on Mother's Day when my brother and sister and families were here. My brother was very popular with the girls in his day. People said he looked like Johnny Crawford - though he was rather a bad boy like James Dean.
ReplyDeleteI liked Ringo Starr back in my teenage days. But secretly I really thought Paul McCartney was da bomb. And later, it was John Lennon because of his haunting songs.
I liked him too, as an actor and singer. Same with Paul Peterson from the Donna Reed show.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh! I can still picture Paul Peterson. I used to watch that show all the time.
DeleteI liked David Cassidy.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you lost that heart fluttering part of your young years. I didn't know he was a singer--just saw him on the Rifleman.
ReplyDeleteJames Dean rocked my world.
I didn't have any people I listened to regularly, but I did watch the Mouseketeers and have vague memories of him. My favorite character, though, was Annette Funicello. I can see them in my mind's eye swaying to "M-I-C ... K-E-Y ... M-O-U-S-E". Those were the days.
ReplyDeleteI think Tony Curtis was a/my popular movie star. I read everything about him and his life.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember this guy at all. Maybe because I never watched the rifle man.
ReplyDeleteWell before my time.
ReplyDeleteI had quite a few crushes. But life goes on without them. I always feel so sad when someone has alzheimers. What a waste.
ReplyDeleteI was sad to read that Johnny Crawford had passed away,too. I was quite taken aback by it. Very sad that it was Alzheimer's. I always thought he was so handsome. I thought his eyes and hair were sexy.
ReplyDeleteYes this is definitely a feature of living a long time. Great post
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