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The top child TV stars in the 1960s

by Mary Cardamon

Created on: May 31, 2009   Last Updated: June 19, 2009

Some of the best shows on TV in the 1960's, had the most adorable kids as cast members. It's hard for me to even begin to pick out a few. I think that, the best shows on TV were on in the 50's, 60's, 70's. This was a time when life was easier than it today.

The best times of my childhood for me was, watching the old shows, that I am not old enough to remember. So, here I go down memory lane to my joyful childhood days of, good quality entertainment. For my first choice, I have to to go along with:

1) Ron Howard, Opie from, The Andy Griffith Show. What young girl in America could have helped falling in love with that red haired, freckled face boy? Ron Howard was the symbol of American Innocence. He was a clean cut youth, on one of the best programs ever on American TV.

One of my favorite episodes of the Andy Griffith Show was, Opie The Bird Man. Opie had acquired a sling shot, as he was walking home, he accidentally killed a bird with, his sling shot. I think, that the best scene in the episode is when Ronny had to cry.

It was the most touching scene I have ever seen him perform. I also loved him in Happy Days, and American Graffiti. After he left Happy Days in 1980, he went on to become one of the best Hollywood Directors that has ever lived.

2) Anissa Jones from Family Affair. The was the little girl with the pretty blond hair, who carried around her little doll Mrs. Beasley. After Family Affair went of the air,in 1971, Anissa got involved with drugs, sadly, Anissa lived a sad, short, and troubled life. In 1976 America's sweet little Buffy died, of a drug overdose at the age of 18.

3)Anissa Jones' costar from Family Affair, Johnny Whitaker, who played Buffy's twin brother Jody. Like Ronny Howard, he is another cute red haired freckled face boy who stole my heart. As a child, I watched Johnny on Sigmund The Sea Monster, and I also enjoyed seeing him play Tom Sawyer.

4) My fourth pick is, Christopher Knight, Peter from The Brady Bunch. I loved Chris's approach to the way he played the middle son Peter. Rather he was trying to butter up his teacher Mr. Price, into giving him a passing grade in science, by writing about what a terrific teacher he is in his school newspaper.

Or, recording his siblings private conversations on a tape recorder. I would sit on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what trick Peter was going to pull next. Chris Knight was always my favorite member of the The Brady Bunch. I always got a kick out of watching him play the part.

4) Jay North as none other than Dennis The Mennis, the little blond haired Alfalfa from The Little Rascals. I loved Jay's way of playing Dennis. The way he would appear in the opening credits, as a little tornado. Another fine show from the 1960's.

Jay North reminds me of a little irrepressible Ricky from The Ozzie And Harriet Show.

5) Tony Dow has Wally Cleaver, the Beavers big brother. I loved Tony Dow's approach to the way he played Wally. Standing up to Eddie and Lumpy when he had too. The perfect and classic goody to shoes.

Some honorable mentions that I did not discuss in this article are, Jerry Mathers, best known as "The Beaver", Bill Mumy, Will Robinson from Lost In Space, and Barry Williams, Greg Brady from The Brady Bunch.

Our childhood may be gone forever but, we can briefly have it back when we sit down in front of our TVs to watch all of these wonder shows from our past.

Learn more about this author, Mary Cardamon.
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