All in the Nelson Family

The star, producer, director and head writer of the series had been, at 13, America’s youngest Eagle Scout. He later made a name for himself as a champion quarterback at Rutgers University and after that as a popular bandleader in the 1930s. His wife, and co-star, made a few films in the 1930s, including the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers classic “Follow the Fleet,” and at one time was a vocalist in his band.

Just who is this amazing couple?

None other than Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, the quintessential middle-America dad and mom thanks to their long-running radio and TV series “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” Repeats of the sitcom, which aired on ABC Oct. 3, 1952-Sept. 4, 1966, now air on the Disney Channel.

“The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” actually began on radio in 1944. At that time, their sons, David and Ricky, were just 7 and 4, respectively, and too young to play their counterparts. So professional actors portrayed the Nelson offspring. Finally in 1949, Ozzie allowed David and Ricky to play themselves.

Before “Ozzie and Harriet” hit the small screen, Universal released the 1952 feature film “Here Come the Nelsons,” which starred the family and a young Rock Hudson (as a bra salesman).

“Here Come the Nelsons,” which frequently pops up on KCOP, was directed by Frederick de Cordova, the longtime executive producer of “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson.” In the movie, for the first and only time, Ozzie actually has a job--he works for an advertising company.

Nearly everyone wanted to be like the Nelson family. The foursome lived in a nice house--which actually was modeled on the Nelson’s real house on Franklin Avenue in Hollywood. They and their friends--including Thorny (Don Defore) and Joe (Lyle Talbot) and Clara (Mary Jane Croft) Randolph--were people without a care in the world.

Well, they did have their share of problems: Would David and Ricky have a date for the prom? And Ozzie was always getting himself into a fair share of sticky situations, like the time he bought Joe’s old TV set for a dime to build it into his wall. Of course, it ended up being too much trouble for Ozzie. In the last episode of the series, Ozzie decides to buy a pool table and convert Ricky and David’s old bedroom into a game room until Harriet puts her foot down.

Viewers got to watch David and Ricky grow up and become adults. Rick Nelson went on to become one of the biggest rock singers of the late 1950s and early 1960s and Ozzie showcased his son’s talents at the end of most episodes near the end of the series’ run. In April 1957, Rick performed for the first time on the series, singing the Fats Domino hit “I’m Walking.” In 1964, his real-life wife, Kris Harmon, sister of Mark Harmon, joined the series as his wife. Rick died in a plane crash Dec. 31, 1985.

David became a successful attorney on the series and his then-wife, June Blair, also played his wife on the series. David has since directed films (“Last Plane Out”) and TV series. He also produced a Disney Channel documentary on his brother.

Seven years after “Ozzie and Harriet” left the airwaves, the couple returned in the short-lived syndicated comedy, “Ozzie’s Girls,” in which the duo took in two college boarders.

Ozzie died of cancer in 1975 and Harriet lives in Laguna Beach.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s on “Ozzie and Harriet” this week.

June 4 at 4 a.m.: The members of the Women’s Club decide to collect all their trading stamps and buy their retiring president a silver coffee set. But Ozzie and his pals see the store’s catalogue on the table and take the stamps to buy sporting equipment.

June 5 at 11 p.m.: Ozzie and Joe give two beautiful stranded women a ride to the gas station, only to have Harriet and Clara spot the foursome.

June 5 at 10:30 p.m. and 4:35 a.m.: Ozzie and Harriet volunteer to act as a chaperone for Rick and his date at a frat party to calm her father’s fears.