Cedar Rapids native and popular television and stage actor Don DeFore first performed in public in church plays directed by his mother. Photo courtesy of Ron DeFore
By Jeff Stein
As the fall of 1961 began, Americans were looking forward to spending their evenings with the still-new form of entertainment called television. In those pre-cable and internet days 60 years ago, the three broadcast networks rolled out their new program schedules in September.
Iowans who were watching NBC programming (KQTV-TV21 in Fort Dodge, WHO-TV13 in Des Moines, KWWL-TV7 in Waterloo, or WOC-TV6 in Davenport) on Sept. 28, 1961, saw the premiere of a new comedy program starring an Iowa native.
Nestled in between a new drama adapted from radio (“Dr. Kildare”) and a new musical program (“Sing Along With Mitch (Miller)”), the half-hour comedy “Hazel” was based on the popular single-panel comic strip by the same name, penned by Ted Key, which appeared weekly in The Saturday Evening Post.
The television program, which initially aired at 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, centered on Hazel, a live-in maid in the home of the Baxter family. Hazel Burke was played by Shirley Booth, who would win two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of the character.
George Baxter, the family patriarch, was portrayed by Cedar Rapids native Don DeFore, who was already well known to early television audiences from the five years he played next-door neighbor “Thorny” in “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” DeFore’s new character, called “Mr. B” by Hazel, was typically described as “beleaguered” in dealing with the boisterous maid character.
The show was an instant hit, finishing No. 4 for the entire season in the ratings, behind three hour-long westerns — “Wagon Train,” “Bonanza” and “Gunsmoke.” The show garnered a 27.7 rating in that first season; by comparison, thanks to the growing number of viewing options, the top show for the most recent season only scored a 16.5 rating.
“Hazel” was one of the early programs that transitioned to color, spurred on by NBC’s parent company, RCA — which manufactured color television sets. Season 1 of the show was in black and white, with the exception of one episode in which Hazel purchases (naturally) a color television set; the remaining seasons were all produced in color.
While many today may recall DeFore for his four seasons starring in “Hazel” (1961-1965), or the five seasons as Erskin “Thorny” Thornberry (1952-1957), his six-decade career included successful stints on Broadway and in motion pictures, and as an entrepreneur.
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