Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: The Ronny Howard Show

Wonderland Burlesque's

Down The Rabbit Hole: 

The Ronny Howard Show

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at The Ronny Howard Show.

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Before directing Oscar-winning motion pictures, before Happy Days, before American Graffiti, and while he was still co-starring weekly on The Andy Griffith Show, Ron Howard appeared to also be hosting his his own variety show at the ripe old age of 11-years old! Complete with grade school hoofers ala The June Taylor Dancers, big name guest star, Danny Kaye, and pre-teen actress Donna Butterworth, The Ronny Howard Show was not exactly what it appeared to be.

Fact is, it was a show-within-a-show - a one-off segment on The Danny Kaye Show which appeared on CBS from 1963 to 1967.

By this point in his career, Howard had won America's hearts in The Music Man, a Twilight Zone episode which became a fan favorite, the film version of The Courtship Of Eddie's Father, and was well into his fifth season on The Andy Griffith Show. And, as with most things Ron Howard either appeared in or directed, his brother, Clint Howard (of Gentle Ben fame), can be spotted in as the chief during a spy spoof. Add Donna Butterworth, (who had appeared in the film Paradise-Hawaiian Style in 1966 with Elvis Presley) belting out a rousing version of Sitting On Top of the World, and it would appear you have the real deal.

The whole affair is presented in a rather canned style which positively screams 'summer-replacement' series - in other words - terribly realistic (with emphasis on 'terrible'). 

Who knows, maybe it was the network's way of telling Mr. Kaye - who had a reputation for being moody and difficult to work with - that they were looking about for his replacement? Not that such behavior was anything new to an old pro like Ronny Howard, who, having endured five seasons already, would go on to for an additional three season working opposite Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bee. It seems Bavier was easily offended throughout the series, frequently clashed with the shows other stars, and had to be handled with kid gloves by both cast and crew. 

In any event, this is a must see to believe for any fan of the variety show format.

And, all in all, one of the oddest segments in television history. 

Enjoy!

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The Ronny Howard Show

(1966)

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