Here's how Ozzie Nelson used his family's age to help his show
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet was a fictional show from the 1950s that featured a real-life family, known for their many years of work in Hollywood.
The parents, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, were joined by their two sons, Ricky and David, and together they became one of the most iconic and influential families on TV.
The adventures included everything from dating drama and school struggles to a budding music career, along with occasional sibling rivalry. They had their fair share of family fun, both on and off camera.
According to a 1963 interview with the Miami Herald, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet spanned 14 seasons on both radio and TV. The real-life family underwent many changes, from aging and acne to marriages and maturity.
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While most TV series would have covered their actors with makeup over the years to hide changes, wrinkles, or age spots, Ozzie Nelson used each year of the show to his advantage.
"I think we've got the most home movies in town," Nelson said. "We still get a big kick out of running some of those old television shows from when they were little fellows."
Many fans watched The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet with their own families, taking notes on the parenting skills of Ozzie and Harriet.
He said that having a real look inside the lives of real people, going through very real situations, helped keep the series going.
"What has helped keep the thing fresh is that we have allowed the boys' activities to govern the direction of the show," Nelson said. "When they were young, it was the relationship between their parents. Now, Rick focuses on college and music. David directed four shows last year, and he'll direct more this season."
Nelson said he and his family tried their best to separate their personal lives from the show, but when the entire show is about your family, it can be hard to tell the difference between fact and fiction.
According to the interview, it was hard to plan for the future of the series because the decision to continue was a family choice. They always had fun, and if it ever stopped being fun, they vowed to quit. Fun and family first, fame and fortune second.
"I think the reason I've stayed on the air is that I married a very talented woman, and we have two talented sons," Nelson said. "They're two of the nicest guys I know. They've not only been our sons, but we've always been friends, too."