It's Father's Day...
time to honor
JOHN ETTLINE,
JOHN ETTLINE,
"Every Dell Rat's Dad."
John didn't have kids of his own but, as every Dell rat knows, he would have made
a great father. John was like a dad to us all. Again this year I am proud to present
that classic Father's Day scene from The Donna Reed Show as Dell rats old and
new salute a great man and genuine father figure, Mr. John Ettline.
a great father. John was like a dad to us all. Again this year I am proud to present
that classic Father's Day scene from The Donna Reed Show as Dell rats old and
new salute a great man and genuine father figure, Mr. John Ettline.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, JOHN.
WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!
Hi Shady, Happy Father's Day to all dads, and to all the men who are not biological dads, but who step up and take charge where dads are needed. That is what John did. I must add that his love of music and laughter was a contributing factor that took him to the level of successful entrepreneur, mentor and great friend!
ReplyDeleteI have seen the song by Paul Peterson many times, and it is still sad to me, so I don't watch it in its entirety. Thank you for posting this classic tribute to his dad on the show.
My dad wasn't like John Ettline, actually I never knew a man like John. The dads of my youth were so busy working and taking care of their families and we saw very little of dads when we visited our friends. My dad worked for the Railroad all of his life, including a few years before he went into the Army. When he returned, bringing my mother as a war bride, he went back to Santa Fe until his retirement. He was a great man and very intelligent. My sister and I miss him a lot.
Thank you for this special tribute to John, Shady! I hope you have a very nice Sunday and week ahead. Take care, dear friend! ♫
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteBy golly, you are the early bird this time. Congratulations, dear friend, and thanks for coming!
I agree that John Ettline seemed driven by a desire to entertain people, to host a party, to provide a fun and unique setting for teenagers to enjoy. He loved music and was reportedly a great dancer. When you are doing something you love, chances are you will be a success. Dell rats agree that John was a smashing success at operating the Shady Dell.
Yessum, this is the same clip I run year after year on this occasion, the hit record by Paul Petersen. That episode of Donna Reed aired in October, but I have never found a better song or video to use for Father's Day.
Thanks for giving me some background about your dad. He does sound like a great man with an interesting life. I know you must miss him on a day like today. I miss my dad, too. It will soon be 19 years since he passed away.
I often wonder what it would have been like and how it would have changed the dynamic at the Dell if Helen and John had kids and they hung out there with the rest of us. It seems like it would have been awkward but we'll never know.
Thank you very much for coming by so early in your day, dear friend Suzanne. This coming Friday the Top Hit Club of America meets here at Shady's Place with Debbie the Dellette "The Hostess with the Mostest" presiding. I hope you can attend. In the meantime, I wish you and Scootie a restful Sunday and a wonderful week ahead!
I failed to mention that my dad was also a lover of music. He played boogie woogie on the piano and did some mandolin pickin'. I have his mandolin from the late 1960's. He liked all kinds of music, but I never heard him sing and never saw him dance. My mom is the dancer and singer in the family, so we got the best of both!
DeleteI bet if John and Helen had kids, they would be right there helping run the Dell! See you next time, Shady! ♫
Hi again, Suzanne!
DeleteNow I think I know how you got your start as a musician. Your mother and dad were both musically inclined. It's great that you kept your father's mandolin all this time. In the early 1930s my dad played banjo in a York banjo band. He kept his banjo in the attic and I occasionally strummed it. In the years since his death I don't know what became of it. I'll have to ask my big brother because he moved into our boyhood home after dad died and lived there several years. My parents loved ballroom dancing as did John Ettline. Mom and dad went out dancing almost every Saturday night of the year and always went to the same club where they met and danced with their friends.
Thanks again for coming to visit, dear friend Suzanne. Have a terrific week!
❤️ Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteLUBBINS LUBBINS LUBBINS, dear cat! Please say hello to my buddy TT for me.
DeleteHappy Father's Day, John! Also, Happy Father's Day to you too, Shady!
ReplyDeleteHi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThank you very much on both counts, dear friend! I wish the same for your dad and hope you and your mother have a special day with him.
Thanks again for dropping in, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteWe did. Mom and I celebrated dad and we had a beautiful day.
I love the song you used for John. I'm still feeling sad about Mrs. Davenport, so it cheered me up a little.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteAlthough Paul Petersen's performance of his hit single "My Dad" is a tearjerker, I'm happy to know it gave you a measure of comfort as you continue to mourn the loss of Mrs. D.
I'm also glad to know you and your mother gave your dad a nice Father's Day celebration.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteThis might sound weird, but even tear jerkers that bring me to tears bring me some comfort. I think crying is cathartic and it's important to let out grief. I've been crying a lot these past few days and I'm starting to feel a bit "better."
Dad was pleasantly surprised and I'm so glad. He's been savouring the Kosher and gluten-free chocolate I gave him, so I'm happy that was a big hit. He's going to hang the photo that I gave him up. :)
Have a wonderful Thankful Thursday, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteHappy TT, dear friend!
In my experience, women tend to embrace sad songs and find comfort and strength in them. Not me. I need a rock anthem or a rowdy rap song to get back on top, and it helps if there's a video to watch.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend JM!
I love this clip and every time I've watched it here it makes me teary eyed! So heartfelt and I know it's how many feel about their Dads...I know I do! I hope John knows how much he was loved by all those kids he helped shape in many ways as they frequented the Dell. Have a good Father's Day Shady and thanks for the sweet tribute to your hero, John Ettline.
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThank you very much for being here for John Ettline again this year on Father's Day, dear friend! This is perhaps the 8th year that you have been following me and have read my annual Dad's Day tribute to him. Over the last several years, as you noted, I have posted this same scene from The Donna Reed Show with Jeff Stone singing "My Dad" and his father, played so well by Carl Betz, growing misty eyed as he listens to the song.
I know how much you miss your father on this day, and you are still stinging from the recent loss of your mother. I can only hope that your heart is on the mend and that your spirits are recovering week by week.
Thank you again for helping me remember John Ettline - Every Dell Rat's Dad - again this year. Take care, dear friend YaYa. I hope you have a good week ahead.
You've got me all misty! I've seen The Donna Reed Show but I'm not sure I remember this episode. Had a crush on Paul Peterson though. Missing my dad today, though he's been gone for over 38 years. Have a great week good buddy.
ReplyDeleteHi, Janet!
DeleteThanks for coming over to help me pay tribute to Dell owner John Ettline on Father's Day, dear friend!
I have watched this scene from Donna Reed a dozen times or more and it always gets to me. The emotion written on Jeff's father's face as his son sings to him seems real and genuine. It is one of the most authentic moments in scripted TV history, don't you agree?
Yessum, Paul Petersen was a child actor and a teenage idol of sorts. He also had a few hit records including "My Dad" and "She Can't Find Her Keys."
Thanks again for being here, dear friend Janet. I hope you and your hubby, daughters and Benny are all doing well. Have a great week!
Oh, that was lovely. I haven’t heard that song in many years. My dad had his daemons but was a sweet, kind man who loved his family.
ReplyDeleteHi, Arleen!
DeleteThank you very much for dropping by to help me remember a man who was very important not only to me but to thousands of young men and women across Central Pennsylvania - Shady Dell owner John Ettline.
Every Father's Day for the last 5 or 6 years I have posted this same scene from Donna Reed with Paul Petersen singing his hit single "My Dad" to his TV father Carl Betz. I think it's one of the most tender and true to life moments in scripted TV history. The emotions on the faces are real, I'm sure of it.
Thank you for telling me a little about your dad. It's good to know you were raised in a family with a sweet, kind father. So was I.
Are you getting the hang of the "new & improved" Blogger interface, dear friend, or still using Legacy? I've been bouncing back and forth.
Thank you again for stopping in, dear Arleen. Keep well and have a wonderful week!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteHow sweet to remember John for Father's Day. I know it would warm his heart to know that you and others pay him tribute each year. The accompanying mewsic selection is purrfect! I hope you had a lovely Father's Day. I cooked up a storm for DH. I made crab rolls, cole slaw, and oven fried potatoes. Oh yes for dessert his favorite, cherry delight. :) Did you gain 10 pounds after I named all of that to you? lol Have a great week, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThank you very much for joining me again this year for my Father's Day salute to John Ettline. You have been following me about six years, and I'm sure by now you are familiar with this Paul Petersen song and this scene from his family friendly TV series The Donna Reed Show. It still seems like the ideal song and scene to play on this occasion.
OMG, Cathy! That DH is one lucky man. I suspected that you did some cooking and baking for him, but I didn't know the extent of it. That Dad's Day meal must have been delicious! I don't know if I gained any weight by reading about it, but you've got my mouth watering like Niagara Falls! :)
Thanks again for checking out this special Father's Day tribute and have a wonderful week, dear friend Cathy!
Sweet tribute, Shady, and a powerfully touching song. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're safe and well and all of the good things.
Be well and enjoy the start of summer, my dear friend.
Hi, Robyn!
DeleteHow's it going out there on the Left Coast, dear friend? Thanks for coming to experience my annual Father's Day tribute to John Ettline, owner of the Shady Dell, the hangout for teenagers where I spent countless hours misspending my youth. :) I'm glad you were touched by the song "My Dad" performed by Paul Petersen on The Donna Reed Show.
Thank you again for coming and for the well wishes, dear friend Robyn. I hope you are having a good week if not a great one, and I hope to see you again soon!