The BUFF my well be in service for 100 years!
There are B-52 that the new pilot sits down in the left seat to be the pilot in command, and they know their father and their grandfather, flew that very same airplane! Imagine, flying a weapon of war for the most powerful military on the planet, and knowing grandpa sat in the same seat, and flew that same airplane. And there is no replacement in the works for the BUFF.
"I was probably 5 or 6 years old before I realized that all kids weren't in movies."
Spanky McFarland's famous double and triple-takes were taught to him by Stan Laurel, while a lot of his mannerisms (rolling of eyes, hands on hips, and his trademark exasperated expression) were inspired by Oliver Hardy. He, Laurel and Hardy were working together, but in different shorts, that were produced and directed by Hal Roach.
McFarland's nickname "Spanky" is erroneously said to have arisen from warnings by his mother not to misbehave during one of the initial discussions with Hal Roach in his office. As the story goes, he had a habit of reaching out and grabbing things, and on doing so his mother Virginia would say, "Spanky, spanky, mustn't touch!" While this story has considerable folksy appeal, Spanky himself contradicted the tale, saying that the name was given by a Los Angeles newspaper reporter. The term "a spanky child" was late 19th century–early 20th century slang for an intelligent, gifted toddler.
In the mid-1950s, when the "Our Gang" comedies were sweeping the nation on TV, McFarland hosted an afternoon children's show, "The Spanky Show," on KOTV television in Tulsa, Oklahoma (see below). The show included a studio audience and appearances by other celebrities such as James Arness. Set against the backdrop of a makeshift kids' clubhouse, Spanky entertained and informed his studio audiences and the viewers at home with games, stories, craftmaking, hobbies, comedy skits, informational segments, and interviews with guest performers, personalities, and the children in the studio audience in between the reruns of "The Little Rascals" film comedies. Station executives prevented McFarland from developing and expanding the show's format, and, by 1960, McFarland had quit the show.
After that stint, he continued at odd jobs: selling wine, operating a restaurant and night club, and selling appliances, electronics, and furniture. He was selling for Philco-Ford Corporation, where he advanced to national sales training director. During this time, McFarland continued to make personal appearances and cameo roles in films and television.
During the 1990s, after his self-described "semi-retirement," Spanky lent his name and celebrity to help raise money for charities, primarily by participating in golf tournaments. Spanky also had his own namesake charity golf classic for 16 years, held in Marion, Indiana. He also traveled the country doing speaking engagements and lectured about his acting career.
A very large organ pipe cactus in Baja California, Mexico. 1895
