Remembering: 'Here Come the Brides' and its stars: Bobby Sherman, Mark Lenard, etc.

One of my all time favorite TV shows is Here Come the Brides, a series about Seattle coming of age. It was a Screen Gems production and aired on ABC for two all-too-short years.

I recall it aired opposite another favorite the first year, that being The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and then I remember actually being angry when it was shifted to Friday nights in season two. Friday nights? No, no, no! It was the kiss of the death. The very teens who swooned for the show were out on Friday nights.

In 1969, I was a young girl, and I already adored Bobby Sherman, who starred as Jeremy Bolt. He was one of a handful of actors I loved then and still do to this day. He had a nice look, a charming personality, and he could sing. I actually remember making my dad drive me to White Front to get his first album. The featured song was Little Woman and do you know I still know those lyrics, even after all these decades. I knew then he wasn't the world's best singer, but he was good, and I loved hearing him. Like the times dictated, he had long hair, wore beads, and said "peace and love." He was all over the teen mags. The point is that having seen as a child Bobby on Shindig, I was a built in audience for HCTB. They had me from the get go.

The series is out on DVD now and while I've owned the first season for some time, I only recently was able to get the second season, which I have on my television even as I write this. I am full of smiles and memories as I watch. I just felt like sharing a few things that occur to me as I watch the episodes roll on by.

**Robert Brown. He was the designated star of the show, playing the oldest brother, Jason Bolt. He was rugged and strong, and he could orate like no one else. Years later, Brown went on to appear for a while on Ryan's Hope where he danced ballroom style as part of the plot. He was awesome. In recent years, he has occasionally taken part in online chats. I participated in one and asked him about that Ryan's Hope arc, and he seemed impressed that someone remembered.

**David Soul. Oh my! I have conflicting feelings about Soul who was the middle brother, Joshua. He was never my favorite on the show, not even when I watched it originally. He went on to star in Starsky and Hutch, of course, which I watched, but he also went on to marry the ex-wife of Bobby Sherman, which I thought was a bit odd. He's also had some domestic family issues which have been hard to forget. Still, he is a very good actor. I loved his music. He and Bobby did a great but too short song together on the Christmas episode of HCTB that is extremely memorable. He lives outside of America now. Maybe he's more at peace now, too.

**Bobby Sherman. Odd as it sounds, I am proud of this man, that he is part of core group of performers I have most always loved. Some time back he commented that he took his responsibility as a teen idol seriously. One of the reasons he stayed out of trouble, never took drugs or otherwise did things that were so prevalent back in that era, is because he knew kids looked up to him, and he wasn't going to be the one to lead them astray. Not that many teen idols think like that, and it made me respect him more. He went on to work as a volunteer EMT paramedic and with the police department where he's been made a captain. He's helped and done a lot of good, all with very little fanfare.

**Bridget Hanley. She was so beautiful in my eyes. She played Candy Pruitt, the love of Jeremy Bolt's life. In real life, she married one of the show's directors, E.W. Swackhamer. I've always liked her. She's established a friendly relationship with many of the show's fans that have continued to this day.

**Joan Blondell. She played Lottie Hatfield, the owner of the saloon. What I remember about Blondell is an article from the era of the show. She had begun in Hollywood as one of the young blonde bombshells, but as she aged, she was one of those who was okay with playing the mom and then the grandmother. She talked once about some of her friends who couldn't accept that they weren't the starlet anymore, like Rita Hayworth. I've always remembered how she said her career continued because she just was realistic about aging.

**Henry Beckman. He was the wonderful, often drunk Captain Clancey, who loved Lottie. He was a tough one, but a sweetheart. Like Otis on The Andy Griffith Show, this role would be too outside of what is considered politically correct in today's world, but in 1969, he was a hoot. Beckman appeared in numerous television shows. He just pops up all the time as I'm watching old favorites. He also popped up on the Internet, posting on a list I belonged to, as did his son. It was such a hoot to hear from him, and his son represented himself well. Sadly, both are gone now.

**Mark Lenard. The wonderful Mark Lenard played Aaron Stempel, Jason's nemesis on the show, only he wasn't evil, just a smart businessman. He was not a saint, either, but he never crossed that line that would have made him hated. He was lovable enough to be popular. I always thought Aaron should have married Biddie Cloom. It would have been a bit like Cary Grant on Operation Petticoat. Lenard also is famous for his portrayal as Sarek, Spock's father on Star Trek. He's the only member of HCTB I ever met in person, way back when Star Trek conventions first started. I asked him to compare his two experiences, and he was very nice in his response as he talked about the family feeling that was there for HCTB and how much he enjoyed it.

I could ramble on about so many more things related to this show, its stars, and the other actors who appeared on it. It may have been decades ago, but it feels like yesterday. I'm still frustrated Jeremy and Candy didn't get married. I actually remember the ongoing debate about whether they should or not. Rumors were rampant about the issues of that day, if marriage between the characters would ruin the show or negatively impact the performers, especially Bobby who was so popular at the time.

Actually, I have to add that I always remember that Bobby married secretly in real life during the show (she's the one who later wed David Soul). I had a lot of pen pals back in the day, and I defended him right and left. I can't tell you how many of them were angrier than I can even express. I never really understood that kind of fandom or fantasized love for someone. He was, and is, a wonderful person who was just trying to protect his bride from the fans, and he was proven right.

Oh the memories -- there are so many!