The final celebrity that I met at the Hollywood Show in Burbank on Saturday, October 9, 2010, proved to be one of the nicest. It was only after an awkward situation – in true Brady Bunch fashion – reared its head that I found this out. The actor Jerry Houser was never in a single episode of The Brady Bunch – but he did play a prominent role in Brady history. He first became Mr. Marcia Brady – that is Marcia’s husband Wally Logan – in the spin-off TV film and series The Brady Girls Get Married aka The Brady Brides. He then continued the role as Marcia’s incredibly lucky husband in A Very Brady Christmas and the short-lived dramedy The Bradys.
This was not Jerry Houser’s only role by a long shot. You might catch him in Slap Shot with Paul Newman, an episode of M*A*S*H, a voice on The Smurfs, or as Oscy in Summer of ’42 – the movie that brought him to the collectors show in the first place. They were having a reunion of cast members at this particular show.
But to be completely honest, it was only the Brady connection that interested me. And wouldn’t you know it, Jerry didn’t have a single photo from any of the numerous incarnations of the Brady Bunch in which he had appeared. So at that point, all I wanted was to get a photo with him.
I approached him with this request as he was returning to his table and he said to hang on a second until he put something down. Just then, the handler who was handling the Summer of ’42 reunion folks, jumped in and asked for $20. I said something to effect of “oh, nevermind then.” This made Jerry feel legitimately bad. She then told him that if he wanted to do it for free, it was up to him but that wasn’t what he was supposed to be doing. This is one of the only times where I felt as if the handler truly was dictating the price!
Since Jerry seemed so genuinely kind, I went ahead and offered the handler $10. Jerry posed and we talked about Leah Ayres (who had played Marcia in The Bradys), who at that time, I was friend with on Facebook. I think he still felt bad about charging, so he said, “I know its not the Brady Bunch, but would you like any of the other photos?” I chose the one from Slap Shot and he signed it to me for free.
We have since become friends on Facebook, and I’ve received a couple of nice notes from Jerry. It’s not often that you find someone who is so incredibly and genuinely kind at the Hollywood Show. One day I’m hoping we meet again, at which time he might embrace his Brady past by bringing along a photo or two from the show. Then I’ll have no qualms whatsover about obliging the handler.
This concludes the celebrity encounters from the Fall 2010 Hollywood Show. Return to the original posting here…
I seem to remember seeing Jerry on “One Day At A Time” and an episode or two of “Soap”, during the late 70’s or early 80’s. He has a very recognizable face.
Dave Chasteen
September 22nd, 2011
He was also the voice of the grown up Bam-Bam on some Flintstone specials.
Dean
September 22nd, 2011