I see these introductions were done in 2006, so many of you probably don't even check this site anymore and I'm typing this for nothing. I'd originally "googled" FAN CLUBS and such and found several, but none showing up anymore. Found this site and wanted to warn you about those sites selling the Seasons 1-2-3 DVD sets. Anyway, I was in high school when the show came out in 1970. It was a movie of the week and almost didn't get any further. Several of the networks turned it down (I'm telling you, that book I posted about is FULL of information). I was a senior in high school in 1971 when Pete died and my girlfriend is the one who called and told me. It was a Friday morning as I'd just watched the episode "Miracle at Santa Marta" (as had Pete before he pulled the trigger) the night before. It aired at 8:00 p.m. on Thu. nights here in California. We didn't have the internet in those days, so we relied on the news and papers. Magazines were chocked full of stories, but again, they were mostly lies and speculations. Unfortunately, Pete is buried back East in his home town so I cannot visit his grave. I life in San Diego.
A quote from the book is from a friend of Pete's: "I wasn't thrown into fits of depression and sadness and all because I was so annoyed at him for doing it (killing himself). I was so angry, I mean, I was just angry all the time." What truly broke Jobe's heart was that he knew Pete was getting his life back on track. The two friends had had a heart-to-heart talk in Pete's kitchen two weeks before his suicide, talking and laughing late into the night, drinking gallons of coffee, catching up on what was going on in their lives. "We talked about life, love, the pursuit of happiness, everything like that. But he was really getting it together...He was so on the mend. He really was." Jobes thought Pete was on his way onward and upward, with a great series and a great future. Pete had grown to hate the life of a series actor and wanted off the show. He wanted to be a serious actor (movies I guess), but only landed TV shows. Hey, the $$$ was great and the part was perfect for him.
Pete's family was originally going to have his funeral at Forest Lawn (oh, so many celebrities are buried there...including Michael Jackson), but that was a place Jobes knew Pete would hate. So, Jobes went to Pete's sister and they moved it to the Self Realization Temple on Sunset Blvd. (Pete was a little on the hippie side when it came to life and such. He was a total lover of the earth and would speak about it often. He didn't like things done in the traditional way). The memorial service drew thousands of mourners. Roger Davis did not show up because he felt it would not be right since he had been offered the job as Hannibal Heyes.
The book also says that Ben Murphy did not like Roger Davis and they had a hard time working together which is probably why Kid Curry seemed more like the leader of the two (with Pete as Hannibal Heyes, Ben Murphy was the brawn and Pete the brains). Ben took on the more starring role when Roger came on the scene.
Ok. I sound like a "know it all". This is just my introduction. I have 3 kids and 2 grandkids now. Am happily divorced.
I live in southern Illinois, about 75 miles east of St.Louis, in the USA. I stay at home with taking care of my kids who are 11, 6, and 4.
