Sure, it might not seem like much, but if I had a quarter for every partially-read book in my library (and completely unread book I scored cheap (or free) on Kindle), I’d be a rich man. So, when I picked up The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron and Clint Howard a couple of weeks ago, I resolved to finish it…which was a tall order since a book I’d ordered a week or two before that arrived the day after I started on The Boys.
But today, I did indeed finish it. And I lovedit.
I was alive when Ron Howard played Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, but not old enough to really pay much attention (its last episode aired 10 days before my fifth birthday). I remember Gentle Ben (vaguely — I was about six and a third when it went off the air after only two seasons), which was Clint’s big show as a kid (for some reason I think my younger brother liked that show — which makes sense to me because I think he liked Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom too, which was another animal show).
But when it comes to remembering the Howards, it would have to be Ron on Happy Days, which ran from 1974 – 1984. I still remember when a middle school friend told me about the show, and I know I watched it regularly growing up, but a funny thing about my memory — I can’t remember watching a single episode…of any TV for that matter. Except maybe M*A*S*H.
And I remember when Richie Cunningham left — because Ron left the show after seven seasons (and the book obviously gets into that).
I generally like biographical material, but this one interested me even more because it was that growing up with Ron Howard (and Clint to a lesser extent — but you’ve gotta admit, Clint’s been in a lot of stuff, if only doing smaller parts) that made it a bit more personal. It was great to hear the stories behind some of the things I’d only heard by rumor (of course Richie Cunningham leaving mattered!), and it was even better to learn how Ron got his start in directing (he’s made some of my favorite movies, and even won the Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture with A Beautiful Mind).
Ron and Clint work together quite well in the writing, and you can see the familial love through their interaction. It plays such a big part in their lives, as the book is nearly as much about their parents as them. Rance and Jean Howard are so likable and wise, and I suppose their sons were especially keen on portraying them in their best light. Although their circumstances were unique (it’s not often that parents raise multiple sons with such Hollywood staying power), we could all learn something from them, I’m sure.
If you grew up with Opie, or Richie, or even Mark Wedloe (Clint’s character in Gentle Ben), then I’m sure you’d enjoy this book. If you have any interest in directing, Ron brings that piece too. Give it a look if you’d like a little entertainment and a great story.
