I think we'd all like to believe that we come from a long line of good men and that our descendents will be good men and women as well.
Many TV shows promote this belief when they show the ancestors and/or future generations of their TV characters. (Often played by the same actor.) But it's a lie and we all know it.
As an example, let's use Cyrus Whittaker.
In the 1890s, Cy Whittaker was a cantankerous old coot who was hired by Bret Maverick to be the foreman at the Lazy Ace Ranch. He wasn't a bad man, but he was no angel either.
Decades earlier, Cy abandoned his wife and children back in Oklahoma and headed further west to be free of his responsibilities to his family. And so he never saw his kids grow up and he never learned about any grandchildren they might have presented him.
We only met Cy Whittaker as an old man and never saw that family from Oklahoma... at least as far as the series 'Bret Maverick was concerned.
But I think we did meet his great grandson in the 1960s.
Philip Hames had been brought back to New York City after being extradited from his hometown in Oklahoma. But while he was awaiting trial for a previous crime, Hames tried to rob an armored car delivery in order to finance his escape from the country. However, Hames killed three police officers in the botched attempt before he was captured. On November 19th, 1962, Philip Hames was executed at Sing Sing.
Who's to say what might have happened had Cy Whittaker had not abandoned his family in the 1860s?
(Richard Hamilton portrayed Cy Whittaker and Philip Hames......)
SHOWS CITED:
- 'Bret Maverick'
- 'Naked City' - "The Prime Of Life"
Happy trails to you!
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