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Ann B. Davis

Actress

About This Interview

Ann B. Davis was interviewed for one-and-a-half hours in Studio City, CA.  Davis talked about her early years working in theater and her first big break in television, playing the role of “Schultzy” in the 1950s sitcom The Bob Cummings Show , the role for which she was most identified in her early career.  She described her work on that series in great detail as well as describing her appearances on such series as The Perry Como Show and Arthur Murray’s Dance Party , and two ‘60s series on which she was a regular: the musical-variety series The Keefe Brasselle Show and the sitcom The John Forsythe Show. Lastly, Davis spoke about the series for which she is most remembered, The Brady Bunch.   She talked about playing the role of housekeeper “Alice” and her memories of shooting the series including descriptions of each of the cast members and anecdotes about the series’ production.  Davis also talked about the Brady phenomenon and the reception she has received from fans of the show.  The interview was conducted by Karen Herman on March 13, 2004.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Shows

  • Arthur Murray Party, The
  • Bob Cummings Show, The aka Love That Bob (1955-1957, NBC)
  • Brady Brides, The
  • Brady Bunch Hour, The
  • Brady Bunch, The
  • Bradys, The
  • John Forsythe Show, The
  • Keefe Brasselle Show, The
  • Wagon Train

People

  • George Burns
  • Eddie Cantor
  • Bob Cummings
  • Richard Deacon
  • John Forsythe
  • Florence Henderson
  • Paul Henning
  • Dwayne Hickman
  • Lloyd J. Schwartz
  • Christopher Knight
  • Don Knotts
  • Nancy Kulp
  • Mike Lookinland
  • Maureen McCormick
  • Leslie Nielsen
  • Susan Olsen
  • Eve Plumb
  • Robert Reed
  • Sherwood Schwartz
  • Barbra Streisand
  • Barry Williams

Topics

  • Emmy Awards
  • Pop Culture
  • TV’s Golden Age (1940s & ‘50s)
  • Television Industry

Genres

  • Comedy Series

Featured Content

Video: Full Love That Bob episode "Bob and Schultzy Reunite" (airdate: September 23, 1958) (Internet Archive)

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Watch Interview Highlights

  • Ann B. Davis on what she likes about working on television
  • Ann B. Davis on the relationship between "Schultzy" and "Bob Collins" on The Bob Cummings Show, aka Love That Bob
  • Ann B. Davis on being recognized on the street during the run of The Bob Cummings Show, aka Love That Bob 
  • Ann B. Davis on decisions about The Brady Bunch  characters' hair
  • Ann B. Davis on creating backstory for "Alice," based on her own life

Watch By Chapter

  • Chapter 1
  • On her childhood; on working as an actress in community theater
  • On getting cast as "Schultzy" on The Bob Cummings Show, aka Love That Bob; describing the show and the characters
  • On Bob Cummings, George Burns, producer Paul Henning, and other cast members of The Bob Cummings Show
  • On the writers of The Bob Cummings Show -- and writers in general; on specific episodes of the show
  • Chapter 2
  • On winning two Emmys for The Bob Cummings Show, fans, and working in theater   
  • On her numerous other television appearances, such as Wagon Train, The Arthur Murray Party and The Keefe Brasselle Show
  • On her process, and being a supporting actress
  • On The Brady Bunch: hair, Florence Henderson and Robert Reed
  • Chapter 3
  • On working with the child actors on The Brady Bunch
  • On Sherwood Schwartz and Lloyd Schwartz
  • On some of her memorable Brady Bunch episodes and the introduction of Alice's love interest, Sam
  • On the numerous Brady spinoffs and feature film
  • On retiring, her Christian family, her charitable work, her biggest career achievements

Discussed In This Interview

  • shows
  • people
  • topics
  • genres

shows

  • Arthur Murray Party, The
    • Clip 1
  • Bob Cummings Show, The aka Love That Bob (1955-1957, NBC)
    • Clip 1
    • Clip 2
    • Clip 3
    • Clip 4
  • Brady Brides, The
    • Clip 1
  • Brady Bunch Hour, The
    • Clip 1
  • Brady Bunch, The
    • Clip 1
    • Clip 2
    • Clip 3
    • Clip 4
    • Clip 5
    • Clip 6
    • Clip 7
    • Clip 8
    • Clip 9
    • Clip 10
    • Clip 11
  • Bradys, The
    • Clip 1
  • John Forsythe Show, The
    • Clip 1
  • Keefe Brasselle Show, The
    • Clip 1
  • Wagon Train
    • Clip 1

people

  • George Burns
  • Eddie Cantor
  • Bob Cummings
  • Richard Deacon
  • John Forsythe
  • Florence Henderson
  • Paul Henning
  • Dwayne Hickman
  • Lloyd J. Schwartz
  • Christopher Knight
  • Don Knotts
  • Nancy Kulp
  • Mike Lookinland
  • Maureen McCormick
  • Leslie Nielsen
  • Susan Olsen
  • Eve Plumb
  • Robert Reed
  • Sherwood Schwartz
  • Barbra Streisand
  • Barry Williams

topics

  • Comedy-Variety
  • Comedy
  • Emmy Awards
  • Fame & Celebrity
  • Pop Culture

genres

  • Comedy Series
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