16 Magazine - February 1969

"How Success Ruined Me"

There's a story I would like to share with you.  It's something that actually happened to me - and I want to pass on to you the lesson that I learned from it, cos it really helped me to grow up!

My story begins in 1964, when I was chosen to be a regular on the ABC-TV show Shindig.  Soon after our very first show, Shindig grew to be the most successful TV evening pop show - and all of us regulars became sort of "overnight stars".   By that, I mean that we were recognized on the street, fan mail came to us by the bags-full, and we were mobbed for autographs.  Well, do I have to tell you the rest?   You guessed it.  I let my success go to my head!  I began to believe all the super-complimentary stories written about me and I became the kind of person I never want to be again!  I was too interested in myself and was constantly trying to impress everyone around me.  Now that I look back, I don't think that I really fooled anyone but myself - and the people who flattered me and who seemed to be my friends turned out to be even bigger phonies than I was.  They were using me and - even worse than that - I was letting them!

This may sound strange, but one of the best things that happened to me was when Shindig went off the air.  Of course, at the time I was very upset and scared to death of what was ahead of me.  I didn't know where to turn!  Shindig had been my life for two seasons (the show ran from September 1964 until January 8, 1966), and now I had to start all over again.  Actually I wasn't as sure of myself as I pretended to be.  I was depending on a TV show to keep me going instead of relying on my own talent and really believing in myself!

Needless to say, as time went by people didn't recognize me quite as often, reporters stopped running after me for interviews - and I'll bet that some of you reading this story right now don't even remember the show Shindig!  But don't feel sorry for me, cos I'm glad for what happened!  You see, during the time after my bright balloon burst - I learned a lot about life and growing up.  I think this experience helped me to become a better person - and it literally prepared me for the future!

MY SECOND CHANCE! - When I was offered the role of "Jeremy Bolt" in ABC-TV's new series Here Come The Brides - I was ready for it!  I had matured enough to handle the responsibility of being a regular in another TV series.  Two and a half years had passed since my Shindig days, but I'd learned a lot from my past mistakes.  I feel very lucky, cos I was given a second chance for success.  Some people don't even get a first!

On Shindig I was just a kid having a good time.  Now, with Brides, I expect more from myself.  I want to be respected as an all-around entertainer and actor - I want to give myself creatively.  I demand more from myself than ever before.  I'm proud of my new series and I only hope the TV audience digs it.

During the past two years I've also learned that a lot of people are so busy trying to know themselves they go around with their eyes half-closed.  They don't take the time to get to know the people who helped put them where they are - or even what's actually going on around them.  The secret is to learn through the outside and to really get to know the people around you!

YOU & ME - My fans are more important to me now than they ever were before.  I learn from them all the time.   I love to stop and talk to you, and to read the letters you've taken the time to write.  It's not important to me anymore that you think I'm a star.  I want to be just me with you.  Sure, I want you to respect me for the job I do, if I give a good performance.  But even more important, I want you to know me as a person - my faults as well as my good points.  And please don't be afraid of me or feel that I'm not real - that I'm a plastic man.  I want you to realize that I'm no different from each and every one of you.  We're all human beings!

A lot of people (and I almost was one of them) think that people in show business should be treated "special".  That isn't so, and I don't want to be - for when that happens I lose real contact with you - and that's tragic!  The secret of happiness - no matter what business you're in - is getting out and meeting and knowing people!

Thanks for listening to me.  I'm glad I got that off my chest, and I hope that you don't think too little of me for my past mistakes.  By the way, I'm still far from being completely grown up and I hope that I never stop realizing this.   No matter how old or how mature you may be - you can never know enough!