Helen Beardsley
Encyclopedia
Helen Eileen Beardsley was the mother of the famous blended family of twenty children — eight by her first marriage to Richard North, ten stepchildren
from the first marriage of her second husband Frank Beardsley, and two that she and Frank had during their marriage. She wrote a book, Who Gets the Drumstick?, about her blended family's experiences. The book was the basis for two motion pictures: the 1968 Yours, Mine and Ours
starring Lucille Ball
and Henry Fonda
; and a 2005 remake
of the same film with Rene Russo
and Dennis Quaid
.
mill, which came under severe stress during the Great Depression
. Helen would later describe how her observations of her father would shape her personality, and in particular how it would teach her to value independence and problem-solving.
Brandmeier trained as a nurse in Seattle. In 1949, she married Richard North, then a chief petty officer
in the United States Navy
. Their marriage lasted for eleven years and produced eight children. In 1960, the North's were stationed at NAS Whidbey
and Helen was six months pregnant with their eighth child, Teresa Rose. It was at this time that North, now a Lieutenant Junior Grade and A-3 Skywarrior
bombardier navigator, died on June 7, 1960 when the A-3 he was flying in ran off the runway during takeoff at Ault Field and crashed in 5 1/2 feet of water.
Following Teresa's August 1960 birth in Oak Harbor, Washington
, North relocated to San Leandro, California
. She then married a second time, on September 9, 1961, to Chief Warrant Officer Frank Beardsley, USN, who at the time served as Personnel Officer at the Naval Postgraduate School
in Monterey, California
. Mr. Beardsley was a widower himself and had ten children. The huge family that resulted presented nearly unprecedented logistical problems and thus became a national curiosity. The Beardsleys landed a celebrity
endorsement
contract, then sold the rights to their story to Desilu Productions
, who produced the first of the two films based on their marriage. Helen Beardsley also appeared on the television show To Tell the Truth
to tell the story of her family.
Frank Beardsley retired from the Navy July 1966 and opened a candy store which operated for many years, with help from the older children. Helen served on the California Governor's Commission on the Status of Women during the governorship of Ronald Reagan
.
This marriage lasted until Helen Beardsley's death in Healdsburg, California
, on April 26, 2000, due to complications from Parkinson's Disease
. Frank Beardsley later remarried.
According to Kermit Schafer, a member of the audience on the Tonight Show provided a classic quip when the Beardsleys appeared on the show with all those children. The family had just left the stage, and the show had cut to a commercial break. Johnny Carson
was in awe of the huge family and he said, "I have only two kids. I don't know how they do it. " Someone in the seats stood up and hollered, "Oh yes you do!"
Stepfamily
A stepfamily, also known as a blended family or reconstituted family, is a family in which one or both members of the couple have children from a previous relationship...
from the first marriage of her second husband Frank Beardsley, and two that she and Frank had during their marriage. She wrote a book, Who Gets the Drumstick?, about her blended family's experiences. The book was the basis for two motion pictures: the 1968 Yours, Mine and Ours
Yours, Mine and Ours (1968 film)
For the remake of this film starring Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo see Yours, Mine and Ours Yours, Mine and Ours is a 1968 film, directed by Melville Shavelson and starring Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda and Van Johnson...
starring Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
and Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
; and a 2005 remake
Yours, Mine and Ours (2005 film)
Yours, Mine & Ours is a 2005 film starring Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo. Directed by Raja Gosnell, it was released on November 23, 2005, and is a remake of the 1968 film of the same name, starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda...
of the same film with Rene Russo
Rene Russo
- Early life :Russo was born in Burbank, California, the daughter of Shirley , a factory worker and barmaid, and Nino Russo, a sculptor and car mechanic who left the family when Rene was two. Her father and maternal grandfather were of Italian descent. Russo grew up with her sister, Toni, and their...
and Dennis Quaid
Dennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid is an American actor known for his comedic and dramatic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the 1980s, his career rebounded in the 1990s after he overcame an addiction to drugs and an eating disorder...
.
Biography
Helen Brandmeier was born in 1930 in Seattle, Washington. Her father owned a lumberLumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
mill, which came under severe stress during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Helen would later describe how her observations of her father would shape her personality, and in particular how it would teach her to value independence and problem-solving.
Brandmeier trained as a nurse in Seattle. In 1949, she married Richard North, then a chief petty officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Their marriage lasted for eleven years and produced eight children. In 1960, the North's were stationed at NAS Whidbey
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is a naval air station located in two sections around Oak Harbor, Washington, USA. It was commissioned as an active U.S. Navy installation on 21 September 1942....
and Helen was six months pregnant with their eighth child, Teresa Rose. It was at this time that North, now a Lieutenant Junior Grade and A-3 Skywarrior
A-3 Skywarrior
The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was originally designed as a strategic bomber for the United States Navy and was among the longest serving carrier-based jet aircraft in history. It entered service in the mid-1950s and was retired in 1991...
bombardier navigator, died on June 7, 1960 when the A-3 he was flying in ran off the runway during takeoff at Ault Field and crashed in 5 1/2 feet of water.
Following Teresa's August 1960 birth in Oak Harbor, Washington
Oak Harbor, Washington
Oak Harbor is a city located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. The population was 22,075 at the 2010 census.Oak Harbor was incorporated on May 14, 1915.-History:Oak Harbor is Whidbey Island's largest incorporated city...
, North relocated to San Leandro, California
San Leandro, California
San Leandro is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is considered a suburb of Oakland and San Francisco. The population was 84,950 as of 2010 census. The climate of the city is mild throughout the year.-Geography and water resources:...
. She then married a second time, on September 9, 1961, to Chief Warrant Officer Frank Beardsley, USN, who at the time served as Personnel Officer at the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
in Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
. Mr. Beardsley was a widower himself and had ten children. The huge family that resulted presented nearly unprecedented logistical problems and thus became a national curiosity. The Beardsleys landed a celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
endorsement
Endorsement
Endorsement may refer to:*Testimonial in advertising, written or spoken statement endorsing a product*Political endorsement*a form added to an insurance policy, modifying the terms...
contract, then sold the rights to their story to Desilu Productions
Desilu Productions
Desilu Productions was a Los Angeles, California-based company jointly owned by actors Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, who were married to each other from 1940 to 1960....
, who produced the first of the two films based on their marriage. Helen Beardsley also appeared on the television show To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
to tell the story of her family.
Frank Beardsley retired from the Navy July 1966 and opened a candy store which operated for many years, with help from the older children. Helen served on the California Governor's Commission on the Status of Women during the governorship of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
This marriage lasted until Helen Beardsley's death in Healdsburg, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, on April 26, 2000, due to complications from Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
. Frank Beardsley later remarried.
According to Kermit Schafer, a member of the audience on the Tonight Show provided a classic quip when the Beardsleys appeared on the show with all those children. The family had just left the stage, and the show had cut to a commercial break. Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
was in awe of the huge family and he said, "I have only two kids. I don't know how they do it. " Someone in the seats stood up and hollered, "Oh yes you do!"