Danny Thomas' stepdaughter on TheDanny Thomas Show, Penny Robinson in Lostin Space, and Brigitta von Trapp in TheSound of Music--Angela Cartwright may have been the most successful youngactor of the 1960s. Born in Cheshire, England, but raised in Los Angeles,Angela and her sister Veronica entered show business at a young age. In fact,Angela was just three-years-old when she appeared in Somebody Up There Likes Me starring Paul Newman. Over the years,she has modeled, acted on stage, and opened an "eclectic store"called Rubber Boots. However, she isbest known as an accomplished photographer and artist. She took time out of herpacked schedule to drop by the Café for a chat.
 |
| Angela as Linda Williams on The Danny Thomas Show. |
Café: The rapport between your character,Linda Williams, and her stepfather (played by Danny Thomas) seemed incrediblynatural on The Danny Thomas Show. Howwould you describe your real-life relationship with Danny Thomas while makingthe series?
AngelaCartwright: I thought Danny washilarious and he was always cracking me up. He was loud and gregarious, nothinglike my real Dad who is far more reserved than that. So, it was fun to be ableto make smart remarks and get away with it. I would never have talked to myreal parents that way, but in the make-believe world of the Williams family Igot away with that.
Café: Your web site includes some delightfulphotos of Angela Cartwright toys, such as a jigsaw puzzle, a "Buttons 'nBows" game, and a doll that came in three sizes. What was your firstreaction when you saw the "Angela Cartwright" dolls?
AC: I was pretty young toremember my exact reaction, but what little girlwouldn'twant a doll made in herlikeness? I never thought the Lindadoll looked an awful lot like me though, but it was cool that the Linda doll came in three different sizes.One was even big enough that she walked with you. Madame Alexander also madetwo Brigitta, Sound of Music dolls and they were also favorites of mine. Iespecially liked the one in the sailor suit carrying a book.
Café: What was it like to be reunited with The Danny Thomas Show cast when youreturned six years later for Make Roomfor Granddaddy (1970-71)?
AC: I lovedit. The Danny Thomas Show had endedsix years prior. In the interim, I made TheSound of Music, I played Penny in LostIn Space, I made various TV guest appearances and commercials, and modeledin Europe. I returned home to appear on the Granddaddyshow. Life was good…I loved the fantastic guest stars we had on the show and Iwas older now, so I learned from the experience. Even though we were plaguedwith the Writer’s (Guild) strike in 1970, it was still a good year.
 |
| Angela as Brigitta in The Sound of Music. |
Café: How did you come to be cast in The Sound of Music?
AC: I went on an interviewfor the part of Brigitta. I was still filming The Danny Thomas Show, but I knew the series was coming to an end. Afterseveral auditions, I was the first von Trapp cast. I asked Danny Thomas if hewould let me out of my contract so I could be in the movie and he was verygracious to let me out of the last show of the season. He didn’t have to dothat and I am very grateful he did.
Café: What are some of your favorite memoriesof making The Sound of Music?
AC: I wasthrilled to get the part of Brigitta and I totally enjoyed making The Sound of Music. Singing and dancingand playing with other kids while running around Salzburg, Austria, with JulieAndrews was a fantastic experience. How could you not enjoy that? Being turnedover in a rowboat was certainly a memorable experience…I can just rememberwanting to get out of the water as soon as I could because there were leecheson the bottom of the pond. The sights, the sounds and the foods of Salzburgmade the whole experience magical. It is an honor to be in a film that hastouched so many people.
Café: What were some of the challenges ofmaking a science fiction series like Lostin Space in the 1960s?
AC: I did enjoy playing thepart of Penny Robinson. I thought how exciting it would be to portray a familyin space exploring new worlds and encountering aliens. The challenge was tryingto make an hour show in eight days with special effects and long scenes. It wasgrinding work, but we must have done something right to have such a followingand love of the show decades later.
 |
| As Penny Robinson in "My Friend, Mr. Nobody" (Season 1, Ep 8). |
Café: What was your favorite Lost in Space episode and why?
AC: "My Friend, Mr. Nobody" was myfavorite episode. I love the black and white film noir feel to it. I loved themessage it had...though I remember it was challenging to talk to "no one" through the wholeepisode.
Café: You seem to have maintained enduringrelationships with the real-life performers in your TV and film families: the Williams’s, the Robinsons, and the vonTrapps. That's unusual in show business. What is the secret to your success?
AC: Friendships need to be nurtured. It was important to me to maintain theclose relationships I had forged while working in film and television. Inurtured those relationships as I have in my personal life, and made it a pointto keep in touch.
Café: What led to your interest inphotography? When did you open the AngelaCartwright Studio?
AC: I lovephotographs and have since I was a small child and it was my Dad who started taking photographs. I always loved fashion anddesign. I would take photos of my friends in their latest outfits and thendevelop the photos and print them in my Dad’s darkroom in the garage. That loveof photography has stayed with me all my life and I carried it into my art. Theart I create is by taking my black and white photographs and hand painting themwith oil paint or watercolors and other mediums. I also wrote a book about thesetechniques called Mixed Emulsions:Altered Art Techniques for Photographic Imagery. You can see my artworkhere:
http://acartwrightstudio.comI opened Angela CartwrightStudio a couple years ago when I designed my art wear line. Finally thetechnology was available for me to take my hand-painted photographs andtransform them onto natural fabric to create art wear. Every piece is made toorder here in the USA. It’s all veryexciting and the possibilities are endless.
 |
| "Bustling." |
Café: In addition to photography, you'vepainted, drawn sketches, and worked in other forms of art. If you could onlywork in one media and style, what would it be?
AC: I would have to say give me a pen and paper and I will be very happy. MyDad was a terrific artist and I always wanted to sketch like he did…but hisstyle was more realistic and mine is more "unruly." I break rules all the time. Art is one place youcan do that with delightful consequences.
 |
| "3 Portals." |
Café: You're incredibly busy with yourartwork and web sites and somehow even found time to contribute to last year'spublication of The Sound of Music FamilyScrapbook. What's on your horizon that you'd like to share with Caféreaders?
AC:There is an exciting new project I am working onthat I can’t talk about yet. Let’s just say it has been a phenomenal experience.It is due for release in 2014 and assoon as I can spill the beans I will on Facebook, Twitter, and my blog. Better yet, sign up on my mailinglist on my website if you want to be the first to know all the latest.
I would like to tell all the Sound of Music fans that we have some limited editions of The Sound of MusicFamily Scrapbook thatare signed by the seven film von Trapp kids. If you are a fan of the movie, youwill love this book because it tells our story about making the movie. We havefilled the book with never-before seen photographs from our personal photoalbums and included some of our home movies taken on location in Austria. Youcan buy the signed version at our website. We also have a Facebook page. With the 50th Anniversary of TheSound of Music on the horizon, I am sure there will be some exciting eventson the horizon so I hope you will visit us.
You can "like"Angela Cartwright on Facebook www.facebook.com/acartwrightstudioand follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/acstudio. You can also visit her websites:
art studio:......... http://acartwrightstudio.com
art wear:........... http://angelacartwrightstudio.com
showbiz:........... http://angela-cartwright.com
