[Harp-L] RIP Maynard

[Tom Ball <havaball@xxxxxxx>]

It seems rather silly to admit, but I find myself somewhat saddened 
over the passing of Bob Denver.  Yeah, Gilligan was
just about the stoopidest TV show ever produced and it's a shame 
that's the role for which he will be remembered, but for me, Bob will 
always be Maynard G. Krebs from the earlier Dobie Gillis Show.

Maynard was one of my childhood heroes.  If it hadn't been for him I 
never would've heard of Dizzy Gillespie or Thelonius Monk.  And do 
you remember what the "G" in his name stood for?  "Walter."  When 
Dobie expressed bewilderment about that fact, Maynard explained, "I 
was named after my Uncle Edith."

One day in about '61, when I was 10, I saw him walking down the 
street in Pacific Palisades -- Maynard in the flesh!  I ran up to him 
and asked for an autograph.  He said, "Sure, kid, what do you want me 
to sign?"  I had no paper so I suggested he just sign my shirt or my 
arm, but he just laughed and said, "Follow me," so we walked a block 
or two to his car.  It was a small sportscar -- maybe an MG? -- and 
he opened the trunk and produced an 8x10 of himself in full Maynard 
regalia.  He signed it, "Like hi, Tom.  Bob Denver. Maynard G. Krebs."

I treasured that picture for a long time and wish I still had it, but 
alas, it seems to have found the same fate as my baseball cards.  Aw 
well.  A fond memory never goes away.

RIP Maynard.

--Tom Ball
PS: Obligatory (if peripheral) harp content: On the Dobie show, in 
addition to bongos and scat singing, Maynard often played the 
Ocarina, presumably a Hohner.... (?)