3" x 2-3/8"

This refrigerator magnet captures a familiar scene from the 1950s, a 1958 family watching the new Donna Reed Show television program.

The Donna Reed program debuted on ABC in 1958 and ran until 1966. This writer was age 9-15 at the time, and in watching reruns in recent years have recognized that the Stone family defined my idea of the perfect family.

There was the beautiful, ever reasonable and kind Donna (1921-1986), wise Dr. Stone (Carl Betz), impish Jeff (Paul Peterson) and pretty Mary (Shelley Fabares). Later came Trisha (Patty Petersen).

Donna Reed acted in 45 films, in addition to raising 4 children. Paul Peterson (1945- ), a former Mousketeer on the Mickey Mouse Club TV show, recorded several hit records and authored 16 novels. Shelley Fabares (1944- ) has appeared in over 30 TV & film productions, recorded 7 albums and had a Billboard #1 hit, "Johnny Angel," that for old ladies like me still brings on an instant attack of melancholy. Carl Betz (1921-1978) came to television following duty in WWI, getting a degree from Carnegie Tech, acting on Broadway and in soap operas. After the Donna Reed Show he won an Emmy for his role in Judd for the Defense. Patty Peterson was the real life sister of Paul Peterson.