The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron Howard and Clint Howard

 

When I started to read The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron Howard and his brother Clint Howard, I couldn’t help but hear in my head “Da-da-dah, DAH-da-da-da, DAH-da-da-da,” the famous whistled theme song from “The Andy Griffith Show.”

Released October 12, 2021, this memoir chronicles their lives thus far through their upbringing by parents Jean and Rance Howard as the “boys” captivated TV viewers in Griffith’s show as well as Gentle Ben and Happy Days in the 1960s and 1970s to today’s highly successful filmmaker that Ron is and the constant character actor that Clint is.

While many child stars were crippled by the way show business treated them once they outgrew their cute kid selves, Ron and Clint claim it was their parents' solid, down-to-earth parenting that allowed them to blossom as the men they are today.

Ronny, as he was known as in the credits as a child actor, describes how Mayberry was an idealized version of Mount Airy, North Carolina, as Andy Griffith remembered it. He shares that Griffith wanted his show “to counteract Hollywood’s prevailing stereotypes of southerners” that were showcased in “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Petticoat Junction.”

Clint tells some behind-the-scenes stories of incidents involving animals like Bruno who played the bear Gentle Ben, including practices that wouldn’t be allowed in today’s more enlightened times like removing teeth and claws.

The “boys” come clean that life was not always roses without thorns as Ron endured bullying when on hiatus from his stint as Opie when he returned to public school and dealt with some disillusionment with Hollywood when he wasn't picked up right away for another juicy part at the conclusion of his Mayberry years. Clint experienced a downfall as the “family dopehead,” saying he “spent the majority of my teenage years learning how to catch a buzz;” unfortunately his drinking and smoking led to alcoholism and drug addiction.

All in all, their story is a warm tribute to their close family and a big thank you to their late parents for not only allowing them to become child actors but also for balancing their work life with opportunities to just be children. Admirers of the work of Ron and/or Clint Howard will find time well spent with this memoir.