Product Description

Product Description

A dog barks. "What's that, girl? Timmy's in the well?" Whenever people hear this catchphrase, they know it's about Timmy and Lassie, the world's favorite boy-and-his-dog team of the 1950s and '60s.

Timmy's in the Well is the story of Jon Provost, television's first child superstar, and the low-down on Lassie, one of television's most enduring shows. It is filled with celebrity anecdotes, rare photos, and memorabilia. Since his original seven-year run on the show, Provost has become a household name in 125 countries. His episodes continue to air in more than 50 countries, the checked shirt and jeans he wore as Timmy hang in the Smithsonian, and he has his own star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Timmy's in the Well illustrates what happens to a middle-class American family touched by fame. Jon's first job came at age three, forever altering the course of his life and the lives of his family. With nearly a dozen film appearances in a mere five years, Provost was named the top child movie actor of 1958 by the New York Film Critics. Yet he could barely read, hardly knew his siblings, and had few friends under the age of 35.

At the age of twenty and on the verge of being swallowed up by Hollywood, Provost escaped to Northern California, only to learn that a "normal" life was not possible. Unprepared to make a living, he was gripped by depression and fell into a well that was deeper and darker than any he'd ever faced. But he found his way out of that well - on his own and without the dog.

More than 200 interviews add texture and humor to this thoroughly researched story. Among them are other child and teen stars, like Jay North and Jeanne Russell (Dennis the Menace), Keith Thibodeaux (I Love Lucy), David Cassidy (The Partridge Family), Davy Jones (The Monkees), Paul Petersen (The Donna Reed Show), Stanley Livingston (My Three Sons), and many more.

Jon Provost's story includes a vivid portrait of the inner workings of Hollywood of the 1950s and '60s, and it is populated with some of the biggest names of the day: Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Kim Novak, Lucille Ball, Anita Eckberg, Rod Steiger, William Holden, June Lockhart, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Sidney Pollack, Kurt Russell, Elvis, Nancy Sinatra, Dino Martin, Davy Jones, and Mr. Ed.

Customer Reviews (30)

Lassie grows up
As a child of the Lassie years, I was looking forward to some good Lassie insights.It is good to hear of a child actor who did not get caught up in the Hollywood scene, but made it through as a "normal" person.And who doesn't love Lassie?!Anyway, I found this to be an enjoyable read, no great insights or gossip. And that's good too.

Great book, but sloppy format
First of all, let me say that I read this on my Kindle, which is not quite the same experience as reading it in a "physical book" format. Reading "straight text" on a Kindle is pretty much the same experience as a book, but when pictures, timelines, etc are inserted here and there, it can get confusing. Others have commented in their reviews on the small, dark pictures, and on the timelines not always being on the same page as the comments being displayed (in the physical book).Both of these are even worse on the Kindle.

I also had trouble with comments from people who seem to have the same first name: "which" Bruce is this? "which" Laurie is this? which "Susan" is this?"Most" of the comments from others listed a last name, but not all.Listing a last name (or at least a last initial) for ALL quotes/comments would have helped in that regard.

Having said all that, I enjoyed the book immensely.What a great look into Jon's life (and kids in Hollywood during the '50's and '60's, in general), not just from Jon himself, but from his family, friends, coworkers, and fans.

As a kid growing up in the '50s and '60's, I watched Jon in Lassie and always wanted "his life".I now see that he had a much different life than I thought he did. He still went through the same trouble "finding oneself" that we all go through in our teens, but he had to do it with the added burden of EVERYONE watching him!I can't even begin to imagine that!

The added comments from his family members and other child stars tended to make the story a bit meandering while I was reading it.However, at the end of the book, I realized those comments actually gave more depth into the situation, and I was glad to see the story from many angles.

Good job, Jon and Laurie, and continued success!

Much of what it has to say is "between the lines"
"Timmy's In the Well" is a VERY interesting and entertaining book that should appeal not only to nostalgia buffs but also to anyone interested in the psychological effects of fame on the famous as well as those close to them.

The book chronicles the life of child superstar Jon Provost, who shot to international fame in the late '50's and early '60's playing Timmy Martin on the long-running CBS series "Lassie." By the age of 14, Provost had tired of the never-ending grind of series production and voluntarily walked away from a lucrative contract extension offer to pursue the life of a normal teenager, a pursuit he found frustrated by his spotty education, his dysfunctional family life, and his own ambivalence to his fame.

Co-authors Provost and Jacobson have structured the book's narrative in a way that effectively allows Provost to establish some pungent observations while maintaining a pleasantly conversational, sometimes almost detached, tone; they do this by the clever and effective device of alternating between Provost's recollections and those of his parents and siblings, professional peers, co-workers, friends and fans.

The result is a revealing mix of often conflicting viewpoints on certain issues and events that draws the reader to some inevitable conclusions about Provost's work environment, relationships with his age-group peers, parents and siblings, and the effects of mammoth fame on a typical American family that was wholly unprepared to absorb its impact. The fact that all contributed significantly to this book seems a testament to the strength of their basic bonds, an advantage many of Provost's professional peers did not enjoy.

"Timmy's In The Well"documents a remarkable journey!
I am slightly bleery-eyed and a bit cranky this morning because I made the mistake of beginning to read Jon Provost's autobiography co-written with his authoress wife Laurie Jacobson, "Timmy's In The Well".I started reading this book an hour before bedtime but just couldn't put it down!I kept saying to myself just another two pages and lights out, but that cost me another hour of sleep on a work night!

From page one these two writers had my attention with a child's wide-eyed look at the waning days of Hollywood's golden age in the early 1950's.Jon Provost shows enormous respect and admiration for the many people he worked with over the decades, and even provides hundreds of photos underlining all the major events in his life and his show business career.He is never negative but always tells the truth for the discerning reader between the lines.

Laurie Jacobson has always been a compelling writer of Hollywood's many past scandals and hauntings, but here she takes Jon Provost's own words and pulls the reader directly into the story.

This book is much more than you will expect and be prepared to sacrifice your sleep finishing it! It's quite a journey.

Wonderfully written. A great story!
Once I began reading "Timmy's in the Well: The Jon Provost Story" I could not put it down. Laurie Jacobson has done an outstanding job of writing this book and I applaud Jon for opening up and revealing so much of his life and experiences as a child actor and beyond for his fans.

Having grown up as a boy who couldn't get enough of the Lassie series, this was a real treat. Strongly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
10" x 7"; 68 pages. Six page feature story on the "Lassie" television show with many photos. ... Read more