Me and George Spell

326 
March 9, 1969 
The Wish 
Ossie Davis in "The Wish". Hoss's desire to aid a drought-stricken farmer is complicated by the ex-slave's pride — and Hoss's color. 
Written by:  Michael Landon 
Directed by: Michael Landon 
Guest stars:  Ossie Davis (Sam Davis), George Spell (John O. Davis)

I was up for this part. Pops rejected the opportunity over a controversial line of dialog in the script. The line: "I wish my father was white."

The story was about a black farmer who got some land and some knuckleheads were trying to drive him off it. I'm the kid who is found in town wishing on some 'wishing candles' that my father was white, because then he wouldn't have problems as a landowner. Hoss and the gang come to the rescue. 

This was to be a breakthrough program, and the idea sounds OK in retrospect, but 1969 was 1969. George Spell went on to become a minor celebrity in the hood, and he hooked up with Renee R. upon whom I had a massive crush. 

Now you know a very interesting and unique story about my very short career as a child actor.