Salty la foca

Clint Howard was not the star of "Salty!" The star of "Salty" was Johnny Doran, who played the boy, Tim Reed. It is Tim who befriends Salty, the sea lion, and has all the adventures. Mark Slade played his older (adult) brother, Taylor.

I also remember the marvelous Julius Harris, who, sadly, passed away recently after thirty years in the film business. I believe Isaac Hayes played a similar character to Clancy in the movie "Flipper." Also, I think both "Salty" and "Flipper" (1996) were set in Florida. But then, "Salty" was similar to the original "Flipper."

Johnny Doran continued working in film only until the early 80's. I only followed his career until the late 70's, but he was in some wonderful movies: "Rainbow", "Captains Courageous" (TV version) and the mini-series, The Bastard (in a bit part). If you see this, Johnny, write in and let us know what you're doing now!

Ivan Tors ("Flipper," "Sea Hunt," "Gentle Ben," "Clarence the Crosseyed Lion," "Zebra in the Kitchen") strikes again with a winning combination of scuba diving and animal high jinx. Sure it's low budget (that's part of its charm) but this slice of how we WISHED our childhood lives were makes for great family entertainment. Clint Howard (Ron Howard's brother and star of Ivan Tors'"Gentle Ben") plays a boy who is coming to terms with the death of his parents as he and his adult brother strive to make a new life for themselves. Salty is a mischief making sea lion that occupies most of the boy's spare time. The film was shot on location in Tors' territory: Florida.

The show centered around Salty a rambuncious sea-lion who had many adventures. Reminds me of Flipper. Loved the catch theme song at the beginning. This is a show that should be playing in reruns right up there with Giligan's Island.

Grew up with these shows, flipper, salty, zebra in the kitchen, skippy etc. Fun family shows all of them that followed the "child, his exotic animal friend and clean wholesome adventure" Cookie cutter plot pattern that was so successful at that time.

These shows remind me of a simpler time, and when I catch I rerun I easily slip back into them and can almost smell meatloaf and macaroni casserole as mom got dinner ready for when dad came home from work. Ahhh the 70's....and there's no doubt who these shows are being re-run for since they're usually run in the extreme early morning hours around 3AM. It's for the insomniac sentimental forty-somethings to reminisce over since I can't see these shows sitting well with the new millennium kids in the after-school TV time slot it was designed for. Without a laser beam shooting robot that can transform into a toaster oven and a jet, or a mutant kid with hidden superpowers and skimpy clothing it likely won't interest 9 out of 10 of them. But I still love them.

Laugh now but you Degrassi kids are next. Lol