Bea Arthur Dead at 86

by Libby Pelham | More from this Blogger

25 Apr 2009 05:59 PM

I was sad today to read that Bea Arthur died. I know many of those reading this blog will remember her as Dorothy Zbornak from "The Golden Girls." Dorothy was a great character - my favorite on the show - but when I read of Bea's death, I actually thought of another of her television characters - Maude.

"Maude" first aired on CBS in September 1972, but the character had earlier appeared in "All in the Family" as Edith's cousin. If ever anyone could take on Archie Bunker, it was Maude. Maude was a modern woman in a time when women were still fighting for their rights. I know I was only 9 at the time, but I remember the feminist movement of the early '70s, largely due to "Maude." The exact opposite of peaches and cream Mary Richards on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," Maude was brash, outspoken, and politically liberal. The show dealt on touchy topics at the time - women's liberation, legalized abortion, and civil rights, including that for both blacks and gays.

Maude was everything a traditional conservative like Archie Bunker hated and the character was so popular that she got her own spin-off. By the way, for those that don't know, Maude's maid was Florida Evans. Florida, played by Esther Rolle, was such a well-liked character that she got her own spin-off, "Good Times."

The characters on "Maude" were not perfect, like many characters from the idealistic shows of the '50s. Maude took tranquilizers, she had an abortion (after Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in the U.S.), and her fourth husband Walter had to face alcoholism, bankruptcy, and two nervous breakdowns. It even showed Maude going through menopause and it brought to light that difficult time in a woman's life for the first time in a series.

While all this may sound like a downer, "Maude" was a hilarious show. Bea was 50 years old when she was given the role and she had already done Broadway. She would win an Emmy for the show in 1977. She would also win an Emmy for her role in "The Golden Girls." She also won a Best Supporting Actress Tony for her appearance as Vera Charles in "Mame."

Now the theme song for "Maude" is going through my head...And then there's that old compromisin, enterprisin' anything but traqulizin' Right on Maude!!!

Learn more about Libby Pelham

Libby Pelham is a work-at-home mom located in Jacksonville, NC. She has a beautiful little boy, Will, born in July of 2004.

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