That's Classic! - podcast cover

That's Classic!

A fun, behind the scenes look at television shows and movies from the past. Hosted by John Cato, actor, voiceover artist, and moderator for over 20 years for the television and movie industry. John's background brings a unique insight and passion to the podcast.
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Episodes

The Munsters Reunion Interview: Lost Stories from Eddie and Marilyn!

The Munsters Reunion Interview: Lost Stories from Eddie and Marilyn! In this heartwarming and nostalgic Munsters reunion, Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster) and Pat Priest (Marilyn) share with John Cato untold behind-the-scenes stories from their time on the iconic show. They reflect on their friendships with Yvonne DeCarlo, Fred Gwynne, and Al Lewis, sharing funny, touching, and surprising moments both on and off the Universal lot. From rare memories of set mishaps — like Butch’s real eye injury and...

Jun 01, 20251 hr 42 minSeason 4Ep. 29

What's Happening! star, Ernest Lee Thomas "Raj" Reveals Untold Emotional Stories!

What's Happening Star Ernest Lee Thomas "Raj" Reveals Untold Stories!Ernest Lee Thomas delivers a powerful and deeply personal account of his journey through fame, adversity, and redemption. He begins with wild, unforgettable moments surrounding his audition for What’s Happening!!, sharing how Fred Berry landed the role of Rerun and his first encounters with Haywood Nelson, Shirley Hemphill, and Danielle Spencer. He recalls the support Shirley received from Jimmy Walker and reflects on working w...

May 16, 20251 hr 44 minSeason 4Ep. 29

Family TV Cast Reunites: Rare Interview with Original Stars including Gary Frank & John Rubenstein

Family TV Cast Reunites: Rare Interview with Original Stars including Gary Frank, John Rubenstein. Elayne Heilveil. Louise Foley and FAMILY producer, Carroll Newman!In this in-depth conversation John delves into the experiences of key cast members and the producer from FAMILY, exploring their relationships, challenges, and behind-the-scenes stories. Gary Frank and Elayne Heilveil recall their daily post-filming phone calls, while John Rubenstein reflects on his character's unpredictable arc and ...

May 16, 20252 hr 21 minSeason 4Ep. 28

MGM Pictures Chief, Michael Nathanson: Wild Tales from James Bond, The Deep, Awakenings, War Games

MGM Pictures Chief, Michael Nathanson: Wild Tales from James Bond, The Deep, Awakenings, War Games and more!Michael shares incredible experiences and legendary encounters through his life in entertainment, . He recounts a harrowing rafting trip with Pierce Brosnan after he was released as James Bond and reflects on his family's rich legacy — his father produced 13 Super Bowls and the original Tonight Show. Michael worked NFL games as a boy in various lines of work and shares memorable funny stor...

Mar 30, 202550 minSeason 4Ep. 28

SHELLEY FABARES & MIKE FARRELL answer fan questions & untold stories (Part 2) : Exclusive 3 episode interview!

HELLEY FABARES & MIKE FARRELL answer MORE of your FAN QUESTIONS: Exclusive 3 episode interview!Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares share heartfelt memories with John from their illustrious careers and personal lives. Mike reflects on his time on Providence, the creative input he brought to his role as B.J. Hunnicut on MASH*, and his involvement in the film Dominick and Eugene. He recounts memorable moments working on Bonanza, crafting ideas for MASH* episodes, and the poignant story behind his ...

Mar 10, 20251 hr 3 minSeason 4Ep. 27

SHELLEY FABARES & MIKE FARRELL answer fan questions & untold stories: Exclusive 3 episode interview!

SHELLEY FABARES & MIKE FARRELL answer fan questions & untold stories: Exclusive 3 episode interview! In this first episode of the interview, Shelley Fabares reminisces with John about her films with Elvis Presley, highlighting their unforgettable on-screen chemistry and reflecting on whether he was truly happy during that phase of his career. Shelley discusses her involvement with the Donna Reed Foundation and her bond with Paul Petersen. She shares heartfelt Hollywood memories, includin...

Feb 05, 20251 hrSeason 5Ep. 2

Gary Frank, Willie Lawrence from FAMILY CONTINUES in a very personal interview!

Gary Frank, Willie Lawrence from FAMILY CONTINUES in a very personal interview! Gary Frank continues with the second episode of his interview with John discussing the challenges FAMILY faced with network support and Meredith Baxter Birney's personal struggles during filming. Gary shares his experiences from the series Sons and Daughters with Glynnis O’Connor and Barry Livingston, The Enola Gay with Billy Crystal, and The Gift with Glenn Ford. Gary recounts his time working with Robert Wagner, St...

Jan 31, 202543 minSeason 5Ep. 1

Gary Frank, Willie Lawrence from FAMILY in a very personal interview!

Gary Frank, Willie Lawrence from FAMILY in a very personal interview! Gary reflects with John on his journey to playing Willie Lawrence on FAMILY, sharing the audition process he went through to get the part, personal similarities with his character, as well as the multiple on-screen relationships Willie Lawrence had on FAMILY. Gary talks about the crazy way he met his wife, a producer on FAMILY and the unbelievable story of what they went through to get married before filming began on FAMILY! G...

Jan 18, 202546 minSeason 4Ep. 26

The Donna Reed Show's Paul Petersen Returns to Continue His Fun And Personal Interview!

The Donna Reed Show's Paul Petersen Returns to Continue His Fun And Personal Interview! Paul Petersen continues from the first episode of this interview and shares more highlights from his career, including working with a young Harrison Ford, working with James Caan on Journey to Shiloh, and Walt Disney on Disney's last film "The Happiest Millionaire. Paul reflects on his involvement in the film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, advocating for child actors, recounting stories of Dana Plato, Shi...

Dec 29, 202434 minSeason 4Ep. 26

Paul Petersen From The Donna Reed Show Is Back For More Fun And Personal Moments!

Paul Petersen From The Donna Reed Show Is Back For More Fun And Personal Moments! Paul Petersen reflects on his career, from the timeless impact of his song My Dad to the life-changing experience of The Donna Reed Show and his special bond with Carl Betz. He shares stories about his hits like Lollipops and Roses, touring with Dick Clark, and a funny story about being in concert with Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees. Paul also discusses his health challenges with COPD, Annette Funicello’s legacy, and...

Dec 29, 202442 minSeason 4Ep. 25

Exclusive And Funny Interview With Martha Smith From Scarecrow And Mrs. King!

Exclusive And Fun Interview With Martha Smith From Scarecrow And Mrs. King! Martha Smith shares with John about auditioning for Scarecrow and Mrs. King, the first time she met Bruce Boxleitner on How the West was Won and her bond with Kate Jackson. In addition, Martha talks about her breakout role as Babs in Animal House, reflects on working with John Belushi, her now famous improvisations on the set, and the parties and cast moments at the motel they all stayed at while shooting Animal House. M...

Dec 29, 20241 hr 4 minSeason 4Ep. 24

Tim Matheson, Animal House,The West Wing, Bonanza + his new book CONTINUES... funny & raw interview!

Tim Matheson, Animal House,The West Wing, Bonanza + his new book CONTINUES... funny & raw interview! In this continuation of the first interview I did with Tim Matheson, he Tim recounts working and learning from legends like Henry Fonda, Jackie Gleason, and Bob Hope, and shares memorable moments playing ping pong with Dick Van Dyke and Debbie Reynolds ON Divorce American Style. He discusses taking control of his career, an altercation with Michael Landon on Bonanza as he becomes a regular ca...

Dec 13, 202432 minSeason 4Ep. 24

Tim Matheson, Animal House,The West Wing, Bonanza and his NEW BOOK all in one funny & raw interview!

Tim Matheson, Animal House,The West Wing, Bonanza and his NEW BOOK all in one funny & raw interview! Tim Matheson shares with John hysterical behind-the-scenes moments from Animal House, including the iconic guitar-smashing moment with John Belushi, the mishaps that made the seduction scene with Dean Wormer's wife in Otter's bedroom so funny, the cast getting haircuts together and convincing Belushi to as well and the cast gathering for Thanksgiving dinner at John and Judy Belushi's and more...

Dec 13, 202445 minSeason 4Ep. 23

Stefanie Powers Hart To Hart Interview CONTINUES - Enlightening and Fun!

Stefanie Powers Hart To Hart Interview CONTINUES - Enlightening and Fun! Stefanie talks with John about The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., including guest stars like Boris Karloff working with Yvonne DeCarlo and the tragedy of Yvonne's husband, and growing up around Maureen O'Hara as well as her experience with John Wayne on McClintock. Stefanie recalls childhood ballet classes with Natalie Wood and Jill St. John, reuniting with Natalie Wood and meeting Robert Wagner on West Side Story, and Hollywood gat...

Dec 02, 202440 minSeason 4Ep. 23

An Incredibly Candid Interview With Stefanie Powers From Hart To Hart!

An Incredibly Candid Interview With Stefanie Powers From Hart To Hart! Stefanie Powers talks with John and reflects on her trailblazing role in The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., founding the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, and how she met William Holden, their wild adventures in Kenya at his wildlife ranch. She recalls Hart to Hart memories of her and Robert Wagner's personal items on the set, including its intense filming schedule, her close bond with Robert Wagner, consoling one another after the ...

Dec 02, 202446 minSeason 4Ep. 22

Meet Jerry Herman: The Genius Behind Hello Dolly & Mame, As Told By His Goddaughter Jane Dorian!

Jane chats with John about how Jerry Herman was turned down by Julliard three times and couldn't read music but became on e of the most prolific theatrical music composers of the century, how she grew up around Carol Channing and Angela Lansbury and what they were like away from the limelight. Jane talks about the upcoming Jerry Herman memorabilia auction as well as the sale of his crypt by Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner, how Jerry's Mom passing away influenced the strong women in his musicals. ...

Nov 14, 202446 minSeason 4Ep. 22

Exclusive: The Chips Interview With Robert Pine Continue

Robert talks with John about getting his first agent and his string of luck getting to Hollywood, seeing Elvis getting out of a car early in his career, seeing Cary Grant and Leslie Caron filming at the studio, shooting Gunsmoke with James Arness and The Virginian and his relationship with his famous son, actor, Chris Pine and what Chris was like as he discovered acting. Robert also talks about the kindness of Tom Selleck while shooting Magnum P.I., the intensity of Robert Conrad from The Wild W...

Nov 04, 202452 minSeason 4Ep. 21

Robert Pine, from CHIPS in a very fun and heartfelt interview!

Robert talks with John about his audition for CHIPS, his difficulty riding the police motorcycle, how CHIPS was like a Western and the dangerous moments that happened for real shooting CHIPS. Robert also chats about his relationship with Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox, what it was like to have his real wife cast as his wife in CHIPS, his life previous to being cast in CHIPS and knowing the series would be ending. Robert also talks about directing CHIPS. Plus his unpleasant experience working with...

Nov 04, 202450 minSeason 4Ep. 20

Exclusive, Personal Interview With Beth Brickell, Star Of Gentle Ben, Bonanza, And Hawaii Five-O!

Exclusive, Personal Interview With Beth Brickell, Star Of Gentle Ben, Bonanza, And Hawaii Five-O! Beth and John have a blast talking about how the audition process she went through for Gentle Ben, her special relationship with Clint Howard, how Drum the bear on Gentle Ben jumped on top of her, driving the Airboat in the everglades and what Dennis Weaver was like off set. Beth tells an unbelievable story of writing to Princess Grace as a complete unknown and meeting Princess Grace in a private pa...

Oct 22, 20241 hr 27 minSeason 4Ep. 20

Leigh Taylor Young, star of Peyton Place continues a candid and personal interview!

Leigh Taylor Young, star of Peyton Place continues a candid and personal interview! Leigh talks about working with Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges on Jagged Edge and the way they set her up to be agitated in the her role, working with the spiritual Dennis Weaver on McCloud and her close friendship with Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood and almost being on the boat she died on. Leigh talks about her role on Dallas and the crazy antics of Larry Hagman and working with Robert DeNiro and being arrested wi...

Oct 16, 202450 minSeason 4Ep. 19

Leigh Taylor Young, star of Peyton Place in a candid and personal interview!

Leigh Taylor Young, star of Peyton Place in a candid and personal interview! Leigh Taylor Young talks with John about the crazy circumstances that lead up to her audition for Peyton Place and the screen test that followed, how she became romantically involved with Ryan O'Neal and how while shooting I Love You Alice B. Toklas, Peter Sellers came on to her. Leigh also talks about how funny Peter was off set, how she saw him in an emotional moment months before he died, the distant relationship she...

Oct 15, 202446 minSeason 4Ep. 18

Intimate Interview With Lynne Moody on her roles in Roots, Soap, That's My Mama And Knots Landing!

Intimate Interview With Lynne Moody on her roles in Roots, Soap, That's My Mama And Knots Landing! Lynne talks with me about the audition process she went through for Roots and RootsThe Next Generations, working with Ben Vereen "Chicken George", what an amazing man Lou Gossett, Jr. was and her friendship with Alex Haley the author of Roots. Lynne also chats about her racist experience with the KKK in Mississippi prior to auditioning for Roots when she was shooting "Nightmare in Badham County", h...

Sep 30, 20241 hr 10 minSeason 4Ep. 18

Rich Correll, Richard Rickover, Beaver's Best Friend from Leave it To Beaver in a Personal Interview

Rich Correll, Richard Rickover, Beaver's Best Friend from Leave it To Beaver in a Personal Interview! Rich talks with John about how he was cast as Beaver's best friend, Richard Rickover on Leave it to Beaver, his real life close friendship with Jerry Mathers while shooting Leave it to Beaver and today, running around the Universal Lot with Jerry Mathers and the other kids from the show and visiting the Monster makeup area on the Universal Lot. Rich talks about his father Charlie Correll from Am...

Sep 27, 20241 hrSeason 4Ep. 17

Exclusive Interview With Billy Gray From Father Knows Best Continues...

Exclusive Interview With Billy Gray From Father Knows Best Continues... Billy continues his chat from the previous That's Classic! episode with John about the film, The Day The Earth Stood Still, shooting On Moonlight Bay with Doris Day, Gordon MacRae's drinking problem, his admiration for Bob Hope and shooting The Seven Little Foys and the birthday party Barbara Stanwyck threw for him. Billy talks about his bust for marijuana and how it changed the course of his career into becoming a competiti...

Sep 20, 202445 minSeason 4Ep. 17

A Personal and Intimate Interview With Billy Gray, Bud From Father Knows Best At His Home!

A Personal and Intimate Interview With Billy Gray, Bud From Father Knows Best At His Home! Billy talks with John about how Father Knows Best started as a show, what Robert Young was like when the cameras weren't rolling, Robert Young gripping him hard in scenes, how he teased Elinor Donahue while she was filming takes and how the producers cheated him out of his agreed upon weekly salary. Billy discusses his very special relationship with Jane Wyatt, his relationship today with Elinor Donahue an...

Sep 20, 202445 minSeason 4Ep. 16

Exclusive and Heartfelt Interview With Paul Petersen From The Donna Reed Show!

Exclusive and Heartfelt Interview With Paul Petersen From The Donna Reed Show! John talks with Paul about the first time he met Academy award winner, Donna Reed, how his family was from the county in Iowa next to where Donna Reed grew up and what kind of person Donna Reed was. Plus Paul chats about his favorite guest stars on The Donna Reed Show, a very special moment with Buster Keaton on the set of The Donna Reed Show, famous celebrities that were around when Paul was shooting on the Columbia ...

Sep 11, 20241 hr 13 minSeason 4Ep. 15

Jennifer Donati, Baby Rose on Little House on the Prairie: Personal and Intimate Interview!

Jennifer Donati, Baby Rose on Little House on the Prairie: Personal and Intimate Interview! Jennifer chats with John about how she was cast on Little House on the Prairie, the effect of being cast on her Mom's life, initially hiding the fact that she had been Baby Rose to her friends and the amazing box of memorabilia she found after her Mom passed. Jennifer talks about the closure she was able to find in meeting the Little House cast, how the cast remembered her Mom, how she and her husband alo...

Aug 15, 20241 hr 6 minSeason 4Ep. 14

Pamela Roylance, "Sarah Carter" on Little House, Days Of Our Lives, The Social Network and more!

Pamela Roylance, "Sarah Carter" on Little House, Days Of Our Lives, The Social Network and more! Pamela Roylance talks with John about her relationship with Kathryn Macgregor, her special friendship with Dabbs Greer up until the final moments before he died and the lasting effects Little House has had on fans and the cast as well as the cast members she remains close with. Pamela also chats about her uncomfortable time playing Sandy Horton on Days of our Lives, working with Angela Lansbury on Mu...

Aug 15, 202444 minSeason 4Ep. 13

Pamela Roylance, Sarah Carter on Little House on the Prairie, in an Intimate Personal Interview

Pamela Roylance, Sarah Carter on Little House on the Prairie, in an Intimate Personal Interview! Pamela talks with John about the special moments she experienced at the 50th anniversary event in Simi Valley, CA, her incredible audition process with Michael Landon for the role of Sarah Carter and how he stuck up for her and Stan Ivar against the television network. Pamela chats about Michael Landon off set, how Stan was able to take the house from Little House to his own property after the show e...

Aug 15, 202448 minSeason 4Ep. 12

Eric Roberts, Runaway Train, Star 80, The Dark Knight & his wife, Eliza Roberts, from Animal House

Eric Roberts, Runaway Train, Pope of Greenwich Village, The Dark Knight and his wife, Eliza Roberts, Brunella from Animal House! Eric Roberts talks with me about how he prepared for the scary role of Paul Snider, Dorothy Stratten's boyfriend who murdered her, shooting Star 80 in the actual locations the murder took place and working with Mariel Hemingway. Eric also discusses how he embodied his role for The Pope of Greenwich Village and his ongoing friendship with Mickey Rourke. Eliza talks abou...

Aug 14, 20241 hr 31 minSeason 4Ep. 11
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