That's Either Roy or Ray

At left is Roy Roberts (1906-1975) beside Ray Teal (1902-1976). Each actor might cross over because of the character roles, anything from a crooked judge to kindly banker. They started their careers one year apart and died one year apart. Both did many Westerns on film and television. Roberts became one of the most recognized actors in television in a number of comedy series as a banker, railroad president, or governor in such popular series as The Lucy Show, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres. Teal, on the other hand, rarely ventured into comedic roles, staying primarily in Westerns, whether in film or television. Over a dozen times he played a sheriff. His most visible role is Sheriff Roy (not Ray) Coffee on Bonanza.

Summers Like No Other

Hope Summers (1902-1979) was an American character actress known for her countless television roles, none more visible than on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show. But the central Illinois native gained certain local fame well before becoming a television regular. In 1926 she became the head of the Speech Department at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois. While there, Summers started giving private acting lessons and became involved as a volunteer, and soon a director, in local theatre. As a regional actress, she often performed in one-woman shows starting in the 1930s.

It was nearly a two-decade wait until Summers made her first Hollywood film in 1957, with a small credited role in Zero Hour!. She continued with uncredited roles in many other films. That drew some attention, thrusting her into character roles in nearly every popular series from the 1950s through the 1970s, from The Rifleman to Alfred Hitchcock Presents, to Adam-12. Most will remember her thirty-six appearances on The Andy Griffith Show, playing Aunt Bee's best friend, Clara Edwards, during the 1960s, and making five appearances on the Griffith spinoff, Mayberry R.F.D. 

Note: For nearly twenty years, from 1961 until her death, Summers was the voice of Mrs. Butterworth in Mrs. Butterworth's syrup commercials.

A Midwest Favorite: Air Conditioning

 

Willis Carrier (1876-1950) was an American engineer, best known for inventing modern air conditioning in 1902. In 1915, Carrier and six other engineers pooled over $32,000 to form the Carrier Engineering Corporation. In 1920, they purchased their first factory in Newark, New Jersey. The corporation bearing his name marketed its air conditioner to the residential market in the 1950s. Carrier merged with Affiliated Gas Equipment, Inc. in 1955. Carrier Corporation was acquired by United Technologies Corporation (UTC) in July 1979. At the turn of the 21st Century, Carrier was the world's largest manufacturer of air-conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment. In 2020, United Technologies announced that it would spin off UTC Climate, Controls & Security as an independent company known as Carrier Global Corporation.

The Texas Company

 

On this day in 1902, Texaco (The Texas Company) was founded in Beaumont, Texas as the Texas Fuel Company. The star arrived in 1903 when a 19-year-old Italian refinery worker suggested we embrace the five-pointed symbol of Texas. He later added a green "T", perhaps influenced by the Italian flag colors. In 1931, Texaco purchased Indian Oil Company, expanding their refining and marketing base in the Midwest and gave Texaco the rights to Indian's Havoline motor oil, which became a Texaco product. 

In 1959, Texaco, Inc. was formed from the assets of Texas Fuel assets, and additional capitalization. Legend has it that a salesman saw the portmanteau "Texaco" in a telegram and the name stuck. By 2001, Texaco became an oil subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, at which time most of its station franchises were divested to the Shell Oil Company. A midwesterner may have noted the subsequent proliferation of Shell stations with an abrupt absence of Texaco.