The Cowsills In Magazines

HI! I'm Karen Cowsill. Although Bill and I will be married only one year this June - I feel as though I've been a member of the Cowsill family all my life! They make you feel so warm and welcome that you can't help but adore them!

Usually, I'm not one to reveal secrets, but I think I'll make an exception in this case. You see, I know how much you love the Cowsills - and I also know how very much they love each and everyone of you - so I don't think they will mind one bit if I reveal "The Cowsill Family Secrets" to you! Now for the inside scoop on this super-family!

BILL: A comic book fiend – he collects old back issues and especially likes Superman and Batman. He also collects first editions of supernatural and mystery novels … his prized possession is a book by Edgar Allan Poe published in 1877 … and he’s been hunting for one book containing the seven science fiction novels by H. G. Wells … doesn’t like TV – but won’t miss Mission:Impossible … picks out most of my clothes … hates the “crummy” checked jacket I bought while visiting girl friends in New York City … loves to give presents – but hates to have a fuss made over him … surprised me with an Irish setter puppy for Christmas … we names her “Holly,” after one of his high school chums … Bill loves names like Holly, Wendy and Misty … Bill is a very serious person … but he quietly instigates all of the family pranks … teams with Barry to tease the rest of us … eats, thinks and sleeps music … Bill is a firm but gentle man.

BOB: He is the one who really digs living in California … the rest of us miss Newport very much … loves bunnies and wants to build a bunny hutch in the backyard – so that he can collect them! … makes up or picks up funny words like “skooby-doo,” “grooby” and “amazing” … has a fantastically funny sense of humor … keeps us laughing all the time … very intelligent and is always on the Honor Roll … has the most easy going personality in the family … Bob is always in a good mood … one of his favorite tunes is Monday, Monday – of course, he sings lead on that song – but he does a great job … Dick, his twin, has already outgrown him (as you know, Dick is a member of the armed forces stationed in Viet Nam) … has taken Paul under his wing … Bob is a quiet girl-watcher.

PAUL: My protector – he’s always watching for me! … a giant and still growing … loves sports and is a pro at all of them … even takes his dates to basketball and football games – but he also takes them for walks along the beach in the moonlight … hates writing letters – but loves to read them … Paul is loud, boisterous and sensitive … he will make a wonderful, thoughtful husband someday … recently, he met Sajid Kahn at school (they both go to Hollywood Professional School now) – and they’re best buddies … kids around a lot, but is highly idealistic … Paul is our knight in shining (?) armor.

BARRY: It’s no secret that girls are crazy about Barry, but guess what? Though he won’t admit it – he’s crazy about them too! … Barry was 14 on September 14th … he stands five feet and four and one half inches tall, weighs 115 pounds and has light brown hair and hazel eyes … in addition to his beautiful singing voice, Barry can speak with nine different voices – including Donald Duck! … did a tem paper on teenage magazines and promised 16 that it can print any part of his paper it chooses … although he laughs a lot, Barry is the strong, silent type … when you tell him a secret – you know that he’ll keep it … has a complex, intricate and curious mind … Barry is the serene and calm Cowsill.

SUSIE: A lovable little girl … has a crush on Davy Jones – but she’s never met him … a little pixie with the appetite of the jolly green giant … she can eat a whole lobster, French fries, a big salad, chocolate pudding and a chocolate milkshake at one sitting! … she also loves great big turkey drumsticks … Susie never gains weight, cos she never sits still … has just started dancing lesions … she loves to play in deep snow – and doesn’t like living in California because there is no change of season … Vanessa Redgrave is her idol … she saw Camelot five times and wants to see it again! … Susie is an extremely compassionate little girl … she sobbed through the films Romeo And Juliet and Gone With The Wind … she loved Len Whiting and Clark Gable … Susie is the sweetest sister I could ask for.

JOHN: My shadow – he’s always three steps behind me … teases me and everyone else he meets … the first things John notices about a girl is her smile … became a teenager on March 2nd … he’s really growing up … stands five feet and six inches tall and weighs 125 pounds … has dark brown hair, freckles, twinkingly brown eyes and the biggest smile in the family … his voice is changing – he’s at that age! … John has just begun to notice girls, and he likes what he sees … a potential heartbreaker … doesn’t think he’s sensitive, but he really is … likes girls who are fun to be with and who can take a joke … he has a barrel full of pranks and uses them often … doesn’t like to be called “Johnny” … has a secret desire to be an actor – and he’d be a great one … John is full of mischief, but he’s a delightful darlin’.

MINI-MOM (BARBARA): A wonderful mother … she believes in family discipline, but she is always there with a willing hug … she loves seafood – she’d walk a mile for a lobster … understands children – and loves them dearly.

DAD (BUD): Our beloved leader … his real name is William – Bill was names after him … hates having his picture taken … is always busy behind the scenes … one of his and Mom’s favorite comedy teams is Phil Ford and Mimi Hines … has many dreams – and he’ll make them all come true.