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Skeletons In The Cowsills' Closet!
February 1971
Teen World Magazine

Cowsill


ALMOST every family has a skeleton in their closet—a deep, dark secret they don't often tell anyone about or a family memory they don't often share. The Cowsill clan is no exception. But there's a difference. The Cowsills don't have just one skeleton—they've got a whole closetful! And here are just a few . . .

HAUNTED HOUSE

The first skeleton in the Cowsill closet isn't even a skeleton at all—it's a ghost. Yes, The Cowsills once lived in a genuine haunted house, inhabited by a very authentic ghost. From the outside, their house in Newport, Rhode Island, looked scary enough, with its ivy covered walls, a few broken windows and creaking doors. But inside was another story!

With all the Cowsills running and playing and practicing throughout the house, it's hard to imagine any ghost being tempted to stay around. Perhaps, though, Captain McCormick was a music-loving ghost who just couldn't resist the chance to hear The Cowsills perform.

Actually, Captain McCormick kept pretty much to himself during the day. It was only at night that anyone saw him, and then only in fleeting glimpses. But sometimes a Cowsill would hear him late at night walking around on his "Captain's Walk," the walk on the roof built so his wife could see his ship sailing into the harbor. Fortunately, "Mini-Mom" Barbara didn't let the ghost's presence keep her from making his walk her own favorite "haunt" during the day.

JOHN'S MONKEY

When The Cowsills moved from Newport to California, John was sad to have to leave behind another "member" of the family—his monkey Clyde. John had saved his allowance for several weeks to get the tiny monkey.

"I waited for him to come," John said. "And then, the day after I got him, I woke up in the morning and there he was—lying in the bottom of the cage-frozen!"

For a long time afterwards, Clyde's empty cage stood on John's dresser, and Clyde was buried near the house with a tiny white headstone over his grave.

COLD NIGHTS

Their Newport house was the scene of both The Cowsills' struggles and their

triumph. During those days when they were still just another unknown group working hard to become successful. The Cowsills went through many hard times. There was no money coming in to pay the bills. There was little enough even to buy food with.

Once, during the middle of winter, which in Rhode Island is bitterly cold, there was no oil left for the furnace which heated the house.

"Bill and Bob chopped up their dressers to make firewood," recalls Barbara. "And everybody huddled around the fireplace."

The Cowsills were sad to leave the old house where they'd had so much fun. But, on the other hand, it was kind of a relief to leave behind some of the less pleasant memories in their family closet.

SOUVENIRS

The Cowsills enjoy travelling and seeing other places so much, they always tried to collect souvenirs to remember their trips by. But among their souvenirs were a few Mom and Dad Cowsill didn't approve of when they discovered them —things like glasses and keys and towels from hotels. And, of course, the Cowsill who'd collected them had to send them back—after receiving suitable punishment. To this day. The Cowsill kids sort-of wish they still had some of the momentos of their earlier travelling years—but they'd rather forget what they eventually wound up with instead!

COWSILLS QUIT

It's not a frequent occurrence, but it does happen. During a rehearsal there'll be an argument over something and someone will get mad enough to say "I quit." Of course, nobody ever does. And all The Cowsills know by now that nobody ever will just because of a silly argument or a misunderstanding over something unimportant. Whatever the ups and downs of family—and musical group-life. The Cowsills have too much going for them to throw it all away. And that "too much" includes the skeletons in their closet.



You can write to THE COWSILLS at:
9255 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, Calif. 90069
Put I READ TEEN WORLD on the envelope!




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