WHERE ARE THEY NOW: PETER OSTRUM

More than four decades ago, Peter Ostrum was a little boy living in Cleveland, participating in a local children's theater. Then, the sixth-grader was cast in a film called "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," and, suddenly, everyone knew who he was. Ostrum became famous for his portrayal of cute, blond-haired Charlie, the lucky boy who won the Golden Ticket. It was his first -- and only -- movie role.

From the start, Ostrum never had his sights set on a career in Hollywood and says that his casting in "Willy Wonka" simply came down to good timing. "They sent a representative from the casting agency out to Cleveland," he recalls. "In the end, I was in the right place at the right time."

The film captivated audiences in the '70s and remains popular with an entirely different generation today. Its lasting effect isn't lost on its beloved child star. "We captured lightning in a bottle. For whatever reason, the film worked," Ostrum says. "There's a great message there: Basically, good things happen to people that make the right decisions."

In addition to good memories of working with other cast members such as the title star, Gene Wilder, Ostrum also has a tangible piece of memorabilia from the "Willy Wonka" set: a clap-stick that director Mel Stuart used during filming. "Mel would say, 'Action!' And then he'd usually say, 'Cut! Ostrum, do it again," Ostrum says, laughing.

He still keeps in touch with other cast members from the film, even gathering with the"Wonka kids" to do celebrity signing events around the country. "I've known these kids, they're like family right now," Ostrum says. "Our relationship is fairly unique and we kind of have, I would say, a special bond."

Though he appreciates his association with the film now, Ostrum wasn't so quick to discuss his big movie role as he grew up. "After the film, I always denied my involvement with 'Willy Wonka,'" he admits with a chuckle. "I didn't really want to have anything to do with it."

What changed, he says, is having children of his own and seeing their reaction to the film. That moment also helped Ostrum realize the rarity of his story, having been a part of a wildly successful movie, but passing on other movie offers and choosing to leave show business altogether. "It really wasn't for me," Ostrum says.

Instead, Ostrum has made a career out of caring for animals as a large-animal veterinarian.

"For me, veterinary medicine is a really nice mix between using your head, using your brain, problem-solving, but at the same time, there's a physical aspect of the work that I enjoy," he says. "I won't get fat doing this job! You're always on the go and each day is a little bit different."

While most people may forever view Ostrum as little Charlie from "Willy Wonka," he remains humble about the entire experience.

"Am I famous in my eyes? Absolutely not," Ostrum says. "I'm amused that everyone's here to talk to me! And amazed.

RECENTLY VIEWED: WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

In this day of special effects and computer animation in films, there is just something special about 1971's Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. I grew up on the movie, and it is hard to believe the film is over forty years old. The film tells the story of Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum, in his only film appearance) as he receives a golden ticket and visits Willy Wonka's chocolate factory with four other children from around the world.

Filming took place in Munich in 1970, and the film was released on June 30, 1971. It received positive reviews, but it was a box office disappointment. However, it developed into a cult film due to its repeated television airings and home video sales. In 1972, the film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score.

The idea for adapting the book into a film came about when director Mel Stuart's 10-year-old daughter read the book and asked her father to make a film out of it, with "Uncle Dave" (producer David L. Wolper) producing it. Stuart showed the book to Wolper, who happened to be in the midst of talks with the Quaker Oats Company regarding a vehicle to introduce a new candy bar from their Chicago-based Breaker Confections subsidiary (since renamed the Willy Wonka Candy Company and sold to Nestlé). Wolper persuaded the company, who had no previous experience in the film industry, to buy the rights to the book and finance the picture for the purpose of promoting a new Quaker Oats Wonka Bar.

It was agreed that the film would be a children's musical, and that Dahl himself would write the screenplay. However, the title was changed to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in order to promote the aforementioned candy tie-in. Screenwriter David Seltzer conceived a gimmick exclusively for the film that had Wonka quoting numerous literary sources, such as Arthur O'Shaughnessy's Ode, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Seltzer also worked Slugworth (only mentioned as a rival candy maker in the book) into the plot as an actual character.

Dahl, who had rights to the film production, unsuccessfully pushed for Spike Milligan to play Willy Wonka. His next choice, Ron Moody, rejected the part. Jon Pertwee also turned down the role due to ongoing commitments to Doctor Who. Also initially considered was Broadway star Joel Grey, who ultimately was rejected due to his small physical stature. Auditions were held for a week in New York City's Plaza Hotel, where Gene Wilder was immediately awarded the role. Wilder said that he would do the film only if Wonka first appeared onscreen coming out of the factory hobbling with a cane, only to then lose it and do a somersault. Further auditions were held in New York, London and Munich to fill the parts of the other children and their parents.

A lot of critics says the movie placed too much emphasis on Willy Wonka and not enough on Charlie. However, I think what continues to endear generations to this film is Gene Wilder. Wilder portrayed Wonka in such a fashion that you never knew if he was serious or joking or deranged or crazy. One of my favorite songs in this so-called "musical" was the song "Imagination", which was surprisingly sung well by Gene Wilder. The most famous song was "The Candy Man". The song was recorded commercially by Sammy Davis Jr, and it would go on to be his only number one hit. The movie is great for children of all ages, and even though there are some scary elements, it is a great movie to sit down with the family with. Everyone should be able to spend a day in Willy Wonka's factorty at least once...

MY RATING: 10 OUT OF 10

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: THE CHILDREN OF WILLY WONKA

There is just something magical about the 1971 movie WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY that makes me want to watch it every time it is on television. From Gene Wilder's excellent portrayal of Willy Wonka to the five children that win the golden ticket, the movie is a true gem. Now 40 years after the movie was made, I had to do some research to find out what happened to the children in the movie:

PETER OSTRUM ("Charlie Bucket"):
Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie and was around 14 when Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was made, never appeared in another movie, although he was offered a three-film contract. He now works as a veterinarian in the rural areas of New York State. He is married to Loretta (nee Lepkowski) and they have two children, Helenka and Leif.

His most public experience these days is to visit schools in his community to talk about his experiences, what it’s like to be a veterinarian, and how your life changes with the decisions you make.

He’s been quoted as saying, “Do I regret turning down the movie offer? I don”t think so. I love the job I’m doing right now. Granted it is about as far away from Hollywood as you can get, but I have a feeling of self-satisfaction with it. I don’t believe that I made the right choice or the wrong choice. I made a choice that fit what I wanted, and it shaped how life unfolded for me. Would life been better if I took the movie offer? Maybe, but I’ll never know, and it’s something I’ll never question.’

JULIE DAWN COLE ("Veruca Salt"):
Julie Dawn Cole, who played the obnoxious Veruca Salt, also has two children now. She was the same age as Ostrum at the time the movie was made and, along with Denise Nickerson, is supposed to have had a crush on him. Unlike Ostrum she went on to have a career as an actress, mostly in television, where she has appeared in a variety of series, from Poldark and Emmerdale Farm to Eastenders and Casualty. She now operates Centrestage, a children’s drama school outside of London.

Being nasty was “totally against her nature” and she had to be coaxed into doing the aggressive song and dance routine in the film.

DENISE NICKERSON ("Violet Beauregarde"):
After starring in Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, Denise nickerson joined the cast of the electric company as “Allison”, a member of the short circus music group from 1972-1973. Producers saw the potential in nickerson and often had her singing lead on several songs, including “the sweet sweet sway.” she also guest starred as Pamela, a girlfriend of Peter Brady on one of the final the Brady Bunch episodes.

Nickerson starred in the 1975 satiric, beauty-pageant inspired motion picture “Smile”. In 1976 she appeared in the film "Zero To Sixty" and tv movie "Child of Glass". Nickerson turned 21 in 1978, and opted to quit acting at that time. She is currently an accountant at an engineering plant and resides in Denver, Colorado. She has one child.

PARIS THEMMAN ("Mike Teevee"):
Paris Themmen, an American, was only twelve when the movie was made, and he performed the role of Mike Teevee. It was his only major movie, though he’d already been performing since he was six. He appeared on stage, initially with his parents, and then went on to act in a number of radio and television commercials, and to do voice-overs. Later he reached Broadway, appearing as the young Patrick Dennis in Mame, with Ann Miller. After his appearance in Willy Wonka, he went onto play another child role in the musical, The Rothschilds, andlater went on tour nationally in the same role.

He left acting in his mid-adolescence, and has barely been seen performing since apart from a few mostly uncredited roles. However, he still has links with the television commercial world, where these days he is a casting director for commercials rather than performing in them.

MICHAEL BOLLNER ("Augustus Gloop"):
After the movie he never made another film and, like Ostrum, eventually went into a totally different career. He is now a tax accountant, a job he performs in Munich, Germany. He was interested in acting, but is father wanted him to continue his education.

At the time the movie was made, Bollner didn’t speak English, and one of the crew coached him in his lines.