I can’t for the life of me remember why some PR firm was trotting “Lassie,” “Lost in Space” and “Petticoat Junction” TV star June Lockhart around in the ’80s.

But I was a kid working in public radio in Charlotte, N.C. when the pitch came in. And I thought, “I can find audio of her TV and film appearances and that’ll make a fun radio piece.”

It kind of did, but the stage, screen (“Sergeant York,” “Meet me in St. Louis,” “The Yearling”) and TV star was kind of old school flaky to chat with. In those pre-Internet days — I don’t think I’d bought my first copy of “Haliwell’s Filmgoers Companion” yet — I didn’t know her impressive youthful credits. All I could think to ask her about was “Lassie,” “Lost in Space” and “TV moms.” That was on me.

But when I heard, some while after, that she’d been a regular in the White House Press Corps briefing room — not as a reporter — that seemed to fit. Curious about the world, sure. Outspoken in her politics at times. “Eccentric” fit her to a “T.”

She didn’t seem to remember why she was being toured (she was in her 60s) and it was hard getting her on topic, whatever the topic was. But throw in a few “Lassie” clips, some “Lost in Space” comedy and voila, RADIO. Podcasting for news professionals.

A couple of years later Barbara Billingsley (“Leave it to Beaver”) was similarly touted and toured by PR folks in support of some Mother’s Day related business (Maybe Hallmark?), and she was hysterically funny and warm and not the least bit flaky, for an ex TV mom. And I’d learned to do too much prep in case the interview threatened to become a non starter. 

But Lockhart was a sci-fi convention icon and was hip enough to make it into the occasional cool indie film (Christopher Guest’s “The Big Picture”) and motherly enough to score the occasional “Afterschool Special.”

She made it to 100, which probably surprises no one. Quite a character. Rest in peace.