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| Mister Ed television show promo |
** All images of Mister Ed and cast are courtesy of Wikipedia
With television still in its early stages, imagine the excitement of a show about a horse that could talk. But was choosy about who it chose to speak with. Yes, readers, that horse is—or was—Mister Ed, and the show aired in syndication from six months in 1961, until CBS realized it was a good investment with plenty of young viewers. While this primary audience had little to no spending influence, their parents did, and so Studebaker-Packard sponsored the program, targeting its advertisements to the drivers in the audience.
Many claim the show’s title character is based on a character in a short story by Walter R. Brooks, originally published in the 1930s and1940s. Mr. Brooks was best known for his series about Freddy the Pig which also featured talking animals that interact with humans.
Most television series debut on a major network then are sold in syndication when the viewing audience falls short, so that Mister Ed came to television in the opposite way is a rarity.
Francis the Talking Mule had already regaled viewers in the 1950s, so while Mister Ed was a relatively new concept, he wasn’t unique. Francis also only talked to one person, creating a variety of frustrations and laugh opportunities, including plenty of gags.
George Burns, comedian, singer, and dancer, financed the pilot for Mister Ed, and the first episode was filmed at his studio in Hollywood, costing around $70,000 (worth about $780,000 today). Jack Benny, a friend of Burns, was involved in the background.
Similar to the Francis series, Alan Young played the part of the klutzy architect, Wilbur Post, while Bamboo Harvester, a palomino gelding, played Ed. Ed was cast as reluctant to speak to anybody other than Wilbur, which created many hilarious situations. Ed was also mysteriously well-read and well-educated, was a bit of a rascal, and his human-like behavior astounded those who knew him.
While most everybody loved Ed, Wilbur had at least one character who didn’t—his father-in-law. Apparently, his klutziness and half-hearted attempts to be friendly always backfired around the older man.
Wilbur didn’t know why Ed could talk, and his vocal abilities were never explained. In the first episode, when Wilbur tells Ed he doesn’t understand, Ed speaks the show’s only remark on the topic: “Don’t try. It’s bigger than both of us.”
Interesting facts:
Francis the Talking Mule had already regaled viewers in the 1950s, so while Mister Ed was a relatively new concept, he wasn’t unique. Francis also only talked to one person, creating a variety of frustrations and laugh opportunities, including plenty of gags.
George Burns, comedian, singer, and dancer, financed the pilot for Mister Ed, and the first episode was filmed at his studio in Hollywood, costing around $70,000 (worth about $780,000 today). Jack Benny, a friend of Burns, was involved in the background.
Similar to the Francis series, Alan Young played the part of the klutzy architect, Wilbur Post, while Bamboo Harvester, a palomino gelding, played Ed. Ed was cast as reluctant to speak to anybody other than Wilbur, which created many hilarious situations. Ed was also mysteriously well-read and well-educated, was a bit of a rascal, and his human-like behavior astounded those who knew him.
While most everybody loved Ed, Wilbur had at least one character who didn’t—his father-in-law. Apparently, his klutziness and half-hearted attempts to be friendly always backfired around the older man.
Wilbur didn’t know why Ed could talk, and his vocal abilities were never explained. In the first episode, when Wilbur tells Ed he doesn’t understand, Ed speaks the show’s only remark on the topic: “Don’t try. It’s bigger than both of us.”
Interesting facts:
- Bamboo Harvester didn’t film the first pilot—a chestnut gelding did. But he proved too unruly, and was replaced, with a new pilot being filmed.
- Allan Rocky Lane did the voice-over for Ed.
- Sheldon Allman provided Ed’s singing voice.
- Ed’s stablemate, a quarter horse named Pumpkin, served as stunt double, later appearing in Green Acres
- Initially, Ed’s trainer used a piece of nylon thread in Ed’s mouth to get Ed to move his lips. But eventually, Ed learned to move his lips when the trainer touched his hoof.
- The story about peanut butter in Ed’s mouth to make him move his lips was concocted by Alan Young as a way to keep the truth a secret to increase interest and to not disappoint the kids.
Mister Ed retired in 1966 when the show was canceled, and spent the rest of his life with his trainer, Lou Hilton. He passed away in 1970 at the age of 21. Details of his death are unclear, and several stories have made the rounds including accidental overdose of a drug that was used to manage arthritis pain, and natural causes. He was cremated, and his remains were spread on the Hilton Ranch in an undisclosed spot, although other stories have cropped up over the years about various burial sites.
Readers: Leave a comment about the Mister Ed Show, and we will randomly draw for a winner of an ebook copy of Hollow Hearts. Please cleverly disguise your email address so the online 'bots don't get you. For example, donna AT livebytheword DOT com
About Hollow Hearts:
Can a widow and a loner discover a new beginning in the midst of tragedy, or are they bound to remain alone forever?
Can a widow and a loner discover a new beginning in the midst of tragedy, or are they bound to remain alone forever?
About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Ed
https://saddleupcolorado.net/blog/secrets-behind-mr-ed-not-just-the-horse-talkin-
I loved Mr. Ed as a child. I didn't see a Francis movie until years later when it was shown on TV. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy, thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing!
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