By Regina T. Roby
For almost any admirer of classic television, Mr. Ed is a timeless classic everyone must see. A situation comedy that aired from 1961 to 1966, the TV show followed the exploits of a wise-cracking, talking horse and his master. A good natured farce that made an appearance at the end of what many believe to be the golden age of television, Mr. Ed always seemed to get the imagination of audiences in many ways. Therefore, let's take a closer look at the backstory of this terrific program to fully grasp some of the factors why the show was so well liked.
The Beginnings of Mister Ed
Contrary to many shows of today, Mr. Ed was created from a set of short stories by author Walter R. Brooks. Recognized for his compilation of 26 children's novels featuring Freddie the Pig, Brooks' talking horse character initially showed up in a 1937 issue of Liberty magazine. Comparable to Freddie, the horse identity lived with humans, however made the decision to speak to only his master. Interestingly, Director Arthur Lubin had earlier directed several movies featuring another equestrian star, Francis the Talking Mule, in addition to Abbott & Costello films. In addition, it's believed the Director's administrative assistant is credited with giving him the notion of Mr. Ed by showing Lubin the Brooks stories.
The UnforgettableCast of the Mr. Ed Show
Even though the idea of the show was appealing, it was the cast that truly made this TV show unique. The character of Mr. Ed was played by palomino gelding Bamboo Harvester, however his distinctive voice was provided by former western star Allan Lane. In addition, though there were many actors who portrayed typically inquisitive and exasperated neighbors, certainly Alan Young who played the unusual, but friendly Wilbur Post was an integral ingredient in the cast. An every-day guy, Young made the character of the klutzy architect come alive so that viewers could easily see him as a neighbor of their own. With such a relatable character, it's understandable why the program became so popular.
Precisely How Did Mr. Ed Speak?
There are numerous urban legends concerning the methods used to make Mr. Ed talk. Actually the puzzle has added to the allure of the show. In a 2004, Alan Young said that he had started the tale of using peanut butter on the roof of Ed's mouth to make the horse move his mouth and lips. However, this was strictly a red herring Young confessed. Initially a piece of nylon thread was placed in Ed's mouth, but later the behavior was achieved in other ways. The horse eventually produced the behavior emulating speech when his trainer touched his hoof and later the horse could actually "speak" on cue. There's no doubt that the illusion of a talking horse enchanted viewers and added to the attraction of the show.
Star Studded Mr. Ed Episodes
While some of the episodes frequently involved common scenarios surrounding everyday life, there were a number of episodes that took Ed and Wilbur beyond the barn and into some absurd situations, not to mention the presence of some of the most famous celebrities of the time. Some of the most absurd situations in which Ed found himself included surfing, flying an airplane and driving a delivery truck for starters. Furthermore, the number of celebrities that appeared on the show is a real testament to its popularity. George Burns, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Clint Eastwood and LA Dodger's Manager Leo Durocher all graced Ed with their presence. Certainly with such an array of heavy hitting pop culture super stars, it's clear why this show was so popular.
The Mr. Ed television show is plainly a classic and with a great basic story, engaging cast, wacky stunts and famous guest stars, it's no wonder why the show was so popular.
The Beginnings of Mister Ed
Contrary to many shows of today, Mr. Ed was created from a set of short stories by author Walter R. Brooks. Recognized for his compilation of 26 children's novels featuring Freddie the Pig, Brooks' talking horse character initially showed up in a 1937 issue of Liberty magazine. Comparable to Freddie, the horse identity lived with humans, however made the decision to speak to only his master. Interestingly, Director Arthur Lubin had earlier directed several movies featuring another equestrian star, Francis the Talking Mule, in addition to Abbott & Costello films. In addition, it's believed the Director's administrative assistant is credited with giving him the notion of Mr. Ed by showing Lubin the Brooks stories.
The UnforgettableCast of the Mr. Ed Show
Even though the idea of the show was appealing, it was the cast that truly made this TV show unique. The character of Mr. Ed was played by palomino gelding Bamboo Harvester, however his distinctive voice was provided by former western star Allan Lane. In addition, though there were many actors who portrayed typically inquisitive and exasperated neighbors, certainly Alan Young who played the unusual, but friendly Wilbur Post was an integral ingredient in the cast. An every-day guy, Young made the character of the klutzy architect come alive so that viewers could easily see him as a neighbor of their own. With such a relatable character, it's understandable why the program became so popular.
Precisely How Did Mr. Ed Speak?
There are numerous urban legends concerning the methods used to make Mr. Ed talk. Actually the puzzle has added to the allure of the show. In a 2004, Alan Young said that he had started the tale of using peanut butter on the roof of Ed's mouth to make the horse move his mouth and lips. However, this was strictly a red herring Young confessed. Initially a piece of nylon thread was placed in Ed's mouth, but later the behavior was achieved in other ways. The horse eventually produced the behavior emulating speech when his trainer touched his hoof and later the horse could actually "speak" on cue. There's no doubt that the illusion of a talking horse enchanted viewers and added to the attraction of the show.
Star Studded Mr. Ed Episodes
While some of the episodes frequently involved common scenarios surrounding everyday life, there were a number of episodes that took Ed and Wilbur beyond the barn and into some absurd situations, not to mention the presence of some of the most famous celebrities of the time. Some of the most absurd situations in which Ed found himself included surfing, flying an airplane and driving a delivery truck for starters. Furthermore, the number of celebrities that appeared on the show is a real testament to its popularity. George Burns, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Clint Eastwood and LA Dodger's Manager Leo Durocher all graced Ed with their presence. Certainly with such an array of heavy hitting pop culture super stars, it's clear why this show was so popular.
The Mr. Ed television show is plainly a classic and with a great basic story, engaging cast, wacky stunts and famous guest stars, it's no wonder why the show was so popular.
About the Author:
Regina T. Roby loves animals and safeguards them with pet insurance. In fact she has cat insurance on all of her 3 tabby cats Joe, Ramone and Farsworth.