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 Early Days 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
While the idea of the show was attractive, it was the cast that truly made this TV show special. The character of Mr. Ed was played by palomino gelding Bamboo Harvester, however his characteristic voice was provided by former western star Allan Lane. In addition, although there were numerous actors who played typically inquisitive and exasperated neighbors, certainly Alan Young who played the unconventional, but gregarious Wilbur Post was an integral ingredient in the cast. An every-day guy, Young made the character of the klutzy architect stand out so that viewers could easily see him as a neighbor of their own. With such an identifiable personality, it's understandable why the program became so popular.
How Did Mr. Ed Talk?
There have been quite a few urban legends about the approaches used to make Mr. Ed talk. In reality the puzzle has added to the attraction 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 lips and mouth. However, this was strictly a red herring Young confessed. At first a bit of nylon thread was placed in Ed's mouth, but later the behavior was achieved in other ways. The horse eventually produced the behavior resembling speech when his trainer touched his hoof and later the horse could actually "speak" on cue. There's little doubt that the illusion of a talking horse captivated viewers and added to the attraction of the show.
Star Studded Mr. Ed Episodes
Although many of the episodes typically involved common scenarios surrounding everyday life, there were quite a few episodes that took Ed and Wilbur beyond the barn and into some ridiculous situations, not forgetting the presence of some of the most famous celebrities of the time. Some of the most absurd scenarios in which Ed found himself included surfing, flying an airplane and driving a delivery truck among others. 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. Naturally with such a multitude of heavy hitting pop culture super stars, it's clear why this show was so popular.
The Mr. Ed TV show is clearly a classic and with a great basic story, engaging cast, silly stunts and famous guest stars, it's it's no wonder that why the show was so popular.
The Early Days 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
While the idea of the show was attractive, it was the cast that truly made this TV show special. The character of Mr. Ed was played by palomino gelding Bamboo Harvester, however his characteristic voice was provided by former western star Allan Lane. In addition, although there were numerous actors who played typically inquisitive and exasperated neighbors, certainly Alan Young who played the unconventional, but gregarious Wilbur Post was an integral ingredient in the cast. An every-day guy, Young made the character of the klutzy architect stand out so that viewers could easily see him as a neighbor of their own. With such an identifiable personality, it's understandable why the program became so popular.
How Did Mr. Ed Talk?
There have been quite a few urban legends about the approaches used to make Mr. Ed talk. In reality the puzzle has added to the attraction 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 lips and mouth. However, this was strictly a red herring Young confessed. At first a bit of nylon thread was placed in Ed's mouth, but later the behavior was achieved in other ways. The horse eventually produced the behavior resembling speech when his trainer touched his hoof and later the horse could actually "speak" on cue. There's little doubt that the illusion of a talking horse captivated viewers and added to the attraction of the show.
Star Studded Mr. Ed Episodes
Although many of the episodes typically involved common scenarios surrounding everyday life, there were quite a few episodes that took Ed and Wilbur beyond the barn and into some ridiculous situations, not forgetting the presence of some of the most famous celebrities of the time. Some of the most absurd scenarios in which Ed found himself included surfing, flying an airplane and driving a delivery truck among others. 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. Naturally with such a multitude of heavy hitting pop culture super stars, it's clear why this show was so popular.
The Mr. Ed TV show is clearly a classic and with a great basic story, engaging cast, silly stunts and famous guest stars, it's it's no wonder that why the show was so popular.
About the Author:
Regina T. Roby delights in pets and protects them with pet insurance. Actually she has cat insurance on each of her 3 tabby cats Joe, Irv and Joquin.
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