| Mister Ed | |
|---|---|
| Format | Sitcom |
| Starring | Alan Young Connie Hines |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. Alan Young (born 19 November 1919 is an Emmy Award -winning prolific Character actor, best known for his Television role opposite a talking horse Connie Hines (born June 5 1930 in Dedham Massachusetts) is a former American Actress who is perhaps best remembered for playing The United States of America —commonly referred to as the of seasons | 6 |
| No. of episodes | 143 & pilot |
| Production | |
| Running time | 24-25 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Syndication CBS |
| Original run | January 5, 1961 – February 6, 1966 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
Mister Ed was an American television situation comedy that first aired as a syndicated program on January 5, 1961 to July 2, 1961 and then on CBS from October 1, 1961 to February 6, 1966. In Broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast Radio shows and Television shows to multiple individual stations without going through CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Mister Ed was the first series ever to debut as a midseason replacement, occurring before the premiere of Batman, five years later. In North American (American/Canadian television a midseason replacement is a television show that premieres in the second half of the traditional Television season, usually Batman is a 1960s American Television series, based on the DC Comic book character of the same name.
The stars of the show are Mister Ed, an intelligent talking palomino American Saddlebred ("played" by gelding Bamboo Harvester and voiced by Allan Lane), and his owner, architect Wilbur Post (portrayed by Alan Young). Palomino is a coat color in Horses consisting of a gold coat and white mane and tail A gelding is a castrated animal &mdash in English the term specifically refers to a castrated male Horse or other Equine such as a Donkey Bamboo Harvester was the name of the Palomino horse which portrayed Mr Allan "Rocky" Lane ( September 22, 1909 - October 27, 1973) was a studio Leading man and star of dozens of Alan Young (born 19 November 1919 is an Emmy Award -winning prolific Character actor, best known for his Television role opposite a talking horse Much of the program's humor stemmed from the fact Mister Ed would speak only to Wilbur. According to the show's producer, Arthur Lubin, Young was chosen because "he seemed like a guy a horse would talk to. Arthur Lubin ( July 25, 1898 - May 12, 1995) was a film director and producer who directed several Abbott & Costello films " Lubin, a friend of Mae West, scored a coup by persuading the screen icon to guest star in one episode. Mae West (August 17 1893 &ndash November 22 1980 was an American actress, Playwright, Screenwriter, and Sex symbol.
Contents |
Beginnings
The show was derived from the short story "Ed Takes the Pledge" by Walter R. Brooks, who is otherwise known for the Freddy the Pig series of children's novels, which likewise feature talking animals who interact with humans. The short story is a literary genre of Fictional Prose Narrative that tends to be more concise and to the point than longer works of fiction such Walter R Brooks ( January 9, 1886 - August 17,1958 was an American writer best remembered for his short storiesand children's books particularly those Freddy the Pig is the central figure in a series of 26 children's books written between 1927 and 1958 by Walter R
The concept of the show was similar to Francis the Talking Mule, with the equine normally talking only to one person (Wilbur), and thus both helping and frustrating its owner. Francis the Talking Mule was a Mule celebrity featured in seven movie comedies in the 1950s Although the Francis films preceded the television version of Mr. Ed, Brooks' Mr. Ed books were published before the existence of Francis the Talking Mule.
Ed
Mister Ed was voiced by ex-B-movie cowboy star Allan "Rocky" Lane (speaking) and Sheldon Allman (singing, except his line in the theme song, which was sung by its composer, Jay Livingston). A B movie is a motion picture made on a low or modest budget Originally the term was used for films intended for distribution as the less-publicized second half of a Double Allan "Rocky" Lane ( September 22, 1909 - October 27, 1973) was a studio Leading man and star of dozens of Sheldon Allman (b 8 June 1924, Chicago Illinois - d 22 January 2002, Culver City California) was a American Jay Livingston ( March 28, 1915 – October 17, 2001) was a partner with Ray Evans in a composing and songwriter duo best
Ed was trained for the show by Les Hilton. Lane remained anonymous as the voice of Mister Ed, and the show's producers referred to him only as "an actor who prefers to remain nameless". The credits listed Mister Ed as playing "Himself. "
Death
By the time Mister Ed reached the age of 19 he was suffering from a broken leg and a variety of health problems, and in 1970 he was quietly put to death with no publicity. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. However, in an interview on Los Angeles station KECT's program "Life and Times", Alan Young stated that Mr. Ed died from an inadvertent tranquilizer administered while he was "in retirement" in a stable in Burbank, California.
A horse that died in Oklahoma in 1979 (widely reported to have been Mister Ed, including sardonic comments on Saturday Night Live's faux news segment) was in fact an animal that once posed as Ed for publicity photos used by the production company. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch which comments on and parodies Current events.
The first words Mr. Ed spoke were: "It's been a long time since I was a pony"
Other characters
The other main characters in the show were Wilbur's tolerant wife Carol (Connie Hines) and their neighbors the Addisons (Larry Keating and Edna Skinner) until 1963 (upon Larry Keating's death that year) and then the Kirkwoods (Leon Ames and Florence MacMichael). Connie Hines (born June 5 1930 in Dedham Massachusetts) is a former American Actress who is perhaps best remembered for playing Larry Keating ( June 13, 1896 - August 23, 1963) was an American Actor born in St Edna Skinner ( May 23 1921 - August 8 2003) was an American film and Television actress notable for playing "Kay Addison" Leon Ames (b January 20 1902, Portland Indiana - d October 12 1993, Los Angeles California) an American
For the final season, the show focused strictly on the home life of the Posts, which was made more interesting with Carol's father moving in at the beginning of the season.
Theme song
The theme song was written by the songwriting team of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and sung, for the show, by Livingston. According to an urban legend when the theme song for Mister Ed was played backwards the words "Someone sung the song for Satan" and "the source is the devil" are clearly heard. An urban legend or urban myth is a form of modern Folklore consisting of stories thought to be factual by those circulating them Backmasking (also known as Backward masking) is a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward onto a track that is meant to be These phrases are heard by some listeners due to the phenomenon called phonetic reversal. Phonetic reversal is the Process of reversing the Phonemes of a Word or Phrase. [1]
Sponsorship
The series was sponsored from 1961 to 1963 by Studebaker-Packard Corporation/Studebaker Corporation, a now-defunct American car manufacturer. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Studebaker Corporation, or simply Studebaker, was a United States Wagon and Automobile manufacturer based in Studebakers were featured prominently in the show during this period. Studebaker Corporation, or simply Studebaker, was a United States Wagon and Automobile manufacturer based in The Posts are shown owning a 1962 Lark convertible, and the company used publicity shots featuring the Posts and Mister Ed with their product. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Lark was a pioneering " Compact car " designed and built by Studebaker and introduced as a 1959 model The Addison's are shown owning a 1963 Avanti. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Studebaker Avanti was a sports Coupe originally built by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend Indiana, USA between June
Remake
In 2004, a remake was planned for the FOX network, with Sherman Hemsley as the voice of Mister Ed, David Alan Basche as Wilbur, and Sherilyn Fenn as Carol. Sherman Hemsley (born February 1, 1938 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American Actor most famous for his role as George David Alan Basche (born August 25, 1968) is an American actor Sherilyn Fenn (born February 1, 1965) is an Emmy - and Golden Globe award-nominated American Actress. The pilot was filmed, but was not picked up by FOX. The show's writer and producer, Drake Sather, had committed suicide shortly before the pilot's completion. Drake Sather ( May 24, 1959 &ndash March 3, 2004) was a stand-up comedian and Emmy nominated Television Writer
The peanut butter legend
It is often said the crew was able to get Mister Ed to move his mouth by applying peanut butter to his gums in order for him to try to remove it by moving his lips. However, Alan Young admitted in 2004 that he had started that story himself, and explaining the actual method used. [2] Alan Young, in an interview 7th April 2007 on radio station 3AW, Melbourne, Australia, again admitted that a loose piece of Nylon was inserted under Mr. Ed's lip which the horse attempted to remove on his trainers cue. Mr. Ed was so well trained that the insert would be ignored until the required cue.
Careful examination of Mister Ed footage shows indisputable evidence that the "marionette theory" (i. e. , Ed's handler pulled strings to make him talk) was at work at least some of the time. Excerpts exist from a few episodes where the lighting and camera angle reveal a visible nylon "bit" being pulled for each word Ed spoke. Alan Young denied this occurred in the radio interview mentioned in the above paragraph. Some may claim a nylon bit was needed in order to have Ed turn his head or perform some other movement without his trainer having to be in the camera shot, but the evidence is clear that the bit was also used when Ed was standing still and merely had to talk. Young finally admitted during his interview for the Archive of American Television that a string was pulled to make Ed talk, noting that "this is for the Archive, right?" before explaining that he'd used the peanut butter fable for years in radio interviews instead of telling the truth.
Cast
Main cast:
Allan Lane . Allan "Rocky" Lane ( September 22, 1909 - October 27, 1973) was a studio Leading man and star of dozens of . . Mister Ed
Alan Young . Alan Young (born 19 November 1919 is an Emmy Award -winning prolific Character actor, best known for his Television role opposite a talking horse . . Wilbur Post
Connie Hines . Connie Hines (born June 5 1930 in Dedham Massachusetts) is a former American Actress who is perhaps best remembered for playing . . Carol Post
Supporting Cast:
Larry Keating . Larry Keating ( June 13, 1896 - August 23, 1963) was an American Actor born in St . . Roger Addison
Edna Skinner . Edna Skinner ( May 23 1921 - August 8 2003) was an American film and Television actress notable for playing "Kay Addison" . . Kay Addison
Leon Ames . Leon Ames may refer to Leon Ames (actor (1902-1993 American actor Leon Red Ames (1882-1936 American baseball pitcher . . Gordon Kirkwood
Florence MacMichael . . . Winnie Kirkwood
Housing development
Recent work has been done by a master builder in Oklahoma to create a community built around the supposed final resting place (although that fact is disputable) of Mr. Ed. It is intended to be themed to the style of the show and its period.
Appearances in other media
- In the American version of Tekkaman Blade, superhero Blade/Slade is given a flying, talking robot named Pegas after Pegasus, the flying horse of greek myth that carried the hero Bellerophon on its back. is an Anime series released in 1992 This series was intended to be a reboot of the original Tekkaman The Space Knight anime though these shows ultimately In Greek mythology, Pegasus ( Greek: Πήγασος, Pégasos, 'strong' was a winged horse that was the son of Poseidon, in his role Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance Bellerophon (βελλεροφῶν or Bellerophontes (βελλεροφόντης was a Hero of Greek mythology, "the greatest hero and When Pegas transforms into a vehicle, Blade/Slade rides it and says, "Its a good thing you fly as well as you talk. They could have called you Mr. Ed. "
- In the 1989 movie UHF (film), one of the sections with Philo has the theme playing in the background. UHF (also known as The Vidiot from UHF in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe, Los Telelocos
- Histeria! featured a recurring character in the form of a talking horse who spoke very much like Mr. Histeria! is an American Animated television series of the late-1990s created by Tom Ruegger (who also created Tiny Toon Adventures Ed. One episode, "20th Century Presidents", also a theme song parodying that of Mr. Ed.
- The Beastie Boys use a sample of Mr. Ed's voice in one of their songs.
DVD releases
MGM Home Entertainment has released two Best-of collections of Mister Ed on DVD in Region 1. MGM Home Entertainment is the Home video and DVD distribution arm of MGM. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is DVD video discs may be encoded with a region code restricting the area of the world in which they can be played Volume 1 (released January 13, 2004) contains 21 episodes and Volume 2 (released March 8, 2005 contains 20 episodes. Events 532 - Nika riots in Constantinople. 888 - Odo Count of Paris becomes King of the Franks "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Due to poor sales, it is unknown if any more volumes will be released.
MGM also released a single-disc released entitled Mister Ed's Barnyard Favorites on July 26, 2005 which contains the first eight episodes featured on Volume One. Events 657 - Battle of Siffin. 811 - Battle of Pliska; Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Films with talking horses
Films with talking horses include Hot to Trot (1988) and Ready to Run (2002). Hot to Trot is a comedy film released in 1988 by Warner Bros. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Ready to Run is a Disney Channel Original Movie from 2000. Plot summary Ready to Run is the story of 14-year-old See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The names of the talking horses were Don and Thunder Jam (TJ) respectively.
References
- ^ Miller, Rex: "Stone Shadow", page 57. New American Library, 1989
- ^ Interview with Alan Young
External links
- Mister Ed (original) at the Internet Movie Database
- Mister Ed (2004 remake) at the Internet Movie Database
- Urban legends page explaining "zebra" hoax
- How did they get Mr. Ed to talk? from the Straight Dope
- Mister Ed Online
- Mister Ed at TV Acres
- [1] Interview with Alan Young, October 17, 2007
- Archive of American Television interview with Alan Young
- Allan "Rocky" Lane at the Internet Movie Database
- Alan Young at the Internet Movie Database
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic