TV We Loved - Mr Ed
May 6th 2011 00:25
Go right to the source and ask the horse . . .
Yet even when I mention the names Allan Lane, Alan Young and Connie Hines - chances are (unless you're a rabid fan) you'd still be in the dark as to the status of this gem which aired between 1961 and 1966.
But I guarantee if most (if not all) of you will recognise the the star and his signature theme below.
Mister Ed is (or was) one of the great cross pollinated situation comedies of the early to mid 60s - a show which both kids and adults alike could relate.
The program starred a palomino horse who could talk ("played" by gelding Bamboo Harvester and voiced by Allan Lane), and his owner Wilbur Post (Alan Young).
Unfortunately, Wilbur is the only human with whom Mr. Ed will speak. Alan Young starred in the series, which ran for six seasons with Connie Hines co-starring as his luscious wife, Carol, who never discovered the linguistic skills of her husband's equestrian pal.
The first horse that played Mister Ed for the pilot episode was in fact a chestnut gelding. However, the permanent equine star of the show was Bamboo Harvest - the change being made after a rather spurious reference by a stage hand to a producer regarding kids and their acceptance the palamino breed.
In fact, 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," though once the show became a hit, Lane campaigned the producers for credit, which he never received.
The credits listed Mister Ed as playing "Himself".
Interestingly, original neighbours, Roger (Larry Keating) and Kay Addison (Edna Skinner) lived next door but after Keating's death, they were replaced by the Kirkwoods (Leon Ames and Florence MacMichael)
As with all things though - time eventually plays its hand and even the majesty of the biggest four legged TV star since Rin Tin Tin and Lassie had to make way for newer and more socially convenient programming.
Larry Keating died in 1963 of leukemia, Alan Lane on 1973 of bone cancer, Jack Albertson in 1981 of cancer, Leon Ames in 1993 of a stroke, Sherman Allen in 2002 of bone cancer and Connie Hines in 2009 of heart disease.
Mr Ed himself was put to sleep in 1970.
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