Dogsniff already harvested the low-hanging-fruit … but … according to SNOPES: Although the Mister Ed television show enjoyed a five-year run on CBS in the early 1960s, it was actually one of the very first series to start out in syndication and then be picked up by a network. (Mister Ed premiered as a syndicated show in January 1961, and CBS added it to their prime time schedule the following October.) Without network backing in the beginning, however, the show’s budget was extremely tight. During the filming of the pilot episode, production costs mounted as the Mr. Ed recalcitrant horse cast as Mister Ed refused to perform on cue (if it performed at all), resulting in large expenditures to cover the costs of additional training fees and wasted footage.
The producers of the show were ready to throw in the towel and write off the venture when one of the putative Mister Ed’s trainers came up with a solution: the nearby Jungleland animal park in Thousand Oaks, California, had a trained Grevy’s zebra that was being used in live shows for the park’s daily tour visitors. The zebra (a female, called “Amelia” by its Jungleland handlers) was trained to perform many of the same actions (e.g., opening and closing its mouth, stamping its feet on cue) required in the Mr. Ed role, and Jungleland consented to lend her out for a few days’ filming.
Amelia worked out fantastically well, exceeding everyone’s expectations, and the pilot was quickly wrapped up and sold to the syndication market. The producers made a generous donation to Jungleland in exchange for continued use of Amelia, and she appeared in all the syndicated episodes as well as all the shows comprising the series’ entire five-year run on CBS. Amelia retired to Jungleland when Mr. Ed was canceled after the 1965-66 season, where she lived for three years before being sold at auction when Jungleland closed in 1969. = FALSE (according to SNOPES.COM)
“It’s highly recommended that the horse should turn around to the back kick each jackass..”-Including a certain friend of our group who only listens to his captain…Captain Morgan, that is.
Stick to archaeology and exploiting the natives, pith-y guy! Your explanation of the grammar is defective and would be laughed out of the Courtroom of Good Grammar!
[signed]Sisyphos, officially certified Grammar Police of Frog Applause
Steve Bartholomew over 8 years ago
Just stop horsing around.
Superfrog over 8 years ago
This case study is an object lesson in equine-human relations.
Bill Thompson over 8 years ago
The horse is right, because horses do better than men in races. Unless it’s a foot race, in which case the human has the advantage.
Brass Orchid Premium Member over 8 years ago
Still, it is slightly better than “the people are eating the horse.”
William Neal McPheeters over 8 years ago
HAHAHAAA!!! Good one!!!
William Neal McPheeters over 8 years ago
Dogsniff already harvested the low-hanging-fruit … but … according to SNOPES: Although the Mister Ed television show enjoyed a five-year run on CBS in the early 1960s, it was actually one of the very first series to start out in syndication and then be picked up by a network. (Mister Ed premiered as a syndicated show in January 1961, and CBS added it to their prime time schedule the following October.) Without network backing in the beginning, however, the show’s budget was extremely tight. During the filming of the pilot episode, production costs mounted as the Mr. Ed recalcitrant horse cast as Mister Ed refused to perform on cue (if it performed at all), resulting in large expenditures to cover the costs of additional training fees and wasted footage.
The producers of the show were ready to throw in the towel and write off the venture when one of the putative Mister Ed’s trainers came up with a solution: the nearby Jungleland animal park in Thousand Oaks, California, had a trained Grevy’s zebra that was being used in live shows for the park’s daily tour visitors. The zebra (a female, called “Amelia” by its Jungleland handlers) was trained to perform many of the same actions (e.g., opening and closing its mouth, stamping its feet on cue) required in the Mr. Ed role, and Jungleland consented to lend her out for a few days’ filming.
Amelia worked out fantastically well, exceeding everyone’s expectations, and the pilot was quickly wrapped up and sold to the syndication market. The producers made a generous donation to Jungleland in exchange for continued use of Amelia, and she appeared in all the syndicated episodes as well as all the shows comprising the series’ entire five-year run on CBS. Amelia retired to Jungleland when Mr. Ed was canceled after the 1965-66 season, where she lived for three years before being sold at auction when Jungleland closed in 1969. = FALSE (according to SNOPES.COM)
Lyons Group, Inc. over 8 years ago
“It’s highly recommended that the horse should turn around to the back kick each jackass..”-Including a certain friend of our group who only listens to his captain…Captain Morgan, that is.
Sisyphos over 8 years ago
Stick to archaeology and exploiting the natives, pith-y guy! Your explanation of the grammar is defective and would be laughed out of the Courtroom of Good Grammar!
[signed]Sisyphos, officially certified Grammar Police of Frog Applause
P.S. I don’t talk to horses.
Brass Orchid Premium Member over 8 years ago
Interpretive prance.
wilburgarrod over 8 years ago
@McPheeters Just like a woman she can do it all with less pay and less recognition for her work
*Hot Rod* over 8 years ago
Horse threw a horse shoe…