MR. ED & Studebaker

From 1961 until 1963, few people today know that the little Studebaker automobile brand pinned their survival hopes largely on sponsorship of the popular MR. ED sitcom. Mr. Ed. himself was a talking horse that only talked to his owner, Wilbur Post, played by English actor Alan Young. The Posts in the sitcom first drove a 1961 Studebaker Lark, then a 1962 Lark convertible in the second season. The next door neighbors, The Addisons, drove a 1963 Studebaker Avanti. While Studebaker struggled for their financial life during the early part of the 1960's, it was hoped that pinning much of their advertising hopes on this single program would be enough to keep the company afloat financially. Cast members for the show even appeared at the end of the show with some ads that became integrated within the show.

But after 1963, the financial situation at Studebaker began to draw too desperate, and the sponsorship of the program ended. Ford automobiles replaced Studebakers. And another major problem developed for popular comedy. Actor Larry Keating, who played the next door neighbor, died during the 1963 season, creating serious casting problems for the show. Actor Jack Albertson often guest starred, playing the actors relative. The writers toyed with the notion of making the wife a widow in the show, but then opted for replacing the Addisons with new neighbors.

The original premise of the show often left the character Wilbur Post in an embarrassing situation because of the antics of Mr. Ed. Mr. Ed(the horse) was played by Bamboo Harvester, who suffered serious health problems by 1968 and eventually died in 1970. But actor Alan Young remained good friends with Bamboo Harvester, often visiting him. But some controversy remains about the death of the horse most often known as Mr. Ed. Another horse used in publicity shots, named "Mister Ed", reportedly died in 1979. But Alan Young chose not to be critical that this was not the real "Mr. Ed". And sadly, the young actress in the series that played Wilbur's tolerant and sweet wife Carol , Connie Hines, died at the age 78 in 2009.

The speaking voice of Mr. Ed was actually done by "B" western actor, Allan (Rocky) Laine.

MR. ED still lives on in syndication on This TV as an early morning favorite, paired with PATTY DUKE. In previous years, MR. ED received plenty of fresh life on the TV Land Network. In 2004, an effort to revive the show with a new series ended when FOX didn't pick up the pilot and the show's writer killed himself.

Like most early 60's TV, MR. ED was actually shot in black & White for the entire six year season run.