TV Tuesday: Green Acres - Season 1; Episode 1 (1965)

 

Green Acres - 1965

Coming up next on this edition of TV Tuesday, we feature the first episode of the hit TV series "Green Acres", where a Park Avenue penthouse couple find themselves living in a dilapidated old farmhouse in a place called Hooterville.

The episode's cast includes Eddie Albert, Eva Gabor, Eleanor Audley, Edgar Buchanan, Rufe Davis, Frank Cady, Hank Patterson, John Daly, and Arnold The Piggy.

"Green Acres is the place to be.  Farm livin' is the life for me.  Land spreadin' out so far and wide.  Keep Manhattan just give me that country side!"  And that's how it all begins.

To begin things, John Daly narrates the life story of New York attorney Oliver Wendell Douglas.  Mr. Daly begins, "Every day at this time when Mr. Douglas comes homes from the hustle and bustle of his law practice and after fighting the rush hour traffic, he enjoys walking out on his terrace, and looking at his magnificent view of the city, and saying..."  "I hate it!" interjects Oliver.

Oliver's wife Lisa does not share his opinion.  She loves every aspect of New York living.

Knowing that Oliver wants to buy a farm, Lisa allows him to try his hand at farming on their terrace.  He takes it very seriously.

While on a business trip to Chicago, Oliver takes a detour to a place called Hooterville.  There, he buys his long awaited for farm.  He meets some of the locals, who are very surprised that someone bought the old "Haney place"!

When Lisa finds out that Oliver has bought a farm, she is devastated!  Actually, devastated may be an understatement.

Oliver's mother takes her daughter-in-law's side in the matter.  She even tells Lisa to pack a bag and move in with her.  She then amends the statement.  "Don't bother to pack.  We'll buy a whole new wardrobe...and charge it to him," she says indicating at her son.

Oliver is convinced that because he was born on a farm the fault with him wanting to live on one lies with his mother.  "If anyone’s to blame, it’s your father.  If he hadn’t insisted on staying for that last race at Saratoga, we would’ve made it to the hospital," she counters.

Eventually, Oliver convinces Lisa to move with him to the farm.  She tells him she will go on a trial period.  If after six months she isn't thrilled with farm life, she's moving back to New York.  He'll take anything he can get.

Oliver takes Lisa to their new farm, Green Acres.  She is shocked at the ruined look of the place.  "I have a great idea," she says.  "Let's go back!"  But, a promise is a promise.  She'll have to wait six months.

We cut back to John Daly, who is looking at the new Douglas farm.  Signing off, he says, "And that’s how Oliver Wendell Douglas bought a farm.  This is John Daly in New York.  Thank goodness."

Cast rundown:

   Eddie Albert...............................Oliver Wendell Douglas

   Eva Gabor..................................Lisa Douglas

   Eleanor Audley............................Eunice Douglas

   Edgar Buchanan..........................Joe Carson

   Rufe Davis..................................Floyd Smoot

   Frank Cady..................................Sam Drucker

   Hank Patterson............................Fred Ziffel

   John Daly....................................Himself

   Arnold The Piggy..........................Arnold

And that's it for Green Acres.  It was a tremendously successful show that still entertains audiences today.  Eleanor Audley, who played Eddie Albert's mother in the show, was actually only one year older than her on-screen son.

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