Mister Ed is a horse who has the ability to talk. The catch is that he only talks to one man. That man is a mild-mannered, quirky architect named Wilbur. Ed is adamant about keeping his ablity to speak a secret to all others (he does talk to kids because according to Ed, "Who will believe them anyway?"). Ed and Wilbur truly love each other, and although Ed gets Wilbur into a lot of trouble with his wife, neighbors, and others, the situation is always resolved and Wilbur always forgives him.
The Cast
Alan Young played the part of Wilbur Post. Wilbur was a normal architect with a normal life, except for the fact that he happened to have a talking horse. He was a nice guy and he was very funny. Young was a great physical comedian. He had impeccable comedic timing. He was great in his role and he was a very sympathetic figure with all the wacky predicaments that he found himself in. Young had great chemistry with the horse, so much that he made you believe that he and the horse were really communicating.
Connie Hines played the part of Carol Post. She was a beautiful woman and she was great in her role as a neglected housewife who has to share her husband with her horse. The Carol character was not very likable, however. She was very bossy toward WIlbur and very sneaky, she would do anything to get her way. If she didn't get her way, WIlbur woud be sleeping on the couch.
Larry Keating played the role of Roger Addison. Roger was a retired businessman who was Wilbur' best friend. He was actually the one who sold Wilbur his house. He would often give WIlbur marriage advice. Larry played his role to a tee. He was arrogant, stingy, selfish, and mean toward Ed, but he was funny at times, and you somehow found his character enjoyable. Unfortunately, Keating passed away early in the fourth season and the show was never quite the same without him.
Edna Skinner played the role of Kay Addison. She played a houswife who loved the finer things in life. She loves nice clothes and jewelry. Unfortunately her husband was very cheap and would usually make her return things. She was Carol's best friend and would often advise her on how to handle her husband.
Leon Ames and Florence MacMichael played the replacement neighbors, the Kirkwoods. Gordon was a retired army colonel and he was very bossy toward WIlbur. His character was very annoying and Leon lacked personality as did Florence, as his submissive wife. The show lost a great deal without the Addisons.
Mr. Ed
Mr. Ed was many things. He was a friend, a lover, a brain, a comedian, a songwriter, an athlete, an activist, a car driver, an airplane pilot, a hero, a humanitarian, a racehorse, a mailman, a counterspy and many other things. The best thing Ed can be compared to is a rebellious teenager. He wants to have fun, he wants to live life, and he doesn't want to be restricted by WIlbur's rules. He loves his rides in the park, his comic books, his television, and his telephone. His telephone connects him to the outside world and allows him to speak to others without them knowing that he's a horse. The phone is the primary tool he uses to create trouble for WIlbur. He doesn't do it maliciously, but as he so eloquently points out, "You always hurt the one you love."
Legacy
There will never be another show quite like Mister Ed. It was a revolutionary concept and it was a huge success. Mr. Ed (real name Bamboo Harvester) was a brilliant actor. He made you believe that he really could talk and he seemed to have a real understanding with Young. Many dismiss Mr. Ed as a silly kids show, but if you sit down and watch it, the storylines are very creative and it is actually a very sophisticated show, that can be enjoyed by fans of all ages.
