The Green Acres Connection

[Madame X]

I don't know a lot about "Green Acres," but today I was watching and recognized Barbara Pepper (Doris Ziffel). She was one of Lucy's best friends and appeared in many ILL eps. as an extra. Once I looked in to it, I realized there are several ILL actors that appeared on GA 8-10 years later!

Jerry Hausner (Ed Ferguson) was Ricky's agent
Bob Jellison (Roland Wilson) was Bobby and the milkman
Bea Benedaret (Kate Bradley) was Miss Lewis and 1st choice as Ethel Mertz
Maurice Marsac (waiter) waiter in France

I wonder if there are any others.

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Madame X

I don't know a lot about "Green Acres," but today I was watching and recognized Barbara Pepper (Doris Ziffel). She was one of Lucy's best friends and appeared in many ILL eps. as an extra. Once I looked in to it, I realized there are several ILL actors that appeared on GA 8-10 years later!

Jerry Hausner (Ed Ferguson) was Ricky's agent
Bob Jellison (Roland Wilson) was Bobby and the milkman
Bea Benedaret (Kate Bradley) was Miss Lewis and 1st choice as Ethel Mertz
Maurice Marsac (waiter) waiter in France

I wonder if there are any others.

Actually, there's more of a connection than you might realize, though you won't actually see it on the TV show. The GREEN ACRES TV series, which was produced by Paul Henning, was based on a radio series he produced in 1950 called GRANBY'S GREEN ACRES. And that radio series starred Gale Gordon and Bea Benadaret as John and Martha Granby. Of course, in this same period, both Gale and Bea were playing husband and wife, George and Iris Atterbury, on Lucille Ball's MY FAVORITE HUSBAND. Their characters on GRANBY'S GREEN ACRES were essentially the same characters they played on MY FAVORITE HUSBAND. And like George Atterbury, John Granby was also a banker. When GRANBY'S GREEN ACRES aired in 1950, it was during the summer hiatus of MY FAVORITE HUSBAND. Fifteen years later when Paul Henning wanted to put the TV version on the air, he again wanted Gale Gordon to be the show's star. Bea Benadaret at this time was obviously not a consideration to play the wife as she was already starring on Paul Henning's PETTICOAT JUNCTION. (Note: there were many crossover episodes between GREEN ACRES and PETTICOAT JUNCTION, as well as THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, so Bea did get to play with the GREEN ACRES characters.) And Gale Gordon was also not available to do GREEN ACRES, either, because he was committed to THE LUCY SHOW. Given what a hit GREEN ACRES turned out to be, I have wondered if Gale Gordon had any regrets about not having the chance to star on that show. But based on comments he often made about working with Lucille Ball ("it was sheer heaven"), I doubt that he did. It also kept him working longer as GREEN ACRES went off the air three years before HERE'S LUCY. If you would like to hear a sample of GRANBY'S GREEN ACRES with Gale Gordon and Bea Benadaret, click on this link: http://www.radiocrazy.com/shows/G/Gr...lantsACrop.mp3

And here's some more info on the show at this link, plus additional episodes:
http://www.maggiore.net/greenacres/garadio.asp

[NOVARick]

Correction: GREEN ACRES producer Paul Henning did not create the radio series. According to Wikipedia, Henning's partner, Jay Sommers, created both GRANBY'S GREEN ACRES and GREEN ACRES. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Acres

[Madame X]

That is interesting information, Rick. Thank you very much for the great post!

[NOVARick]

Originally Posted by Madame X

That is interesting information, Rick. Thank you very much for the great post!

Thanks. And this is an interesting thread. And this gave me a thought. Since Bea Benadaret and Gale Gordon starred as husband and wife in the radio show that inspired GREEN ACRES, and Bea Benadaret and Gale Gordon were also Lucille Ball's original choices to play Fred and Ethel Mertz, perhaps somewhere in the Twilight Zone the characters of Oliver and Lisa Douglas should have been portrayed by William Frawley and Vivian Vance.

[Madame X]

Originally Posted by NOVARick

Thanks. And this is an interesting thread. And this gave me a thought. Since Bea Benadaret and Gale Gordon starred as husband and wife in the radio show that inspired GREEN ACRES, and Bea Benadaret and Gale Gordon were also Lucille Ball's original choices to play Fred and Ethel Mertz, perhaps somewhere in the Twilight Zone the characters of Oliver and Lisa Douglas should have been portrayed by William Frawley and Vivian Vance.

Yeah. I guess their roles of living in squalor was Bill and Viv's destiny!