On This Date in 1969: Barton Maclane (General Peterson) From I Dream Of Jeannie Dies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 01-02-2011, 12:22 AM

TV Knowledge Fan · 01-02-2011, 02:18 AM

...was a very sick man when he returned to film his final episodes in the fall of 1968 (for some inexplicable reason, he "sat out" most of the 1967-'68 season)- he was literally dying of cancer. You could tell in his final appearances that his health was going downhill, that he was getting thinner...yet he insisted on filming as many episodes as he could. His last, "Jeannie and the Case of the Porcelain Puppy", was filmed just three weeks before his death on New Year's Day, 1969 {it aired three months later}.

1960'sTVfan · 01-02-2011, 10:57 PM

Barton MacLane is also known for the role of police detective Steve McBride in the Torchy Blane movie series of the 1930's. Glenda Farrell played the role of Torchy Blane, snoopy newspaper reporter. MacLane as Steve McBride was love interest for Torchy Blane, and the two of them solved crimes together. Torchy was always one step ahead of McBride and solved the case/crime before he could. Also on hand for comic relief was Tom Kennedy as dim-witted cop Gahagan, who always seemed to come up with a rhyme. The team of Farrell and MacLane starred in 7 of the 9 Torchy Blane films. One Torchy Blane movie starred Lola Lane and Paul Kelly, another one starred Jane Wyman and Allen Jenkins. Warner Video has released the complete Torchy Blane series on DVD.

TV Knowledge Fan · 01-04-2011, 01:54 AM

Yes, Barton MacLane was under contract to Warner Bros. in the '30s and early '40s, often appearing as a "hard-boiled" police detective (most notably in 1941's "The Maltese Falcon"). He later became a veteran character actor, usually in Westerns, and occaionally appearing in military uniform [a predecessor to "General Peterson" was the one he briefly portrayed in "The Glenn Miller Story" (1954)- "General Hap Arnold"- who heartily approves of Glenn's "swing" version of "St. Louis Blues March" as Miller's commanding officer is about to discipline him for attempting such a thing].

MacLane became a supporting cast member of "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" almost by accident. He was supposed to make a one-time guest appearance, as several other actors had done earlier in the first season, as a "guest general" in "Too Many Tonys" [12/25/65]. But he was so good in the role, creator/producer Sidney Sheldon decided to feature him again in "The Richest Astronaut in the Whole Wide World" [1/15/66] (the general in the first draft script was supposed to have been "General Hadley", who appeared in "What House Across the Street?" a few weeks before, but because Sidney wrote the teleplay, he decided "General Peterson" would make another appearance instead). And the chemistry between MacLane and Hayden Rorke in both episodes was such that Sidney decided that "General Peterson" would become a regular character, beginning with "My Master, the Doctor" [2/5/66]{although Roger mentions him as coming to his "going away party" at the end of "Never Try To Outsmart A Jeannie" the week before}.

ansara1 · 01-04-2011, 02:55 PM

TV Knowledge Fan - Do you know if there was ANY sort of tribute in the end credits, etc. when the last episode of I Dream of Jeannie aired (in primetime) that featured Barton MacLane? If not I've always wondered if the clip shown of him (when showing flashbacks - the clip from 'U F Oh Jeannie' from season four) in the last episode filmed from the final season (and SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN THE LAST TO AIR), 'Hurricane Jeannie,' was the show's way of honoring him?????

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

Yes, Barton MacLane was under contract to Warner Bros. in the '30s and early '40s, often appearing as a "hard-boiled" police detective (most notably in 1941's "The Maltese Falcon"). He later became a veteran character actor, usually in Westerns, and occaionally appearing in military uniform [a predecessor to "General Peterson" was the one he briefly portrayed in "The Glenn Miller Story" (1954)- "General Hap Arnold"- who heartily approves of Glenn's "swing" version of "St. Louis Blues March" as Miller's commanding officer is about to discipline him for attempting such a thing].

MacLane became a supporting cast member of "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" almost by accident. He was supposed to make a one-time guest appearance, as several other actors had done earlier in the first season, as a "guest general" in "Too Many Tonys" [12/25/65]. But he was so good in the role, creator/producer Sidney Sheldon decided to feature him again in "The Richest Astronaut in the Whole Wide World" [1/15/66] (the general in the first draft script was supposed to have been "General Hadley", who appeared in "What House Across the Street?" a few weeks before, but because Sidney wrote the teleplay, he decided "General Peterson" would make another appearance instead). And the chemistry between MacLane and Hayden Rorke in both episodes was such that Sidney decided that "General Peterson" would become a regular character, beginning with "My Master, the Doctor" [2/5/66]{although Roger mentions him as coming to his "going away party" at the end of "Never Try To Outsmart A Jeannie" the week before}.

TV Knowledge Fan · 01-06-2011, 03:55 AM

...knew that "Hurricane Jeannie" was going to be the final episode [even though it was shown, with two previous episodes, in reverse order because NBC preempted "My Master, the Chili King" and "One Jeannie Beats Four Of A Kind" due to last-minute "special reports"- one of them concerning Apollo 13- in April 1970]. It was decided that, in the flashback sequences, one segment would feature Barton MacLane. That was Sidney Sheldon's subtle way of remembering him, because no formal tributes (or acknowledgment of his death) was ever given on the show, and "General Peterson" quietly disappeared from the storyline after MacLane's death {like Bea Benaderet on "PETTICOAT JUNCTION", who passed away in October 1968, "Kate Bradley" simply vanished from Hooterville, never to be referred to or seen again}.

ansara1 · 01-06-2011, 10:54 AM

Thanks 'TV Knowledge Fan,'

That is sort of what I figured. In regards to "Petticoat Junction" I seem to recall an episode when one of the daughters had a baby or something and you see "Kate" in the episode from the back of her head only and hear the voice of someone imitating her. Was this not a "reference" to Bea Benaderet after she was off the show due to her death? I don't know the "ins and outs" of the trivia regarding that series like "Jeannie" but I am sure I saw an episode as I just described...

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...knew that "Hurricane Jeannie" was going to be the final episode [even though it was shown, with two previous episodes, in reverse order because NBC preempted "My Master, the Chili King" and "One Jeannie Beats Four Of A Kind" due to last-minute "special reports"- one of them concerning Apollo 13- in April 1970]. It was decided that, in the flashback sequences, one segment would feature Barton MacLane. That was Sidney Sheldon's subtle way of remembering him, because no formal tributes (or acknowledgment of his death) was ever given on the show, and "General Peterson" quietly disappeared from the storyline after MacLane's death {like Bea Benaderet on "PETTICOAT JUNCTION", who passed away in October 1968, "Kate Bradley" simply vanished from Hooterville, never to be referred to or seen again}.

TV Knowledge Fan · 01-08-2011, 04:18 AM

...only it wasn't an "imitation" of Bea's voice. By the fall of '68, Benaderet had become so ill from her cancer treatments, she was no longer able to physically appear on "PETTICOAT JUNCTION". However, in the episode "The Valley Has A Baby", where Betty Jo gives birth to Kate's granddaughter [October 26, 1968], Bea wanted to be in on it. She was able to record her dialogue, with her stand-in literally taking her place on screen during the episode [either in long shots, or with her back to the camera]. Sadly, two weeks before it aired, Bea passed away. This is why it was decided that, after that episode, "Kate Bradley" would never be seen again, or referred to on the show.

ansara1 · 01-14-2011, 08:52 PM

Thanks

That is sad

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...only it wasn't an "imitation" of Bea's voice. By the fall of '68, Benaderet had become so ill from her cancer treatments, she was no longer able to physically appear on "PETTICOAT JUNCTION". However, in the episode "The Valley Has A Baby", where Betty Jo gives birth to Kate's granddaughter [October 26, 1968], Bea wanted to be in on it. She was able to record her dialogue, with her stand-in literally taking her place on screen during the episode [either in long shots, or with her back to the camera]. Sadly, two weeks before it aired, Bea passed away. This is why it was decided that, after that episode, "Kate Bradley" would never be seen again, or referred to on the show.

CAJeannieFan57 · 01-15-2011, 04:42 PM

In the military, it's very common for the CO, XO, or whatever "General Peterson" or "General Schaeffer"s title was supposed to be, to change every few years. It's not surprising that nothing was said after we lost Gen. Peterson, and we got Gen. Schaeffer. As someone else commented, we would have gotten another general in the 70-71 season, had the show survived.

TV Knowledge Fan · 01-16-2011, 07:39 PM

...that Vinton Hayworth ("General Schaeffer") also passed away at the time the last first-run episode aired, in May 1970. Had the series been renewed for a sixth season, yes, a "new" commanding officer would have appeared on a regular basis [John Dehner, perhaps?].

CAJeannieFan57 · 01-17-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...that Vinton Hayworth ("General Schaeffer") also passed away at the time the last first-run episode aired, in May 1970. Had the series been renewed for a sixth season, yes, a "new" commanding officer would have appeared on a regular basis [John Dehner, perhaps?].

I'm sorry - I was going to type that, got interrupted and hit Post by accident, later. You are exactly right!

ansara1 · 01-19-2011, 02:38 PM

What I was referring to when I asked 'TV Knowledge Fan' if anything was mentioned was in reference to the actor, Barton Maclane. I wanted to know if he was acknowledged at the end credits of the last episode he appeared in or something to that affect - not if the character, Gen. Peterson, was commented on during an episode. Just FYI

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAJeannieFan57

In the military, it's very common for the CO, XO, or whatever "General Peterson" or "General Schaeffer"s title was supposed to be, to change every few years. It's not surprising that nothing was said after we lost Gen. Peterson, and we got Gen. Schaeffer. As someone else commented, we would have gotten another general in the 70-71 season, had the show survived.

TV Knowledge Fan · 01-20-2011, 02:47 AM

...Barton MacLane received no "farewell" screen credit during the final episode (as venerable Canadian voice-over actor Len Carlson did in the final second season episode of "ATOMIC BETTY" in 2006; he died of a heart attack before production ended that season).

jehobden · 01-28-2011, 10:05 PM

It's sad that Barton McLane had to film his last IDoJ eps in such poor health. I thought that he made a couple of his best appearances in S4. I loved seeing him go nuts as a cavalry leader for Custer in "Jeannie and the Wild Pipchicks" and having his uniform torn apart by Jeannie's dog in "Djinn-Djinn, Go Home". It was fun in both these eps seeing Gen. Peterson participate in the crazy goings-on rather than having to see everything put back to normal by the time he appears in a scene.

Vinton Hayworth also passed away before IDoJ aired his last 2 episodes. From what I've read, he died on 5/14/70, just 5 days before NBC finally aired his appearance in S5's "One Jeannie Beats Four of a Kind". He ends up sitting unexpectedly on Tony's floor at the end of this one, as Jeannie has just blinked away the "Magic Chair" that always gave the person sitting there the winning poker hand.

01-02-2011, 12:22 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	On This Date in 1969: Barton Maclane (General Peterson) From I Dream Of Jeannie Dies
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

01-02-2011, 02:18 AM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Barton MacLane... ...was a very sick man when he returned to film his final episodes in the fall of 1968 (for some inexplicable reason, he "sat out" most of the 1967-'68 season)- he was literally dying of cancer. You could tell in his final appearances that his health was going downhill, that he was getting thinner...yet he insisted on filming as many episodes as he could. His last, "Jeannie and the Case of the Porcelain Puppy", was filmed just three weeks before his death on New Year's Day, 1969 {it aired three months later}.

01-06-2011, 03:55 AM	#6
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Everyone involved with the series.... ...knew that "Hurricane Jeannie" was going to be the final episode [even though it was shown, with two previous episodes, in reverse order because NBC preempted "My Master, the Chili King" and "One Jeannie Beats Four Of A Kind" due to last-minute "special reports"- one of them concerning Apollo 13- in April 1970]. It was decided that, in the flashback sequences, one segment would feature Barton MacLane. That was Sidney Sheldon's subtle way of remembering him, because no formal tributes (or acknowledgment of his death) was ever given on the show, and "General Peterson" quietly disappeared from the storyline after MacLane's death {like Bea Benaderet on "PETTICOAT JUNCTION", who passed away in October 1968, "Kate Bradley" simply vanished from Hooterville, never to be referred to or seen again}.

01-08-2011, 04:18 AM	#8
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	I know the episode you're referring to, 'ansara'... ...only it wasn't an "imitation" of Bea's voice. By the fall of '68, Benaderet had become so ill from her cancer treatments, she was no longer able to physically appear on "PETTICOAT JUNCTION". However, in the episode "The Valley Has A Baby", where Betty Jo gives birth to Kate's granddaughter [October 26, 1968], Bea wanted to be in on it. She was able to record her dialogue, with her stand-in literally taking her place on screen during the episode [either in long shots, or with her back to the camera]. Sadly, two weeks before it aired, Bea passed away. This is why it was decided that, after that episode, "Kate Bradley" would never be seen again, or referred to on the show.

01-15-2011, 04:42 PM	#10
CAJeannieFan57 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 01, 2005 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 871	In the military, it's very common for the CO, XO, or whatever "General Peterson" or "General Schaeffer"s title was supposed to be, to change every few years. It's not surprising that nothing was said after we lost Gen. Peterson, and we got Gen. Schaeffer. As someone else commented, we would have gotten another general in the 70-71 season, had the show survived.
	__________________ Donna

01-02-2011, 10:57 PM	#3
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,106	Barton MacLane is also known for the role of police detective Steve McBride in the Torchy Blane movie series of the 1930's. Glenda Farrell played the role of Torchy Blane, snoopy newspaper reporter. MacLane as Steve McBride was love interest for Torchy Blane, and the two of them solved crimes together. Torchy was always one step ahead of McBride and solved the case/crime before he could. Also on hand for comic relief was Tom Kennedy as dim-witted cop Gahagan, who always seemed to come up with a rhyme. The team of Farrell and MacLane starred in 7 of the 9 Torchy Blane films. One Torchy Blane movie starred Lola Lane and Paul Kelly, another one starred Jane Wyman and Allen Jenkins. Warner Video has released the complete Torchy Blane series on DVD.

01-04-2011, 01:54 AM	#4
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Yes, Barton MacLane was under contract to Warner Bros. in the '30s and early '40s, often appearing as a "hard-boiled" police detective (most notably in 1941's "The Maltese Falcon"). He later became a veteran character actor, usually in Westerns, and occaionally appearing in military uniform [a predecessor to "General Peterson" was the one he briefly portrayed in "The Glenn Miller Story" (1954)- "General Hap Arnold"- who heartily approves of Glenn's "swing" version of "St. Louis Blues March" as Miller's commanding officer is about to discipline him for attempting such a thing]. MacLane became a supporting cast member of "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" almost by accident. He was supposed to make a one-time guest appearance, as several other actors had done earlier in the first season, as a "guest general" in "Too Many Tonys" [12/25/65]. But he was so good in the role, creator/producer Sidney Sheldon decided to feature him again in "The Richest Astronaut in the Whole Wide World" [1/15/66] (the general in the first draft script was supposed to have been "General Hadley", who appeared in "What House Across the Street?" a few weeks before, but because Sidney wrote the teleplay, he decided "General Peterson" would make another appearance instead). And the chemistry between MacLane and Hayden Rorke in both episodes was such that Sidney decided that "General Peterson" would become a regular character, beginning with "My Master, the Doctor" [2/5/66]{although Roger mentions him as coming to his "going away party" at the end of "Never Try To Outsmart A Jeannie" the week before}.

01-16-2011, 07:39 PM	#11
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	You forgot to point out, 'CA'... ...that Vinton Hayworth ("General Schaeffer") also passed away at the time the last first-run episode aired, in May 1970. Had the series been renewed for a sixth season, yes, a "new" commanding officer would have appeared on a regular basis [John Dehner, perhaps?].

01-20-2011, 02:47 AM	#14
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Sorry, 'ansara'... ...Barton MacLane received no "farewell" screen credit during the final episode (as venerable Canadian voice-over actor Len Carlson did in the final second season episode of "ATOMIC BETTY" in 2006; he died of a heart attack before production ended that season).

01-28-2011, 10:05 PM	#15
jehobden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: DFW Area, TX Posts: 2,004	It's sad that Barton McLane had to film his last IDoJ eps in such poor health. I thought that he made a couple of his best appearances in S4. I loved seeing him go nuts as a cavalry leader for Custer in "Jeannie and the Wild Pipchicks" and having his uniform torn apart by Jeannie's dog in "Djinn-Djinn, Go Home". It was fun in both these eps seeing Gen. Peterson participate in the crazy goings-on rather than having to see everything put back to normal by the time he appears in a scene. Vinton Hayworth also passed away before IDoJ aired his last 2 episodes. From what I've read, he died on 5/14/70, just 5 days before NBC finally aired his appearance in S5's "One Jeannie Beats Four of a Kind". He ends up sitting unexpectedly on Tony's floor at the end of this one, as Jeannie has just blinked away the "Magic Chair" that always gave the person sitting there the winning poker hand.