Mister Ed - Unaired Pilot Episode - The Wonderful World Of Wilbur Pope - 1958

This was the unaired original pilot for the Mr Ed Show.
Not sure why this is called "The Wonderful World Of Wilbur Pope", and yet the headline at the start of the show says "Wilbur Pope And Mister Ed"
It stars a totally different cast to the later broadcast series - including a different horse playing Mr Ed.
And obviously a name change for Wilbur and his wife, who were the Popes, instead of the Posts.
I am glad that these actors failed to get hired for the later six series as they have somewhat of a lack of chemistry.
Makes me realise how much I love Alan Young and Connie Hines in the lead roles, and Larry Keating and Edna Skinner in the main support roles.
The horse here also failed to make the grade, as was apparently difficult to work with, and so Bamboo Harvester was cast as Mr Ed eventually.

I thought this was an interesting start to a series I would grow to love.
A shame about the quality - but that is the best I could manage.

The start - and also the mid-break ad, featuring the Studebaker car brand - was the start of a long term sponsorship by the brand, with the show, which lasted for a few years, although the brand fell out of fashion later, ceasing production in early 1966.