| Genre: | Comedy |
| Developer: | Cy Howard |
| Director: | Claudio Guzmán, Desi Arnaz |
| Starring: | Joanne Dru Mark Miller J. Carrol Naish Flip Mark |
| Theme Music Composer: | Arthur Hamilton |
| Endtheme: | "Guestward Ho!" |
| Composer: | Earle Hagen |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 1 |
| Num Episodes: | 38 |
| Executive Producer: | Cy Howard |
| Producer: | David Heilweil Elliott Lewis |
| Runtime: | 30 minutes |
| Company: | Desilu Productions |
| Channel: | ABC |
Guestward, Ho! is an American sitcom that aired on the ABC network from September 29, 1960, through September 21, 1961. It was based on the book of the same title by New Mexico dude ranch operator Barbara Hooton and Patrick Dennis.[1]
The premise revolves around a New York City family, the Hootens, who tire of the urban lifestyle and relocate to operate a dude ranch in New Mexico. Having bought the place unseen, they find it needs considerably more work than they were led to believe. The Hootens befriend the Native American "Hawkeye" whose "trading post" was the only source of supplies in the vicinity. Hawkeye, played by J. Carrol Naish, was a rather cynical native who sold indigenous-looking trinkets mass-produced in Asia, and who frequently read The Wall Street Journal, seemingly in search of a way to purchase the country and return it to its "rightful owners". Jeanette Nolan guest starred as Mrs. Winslow in the 1961 episode "Hawkeye's First Love".
Earle Hodgins appeared in at least three episodes as the 67-year-old ranch wrangler named "Lonesome". In the episode "Lonesome's Gal", ZaSu Pitts, formerly of The Gale Storm Show, played his romantic interest. Jody McCrea, whose Wichita Town, an NBC western series in which he starred with his father, Joel McCrea, ended in 1960, was cast as an Indian, "Danny Brave Eagle", in the 1961 episode entitled "The Wrestler".
The second episode was entitled "You Can't Go Home Again", borrowing from Thomas Wolfe's novel, You Can't Go Home Again. The series finale was "No Place Like Home".
| Character | Actor | |
|---|---|---|
| Babs Hooten | Joanne Dru | |
| Hawkeye | J. Carrol Naish | |
| Bill Hooten | Mark Miller | |
| Brook Hooten | Flip Mark | |
| Lonesome | Earle Hodgins | |
| Pink Cloud | Jolene Brand | |
| Rocky | Tony Montenaro Jr. |
The trade publication Billboard reported in December 1957 that CBS was negotiating with Jeanne Crain to be the lead in an adaptation of Guestward, Ho![2] A February 1958 Billboard article still had Crain set for the lead in the program being developed for the 1958-1959 season.[3] Guestward, Ho! initially began at CBS in 1958, with Vivian Vance and Leif Erickson as the Hootens, an older childless couple. Desilu had developed the pilot specifically for Vance, who had portrayed Ethel Mertz on the hit CBS/Desilu sitcom I Love Lucy from 1951 to 1957, and its later followup specials. Vance had rejected doing an I Love Lucy spin-off focusing on Ethel and Fred Mertz, in favor of doing the Guestward, Ho! pilot. Upon viewing the pilot, CBS executives felt that Vance had become so typecast in her Ethel Mertz role that she was unconvincing playing a leading character in her own situation comedy. One executive allegedly said "I kept waiting for Lucy to come in" after viewing the pilot. Hence, CBS rejected the series.
Desilu eventually retooled the pilot, with Joanne Dru and Mark Miller as the Hootens, now a younger couple (with Babs being a former model). Flip Mark was cast as their son, Brook Hooten, a character created in the retooling. ABC bought this pilot, and slated it for its Thursday evening schedule with The Donna Reed Show. Ralston-Purina served as the primary sponsor, with 7 Up as an alternate sponsor.
Guestward, Ho! was broadcast on Thursdays from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.[4] Ralston Purina and 7 Up were the sponsors.[5] David Heilweil was the producer.[6]
It ran opposite Outlaws on NBC, and later in the season, against fellow Desilu program The Ann Sothern Show on CBS. ABC ultimately canceled the series following one season, replaced with The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in its timeslot.
A review of the premiere episode in The New York Times called it "an example of Hollywood formula film TV at its best and brightest."[7] The review said that Dru, Miller, and Mark portrayed their characters "airily", and it concluded with "By dint of its high polish it achieved an entertainment level well above that reahced by most of its rivals."[7]