I agree with Jimmy, this is a very clever episode, and one all us kids talked about in school back in the day. Bottom line, it's outrageous, and still is after all these years!
Mike has had it with six kids talking day and night on the phone. The bill is astronomical. So what to do? Amazingly... he has the phone company install a pay phone in the den, actually inspired by Sam the butcher who had the same problem with customers using his personal phone. This episode also marked the debut of Sam (Allan Melvin), Alice's funny boy friend.
Yes! The episode does show its age, but a wonderful case to be made for the introduction of cell phones and unlimited plans, ya think? Nothing like that existed in 1969, and in fact, phone bills were about as expensive as electric bills.
A super story, though with a dash of poetic license. It probably would have cost Mike a pretty penny to have a pay phone installed, and the phone company would have to routinely stop by the house to remove all the coins.
Popular character actor Howard Culver plays Mr. Crawford, best known for many appearances on GUNSMOKE and DRAGNET 67.
Mike talking to Mr. Crawford on the pay phone is a hoot! Well written by Ruth Brooks Flippen, who also did many stories for THAT GIRL. Directed by George Cahan, well known for GILLIGANS ISLAND and THE CISCO KID. George was nicknamed George M. Cahan after the famous composer George M. Cohan.
Good trivia question.
Best of SEASON 1 EPISODE 9 remastered color Paramount dvd box set. 4 dvds. Released 2015.
