Just acquired the Green Acres collection (April 2019 as I write) and felt compelled to add my 2 cents worth. I won't repeat synopses - that's been covered well and truly on this page. I'd like to share some personal insights instead.
I'm 62, born and raised in Australia. I was born the year TV started here; 1956 and every series I watched and liked was American. I felt like an American as a result. The show that I loved the most was this one. For two reasons.
1. My aunt and uncle owned a farm in remote NSW called ' Greenbank' and my school holidays were spent plowing fields and tending the farm. A delight for a city kid. To get there, my folks would put me on an express train and I'd need to switch to a two carriage steam train to get from the main line to their tiny town; two stops away. Like riding the Cannonball Express from Pixley. My cousin, 6'6" could eat like a thrashing machine and was strong and lean. Like Eb.
The neighbours were warm and quirky. My God, this was Hooterville.
2. The characters were unforgettable. No one did or does TV like the Yanks did in the 50's & 60's. Alvy Moore had me in stitches just looking at him. Still does. I just loved how everyone in town was in on it; except for Oliver.
Harmless fun. Gosh, why did it have to end?
Thank you to the writers, producers and actors for this enduring joy.
Review of Green Acres
