Here Come the Brides

I Loved the Series. It was a clean wholesome show. No vulgar language like in the movies today. I was just a kid and can still remember running to the tv to turn it on each week. I only wish that the series would come back to television as re-runs. So many other shows are re-run over and over, year after year, and yet I haven't seen "Here Come The Brides" re-run ever. Is there a reason for this?

Charming simplistic 60's western series whose purpose is to just entertain. There is usually some small lesson included but it's told in an easy going manner. Many well known actors who were just starting out pop up throughout the episodes. The main cast are all fine, some like David Soul who went on to other things, others like Bobby Sherman, who is very appealing, had a few big years and then left the business but they all work well together. Best of all is the great Joan Blondell full of sass as Lottie the saloon keeper and surrogate mother to the whole town. A nice reminder of when a series didn't have to have deep meaning and grit or be about people who had to be idiotic and mocked by the one of the leads. The excellent theme and credits are an added plus, really suited to the program from a time when shows tried to have a memorable opening so you knew right from the beginning you were watching something distinctive from everything else on TV.

"Here Come the Brides" sounded like one of the worst bits of schlock to hit the tube when it was being advertised for TV's fall line-up in the 1968-69 season. At the enlightened age of 12, I was far too sophisticated for such drivel. Imagine my surprise when, being forced to watch the show by a controlling older sister, I actually LIKED it. It fast became my favorite program at that time -- I was enormously moved by its heart and its humanity. By today's standards it probably seems pretty tame and trite stuff, but back then, it was different and courageous and had a voice that spoke to me. My favorite episode was titled, I think, "The Rainmaker". Jack Albertson guest starred as The Rainmaker, the shyster who is nevertheless magical enough to cure Jeremy's (Bobby Sherman) stuttering by presenting him with a magic stone. When The Rainmaker is revealed as a fraud, Jeremy's faith is shattered, and his stuttering returns tenfold. That's when Big Brother Jason Bolt lovingly explains to Jeremy that neither The Rainmaker nor the Magic Stone cured Jeremy's stuttering -- Jeremy had done it on his own. Jeremy, convinced, launches into a passionate, and flawless, speech, defending The Rainmaker to the rest of Seattle. Corny? Yup. But I'll tell you what -- that episode of "Brides" helped this 12 year old to believe in himself. Those characters in "Brides", especially the Bolt Brothers, still live within me, and I'm grateful for it.

This program started out with a very strong cast and good story lines the first season & then in season 2 went off into limbo. It was a show I enjoyed the first season, then lost interest in it when the cast shifted. I am not sure if it was contracts or what that made that happen.

Robert Brown, David Soul & Bobby Sherman were up and coming actors when this show started. As the Bolt brothers, they were a very good team. They board Captain Clancys ship & go to Boston to get 100 brides for the men in Seattle as they have no women. When they get the women back to Seattle, all kinds of little things happen. That includes the evil Stemple trying to throw the Bolt brothers out of business & create a monopoly on the lumber industry & the women.

While some of this sounds rough, the women are all New England Puritan types headed by Matron Joan Blondell. Joan is considered the star because by this time she was a grand dame of the screen. Candy Pruitt is consider the hot young virgin with eyes for Jeremy Bolt, and Bitty is the daft comedy relief woman who even has trouble trying to score desperate Seattle men with her own craziness.

The catchy theme song & wild Northwest country themes are what caught me into this program while it ran. Candy was good eye candy though a prude compared to the genie I had eyes for. The show had good plot lines early on. Sadly, Season 2 went away from season 1 & the show went off. Would imagine unless there are legal issues the DVD of these should arrive sometime. The series was slickly produced and veteran Wild Wild West director Irving J Moore was behind the camera.

It is hard to believe Robert Brown is 90 years old this year(2016) and most of the younger women in this cast are in their 70's if they are still with us.

I used to watch Here Come The Brides when I was in JHS and HS. I just saw it again on Antenna TV and had forgotten how good it was. I had a huge crush on Bobby Sherman, although I liked Robert Brown and David Soul too. My friend Candy was so excited that a character had the same name as she did, especially since it was Bridget Hanley, who was absolutely gorgeous.

I hope it keeps being shown on Antenna TV because it is a well written, well acted show, with lots of heart. A few people have said only season one is available. Hopefully, by now, season two is also, because I have to get it. Until then, I will watch it on Antenna TV.