Mister Ed is one of the few series to debut in syndication and be picked up by a major network for prime time. The show's concept resembles that of the Francis the Talking Mule movies in which an equine character talks to only one person. The title role of Mister Ed, a talking palomino, was played by gelding Bamboo Harvester and voiced by former Western film actor Allan Lane. The role of Ed's owner, a genial but somewhat klutzy architect named Wilbur Post, played by Alan Young.
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