Don McKeon emailed me with the following:
"There is an episode of Green Acres entitled 'What Happened in Scranton?' which aired in the 1965-66 season of the hit comedy. Whatever happened (we never find out) involved Oliver's mother."
Green Acres is the classic 60s sitcom (also a spinoff of Petticoat Junction) that starred Eddie Albert as Oliver Douglas, a New York attorney who decides to become a farmer in the bizarre town of Hooterville, much to the dismay of his metropolitan wife Lisa (the late, great Eva Gabor).
On December 22, 1965, during its premiere season on CBS, an episode of Green Acres titled "What Happened in Scranton?" aired for the first time. In the episode, Lisa discovers to her horror that Hooterville has no beauty parlor, so she takes it upon herself to set up one of her own. Not surprisingly, Lisa is a success beautifying the wives of the local farmers. But her business proves to have an negative effect on the community when the wives refuse to do any of their customary chores, for fear of ruining their glamorous new hair-dos.
I've never seen the "What Happened in Scranton?" episode of Green Acres, so I have no idea if Scranton is mentioned anywhere in the episode aside from the title. If anyone has seen it and could give me more information, please email me at refdept@albright.org
Green Acres: The Complete First Season (featuring the episode "What Happened in Scranton?") is available on DVD through the Lackawanna County Library System; click here to place a hold.
Much thanks again to Don McKeon for this reference.
UPDATE 11-16-06
Mr. Brent C. Dickerson from California State University, Long Beach, sent me the following email:
"I can help you sort out a mystery . . . somewhat . . .
I just happened to see the “What Happened in Scranton” episode of “Green Acres” the other night. The episode involves Mrs. Douglas trying to start a Beauty Parlor in Hooterville. She asks her New York mother-in-law (also “Mrs. Douglas,” of course) for help in obtaining a hairdresser; mother-in-law happens to know a hairdresser who can be (in essence) blackmailed into doing things by mentioning to him the word “Scranton,” which presumably reminds him of some dark deed which he does not want brought up (the significance of Scranton is never further explained).
I just happened to see the “What Happened in Scranton” episode of “Green Acres” the other night. The episode involves Mrs. Douglas trying to start a Beauty Parlor in Hooterville. She asks her New York mother-in-law (also “Mrs. Douglas,” of course) for help in obtaining a hairdresser; mother-in-law happens to know a hairdresser who can be (in essence) blackmailed into doing things by mentioning to him the word “Scranton,” which presumably reminds him of some dark deed which he does not want brought up (the significance of Scranton is never further explained).
Much thanks to Brent C. Dickerson for this update. And, if you get a chance, check out his two excellent websites:
Web Site: www.csulb.edu/~odinthor
Unknown Los Angeles: www.csulb.edu/~odinthor/socal1.html
