Here Come the Brides
Here Come the Brides is an American comedy Western series from Screen Gems that aired on the ABC television network from September 25, 1968 to April 3, 1970. The series was loosely based upon the Mercer Girls, Asa Mercer's efforts to bring civilization to old Seattle by importing marriageable women from the east coast of the United States in the 1860s, where the ravages of the American Civil War left towns short of men.
Overview
Here Come the Brides is an American comedy Western series from Screen Gems that aired on the ABC television network from September 25, 1968 to April 3, 1970. The series was loosely based upon the Mercer Girls, Asa Mercer's efforts to bring civilization to old Seattle by importing marriageable women from the east coast of the United States in the 1860s, where the ravages of the American Civil War left towns short of men.
Episodes
1. The Pilot
The Bolt brothers (Jason, Joshua and Jeremy) bet their mountain that they can bring one hundred marriageable women back to Seattle and that those women will remain in Seattle for a year. In exchange, Aaron Stempel funds their expenses. The Bolt brothers arrive in New Bedford, Massachusetts--a town that has a shortage of men thanks to the Civil War (and probably the whaling industry). After a persuasive speech by Jason, the women enlist for the trip. Jason Bolt finds an old mule boat --er, ship-- and arranges passage on it for the women, his brothers and himself with Captain Roland Francis Clancey. They arrive back in Seattle and have a roaring celebration.
2. A Crying Need
With the pressure of a large logging contract with a late penalty, the Bolt brothers would be busy enough, but the brides, led by Candy Pruitt, have put together a petition. The town must get a doctor or they will leave. Jason heads to San Francisco in search of a doctor. The only one he can find has excellent credentials, but is a woman, which in the mid-1800s was very rare. He extends her the offer out of desperation and they sail back to Seattle. In the meantime, Joshua and Jeremy have been running the logging camp. Jeremy dynamites a log jam and is severely injured. Dr. Wright returns in time to save his life. To thank her, Jason throws her a welcome party, but attendance is mixed: the loggers go only because Jason insisted that they go, but only two of the brides show up. Jason delivers an impassioned speech to the brides about their prejudice. Dr. Wright realizes that even in unconventional Seattle, there is still a lot of uneasiness about a woman doctor and decides to leav
3. And Jason Makes Five
Holly Houston rides into town with three small children and a plan to find herself a husband, so the judge won't take the kids from her. Her target? Jason Bolt. She manages to convince most of the town that Jason IS the father of the three children and that he'd promised to marry her. She then leaves the children with the brides and disappears from town. With the town mostly taking Holly's side, Jason tracks her down and tells her that he will teach her how to be a lady so that the judge will not take the children from her. She accepts his offer, hoping that he will marry her once she's more ladylike. At the custody hearing, everyone finds out that Jason is not the father and that Holly is not the mother. (She's the aunt.) The children will be sent to Ohio to live with their grandparents and Holly decides to accompany them there. In the final scene, Jason receives a note from Holly telling him how things went and asking him to introduce her to the eligible Mr. Aaron Stempel when
Cast & Crew
Robert Brown
Jason Bolt
Bobby Sherman
Jeremy Bolt
David Soul
Joshua Bolt
Mark Lenard
Aaron Stempel
Bridget Hanley
Candace Pruitt
Joan Blondell
Lottie Hatfield
