Here Come The Brides (ABC 1968-1970, David Soul, Robert Brown)

Seattle, circa the 1870’s, was a timberland boomtown. But even though business was good, logging camp operator Jason Bolt still had a problem—his men were getting mutinous. And not because of harsh conditions or unfair treatment either—but because there were no women! No women anywhere! If Jason wanted to hold onto his beloved land on Bridal Veil Mountain, and the logging camp thereon, he needed a plan.

So, borrowing money from rival sawmill man Aaron Stempel, Jason sailed back to New Bedford, Massachusetts, and persuaded one hundred available girls to come back to Washington with him. Guided by their “straw boss” Candy Pruitt, the girls returned with Jason aboard a ramshackle ship, the “Shamus O’Flynn.” The only catch in Stempel’s money-lending proposition was this: if any of the one hundred girls left before a year’s time, Jason had to forfeit his land to Stempel. Of course, Stempel tried his darndest to make the girls miserable in their new home.

Based on the film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, this Screen Gems show launched the careers of many of its cast members. Bobby Sherman went on to become a popular recording star. Fair-haired David Soul, who certainly got more exposure on this show than he did in his earlier television gig as the hooded “mystery singer” on The Merv Griffin Show from 1966-67, would be reincarnated as “Hutch” on Starsky and Hutch. And he married, incidentally, one of the “brides” he met on the series’ set, actress Karen Carlson. She didn’t leave within a year.

production details
USA / ABC – Columbia / 52×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 25 September 1968 – 18 September 1970

Producer: Paul Claver / Theme Vocal: Seattle by The New Establishment

cast
Robert Brown as Jason Bolt
David Soul as Joshua Bolt
Bobby Sherman as Jeremy Bolt
Joan Blondell as Lottie Hatfield
Bridget Hanley as Candy Pruitt
Mark Lenard as Aaron Stemple
Henry Beckman as Roland Clancey
Hoke Howell as Ben Perkins
Patti Cohoon as Molly Pruitt
Eric Chase as Christopher Pruitt
Susan Tolsky as Biddie Cloom
Mitzi Hoag as Essie Gillis
Bo Svenson as Corky Sam McGee
Robert Biheller as Corky Sam McGee; later
William Schallert as Rev. Mr. Gaddings
Lindsay Workman as Reverend; later
Kristina Tolland as Amanda
Mary Jo Kennedy as Peggy
Stefani Warren as Lulu
Cynthia Hull as Ann
Carole Shelyne as Franny
Myra De Groot as Maude
Loretta Laversee as Polly
Susannah Darrow as Beth
Karen Carlson as Mary Ellen
Diane Sayer as Sally
Denver Pyle as Uncle Duncan
Katherine Crawford as Julia