Ed was used to basking in the spotlight, having completed a career as a show and parade horse before becoming a movie star at age eleven. Born in 1949 and registered as Bamboo Harvester, Ed traveled throughout the United States, winning championships in prestigious arenas like Madison Square Gardens. I first met Ed at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, still considered the largest fair in the world. Each year, the Palomino Horse Association (PHA), headed by President Jim and Edna Fagan, sponsored an exhibition barn. The Fagans owned Harvester Farms, now honored as Los Angeles County Arts Commission Historic Cultural Landmark #645. Their foundation sire, The Harvester, was Bamboo Harvester’s grand sire. The Harvester and his get were prime exhibits in the PHA barn. People wandered through the barn, admiring each Palomino in turn, and many would gather in front of Bamboo Harvester’s stall, which was lined with trophies and ribbons. Like his grandsire, Bamboo Harvester was entered in the famed Pasadena Rose Parade many times. Acceptance into the parade is by invitation only, which makes the honor all the more prized.
Needless to say, the horse barns at the county fair, especially the palomino barn, was a favorite haunt of mine. The Fagans were gracious hosts and seemed to enjoy my enthusiasm for their beautiful horses. Harvester Farms in Chatsworth was not far from my home in North Hollywood, and the Fagans were kind enough to invite me for a visit. Their basilica styled barn was filled with golden champions and future champions. We spent quite a bit of time watching the trainer work his charges and an equal amount of time pouring over photo albums in their trophy filled den. After I moved to Sylmar in 1963, I purchased a palomino quarter horse yearling. The Fagans were helpful in obtaining his registration in the PHA and providing me with show and meeting schedules for the association.
Bamboo Harvester was purchased from the Fagans by Mr and Mrs. Carl Wood, who also exhibited him. In 1960, Carl sold Ed to Les Hilton for the sum of $1500 over his wife’s objections. Ed, who was still a stallion, was immediately gelded. As soon as he recovered, Les began training him for the series pilot due to start filming in five weeks.
Pumpkin, younger by eight years, was content to play second fiddle. As a three-year-old, his babyish interests were different than the well seasoned Ed. Pumpkin lacked the worldly demeanor Ed found so natural. He preferred to romp free in the arena behind the barn. During the training sessions, Pumpkin was as likely to play as he was to work. Not yet understanding the importance of exact timing, Pumpkin tired to shorten the training sessions by anticipating Les’ next commands. This was fortunate for me. Les asked me to be Pumpkin’s assistant trainer. By working for two people, it would make it harder for him to anticipate the routines. A young teen, I was thrilled to be handed this honor by a trainer of Les’ caliber. To say I was diligent would be an understatement. I was as overzealous as Pumpkin, wanting to please Les in any way possible. Our combined enthusiasm must have been a source of amusement to Les.
