Gentle Ben

GENTLE BEN
Made by: CBS
Shown on: BBC 1
Years shown: 1967-9, but a stalwart of the BBC in the mid-80s

Made in the late sixties, this squeaky-clean family show, which used to follow Children’s BBC in the mid eighties, featured the Wedloe family and their pet Grizzly Bear, Ben. Ben was domesticated of course, and had no doubt been rescued from bear-baiters, or travellers who made him dance for his supper, and was the best friend and dog-substitute for the family’s young son, Mark, played by Clint ‘brother of Ron’ Howard. That was about it really, the most memorable thing being the toothy son’s plaintive cries of “Be-an! Be-an!” whenever the critter was in peril. Clint Howard grew up and lost his cute-factor, but still crops up in his big brother’s films. No news of what happened to Ben though; he was probably sold into slavery in Eastern Europe.

SQUARE EYES RATING: 4/10

(Thanks to www.pigdump.com for the borrowed pic)