I never once allowed a woman on board my ship but if I had known you a hundred years ago I would have carried you off to sea and shown you how beautiful the world can be. I have met my match in you. Lord knows I waited for you and hunted for you. How was I to know you hadn't even been born yet?........How sad that you were not born in my time nor I in yours.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir aired on NBC from 1968-to 1969 and was picked up by ABC for another year ending its run in the fall of 1970. Based on the book by R.A. Dick it was first made into a movie starring Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison and then made into a comedy for television. It was the first sitcom in television history to feature a widowed mother instead of a father.
Hope Lange starred as Carolyn Muir, a young widow who wanted to pursue a writing career away from the hustle and bustle of Philadephia. Wanting a quiet place to watch her children grow, work on her stories and try to get her life back on track, following the death of her husband, she moved her family to Gull Cottage, a former sea captain's home on the coast of Maine. Despite the stories that the house was haunted, she was determined to make a life there.
Edward Mulhare was Captain Daniel Gregg, who had built Gull Cottage for his later years and intended it to be a place for retired seamen after he was gone. But due to an unexpected storm and an accidental kicking of his gas heater in the on position, he left a little earlier than planned. Except the Captain wasn't going anywhere. He kept vigil in his house, year after year, watching various people come and go. The house fell under the ownership of his great-nephew Claymore Gregg brilliantly played by Charles Nelson Reilly. Claymore was a great disappointment to the Captain and Claymore was terrifed of his present ancestor. In order to save the house from back taxes, he allowed Mrs. Muir to rent it and the Captain would never be the same.
Harlen Carraher played Jonathan Muir, Carolyn's six year old son and Kellie Flanagan was Candace, his older sister. Reta Shaw was Martha the maid, butler, chauffeur, cook, babysitter, grandmother and best friend no one could live without. It wasn't until the end of the series that she knew the Captain was there, which made for some interesting situations.
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