The Second Hundred Years

Jim 1950s - 1960s

Aired: 1966-67


DAD #1: Luke Carpenter (Monte Markham) / Widower

DAD’S JOB: 19th Century Gold Miner

KIDS OF DAD #1: Edwin (Arthur O’Connell) (81!)

DAD #2: Edwin Carpenter (Arthur O’Connell) / Widower

DAD #2’S JOB: Unknown – e-mail me if you know.

KIDS OF DAD #2: Ken (also Monte Markham)

WHERE’S MOM?: Both Moms are dead.

STAND-IN “MOM”: Colonel Garroway

Luke Carpenter was a gold prospector in Alaska in the 1890’s. He was caught in an avalanche in 1900 and fast-frozen. All of a sudden, his body is found in the mid-1960’s and revived. Luke goes to live with his son, who’s now 67 years old. Even though Luke is over one hundred years old, he still looks like he’s thirtysomething. The storylines revolved around Luke trying to get used to this century (not shooting back at the bad guys on TV westerns, for example), and his relationships with his son and grandson (the grandson being played by the same actor, Monte Markham).

I remember liking this show as a kid, except I remember it had a non-stop laughtrack that sometimes got in the way of the story. Wish it would get on reruns, but unfortunately it wasn’t on long enough to create an opus fit for syndication.