The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Petition (1952–1966) Online

"The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet," the longest-running live-action Sitcom in U.S. television history endures for fourteen seasons (1952-66) with 435 episodes.

This time around, Dave (David Nelson) is left in charge of the law office, with Miss Edwards (Constance Harper) as secretary and Rick (Ricky Nelson) as junior clerk.

Senior partner, Mr. Kelley (Joe Flynn), in a recurring role with nine episodes over four seasons does not appear, as Joe Flynn's run as Mr. Kelley has ended by this time, as his character enjoys an extensive vacation, now leaving Dave to hold down the fort.

Early on, in the absence of his secretary, Dave hires Miss Edwards (Constance Harper, a real life Sister-in-law of Ozzie Nelson), who remains with this series for 51 episodes.

One day, Mrs. Harrison (Barbara Eiler) comes to town, to stay at the residence of a Nelson neighbor, who vacations in a distant venue, while Mrs. Harrison seeks to conduct a transaction with Kelley's law firm, intending to transfer thousands of dollars from her account to a nephew in Mexico City.

While Dave meets with her in Mr. Kelley's inner office, Rick begins to suspect that the youthful Mrs. Harrison may be an impostor, scheming to embezzle from his perception of a matronly Mrs. Harrison, and finally convinces Miss Edwards of the notion, as Dave soon begins to have his doubts but is unable to reach Mr. Kelley for confirmation.

So, the brothers, naturally, carry their suspicions to the residence of their parents, Ozzie (Ozzie Nelson) and Harriet (Harriet Hilliard Nelson), who remain unfamiliar with this visiting client although they are acquainted with the neighbor, who vacations out of town.

If they could somehow compare this "Mrs. Harrison's" signature with a file card, they decide, then this may prove one way or the other about her authenticity.

During the course of the discussion, familiar neighbor Clara Randolph (Mary Jane Croft) calls, inviting her buddy Harriet to dinner at a restaurant although Harriet supposes that Ozzie would prefer to stay in for the evening, causing Clara to answer that she was hoping that Ozzie could convince her husband, Joe Randolph, to join him in treating the ladies with an evening on the town. "We should have a day off once in a while," she suggests, to Harriet's agreement.

But when visitors interrupt the conversation, Harriet greets Mrs. Foster (Sally Hughes) and Girl Scout (Tracy Stratford) at the door, they collecting for a fund-raising event, which includes raffle tickets, for patrons to sign for a drawing.

Harriet, therefore, gets the idea to pose as a Girl Scout leader, to visit Mrs. Harrison under this guise to attempt to garner her signature, at which time, Mrs. Harrison initially informs Harriet that she wouldn't remain in town long enough, but decides to donate to the cause. When Harriet meets the family near the gate, she discovers her mission unfulfilled, as Mrs. Harrison has printed her signature.

Ozzie, then brainstorms to pose as a mystic to visit Mrs. Harrison, to foretell her future according to a sampling of her handwriting, but this venture, neither, reaches fruition.

The Nelsons, the next morning, send Wally (Skip Young) unto Mrs. Harrison's doorstep, under the cover of a neighborhood welcoming committee member, who presents her with an armful of gifts, which she tells him that she cannot accept because of her temporal visit, but when he manages to convince her to accept, she tells him that she cannot sign for them because her arms are full, and she would be grateful if he would fill out the card for her, which he unwittingly does.

Now, in need of a workable plan, Harriet suggests that Ozzie treat the family to a restaurant meal, revisiting Clara's notion that the wives need an occasional break from their domestic responsibilities, this giving Dave the idea to feign a "Wives' Day" petition "to circulate through the neighborhood," which they begin to fill out in the hopes of climaxing with the signature of one Mrs. Harrison.

But when Dave carries "The Petition" to Mrs. Harrison's door, she decides that it's a wonderful idea and invites him inside to explain it to her guests, which include Clara Randolph, who pleasingly discovers that she has already "signed it" before Dave learns the true identity of Mrs. Harrison.

To the chagrin of Dave, Ozzie, Jack (Jack Wagner) and others of their sort around town, "Wives' Day" catches on like wildfire, and Dave Nelson is labeled its founder, as Reporters (Ben Bennett, Reb Foster and Bob Eubanks) cover the commotion which ensues Dave to his office.

Mary Jane Croft, perhaps best known as Lucille Ball's sidekick in three of her television series, plays Nelson neighbor and friend of Harriet, Clara Randolph in 36 episodes for eight seasons.

Veteran actor Lyle Talbot plays husband Joe Randolph, friend of Ozzie, in 45 episodes during this period, but does not appear in this episode.

Jack Wagner appears in 51 episodes, primarily in his role as Jack. Skip Young plays buddy Wally in 76 episodes over a ten-season run.

David Nelson has already married, his wife at the time, June Blair, appears in 23 episodes, as June Nelson, who does not appear in this episode.

Ricky, too, has by now married Kristin Harmon, who appears in 22 episodes, as Kris, who does not appear in this episode.

This episode marks the only television acting credit for Reb Foster. Soon-to-be television game show host Bob Eubanks has a role as a reporter.