MASH page 5 by ric gustafson
On Sept 17 1972, MASH debuted opposite ' The Wonderful World of Disney'. It was Korea 1950. In the first 60 seconds, we were introduced to all the characters. Then at one point, Radar O'Reilly stops the leisure activities and tells everyone before anyone else does that choppers were coming. Then as the chopper comes in, a theme song by Johnny Mandel plays.
The outside MASH set was sparse and primitive. Today the remains of that set is in Malibu Creek State Park. The Park is a remote area in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. It was so remote water had to be trucked in and electricity supplied by generators. Because of the difficult conditions of the set, the cast bonded together.
Gelbart and Reynolds fought CBS about using a laugh track. A compromise was made and the laugh track was never used in the operating room.
An audience did not latch unto the show the first season. It was 46 in the ratings. The ratings picked up in the second and third seasons.
By the end of the third season, trouble was brewing.
research help: ' MASH' by Dotdash Publishing
Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric
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