The Classic TV Archive - US Comedy Series
The Texas Wheelers (1974-75)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Jim Brent, John King
references:
TV Guide / Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
------------------
THE TEXAS WHEELERS
------------------
Wendell Films presentation
MTM Enterprises, Inc.
for
ABC (Fridays 9.30pm ET) (13Sep74-4Oct74)
ABC (Thursdays 8:30pm ET) (26Jun75-31Jul75)
Created by Executive Producer Dale McRaven
Produced by Chris Hayward
US Comedy series 1974-75 9 episodes x 30 min color tape
13Sep74-4Oct74; 26Jun75-31Jul75
(4 eps) (5 eps)
Starring
Jack Elam as Zack Wheeler
Gary Busey as Truckie Wheeler
Mark Hamill as Doobie Wheeler
Karen Oberdiear as Boo Wheeler
Tony Becker as T.J. Wheeler
*
Bruce Kimball as Lyle
Lisa Eilbacher as Sally
Bill Burton as Bud [Dennis Burkley as Bud in pilot]
Premise:
Comedy about the four motherless Wheeler children and their lovable
but cantankerous father Zack.
With Zack avoiding work, Truckie led the clan, with Doobie, Boo, and T.J.
Directors include: Stuart Margolin
"Illegal Smile" composed and sung by John Prine.
Director of Photography Jules Brenner
############# The Texas Wheelers #############
############# season 1 fall 1974 #############
##############################################
ABC Fridays 9.30pm ET (13Sep74-4Oct74)
1.01 [--] The Texas Wheelers: WAILIN' WHEELER IS DEAD (pilot)
Show no. 9720-R.
13-Sep-74 ABC Fri (rerun 26Jun75)
writer, Dale McRaven
director, James Frawley
Editor, Bud Molin
photography, Jules Brenner
music, Mike Post, Pete Carpenter
executive consultant, Jerry Belson.
Synopsis 1:
"This offbeat comedy features a no-account rascal (Elam) and his
fiercely independent kids. In the opener, Pa returns from an eight-
month drunk to a mixed reception from his offspring" [UCLA/JB]
Synopsis 2:
Truckie Wheeler must dissuade his younger brother from quitting high
school and then cope with the unexpected return of their lovable but
irresponsible daddy after a long absence. [JB]
1.02 [--] The Texas Wheelers: X-RATED MOVIE
MTM prod. no. 4262
20-Sept-74 ABC Fri
Doobie Wheeler discovers you can't learn the facts of life from an X-rated movie. [JB]
1.03 [--] The Texas Wheelers: ACCIDENT
MTM prod. no. 4257
27-Sep-74 ABC Fri
Cagey Zack widens the credibility gap when he offers a plethora of
dubious explanations for the family truck's bash-in rear end. [JB]
Note: postponed from 20Sep74
1.04 [--] The Texas Wheelers: THE TWISTER
MTM prod. no. 4266
4-Oct-74 ABC Fri
As a tornado approaches Lamont, Truckie takes the kids to safety
while Zack and Doobie are trapped together in the Wheeler basement. [JB]
############# The Texas Wheelers #############
############ season 2 summer 1975 ############
##############################################
ABC Thursdays 8:30pm ET (26Jun75-31Jul75)
05Jun75 - no details
12Jun75 - no details
19Jun75 - no details
[--] 26Jun75 rerun of "Wailin' Wheeler is Dead" (first aired 13Sep74)
2.01 [--] The Texas Wheelers: THE BOOKMOBILE
MTM prod. no. 4260
03Jul75 ABC Thur
Christina Hart ...... lLibrarian
The new bookmobile librarian (Christina Hart) sweeps Truckie off his
feet with her free-spirited slant on life.
Swope: Edgar Justice, Mrs. Swope: Monty Margetts.
2.02 [--] The Texas Wheelers: THE MUSIC BOX
MTM prod. no. 4267
10Jul75 ABC Thur
Just when Zack is looking for a quick way to pay his latest bills,
an antique dealer convinces him there's a fortune to be made in selling junk.
Antique Dealer: Charlotte Stewart, Klate: Clarke Gordon, Mrs. Klate: Eve McVeagh.
Synopsis 2:
Zack has an antique sale when he discovers the pile of junk in his barn is
considered valuable and inadvertently sells his daughter Boo's cherished music box. [JB]
2.03 [--] The Texas Wheelers: THE CALL
MTM prod. no. 4263
17Jul75 ABC Thur
Ol' man Zack returns to the Superstition Mountain with daughter Boo to
search for a lost gold mine.
2.04 [--] The Texas Wheelers: THE REBEL (final episode)
MTM prod. no. 4264
24Jul75 ABC
Guest Cast:
Linda Kelsey ....... Mavis
Synopsis 1:
Truckie, fed up with supporting and doing all the chores for his family goes on strike. [JB]
Synopsis 2:
While working several jobs in order to support his family, Truckie wheeler
calls it quits and goes on strike. [JB]
Note: Last show aired 24Jul75,
on 31Jul75 ABC premiered "Almost Anything Goes" 8-9pm ET
############# The Texas Wheelers #############
############## Unknown Airdates ##############
##############################################
THE TEXAS WHEELERS -(MTM) THE LIAR'S CONTEST 1974
THE TEXAS WHEELERS -(MTM) BIG NIGHT IN BLUE GUM 1974
THE TEXAS WHEELERS -(MTM) FLOWERS FOR HER GRAVE 1974
THE TEXAS WHEELERS -(MTM) THE WELL 1974
THE TEXAS WHEELERS -(MTM) THE WIDOW 1974