Cleo -
Basset hound (played by Bernadette the dog) seen on the situation comedy THE
PEOPLE'S CHOICE/NBC/1955-58. Cleopatra ("Cleo") was the droopy-eared
family pet who observed and commented on the weekly predicaments of her
master Socrates "Sock" Miller (Jackie Cooper), a Bureau of Fish and
Wildlife ornithologist who was elected city councilman of Barkerville, a
California housing development.
Cleo never spoke but her wise-cracking
thoughts could be heard loud and clear (voice of Mary Jane Croft). Only
the audience heard the dog's thoughts; Sock was clueless as to what was on
the dog's mind. Sock won Cleo (who was six months old at the time) in a
poker game while stationed as a Corporal in Korea.
Her is a list of episodes focusing on Cleo's life and antics:
- On episode No. 5 "Sock
vs. Crutcher" Cleo is sent to the pound - charged with snapping at someone
and Socks seeks legal council to free his floppy-eared hound dog.
- On
episode No. 13 "An Adventure of Sock" we learn via flashbacks how Sock and
Cleo first met.
- On episode No. 22 "Sock the Escort" Cleo becomes
infatuated with the pet Chihuahua of Sock's recent acquaintance.
- On
episode No. 50 "How Sock Meet Rollo" Cleo retells the story of just who
saved who while Sock and his boyhood friend, Hex Hexley served in the
Marines.
- On episode No. 65 "The Late Husband" Cleo is smitten with a
handsome French poodle owned by an actress recently moved into the trailer
court.
- On episode No. 80 "The Runaway Dog" Sock hides Cleo when he
discovers an influential home buyer named Mr. Quimby hates dogs.
- On episode 93 "Cleo, Secret Dog" soon to be grandfather Mayor
Peoples tries to get rid of Cleo when he thinks that the dog's barking
will annoy Sock and Mandy's new baby when it arrives.
TRIVIA NOTE: Originally purchased for the sum of eighty four dollars,
Cleo (Bernadette) died of a heart attack at the age of 12. Her ashes rest
in a tiny bronze urn in the home of her trainer, Frank Inn.
Cleo made appearances on
THE PERRY COMO SHOW (voice courtesy of Mary Jan Croft) and with Jackie
Cooper for the March of Dimes.
In 1958, Cleo was a winner of a PATSY
(Picture Animals Top Star of the Year) Award.
Cleo also appeared in "Little
Golden Book #287 CLEO" (Simon & Schuster, 1957) written by Irwin
Shapiro, photos by Durward B. Graybill that featured all full-color photos
from the show.
Cleo is also
the name of a purple female French Poodle on the PBS kids cartoon series
CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG.
In 1988, a Hush Puppies shoe ad entitled
"Ventilated Hush Puppies" paid homage to the Marilyn Monroe film
The Seven
Year Itch (1955) when a sad-eyed Basset hound's droopy ears flew up when
the whoosh of a subway below sent the dog's ears skyward. The 15-second
commercial spot was created by Fallon McElligott agency. The dog's name
was Jason.
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