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Harrison B. Harding of Camp Crowder, Mo.
The Petries are surprised when Harrison B. Harding (Allan Melvin), who says he’s an old friend of Rob’s, drops in for a visit. No one is more surprised than Rob, who has no recollection of Harding whatsoever. A subsequent series of curious events, capped by the disappearance of Rob’s watch, convinces our hero that Mr. Harrison B. Harding is actually a con artist and a thief! This episode was originally telecast as a special on Monday evening, November 6, 1962, right after a Danny Kaye special, as a ploy to boost the ratings of The Dick Van Dyke Show, which was then languishing in a little-watched Tuesday night time slot. (Trivia note: According to TV Guide, the episode originally scheduled to air on November 6 was “To Tell or Not to Tell,” which wasn’t seen until November 14.), Rob just can’t recall the stranger who claims to be an old Army buddy. Harrison: Allan Melvin. Rob: Dick Van Dyke. Laura: Mary Tyler Moore. Sally: Rose Marie. Buddy: Morey Amsterdam. Ritchie: Larry Mathews. Evelyn: June Dayton., Rob just can’t recall the stranger who claims to be an old Army buddy.
