Writer:	Ray Brenner
Director:	James V. Kern
Star:	Meredith MacRae (Sally Ann Morrison Douglas (1963-65)),  Tina Cole (Katie Miller Douglas (1967-72)),  Stanley Livingston (Chip Douglas (1960-72)),  Don Grady (Robbie Douglas (1960-71)),  Tim Considine (Mike Douglas (1960-65)),  Fred MacMurray (Steve Douglas (1960-72)),  Ronne Troup (Polly Williams Douglas (1970-72)),  Dawn Lyn (Dodie Harper Douglas (1969-72)),  William Demarest (Uncle Charley O'Casey (1965-72)),  William Frawley (William Michael Francis 'Bub' O'Casey (1960-65)),  Beverly Garland (Barbara Harper Douglas (1969-72)),  Barry Livingston (Ernie Thompson Douglas (1963-72))
Guest Star:	Zeme North (Cynthia Roberts),  Gloria Swanson (Margaret McSterling)

There are two spots in this episode, where the editing is extremely bad. Knowing how many scenes of the show were filmed days, perhaps weeks apart, it must have been a nightmare for the show's Editor Charles Van Enger Jr, to edit certain shows together from the raw footage he was provided. Early in the episode (pay close attention) Charley is flustered when the boys dump all their needs on him. After he kicks the bucket of water in the kitchen whilst mopping the floor in frustration, his hair appears to be messed up, yet in the close up scenes as he speaks with Fred MacMurray as he enters the scene, his hair is in its usual tidy state. The second example is the insert shots showing Charley in close up as he watches in the balcony at the local theater. The cut away scene of the master shot showing Robbie, Cynthia and Charley smiling and clapping, has the insert shot of Charley with a shocked look, that doesn't match the previous footage of seconds before. This is usually the job of the continuity editor, whose role is to ensure that all clothing and hairstyles match in the footage we will see. (edit) This is the first episode to give us some solid character history on Uncle Charley's background. Steve mentions that Charley has only lived with the family in Bryant Park for two months now, which is consistent with the way the series originally aired. We also learn that Charley, along with brother Bill (or Bub to us) played in vaudeville for twenty years. We then are given information that he joined the merchant marines as a cook and did a twelve year stint, recently retiring. This time-line will become inconsistent in later years of the show. A glaring example is the season six episode "The Hong Kong Story" where Charley joins the family on a trip to find his old girlfriend of thirty years before. (edit) There is a rare reference to Bub in this episode which can be considered a companion story to the Season 4 teleplay, "Stage Door Bub". (edit) This episode is not to be confused with the Season Nine episode of the same title. (edit) Gloria Swanson's on-screen credit reads: Special Guest Star, Gloria Swanson. This is one of the few times during the series that a big old-time Hollywood celebrity makes a rare television appearance. Strangely enough, even though both stars were born years apart, Gloria Swanson and William Demarest died within five weeks of each other in 1983. To the end, Swanson retained her star quality flair, the glittering eyes in a mask-like face, the gleaming teeth and spotlight smile: trademarks of a remarkable woman whose private life was her most effective public performance. (edit)

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