Following the death of his wife, college professor Michael Endicott (John Forsythe) decided to leave his native Iowa to accept a teaching position at the American Overseas School in Rome.
The adjustments made by Mike and his three daughters – Alison (Joyce Menges), Penny (Susan Neher) and “Pokey” (Melanie Fullerton) – to a wholly alien but fascinating environment provided much of the gentle humour of this series.
Mike’s sister Harriet (Kay Medford) – who constantly tried to get the family to return to Iowa – was living with them in their Rome apartment through the first half of the 1969-1970 season but gave up and returned home alone.
Other regular characters included their landlady Mama Vitale (Peggy Mondo), cab driver Gino Mancini (Vito Scotti) and Penny’s pal, Nico (Gerald Michenaud).
At the start of the second season Andy Pruitt (Walter Brennan), the father of Mike’s late wife, joined the cast. A crotchety Iowa farmer who had sold his farm in anticipation of moving to a retirement community, he arrived for a visit in Rome and somehow never left.
Michael Endicott
John Forsythe Aunt Harriet Endicott
Kay Medford Alison Endicott
Joyce Menges Penny Endicott
Susan Neher Mary Jane (Pokey) Endicott
Melanie Fullerton Mama Vitale
Peggy Mondo Gino Mancini
Vito Scotti Nico
Gerald Michenaud Grandpa Andy Pruitt
Walter Brennan
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Mike’s sister Harriet (Kay Medford) – who constantly tried to get the family to return to Iowa – was living with them in their Rome apartment through the first half of the 1969-1970 season but gave up and returned home alone.
At the start of the second season Andy Pruitt (Walter Brennan), the father of Mike’s late wife, joined the cast. A crotchety Iowa farmer who had sold his farm in anticipation of moving to a retirement community, he arrived for a visit in Rome and somehow never left.
