‘Big’ Eddie Smith (Sheldon Leonard) was the owner of New York’s ‘Big E’ – an East
Side Manhattan sports, entertainment and civic centre.
He was also an ex-gambler who was trying not to get sucked back into the racket while dealing with the various crazies and eccentrics that crossed his path.
He lived with his ex-stripper/showgirl wife, Honey (Sheree North) and his orphaned granddaughter, Ginger (Quinn Cummings) in an apartment at 450 East 56th Street in Manhattan.
Other members of the Eddie Smith household included Monty ‘Bang Bang’ Valentine (Billy Sands), a pal now in the role of butler/cook, younger brother Jesse (Alan Oppenheimer) and young, sour Raymond (Ralph Wilcox), the son of an Army buddy.
Big Eddie made its debut on CBS in August 1975, running for four consecutive Saturdays (and getting a jump on the official September season start) before taking up the battle against Sanford and Son on Fridays.
‘Big’ Eddie Smith
Sheldon Leonard Honey Smith
Sheree North Ginger Smith
Quinn Cummings Jesse Smith
Alan Oppenheimer Monty ‘Bang Bang’ Valentine
Billy Sands Raymond McKay
Ralph Wilcox
Episodes
Man of the Year | One Nation Invisible | Hello Poppa | Too Many Grandmothers | Who Am I? | Crashing Violet | Eddie Makes a Speech | One of Our Red Shoes is Missing | Alone Together | A Date with Eddie
