# Apple's Way

Apple's Way is an American drama television series that aired on CBS from February 10, 1974, to January 12, 1975. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr. (1923-2016).

## Premise

The Apples of Los Angeles—architect George, his wife Barbara, their children Paul, Cathy, Steven, and Patricia; and Grandfather Aldon—seek refuge from the hectic pace of city living and relocate to George's hometown of Appleton, Iowa, which was founded by his ancestors. The family has to adjust to a different culture and climate and to a slower pace of life. They live in a working grist mill that serves as a backdrop for the situations depicted in each episode. Well-meaning George often gets involved in causes that increased his family's tensions.
Apple's Way was a mid-season replacement for The New Perry Mason. The series did not gain the ratings CBS had hoped for, partly because it had to compete with NBC's long-running Top 20 hit The Wonderful World of Disney and ABC's popular crime drama The F.B.I.. The concept was "re-booted" in the second season to focus on plots that dealt more with social issues (such as freedom of speech, drug use, terminal illness) as opposed to the more rural-specific plots of the first season. The second season was produced by successful veteran producer-writer John Furia, Jr. Furia hired Worley Thorne as story editor. The series was canceled during its second season and replaced with Cher.

## Cast

* Ronny Cox as George Apple
* Frances Lee McCain as Barbara Apple
* Malcolm Atterbury as Grandfather Aldon
* Vince Van Patten as Paul Apple
* Patti Cohoon as Cathy Apple
* Eric Olson as Steven Apple
* Frannie Michel as Patricia Apple (1974)
* Kristy McNichol as Patricia Apple (1974–1975)

## Episode list
### Season 1: 1974

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by: | Written by: | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 1 | 1 | "The Tree" | Harry Harris | T : A. J. Carothers | February 10, 1974 (1974-02-10) | 438204 |
| 2 | 2 | "The Musician" | Harry Harris | William Bast | February 17, 1974 (1974-02-17) | 438205 |
| 3 | 3 | "The Zoo" | Nicholas Webster | Peter S. Beagle | February 24, 1974 (1974-02-24) | 438209 |
| 4 | 4 | "The Teacher" | Jack Shea | Dale Eunson | March 3, 1974 (1974-03-03) | 438203 |
| 5 | 5 | "The Miller" | Jack Shea | Max Hodge | March 10, 1974 (1974-03-10) | 438201 |
| 6 | 6 | "The Coach" | Murray Golden | George Kirgo | March 24, 1974 (1974-03-24) | 438212 |
| 7 | 7 | "The Witness" | Herschel Daugherty | S. A. Long | March 31, 1974 (1974-03-31) | 438213 |
| 8 | 8 | "The Temptation" | Herschel Daugherty | Irv Pearlberg | April 7, 1974 (1974-04-07) | 438208 |
| 9 | 9 | "The Applicant" | Harry Harris | John McGreevey | April 21, 1974 (1974-04-21) | 438214 |
| 10 | 10 | "The Pen Pal" | Murray Golden | Irv Pearlberg | April 28, 1974 (1974-04-28) | 438215 |
| 11 | 11 | "The Accident" | Harry Harris | Emily Shoemaker | May 5, 1974 (1974-05-05) | 438218 |
| 12 | 12 | "The Fair" | Philip Leacock | Mathilde Ferro, Theodore Ferro | May 12, 1974 (1974-05-12) | 438216 |
| 13 | 13 | "The Lamb" | Harry Harris | Kathleen Hite | May 19, 1974 (1974-05-19) | 438217 |

### Season 2: 1974–75

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by: | Written by: | Original release date | Prod. code |
| 14 | 1 | "The Tornado" | Marc Daniels | T : Joseph Bonaduce; S/T : John T. Dugan | September 15, 1974 (1974-09-15) | 438210 |
| 15 | 2 | "The Circus" | Marc Daniels | Austin Kalish, Irma Kalish | September 22, 1974 (1974-09-22) | 438222 |
| 16 | 3 | "The Friend" | Hal Cooper | Lan O'Kun | September 29, 1974 (1974-09-29) | 438227 |
| 17 | 4 | "The Returning" | David Moessinger | David Moessinger | October 6, 1974 (1974-10-06) | 438230 |
| 18 | 5 | "The First Love" | James Sheldon | Don Appell | October 13, 1974 (1974-10-13) | 438229 |
| 19 | 6 | "The Engagement" | James Sheldon | William Bast | October 20, 1974 (1974-10-20) | 438221 |
| 20 | 7 | "The Candy Drive" | Marc Daniels | Hindi Brooks | October 27, 1974 (1974-10-27) | 438231 |
| 21 | 8 | "The Winning Season" | Alexander Singer | Jim McGinn | November 10, 1974 (1974-11-10) | 438232 |
| 22 | 9 | "The Flag" | David Moessinger | Joseph Bonaduce | November 17, 1974 (1974-11-17) | 438235 |
| 23 | 10 | "The Real Thanksgiving" | Jack Shea | Joseph Bonaduce, Worley Thorne | November 24, 1974 (1974-11-24) | 438245 |
| 24 | 11 | "The Apprentice" | David Moessinger | Gene Thompson | December 1, 1974 (1974-12-01) | 438224 |
| 25 | 12 | "The Outsider" | Ivan Dixon | Joseph Bonaduce | December 15, 1974 (1974-12-15) | 438211 |
| 26 | 13 | "The Christmas Party" | Richard C. Bennett | Lan O'Kun | December 22, 1974 (1974-12-22) | 438226 |
| 27 | 14 | "The Outing" | Edward M. Abroms | S : Richard Fielder; S/T : Worley Thorne | January 5, 1975 (1975-01-05) | 438206 |
| 28 | 15 | "The Price" | David Moessinger | Unknown | January 12, 1975 (1975-01-12) | 438234 |

## Syndication

Both TV Land and AmericanLife TV aired the series in reruns during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Two decades after this series left the air, lead actors Ronny Cox and Frances Lee McCain were reunited in the short lived 1993–1994 television prime time soap Second Chances.