The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968) Plot Summary Explained

Joe Carder, a journalist and suitor to Alice Bower, persuaded the family to relocate to Dakota Territory to seek a fresh start after their plans to perform at the Democratic National Convention fell through. Joe saw an opportunity for the family to build a new life in the expanding frontier away from the uncertainties of their previous circumstances.

Foreshadowing: Joe's connection to Alice as her suitor hints at his personal motivation to bring the family closer to where he could pursue their relationship.

• joe carder
• alice bower
• dakota territory
• motivation
• relocation

Grandpa Bower was a staunch Democrat in a town that leaned heavily Republican. His openly pro-Cleveland sentiments clashed with the Republican majority, creating tension within the community. His vocal political stance nearly jeopardized his granddaughter Alice's position as the town's new schoolteacher, as the community's leaders were opposed to Cleveland's politics.

Foreshadowing: The family's move to a Republican-dominated territory sets up the inevitable political friction that Grandpa's beliefs would create.

• grandpa bower
• democrat
• republican
• grover cleveland
• dakota territory
• conflict

The Republican-leaning residents of Dakota Territory wanted the area admitted as two separate states, North Dakota and South Dakota, rather than as one unified territory. This strategy would send four Republican senators to Washington instead of two, significantly boosting Republican political power in the Senate.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes this as a key political strategy that would reshape the region's representation in Congress.

• north dakota
• south dakota
• statehood
• republican
• senate
• politics

Despite losing the 1888 presidential election to Benjamin Harrison in the Electoral College, Cleveland still held presidential power during his final months in office. He used this time to grant statehood to North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington, actions that balanced political gains for both parties while securing a legacy of territorial expansion before leaving office.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes that Cleveland was still president during 1889, giving him the authority to act before his term ended.

• grover cleveland
• benjamin harrison
• statehood
• dakota
• montana
• washington
• president

In the 1888 election, Cleveland received more individual votes (the popular vote) than Benjamin Harrison. However, Harrison won the Electoral College, which determines the presidential winner. This occurs because electoral votes are allocated by state, and Harrison secured enough state victories to win the presidency despite having fewer total popular votes, a quirk of the U.S. electoral system that the film highlights.

Foreshadowing: The timeline entry notes this discrepancy, making it a central political mystery the film addresses.

• popular vote
• electoral college
• benjamin harrison
• grover cleveland
• 1888 election

Alice's position as the town's new schoolteacher was threatened because Grandpa Bower's vocal pro-Cleveland stance created conflict with the Republican-dominated community. The townspeople's anger toward Grandpa's political views put Alice in an awkward position, as her employment depended on community approval in her new town.

Foreshadowing: The timeline explicitly connects Grandpa's actions to Alice's job security, showing how family politics affected individual opportunities.

• alice bower
• schoolteacher
• grandpa bower
• job
• community
• conflict

The escalating political tensions between Grandpa Bower and the Republican townspeople strained Joe Carder and Alice Bower's budding romance. As loyalties were tested between family, community, and politics, the young couple found their relationship pulled in different directions. The conflict threatened to keep them apart until the political turmoil subsided.

Foreshadowing: Joe's role as both a suitor and a member of the community that opposed Grandpa's views creates an inherent tension in his relationship with Alice.

• joe carder
• alice bower
• romance
• relationship
• politics
• family conflict

After statehood was achieved and the political landscape shifted, the residents of the Dakotas, despite their earlier feuds over politics, resolved to choose peace and build a community together. The new political order forced both parties to coexist, and the resolution reflects the film's theme that family and community bonds transcend political disagreements.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows this as a concluding resolution after the conflicts over statehood and the election were settled.

• peace
• community
• dakota
• resolution
• unity
• statehood