The Phenomenon of Benji

In the early '60s, animal trainer Frank Inn found a pound puppy named Higgins, adopted it, and trained it to star in the sitcom "Petticoat Junction" as Uncle Joe's unnamed "Dog." Higgins retired after the series ended, but was lured out of retirement for one last outing when director Joe Camp decided he was perfect for the titular "Benji."

"The Phenomenon of Benji" is essentially Frank Inn's black and white scrapbook of the pooch that he and his homely wife so clearly loved.Okay that's what's sweet about it.

So what's creepy about it? Well, "Higgins" was only referred to as "Benji." Then again, I guess that's better than "Dog." But as the book goes along, it's clear that Inn was enjoying his 15 minutes of fame by hanging onto his four-legged-friend' tail. Okay, so it was Inn's dog, and perhaps that wouldn't be so bad... if not for the fact that this book was published in 1977. Higgins died in 1975. Yet there they are plugging his next movie, "For the Love of Benji," which starred a lookalike. I guess dead dogs don't sell tickets, but still, that was just wrong!