The_Adventures_of_Champion_(TV_series)

<i>The Adventures of Champion</i> (TV series)

The Adventures of Champion (TV series)

American television series

This article is about the television series. For the radio series, see The Adventures of Champion (radio series).

The Adventures of Champion is an American children's Western television series that aired from September 23, 1955, to March 3, 1956, for 26 episodes on CBS. In the United Kingdom, the series was re-broadcast under the title Champion the Wonder Horse.[1] The series was repeated on and off by the BBC in the UK throughout the 70s, 80s and early 90s, with its final BBC broadcast being the episode "The Stone Heart" on 23 January 1993.[2]

Quick Facts The Adventures of Champion, Also known as ...

Synopsis

Set in the 1880s in the American Southwest,[3] 12-year-old Ricky North lives on a ranch with his uncle Sandy. Ricky has an uncanny ability to find himself in some kind of trouble, but is always rescued by his faithful friend Champion, the Wonder Horse, a wild stallion who has befriended Ricky. His adventures (and rescues) always involve Ricky's other constant companion, a German Shepherd named Rebel.[4]

Cast

  • Champion as Champion, the Wonder Horse
  • Barry Curtis as Ricky North
  • Jim Bannon as Sandy North
  • Blaze as Rebel, the dog

Background and production

Casting (animals)

The horse starring in The Adventures of Champion was known as Television Champion, or TV Champ, for short. In real life, the Wonder Horse, Champion, was owned by Gene Autry who, over many years, owned a succession of celebrity horses bearing the same name. TV Champ was distinguished by his chestnut coat, blond mane and tail, four white stockings and broad white facial blaze. He made frequent appearances with Autry in films and television during the 1950s. Unlike his fictional namesake, TV Champ was a gelding.

Ken Beck and Jim Clark, in their book, The Encyclopedia of TV Pets: A Complete History of Television's Greatest Animal Stars, quote animal trainer Bob Blair as identifying the dog as J.R., the canine that had the title role in The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin TV program. "He was the best-trained dog in the business," Blair said.[5]

Filming

Filmed by Flying A Productions,[6] the series was shot on location within California. Vasquez Rocks. 34.479887°N 118.31657°W / 34.479887; -118.31657 was used for the introduction and episodes. The Andy Jauregui Ranch at Placerita Canyon, Newhall 34.377°N 118.475°W / 34.377; -118.475 was also used for several exteriors.

Episodes

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The television program used characters similar to those in the 1949–50 radio serial, The Adventures of Champion. The radio serial told of young Ricky West (rather than Ricky North), who was raised on a ranch by his adoptive Uncle Smoky (rather than Sandy). Ricky was often accompanied by his German Shepherd, Rebel.

Beginning in 1950, The Gene Autry Show, a western/cowboy television series, aired for 91 episodes on CBS.[citation needed] The Adventures of Champion was a prime time spinoff for the 1955–1956 season.

References

  1. [1]
    Hughes, Howard (2007). Stagecoach to Tombstone: The Filmgoers' Guide to the Great Westerns. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9780857730466. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  2. [2]
    "Search – BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  3. [3]
    Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  4. [4]
    Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
  5. [5]
    Beck, Ken; Clark, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of TV Pets: A Complete History of Television's Greatest Animal Stars. Thomas Nelson Inc. ISBN 9781418557379. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  6. [6]
    "Television Film" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 11, 1955. p. 27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-10-13. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
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