September 23, 1955 (1955-09-23) – March 3, 1956 (1956-03-03)
The Adventures of Champion is an American children'sWestern 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]
Synopsis
Set in the 1880s in the American Southwest,[3] the show features 12-year-old Ricky North, who 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]
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]
Ricky and Sandy try to prevent a store owner from buying a salted gold mine from con men.
4
"The Medicine Man Mystery"
George Archainbaud
Peter Dixon
October 15, 1955 (1955-10-15)
Ricky believes the ventriloquist dummy being stuffed into a box is a real boy, but when Sandy investigates he discovers thieves have hidden jewelry inside the dummy.
A drought has struck the valley where the Norths have their ranch. Champion searches for a waterhole to help a herd of wild horses, and an elderly woman is being forced to sell her ranch for less than its worth.
6
"Renegade Stallion"
George Archainbaud
Maurice Geraghty
October 29, 1955 (1955-10-29)
A prospector who just found gold is killed by outlaws, who then stampede a herd of wild horses to hide evidence of their crime. The sheriff believes Champion is responsible for the prospector's death, and tries to have him shot.
7
"Canyon of Wanted Men"
Ford Beebe
Paul Franklin
November 5, 1955 (1955-11-05)
A crooked horse trader tries to get the ranchers to allow him to round up all wild horses in the valley. When they resist, the man breaks down fences so it appears as though the wild herds are destroying property.
8
"Challenge of the West"
George Archainbaud
J. Benton Cheney
November 8, 1955 (1955-11-08)
Ricky tries to prove an outlaw's son didn't rob Sandy's ranch.
9
"The Outlaw's Secret"
George Archainbaud
Maurice Geraghty
November 15, 1955 (1955-11-15)
A man confesses to robbing a stage coach, but claims a banker was his partner in his crime.
10
"Hangman's Noose"
Ford Beebe
J. Benton Cheney
November 22, 1955 (1955-11-22)
A man discovers oil on a neighboring ranch and plans to kill the ranch owner and frame another rancher for the crime. When Ricky finds evidence, his life is in danger.
Ricky tries to help a wounded prisoner who had been forced to take part in a jail break, and is now in danger from the escaped outlaws.
14
"The Deer Hunters"
George Archainbaud
Oliver Drake
December 20, 1955 (1955-12-20)
Ricky rescues a fawn caught in a snare by trappers providing meat for railroad construction workers. Ricky and Sandy try to convince the construction boss to find a new source of meat for his work crew.
15
"The Golden Hoax"
Ford Beebe
Sloan Nibley
December 27, 1955 (1955-12-27)
Champion discovers stagecoach robbers are hiding money in an abandoned mineshaft. Ricky and Sandy try to capture the criminals.
16
"Johnny Hands Up"
George Archainbaud
Robert Schaefer & Eric Freiwald
January 3, 1956 (1956-01-03)
Ricky and Sandy help a young lawman who is being held responsible for the mistakes of the former law officer.
17
"Black Kachina"
George Archainbaud
Samuel Newman & Richard Morgan
January 10, 1956 (1956-01-10)
An evil medicine man holds a tribe's chief captive while attempting to incite violence between natives and ranchers.
18
"Mystery Mountain"
John English
Eric Freiwald & Robert Schaefer
January 17, 1956 (1956-01-17)
When an Easterner is tricked into performing gold assays for a swindler Ricky and Sandy come to the man's rescue.
19
"Rails West"
George Archainbaud
Polly James
January 24, 1956 (1956-01-24)
Ricky and Sandy are able to persuade the railroad to bypass the range used by Champion and a herd of wild horses, but when prospectors believe they've found gold in the area they refuse to give up their claim.
20
"The Real Unfriendly Ghost"
John English
Elizbeth Beecher
January 31, 1956 (1956-01-31)
Ricky and Sandy search for a missing man in a ghost town. They discover an eccentric living resident, and suspect there may be an actual ghost there.
21
"Andrew and the Deadly Double"
John English
Joe Richardson
February 7, 1956 (1956-02-07)
Mary Jane, Ricky's young neighbor, learns her newly appointed guardian, Uncle Andrew, plans to sell her ranch and force her to move East with him. When Mary Jane suspects her guardian is an imposter she is taken captive by the man.
22
"Bad Men of the Valley"
George Archainbaud
Victor Arthur
February 14, 1956 (1956-02-14)
An ex-convict and his wife buy a ranch near the North's ranch and try to begin a new life. Former gang members threaten to hurt the man's wife if he doesn't help with a bank robbery.
23
"The Return of Red Cloud"
George Archainbaud
Oliver Drake
February 21, 1956 (1956-02-21)
Red Cloud returns to his tribe, but he is framed for murder. Ricky and Sandy work to prove him innocent.
24
"Brand of the Lawless"
John English
J. Benton Cheney
February 28, 1956 (1956-02-28)
An escaped outlaw and his gang plot to rob a bank. When a posse pursues them the gang leader tries to blackmail the escaped man's sister in order to get grubstake money from her.
25
"The Die-Hards"
George Archainbaud
Robert Schaefer & Eric Freiwald
March 3, 1956 (1956-03-03)
A newly arrived Southern doctor treats Ricky's dog, Rebel. But lingering hard feelings over the Civil War may force the doctor and his wife to leave the area.
26
"Calhoun Rides Again"
John English
Ty Cobb, Eric Freiwald, & Robert Schaefer
March 3, 1956 (1956-03-03)
An old cowboy returns to the area and helps Ricky and Sandy capture a gang of outlaws.
Related shows
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.
^Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 12. ISBN978-0-7864-6477-7.
