Challenge of the Yukon

Challenge of the Yukon

Challenge of the Yukon was a radio series that began on Detroit's station WXYZ (as had The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet), and an example of a Northern genre story. The series was first heard on February 3, 1938. The title changed from Challenge of the Yukon to Sergeant Preston of the Yukon in November 1951, and remained under that name through the end of the series and into television.

The program was an adventure series about Sergeant William Preston of the North-West Mounted Police and his lead sled dog, Yukon King, as they fought evildoers in the Northern wilderness during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. Preston, according to radio historian Jim Harmon, first joined the Mounties to capture his father's killer, and when he was successful he was promoted to Sergeant. Preston worked under the command of Inspector Conrad, and in the early years was often assisted by a French-Canadian guide named Pierre.

Preston's staunchest ally, who was arguably the true star of the show and indeed often did more work than he did, was the brave Alaskan husky, Yukon King. Typical plots involved the pair helping injured trappers, tracking down smugglers, or saving cabin dwellers from wolverines. Sgt. Preston's faithful steed was Rex, used primarily in the summer months, but generally Yukon King and his dog team were the key mode of transportation (as signaled by Preston's cry of "On, King! On, you huskies!."

There is some confusion regarding King's actual breed. The writers seemed to use malamute and husky interchangeably. At least once, Preston answered "malamute" to the question from another character. In the early radio shows, the cry of "On, you huskies!" would alternate with "On, you malamutes" from show to show.

The theme music was Emil von Reznicek's overture to Donna Diana a now long-forgotten opera, though the overture remains a concert staple to this day. The shows episodes ended with the official pronouncement, Well, King, this case is closed.

Contents

History

Following the success of Lone Ranger and Green Hornet, George W. Trendle, the station owner, asked for a similar adventure show, but with a dog as the hero. According to WXYZ staffer Dick Osgood, in his history of the station, Trendle insisted that it not be "a dog like Lassie because.. this must be an action story. It had to be a working dog." Writer Tom Dougall, who had been influenced by the poems of Robert W. Service, naturally chose a Husky. The dog was originally called Mogo, but after criticism by Trendle, Dougall re-christened the canine King. Dougall likewise created Sgt. Preston and the French-Canadian guide. Fran Striker, who wrote for The Lone Ranger, also contributed scripts.

However, Trendle's criticism of Dougall may have had another reason behind it. Shortly before the two Trendle series aired (Lone Ranger and Challenge of the Yukon), popular author Zane Grey had a book in circulation (Lone Star Ranger) about a Texas Ranger like the Lone Ranger and a comic book series in circulation (King of the Royal Mounted) about the adventures of Sgt. King, a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman like Sgt. Preston. It could be that Trendle borrowed both ideas from Grey's work and wanted to retain the name "King" as a tribute to Grey, who died after a long illness one year following the first airing of Challenge of the Yukon.

Challenge of the Yukon began as a 15-minute serial, airing locally from 1938 until May 28, 1947. Shortly thereafter, the program acquired a sponsor, Quaker Oats, and the series, in a half-hour format, moved to the networks. The program aired on ABC from June 12, 1947, to December 30, 1949. It was then heard on The Mutual Broadcasting System from January 2, 1950, through the final broadcast on June 9, 1955. In November 1951, the title changed to Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.

Radio cast

  • Sgt. Preston – The part of Sgt. Preston was played by different actors over the course of the long run. Jay Michael, who had often played villain Butch Cavendish on The Lone Ranger, originated the role, and played the brave Mountie from 1938 through the mid 1940s. Former movie actor Paul Sutton took over the role, followed briefly by Brace Beemer when The Lone Ranger ended in 1954. Sutton took over again, however, by the time of the final broadcast.
  • Yukon King – The barks, whines, and howls of Yukon King were supplied by one of the station's sound effects men, Dewey Cole, and following Cole's death, by actor Ted Johnstone.
  • Narrator and supporting players – The original announcer/narrator was Bob Hite, also a narrator for the Lone Ranger, Green Hornet and The Shadow. Hite was replaced by former star Jay Michael when Sutton took over. Lone Ranger narrator Fred Foy also filled the role from time to time. John Todd was heard occasionally as Inspector Conrad, and Frank Russell played Pierre. Episodic performers came from the same talent pool as the other WXYZ shows.

Episode guide

Airdate Title Length
43-07-17 Meeting the Terms of a Contract 00:14:42
43-07-24 Till a Man's Proved Dead 00:14:52
43-07-31 A Swindler Swindled 00:14:46
43-08-14 A Footprint in Leather 00:14:38
43-08-21 Caught by a Button 00:14:45
43-08-28 The Last Days of a Freight Line 00:14:34
43-09-11 A Swill O' Gunpowder 00:15:00
43-09-18 King's Ransom 00:14:46
43-09-25 Murder on Train Time 00:14:46
43-10-02 A Previewed Confession 00:14:41
43-10-09 Attempted Manslaughter 00:14:37
43-10-16 Lantern Rock 00:14:46
43-10-23 The Ring on His Finger 00:14:46
43-10-30 The Tell-Tale Bullet 00:14:19
43-11-06 A Date to Remember 00:14:32
43-11-13 Belated Revenge 00:14:21
43-11-20 Return to the Crime 00:14:26
43-11-27 King Spots Murder 00:14:32
43-12-04 Self Defense or Murder 00:14:16
43-12-11 By Hook or by Crook 00:14:45
43-12-18 The Eleventh Hour 00:14:42
43-12-25 Murder in ABC's 00:13:26
43-12-27 Bob Hite Announces (Audition) 00:28:51
44-01-01 No Escape for a Murderer 00:14:42
44-01-06 Revenge in the Yukon 00:14:39
44-01-13 Forgery and Murder 00:14:20
44-01-20 Macbeth's Bloody Knife 00:14:32
44-01-27 Wolf Pack 00:14:35
44-02-03 Cabin on the Trail 00:14:41
44-02-10 Lady Luck Claim 00:14:24
44-02-17 As a Man Thinketh 00:14:54
44-02-24 The Hannagan Brothers 00:14:17
44-03-02 The Great Dog King 00:14:29
44-03-09 The Vallera Diamond 00:14:21
44-03-23 King Meets Soapy Smith 00:14:01
44-03-30 A Pack of Bacon 00:13:59
44-04-06 Edward Carson 00:14:11
44-04-13 The Plaid Coat 00:14:07
44-04-20 Belle Brady's Gesture 00:14:17
44-04-27 Preston's Right Hand Man 00:14:11
44-05-04 A Woman Scorned 00:14:12
44-05-11 Outlaw Dog 00:14:16
44-05-18 The Outlaw's Nemesis 00:14:32
44-05-25 The Idol 00:14:23
44-06-01 A Joke Led to the Gallows 00:14:11
44-06-08 Reverend Jim 00:14:22
44-06-15 The Man from Missouri 00:14:38
44-06-22 Design for Murder aka Killing Sullivan 00:14:31
44-06-29 The Duke Bows to a King 00:14:28
44-07-13 The Lady's Locket 00:14:39
44-07-20 Lucky Walters 00:14:43
44-07-27 Of Dogs and Horses 00:14:40
44-08-03 Maintiens Le Droit 00:14:42
44-08-10 The Plan That Failed 00:14:40
44-08-17 King Breaks the Wheel of Fortune 00:14:39
44-08-24 A Rendezvous 00:14:40
44-08-31 Smokey 00:14:53
44-09-07 A Frame-Up That Failed 00:13:48
44-09-14 Death and the Flickering Eye 00:13:36
44-09-21 A Masquerade 00:13:51
44-09-28 Eyes for the Blind 00:13:47
44-10-12 King Saves the Day 00:14:33
44-10-19 Suzanne Verrill 00:14:41
44-10-26 Case History of a Mountie 00:14:30
44-11-02 Seahorse City's Editor 00:14:14
44-11-09 King Found the Clue 00:14:15
44-11-16 Florabelle's Adventure 00:14:19
44-11-23 Paula Buchanan 00:14:23
44-11-30 King Meets a Grizzly 00:14:08
44-12-07 Trial by Fire 00:14:06
44-12-14 One Went to the Gallows 00:14:11
44-12-21 How Connelly Paid the Law 00:14:11
44-12-28 Preston's Dilemma 00:13:47
45-01-04 Trap for a Mountie 00:13:44
45-01-13 Manhunt 00:13:57
45-01-18 Murder on the Trail 00:14:03
45-01-25 The Fugitives 00:14:50
45-01-30 King Led the Way 00:14:55
45-02-06 An Unlucky Gambler 00:14:23
45-02-13 Guilty by Proxy 00:15:01
45-02-20 Wilderness Girl 00:14:50
45-02-27 Glynns Canyon 00:14:56
45-03-06 Trail Scent 00:14:40
45-03-13 The Dog-Head Nugget 00:14:48
45-03-20 Silver Point Renegades 00:14:25
45-03-27 Landslide 00:14:19
45-04-03 Blizzard in the Yukon 00:14:28
45-04-10 Back Door of the Mountain 00:14:36
45-04-24 Her Weight in Gold 00:14:22
45-05-01 Spawn of the North 00:14:30
45-05-08 The Dog Team Race 00:14:23
45-05-15 God of the Mountain 00:14:27
45-05-22 A Boy and a Dog 00:14:27
45-05-29 Ambush 00:14:24
45-06-05 Trap Robber 00:14:28
45-06-12 Medicine Man 00:14:22
45-06-19 Thunder 00:14:15
45-06-26 Recovered Claim 00:14:23
45-07-03 Old Tom 00:14:32
45-07-10 The Brass Button 00:14:24
45-07-17 Escape 00:14:31
45-07-24 Skipper 00:14:27
45-07-31 The Chase 00:14:19
45-08-07 The Map 00:14:14
45-08-14 Arctic Chase 00:14:31
45-08-21 Maw Baker's Pies 00:14:15
45-08-28 Magnamimous Ghost 00:14:33
45-09-04 Bear Trap 00:14:24
45-09-11 Alibi 00:14:19
45-09-18 Big Bill 00:14:29
45-09-25 The Red Mitten 00:14:28
45-10-02 Chechako 00:14:23
45-10-09 The Black Bear 00:14:16
45-10-16 Scorpion Sam's Gold 00:14:09
45-10-23 Dynamite Provides 00:14:24
45-10-30 The Trail 00:14:30
45-11-06 The Last Laugh 00:14:17
45-11-13 The Irish Wolf Hound 00:14:25
45-11-20 Father Donovan 00:14:16
45-11-27 Long Fall Canyon 00:14:16
45-12-04 The Bonanza Belle 00:14:34
45-12-11 The Dachshund 00:14:32
45-12-18 Christmas Present 00:14:26
45-12-29 New Year's Eve 00:14:21
46-01-05 The Grave Robbers 00:14:20
46-01-10 The Mail Team 00:14:29
46-01-17 Preston Takes Over 00:14:00
46-01-24 Jane Gets Her Man 00:14:34
46-01-31 The Blind Man 00:14:16
46-02-14 The Cure 00:14:30
46-02-21 Mabel 00:14:34
46-02-28 The Shamaness 00:14:40
46-03-07 Mad Wolf 00:14:23
46-03-14 The Bully 00:14:36
46-03-21 Hold Up 00:14:41
46-03-28 The Rivals 00:14:46
46-04-04 The Return of Pete Hill 00:14:41
46-04-11 Ned's Wife 00:14:45
46-04-18 Rex 00:14:46
46-04-25 Torn Parka 00:14:46
46-05-02 Balmy Bill 00:14:45
46-05-09 Eskimo Justice 00:14:44
46-05-16 Shrimp Togan 00:15:07
46-05-23 Chap 00:14:46
46-05-30 The Mitten 00:14:38
46-06-06 Annie Jones 00:14:21
46-06-13 The Great Dane 00:14:40
46-06-20 How Preston Got King 00:14:27
46-06-27 The Sharp Shooter 00:14:35
46-07-04 The Pup That Ate Too Much 00:15:01
46-07-11 Flash 00:14:49
46-07-18 Preston Breaks a Rule 00:14:58
46-07-25 Beaver Dam 00:14:32
46-08-01 The Silver Fox 00:14:40
46-08-15 The Mute Speaks 00:14:40
46-08-22 Grizzly Martin 00:14:20
46-08-29 Preston Goes to Jail 00:14:33
46-09-12 The Epidemic 00:14:12
46-09-19 Preston Sells King 00:14:22
46-09-26 Blind Man's Claim 00:14:01
46-10-03 The Wooden Case 00:14:08
46-11-07 Trap in the Mountains 00:14:01
46-11-14 The Choice 00:14:10
46-11-21 The Cat Collar 00:14:21
46-11-28 Thanksgiving in the Wilderness 00:13:56
46-12-05 The Watch Dog 00:14:11
46-12-12 The Dog Fight 00:14:14
46-12-19 Christmas Present 00:14:19
46-12-26 The Man Who Limped 00:14:12
47-01-02 The False Beard 00:14:09
47-01-09 Zeb 00:14:13
47-01-16 The Black Dog 00:14:16
47-01-23 A Question of Ethics 00:14:15
47-01-30 The Gold Fang 00:14:16
47-02-04 Pet Bear 00:14:07
47-02-11 The Substitution 00:16:10
47-02-20 The Red Parka 00:14:08
47-02-27 The Hermit of Nugget Hill 00:14:41
47-03-06 The Coffin 00:08:58
47-03-12 Sunshine Stones 00:14:30
47-03-19 The Birthday Present 00:14:03
47-03-26 The Big Stone House 00:14:18
47-04-02 The Dancing Bear 00:14:04
47-04-09 The Story of Big John 00:14:11
47-04-16 The Torn Sleeve 00:14:10
47-04-23 The Mad Trapper 00:14:12
47-04-30 The Red Setter 00:13:55
47-05-14 The Usurpers 00:14:20
47-05-28 Lost Mitten 00:14:03
47-06-12 The Wolf Cub 00:28:45
47-06-19 Grizzly 00:29:01
47-06-26 Pet Bear 00:27:26
47-07-03 The Puppy 00:28:08
47-07-12 Sam's Gold 00:29:18
47-07-19 The Man in the Fur Cap 00:28:32
47-07-26 A Dog Named Mabel 00:28:19
47-08-02 Messenger of Mercy 00:28:55
47-08-09 Derelict Dog 00:27:41
47-08-23 The Revenge of Steve Carlton 00:29:29
47-08-30 Clue to a Killer 00:29:18
47-09-06 The Stolen Pups 00:28:28
47-09-11 The Northern Pursuit 00:28:05
47-09-18 The Fraud 00:29:20
47-09-25 Reprisal 00:29:24
47-10-02 The Proof 00:29:24
47-10-09 The Malamute Pup 00:29:20
47-10-16 The Last Cabin 00:29:46
47-10-23 Rex 00:29:16
47-11-01 Sam's Wife 00:29:13
47-11-08 King's Escape 00:29:50
47-11-15 The Limping Dog 00:27:28
47-11-22 King Gets His Man aka The Piano 00:29:21
47-11-29 Tara 00:29:32
47-12-06 The Marked Cards 00:28:23
47-12-13 White Man's Law 00:28:45
47-12-27 The Shepherd Dog 00:28:52
48-01-03 The Silent One 00:29:23
48-01-10 Tago, the Half Breed 00:29:18
48-01-17 The Bridge 00:29:45
48-01-24 The Loyalty of Chief 00:29:43
48-01-31 The Pamphlet 00:29:42
48-02-07 The Red Herring 00:29:41
48-02-14 The Klondike Palace 00:29:44
48-02-21 Aunt Em 00:29:37
48-02-28 Silvertip 00:29:41
48-03-06 The Debt 00:29:37
48-03-13 Witness for the Crown 00:29:34
48-03-20 King Comes Home 00:29:38
48-03-27 The Wire Haired Terrier 00:29:37
48-04-24 Rusty 00:30:22
48-06-26 Breakup 00:28:45
48-09-06 Shots in the Dark 00:29:17
48-09-08 Winner by Proxy 00:29:29
48-09-13 The Fraud 00:29:48
48-09-15 Trader Muldoon 00:29:17
48-09-17 The Showdown 00:25:32
48-09-20 Lost Indian Mine 00:26:02
48-09-22 Icebound 00:25:54
48-09-24 Old Ben's Gold 00:29:12
48-09-27 Pot Luck Killers 00:25:12
48-09-29 Ghost Town 00:29:30
48-10-01 Find the Body 00:29:37
48-10-04 The Extra Uniform 00:28:49
48-10-06 Record Run 00:29:04
48-10-08 Parson Shorty Meadows 00:29:04
48-10-11 The Red Ace 00:29:02
48-10-13 Mine of Good Hope 00:29:07
48-10-15 White Hawk 00:28:46
48-10-18 Underground Ambush 00:29:04
48-10-20 The False Trail 00:29:06
48-10-22 The Poisoner of Chiliwaw 00:29:04
48-10-25 Samaritan of the Trail 00:29:32
48-10-27 Preston Turns the Tables 00:29:35
48-10-29 The Phantom Gang 00:29:38
48-11-01 The Call of Duty 00:29:25
48-11-03 The Man with the Red Hair 00:29:37
48-11-05 Death on the Trail 00:29:37
48-11-08 The Wilderness Uprising 00:29:38
48-11-10 Ben Yancy's Legacy 00:29:41
48-11-12 Shadow 00:29:32
48-11-15 The Second Chance 00:29:42
48-11-17 Manhunt 00:29:34
48-11-19 The St Bernard Dog 00:29:31
48-11-22 Mutiny on the Penguin 00:29:21
48-11-24 Old Moby's Cairn 00:23:46
48-11-26 Lost River Roundup 00:29:24
48-11-29 Strike at Pelican Creek 00:29:11
48-12-01 The Black Husky 00:28:40
48-12-03 The Sergeant's Right 00:21:40
48-12-06 Timber 00:29:22
48-12-08 The Dawson Fire 00:29:24
48-12-10 The Trap in Cabin Four 00:29:31
48-12-13 Escape to the North 00:29:24
48-12-15 Marlow's Gang 00:24:23
48-12-17 Faith in a Mountie 00:25:33
48-12-20 The Emerald in the Nugget 00:23:54
48-12-22 The Man with the Red Coat 00:29:19
48-12-27 Injun Devil 00:29:17
48-12-29 Arrowhead Frame-Up 00:29:10
48-12-31 Case of Frank Weaver 00:29:14
49-01-03 King Takes Over 00:29:35
49-01-07 Jim Beldens Secret 00:29:47
49-01-10 King Proves His Worth 00:29:12
49-01-14 Lem Baileys Pet Bear 00:29:15
49-01-17 White Water 00:29:14
49-01-19 Jimmy's Birthday Cake 00:29:18
49-01-21 Skagway Patrol 00:29:20
49-01-24 Mystery in the Cave 00:29:18
49-01-26 The Moose River Murder 00:29:23
49-01-28 Lost River Ambush 00:29:09
49-01-31 The Mongrel 00:29:12
49-02-02 On One Condition 00:29:15
49-02-04 The Trail of Grizzly Grayson 00:29:58
49-02-07 Rogue's Progress 00:29:25
49-02-09 Sergeant Preston Faces Death 00:29:35
49-02-11 Ambush 00:29:24
49-02-14 The Coward 00:29:24
49-02-16 Double Cross Creek 00:29:30
49-02-18 The Dog with the Gold Tooth 00:29:31
49-02-21 The Magic Light 00:29:32
49-02-23 Signal in Green 00:29:28
49-02-25 Danger Signal 00:29:24
49-02-28 River Pirates 00:29:28
49-03-02 Ambush at Forty Mile 00:29:27
49-03-04 The Music Hall Murder 00:29:27
49-03-07 Trail Mates 00:25:59
49-03-09 Bulldog Charm 00:29:24
49-03-11 The Meal the Convicted 00:29:24
49-03-14 The White Huskie 00:29:44
49-03-16 The Kondike Queen 00:20:04
49-03-18 The Caribou Case 00:29:42
49-03-21 The Black and White Pup 00:00:52
49-03-23 The Devil Dog 00:29:47
49-03-25 Letters to a Killer 00:24:44
49-03-28 Conover's Crime 00:21:29
49-03-30 Crumpled Handbill 00:29:42
49-04-01 The Killer 00:29:37
49-04-04 The Remittance Man 00:29:41
49-04-06 Dead Man's Man 00:29:31
49-04-08 The Knife Throwers 00:29:37
49-04-11 The Lucky Shirt 00:29:42
49-04-13 The Trail of the Werewolf 00:29:33
49-04-15 Trouble at Forty-Mile 00:29:24
49-04-18 The Luck of the Newtons 00:29:27
49-04-20 The Empty Coffin 00:29:04
49-04-22 The Doomed Witness 00:29:06
49-04-25 The Bear Trap 00:29:45
49-04-27 The Perfect Crime 00:29:03
49-04-29 Fire in the Sky 00:29:34
49-05-02 Escape to the North 00:29:09
49-05-04 The Sparrow 00:29:09
49-05-06 The Case of the Hard-Hearted Hermit 00:29:22
49-05-09 Race to Twenty Mile 00:29:20
49-05-11 The Million Dollar Deadline 00:29:07
49-05-13 The Skagway-Mail 00:29:00
49-05-16 The Counter Plan 00:29:05
49-05-18 The Bad Penny 00:29:45
49-05-20 Adventure in Selkirk 00:29:33
49-05-23 The Duel 00:29:06
49-05-25 Death and the Lucky Seven 00:29:31
49-05-27 The Skull in the Stone 00:11:25
49-05-30 The Case of the Turncoat Mountie 00:29:29
49-06-01 The Case of the Frightened Child 00:29:30
49-06-03 The Case of the Canyon Holdup 00:29:33
49-06-06 The Missing Code 00:32:21
49-06-08 The Case of the Yellow Ribbon 00:22:46
49-06-10 A Boy and His Dog 00:25:38
49-06-15 The Uphill Sled 00:26:10
49-06-22 King Takes Over 00:29:34
49-06-29 The Case of the Beautiful Swindler 00:29:52
49-07-06 The Case of the Crown Fire 00:29:18
49-07-13 Trickery in the River 00:30:46
49-07-20 The Case of the Kind Hearted Killer 00:29:32
49-07-27 The Case of the Unwilling Guardian 00:29:52
49-08-03 The Renegade Huskie 00:27:46
49-08-10 What Price King 00:28:53
49-08-17 The Case of the Friendly Enemies 00:29:17
49-08-24 The Yellow Kitten 00:29:37
49-08-31 The Minister's Missing Money 00:29:32
49-09-07 The Case of the Detective Who Liked Excitement 00:29:51
49-09-12 The Fan-Tan Gold Robbery 00:27:57
49-09-14 The Boy Who Feared Dogs 00:29:39
49-09-16 The Case of the Wishbone 00:29:43
49-09-19 Fire on the Trail 00:29:59
49-09-21 King and the Baxter Gang 00:29:25
49-09-23 The Case of the River Pirates 00:29:45
49-09-26 Ambush Near Selkirk 00:29:34
49-09-28 The Case of the Sourdough's Dog 00:29:47
49-09-30 The Phantom Witness 00:29:31
49-10-03 The Scent of Blood 00:29:46
49-10-05 Murder on the Mountain 00:29:24
49-10-07 The Generous Hobo 00:29:41
49-10-10 Allen's McRae's Birthday Present 00:29:07
49-10-12 The Burning Cabin 00:29:31
49-10-14 The Great Charlotta 00:29:22
49-10-17 The Doctor Disappears 00:29:48
49-10-19 Hazel Crest Decision 00:29:28
49-10-21 Rescue in the Forest 00:29:42
49-10-24 The Missing Money 00:29:37
49-10-26 Bad Boy 00:29:43
49-10-28 The Last Will 00:29:11
49-10-31 Nipper Moves Himself 00:29:27
49-11-02 Bear Trap 00:29:24
49-11-04 Dr Blake's Surrender 00:29:39
49-11-09 The Miser and the Mob 00:51:28
49-11-11 The Old Timer 00:59:19
49-11-14 The Senator Finds a Treasure 00:41:34
49-11-16 Note of Evidence 00:37:05
49-11-18 The Brothers' Promise 00:47:43
49-11-21 The King Emperor 00:56:00
49-11-23 The Stolen Box 00:39:30
49-11-25 The Barbary Gang 00:54:32
49-11-28 Grubstake for Vickers 00:53:12
49-11-30 48 Hours to Pay 00:32:16
49-12-02 Outlaw's Twin 00:39:51
49-12-05 Dance at Caribou Creek 00:29:24
49-12-07 The Return of Tom Becket 00:29:23
49-12-09 Swindlers Luck 00:33:18
49-12-12 Copper Gulch Patrol 00:31:08
49-12-14 The Wainwright Cache 00:32:12
49-12-16 The Black Bag 00:32:15
49-12-19 Missing Gold 00:33:07
49-12-21 The Shanghaied Sergeant 00:31:49
49-12-23 The Sergeant's Present 00:29:13
49-12-26 Journey for Revenge 00:37:18
49-12-28 Swindler's Luck 00:42:46
49-12-30 The Prodigal Father 00:34:21
50-01-02 Rainbow's End 00:33:16
50-01-04 Jeff Marco's Gang 00:32:08
50-01-06 The Battle at Bradley's 00:37:36
50-01-09 Barry Jeffer's Trust 00:42:20
50-01-11 Red Devil 00:34:56
50-01-13 The Miners' Meeting 00:33:55
50-01-16 The Diamond Collar 00:37:04
50-01-18 The Long Trail 00:35:48
50-01-20 No Epitaph for Tombstone 00:34:39
50-01-23 The Ten Thousand Dollar Rewards 00:34:45
50-01-25 The Trap That Failed 00:37:13
50-01-27 The Ghost Raider 00:35:26
50-01-30 Casper Mott's Adventure 00:29:24
50-02-01 Circumstantial Evidence 00:29:18
50-02-03 Blind Man's Buff 00:29:12
50-02-06 Jailbreak 00:25:39
50-02-08 The Runaway Heir 00:29:22
50-02-10 Flaming Valley 00:29:19
50-02-13 The Haunted Mine 00:36:33
50-02-15 The Black Cat 00:33:25
50-02-17 Alias Al Gibson 00:29:22
50-02-20 The Murdered Witness 00:35:30
50-02-22 Trail's End 00:33:53
50-02-24 Uncle Joe's Luck 00:28:38
50-02-27 Guardian for Jimmy 00:34:16
50-03-01 When Thief Catches Thief 00:33:50
50-03-03 The Innocent Criminal 00:29:37
50-03-06 Wolf Creek 00:29:46
50-03-08 Restitution 00:29:53
50-03-10 The Lost Lady 00:29:37
50-03-13 Hidden Evidence 00:29:53
50-03-15 Secret Orders 00:29:36
50-03-17 The Man Who Fled 00:33:14
50-03-20 The Cascade Case 00:32:13
50-03-22 The Fugitive Bride 00:30:41
50-03-24 The Wolf Cub 00:29:55
50-03-27 Canyon Cache 00:31:18
50-03-29 Mystery of the Ridge 00:30:01
50-03-31 Twenty Little Indians 00:31:03
50-04-03 Unfinished Note 00:30:01
50-04-05 The Two Bullets 00:30:01
50-05-26 Wand Diamond 00:28:44
50-05-29 Notorious Chet Craig 00:30:10
50-05-31 The Dead Man's Trail 00:29:12
50-06-02 The Angel of Death 00:31:39
50-06-05 Six Gun Clue 00:29:44
50-06-07 Jose's Return 00:31:36
50-06-09 Revenge from Beyond 00:29:21
50-06-28 The Bag of Gold 00:29:43
50-07-07 Race of the River Boats 00:29:42
50-07-10 The Diamond Solitaire 00:29:44
50-07-19 Stolen Gold 00:30:12
50-07-26 The Spread Eagle Raid 00:30:52
50-08-02 The Beaverton Legacy 00:30:57
50-08-09 A Change of Mind 00:31:31
50-08-16 Ten Thousand Counterfeit 00:29:47
50-08-23 The Branded Pelts 00:30:45
50-08-30 Logan's Luck 00:29:52
50-09-06 Cal Dorset's Hair 00:30:29
50-09-11 The Gold Behind the Waterfall 00:30:47
50-09-13 The Polar Quest 00:24:22
50-09-15 Left to Die 00:30:40
50-09-18 The Sack of Sand 00:31:44
50-09-20 The Malemute Express 00:22:00
50-09-22 The Torn Map 00:30:15
50-09-25 Diagram of Danger 00:28:14
50-09-27 The Red Raiders 00:24:52
50-09-29 Dog Crazy 00:29:09
50-10-02 The Malacca Cane 00:22:15
50-10-04 The Vagabond 00:26:34
50-10-06 The Criminal Collie 00:23:48
50-10-09 The Blue Paper 00:28:12
50-10-11 Harper's Castle 00:22:56
50-10-13 A Dog Called Sparky 00:28:48
50-10-16 Fugitive from Bald Rock 00:28:48
50-10-18 The Masked Gunman 00:27:05
50-10-20 Out of the Night 00:25:48
50-10-23 Heart of a Killer 00:29:12
50-10-25 Dead Man's Whistle 00:28:17
50-10-27 A Call to Action 00:28:23
50-10-30 Undercover 00:28:01
50-11-01 Contention 00:29:31
50-11-03 Whistling in the Dark 00:29:41
50-11-06 Friend in Need 00:29:43
50-11-08 The Ghost Riders 00:29:10
50-11-13 The Clue of the Silver Pup 00:29:23
50-11-15 Passport to Death 00:29:29
50-11-17 The Telltale Knife 00:29:43
50-11-20 The Wrong Map 00:24:26
50-11-22 The Rebel Yell 00:27:12
50-11-24 Death Waits on the River 00:27:14
50-11-27 The Man in the Canyon 00:25:15
50-11-29 Gold Fever 00:27:33
50-12-01 Spider Burke's Daughter 00:27:50
50-12-04 Wild Dog 00:28:55
50-12-06 The Indian Sign 00:29:23
50-12-08 The Notorious Hawk Cooper 00:29:30
51-01-20 Danger at Devil's Gorge 00:29:40
51-01-27 Murder on Fox Run 00:31:00
51-01-28 Escape by Night 00:29:56
51-02-03 White Fox for Marie 00:29:09
51-02-04 Storm the Pass 00:30:53
51-02-10 The King of Keena Creek 00:30:36
51-02-11 The Trail Robbers 00:29:10
51-02-17 Wrong Trail 00:32:11
51-02-18 Honest Young Man 00:30:56
51-02-24 Blackmailer's Payoff 00:32:01
51-02-25 Vanished Loot 00:30:17
51-03-03 Job for Jim Lackey 00:31:52
51-03-04 The Russian Rubies 00:30:44
51-03-10 Secret of the Closed Room 00:31:38
51-03-11 Doctor Redcoat 00:29:36
51-03-17 The Third Strike 00:31:44
51-03-18 Never Be Missed 00:29:44
51-03-24 The Counterfeit Heiress 00:31:36
51-03-25 Old Faithful 00:31:05
51-03-31 Cabin 102 00:32:38
51-04-01 The Blue Scarf 00:31:53
51-04-07 Trapper's Trail 00:26:54
51-04-08 Take It Easy 00:29:16
51-04-14 The Blind Husky 00:26:55
51-04-15 Team-Mates 00:30:49
51-04-21 Rowdy's Choice 00:29:41
51-04-22 Indian Dream 00:29:03
51-06-10 Number One Challenger 00:28:52
51-07-01 The Stuffed Shirt 00:28:39
51-07-08 Murder at the Flood 00:29:28
51-07-12 A Boy Called Jack 00:29:28
51-07-15 Thieve's Congress 00:29:27
51-07-19 Tom Barry's Return 00:29:22
51-07-22 The Trail's End 00:29:23
51-07-26 The Innocent Fugitives 00:29:31
51-08-02 And Far Away 00:29:29
51-08-05 The Widow's Son 00:29:23
51-08-09 The Man Who Feared Dogs 00:29:21
51-08-12 Ambush in Bellary Flats 00:29:23
51-08-16 Against Time 00:28:17
51-08-19 The Red Parka 00:28:36
51-08-23 The Scent of Death 00:28:21
51-08-26 Bullets for Preston 00:28:38
51-08-30 Red Coated Crook 00:25:05
51-09-02 Boy Alone 00:28:41
51-09-06 Junior Partner 00:28:40
51-09-09 Dividend on Murder 00:28:32
51-09-13 The Landlady 00:22:01
51-09-16 The Killer Cree 00:28:20
51-09-20 Chance Meeting 00:28:30
51-09-23 Trapper's Gold 00:28:01
51-09-27 Uncle Ben 00:27:55
51-10-04 Open and Shut 00:27:46
51-10-07 Fire in the Forest 00:28:10
51-10-09 Man in Hiding 00:27:41
51-10-11 Double Identity 00:27:51
51-10-21 The Mutiny's Survivor 00:29:23
51-10-25 Claim 22 00:22:21
51-10-30 Reward for Shiloh 00:28:45
51-11-01 Trail to Trouble 00:29:04
51-11-04 The Diamond Solitaire 00:28:33
51-11-13 Sneak Gun 00:27:57
52-09-07 Murder on the Mountain 00:29:31
53-02-19 The Queen's Parlor 00:29:09
53-03-05 SOS from Panamint 00:28:45
53-10-29 The Death Dart 00:29:19
53-11-03 The Rag Doll 00:29:16
55-01-06 Outlaw in Uniform 00:28:28

Comic book series

From 1951 to 1958 Dell Comics published 29 issues of Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. The first four issues appeared bi-annually, then quarterly, in the weekly catch-all series, Four Color Comics (#344,373,397,419), then assumed its own numbering with issue #5, most-often as a quarterly but also bi-monthly.

All issues were written by Gaylord Du Bois (creator of Turok), and illustrated by Alberto Giolitti (best-known as the long-time illustrator of Turok).

The Dell comic book covers were paintings portraying drama or action, featuring Yukon King and Sergeant Preston in exciting scenes. Once the Sergeant Preston of the Yukon television series premiered, the comic book featured photo covers of the TV series star in character as Sergeant Preston.

Television series: Sergeant Preston of the Yukon

In 1955, the same year the radio show ended, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon premiered as a television series. Richard Simmons starred as Sgt. Preston, and was supported by Yukon King and Rex, now played by real animals. The dog cast as King was not a husky, however, but a large Alaskan Malamute. Charles Livingstone, who had worked on the radio version, directed several episodes. Though no plotlines seem to have been re-used from the radio show, they were generally built upon the same themes. The same few buildings were regularly seen as part of many settlements in the shows. The additional visual component of the snowy Yukon, however, did give the television version a different feel but like all such films when filmed on a stage set, the frosty breath of people in Arctic conditions could not be simulated. Generally, however, there was an outdoor feel though a few times shadows on the skyline could be seen. Genuine outdoor scenes were added to give the show some reality though the viewer could not help but notice a sameness to them as they were all filmed in the same area and reused at times.

Mainly filmed at Ashcroft, Colorado, the series was telecast on CBS from September 29, 1955, to September 25, 1958. The first two seasons were produced by Trendle-Campbell-Meurer, and the show was broadcast in the same time slot as ABC's The Lone Ranger. In its last season, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon was purchased and produced by the Jack Wrather Corporation.

In 1955, the Quaker Oats company gave away land in the Klondike as part of a promotional tie-in with the television show. Genuine deeds each to one square inch of a lot in Yukon Territory, issued by Klondike Big Inch Land Co. Inc., were inserted into Quaker's Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice cereal boxes.[1]

Guest stars

The guest stars on Sergeant Preston included:

  • Francis De Sales appeared in five episodes, concluding as Cy Bartok in "The Diamond Collar".
  • Kelo Henderson, a future Golden Boot winner who appeared as Pete Hollis in the 1958 episode "Escape to the North".
  • Ed Hinton appeared twice in 1956 as Barry Jeffers in "Remember the Maine" and as Lefty "Red" Burke in "The Rookie".
  • I. Stanford Jolley guest starred as Sam Haley in "The Fancy Dan" (1956) and as Frisco in "Gold Rush Patrol" (1958)
  • Tyler MacDuff appeared as Bill Corey in "Lost River Roundup" in 1957
  • John M. Pickard appeared four times in 1956-1957 in different roles, including the role of Red Brody in "Old Ben's Gold".

Season one of the series is scheduled for DVD release on March 17, 2009.

Spoofs and cultural references

The series was parodied many times over the years. Radio comics Bob and Ray came up with King Yukon of the Northwest, a rabid dog who viciously attacked the mountie and all around him. Two episodes of the animated series Dudley Do-Right paired Dudley with a wild wolf who he attempted to train in the manner of Yukon King. More recently, in an issue of the comic book Cerebus the Aardvark, bungling superhero The Roach posed as Sgt. Preston.

The series was parodied in the 1972 short film Sergeant Swell of the Mounties, written by and starring Chuck Menville.

The National Lampoon Radio Hour parodied Sergeant Preston in "Corporal McInerny of the Northwest Mounted Library Police, with Yukon Glenn, the Wonder Moose." In the parody, Corporal McInerny tracked down a trapper, Frenchy LeMerde, who had broken an unwritten law of the Yukon by keeping the only copy of the Kama Sutra within 500 miles past its due date.

The title "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" was also used for a song written and performed by Ray Stevens for National Recording Corporation. The producers of the program, The King-Trendle Broadcasting corporation, objected to Stevens' use of their characters without permission and threatened him with a lawsuit. Unaware that he had committed copyright infringement, NRC agreed to pull the record, and King dropped the suit.

The Arrogant Worms song "The Mountie Song" contains the lines "Sometimes I just want to puke on/Sergeant Preston of the Yukon".

Listen to

See also

References

  1. ^ Juliano, Frank, "Oatmeal lots gave officials indigestion", pp 1, A12, October 3, 2010, Connecticut Post

Sources

  • Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-507678-8
  • Harmon, Jim (1967). The Great Radio Heroes. New York: Doubleday and Company.
  • Ohmart, Ben (2002). It's That Time Again. Albany: BearManor Media. ISBN 0-9714570-2-6
  • Osgood, Dick (1981). Wyxie Wonderland: An Unauthorized 50-Year Diary of WXYZ Detroit. Ohio: Bowling Green University Press.

External links


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