The Range Rider
Encyclopedia
The Range Rider is an American
Western
television series that aired in syndication from 1951-1953. A single lost episode
was first shown in 1959. The series aired on British
television in the 1960s
.
, later star of CBS's Yancy Derringer
, played the title character in 79 black-and-white
30-minute episodes, along with partner Dick West, played by Dick Jones, later star of the syndicated series Buffalo Bill Jr.
The character had no name other than Range Rider and his reputation for fairness, fighting ability and accuracy with his guns was known far and wide, even by Indians
. Mahoney towered over Jones giving the idea that Dick West was practically a youngster, instead of a normal-sized adult.
The show was a production of Gene Autry
's Flying A Productions and was executive produced by Autry. The theme tune was "Home on the Range
" though in later episodes this was played at a fast tempo without the song. The two main characters were the only consistent ones. Five to six names of other actors were given at the end of each episode, but not the parts they played.
In the episode "West of Cheyenne", the Range Rider and Dick West help a woman rancher who has the contract to string telegraph line through southern Wyoming
. A rival rancher who failed to garner the government contract, portrayed by Lyle Talbot
, tries to stop her from finishing the task.
episode When you Comin' Back, Range Rider? (Season 2, episodes 5-6), Murdock
is seen watching an episode of The Range Rider in his room at the psychiatric hospital. He adopts the persona of the Range Rider as the team pursues wild mustang
rustlers and is frequently seen wearing a mask of the Range Rider he cut from a cereal box.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
television series that aired in syndication from 1951-1953. A single lost episode
Lost episode
A lost episode of a television series or radio series is one which is, or was at one point, not available for rerun or release on home video or DVD. In some cases, the term is something of a misnomer, used to describe an episode that for any number of reasons was not aired in its original...
was first shown in 1959. The series aired on British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
television in the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
.
Synopsis
Jock MahoneyJock Mahoney
Jock Mahoney was an American actor and stuntman of Irish, French, and Cherokee ancestry. Born Jacques O'Mahoney, he was credited variously as Jock Mahoney, Jack O'Mahoney or Jock O'Mahoney. He starred in two television series, both westerns...
, later star of CBS's Yancy Derringer
Yancy Derringer
Yancy Derringer is an American Western series that ran on CBS from 1958 to 1959, with Jock Mahoney in the title role. It was produced by Derringer Productions and filmed in Hollywood by Desilu Productions...
, played the title character in 79 black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
30-minute episodes, along with partner Dick West, played by Dick Jones, later star of the syndicated series Buffalo Bill Jr.
Buffalo Bill Jr.
Buffalo Bill, Jr. is an American Western television series starring Dickie Jones that aired in syndication from March 1, 1955, until September 21, 1956.-Synopsis:...
The character had no name other than Range Rider and his reputation for fairness, fighting ability and accuracy with his guns was known far and wide, even by Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. Mahoney towered over Jones giving the idea that Dick West was practically a youngster, instead of a normal-sized adult.
The show was a production of Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
's Flying A Productions and was executive produced by Autry. The theme tune was "Home on the Range
Home on the Range
"Home on the Range" is the state song of Kansas, U.S.Home on the Range may also refer to:* Home on the Range , a drama directed by Arthur Jacobson* Home on the Range , a Disney animated feature film...
" though in later episodes this was played at a fast tempo without the song. The two main characters were the only consistent ones. Five to six names of other actors were given at the end of each episode, but not the parts they played.
In the episode "West of Cheyenne", the Range Rider and Dick West help a woman rancher who has the contract to string telegraph line through southern Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. A rival rancher who failed to garner the government contract, portrayed by Lyle Talbot
Lyle Talbot
Lyle Talbot , born Lisle Henderson, was an American actor on stage and screen, best known for his long career in movies from 1931 to 1960 and for his frequent appearances on TV in the 1950s and '60s, including his decade-long role as Joe Randolph on television's The Adventures of Ozzie and...
, tries to stop her from finishing the task.
Guest stars
- Brad Johnson -- three episodes
- I. Stanford JolleyI. Stanford JolleyIsaac Stanford Jolley, Sr., known as I. Stanford Jolley was a prolific American character actor of film and television, primarily in western roles as cowboys, law-enforcement officers, or villains...
-- twice - Harry LauterHarry LauterHerman Arthur "Harry" Lauter was an American character actor originally from White Plains, New York....
-- eleven times
DVD release
In 2007, select episodes of the series were released on five volumes by Alpha Home Entertainment on Region 1 DVD.Cultural references
In The A-TeamThe A-Team
The A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel who work as soldiers of fortune, while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by...
episode When you Comin' Back, Range Rider? (Season 2, episodes 5-6), Murdock
H. M. Murdock
Captain H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock is a fictional character in the 1980s action/adventure television series, The A-Team. He was played by Dwight Schultz. The character of Murdock was almost written out of the series before it aired, as the producers found the character too "over the top"...
is seen watching an episode of The Range Rider in his room at the psychiatric hospital. He adopts the persona of the Range Rider as the team pursues wild mustang
Mustang (horse)
A Mustang is a free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but there is intense debate over terminology...
rustlers and is frequently seen wearing a mask of the Range Rider he cut from a cereal box.