The Red Hand Gang
Encyclopedia
The Red Hand Gang is an American
live-action Saturday morning
television series on NBC
, first broadcast in 1977. The show featured five crime-solving pre-teens and their dog, who lived in the inner city. The group was so named because its members left red hand prints on fences to mark where they had been.
The episodes of The Red Hand Gang, unlike those of other Saturday morning shows, were grouped into multiple shows: one of five parts, one of four, and one of three. Each episode ended in a cliffhanger
.
.
, where it is considerably better known than in its home country. The Red Hand Gang was initially released on DVD in the U.K. only, on September 30, 2008 in its first ever retail release. A 2-disc DVD set was released on July 28, 2009 in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
live-action Saturday morning
Saturday Morning
-Album credits:*All tracks produced by Ralph Sall for Bulletproof Recording Company Inc.*Executive Producer/Concept: Ralph Sall for Bulletproof Recording Company Inc.*Engineered by Peter McCabe and Larry Fergusson....
television series on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, first broadcast in 1977. The show featured five crime-solving pre-teens and their dog, who lived in the inner city. The group was so named because its members left red hand prints on fences to mark where they had been.
Synopsis
Members of the Red Hand Gang include:- Frankie played by Matthew LaborteauxMatthew LaborteauxMatthew Laborteaux is an American actor who has starred in television and film. He is perhaps best known for portraying the character Albert Quinn Ingalls on the hit NBC series Little House on the Prairie from 1976 to 1983....
later of Little House on the PrairieLittle House on the Prairie (TV series)Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
fame, was the gang's leader.
- Doc played by James Bond III, who went on to play in Spike LeeSpike LeeShelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
's School DazeSchool DazeSchool Daze is a 1988 American musical-drama film, written and directed by Spike Lee, and starring Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tisha Campbell-Martin...
a decade later.
- Joanne played by Jolie Newman, who went on to become a professional producer and who died on March 31, 2002 aged 36.
- Lil' Bill played by Johnny Brogna.
- J.R. played by J.R. Miller
- Their dog, Boomer, who would later have his own series, Here's BoomerHere's BoomerHere's Boomer is an American adventure/drama series produced by Paramount that aired on the NBC beginning in March 1980. A television movie called A Christmas for Boomer aired on December 6, 1979 and served as the pilot. The show ran for two seasons, ending its run in August 1982...
.
The episodes of The Red Hand Gang, unlike those of other Saturday morning shows, were grouped into multiple shows: one of five parts, one of four, and one of three. Each episode ended in a cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
.
Cancellation
The Red Hand Gang was cancelled in November 1977 — not even halfway into the television season. The cancellation was partly due to its 12:30PM ET time slot, when many key affiliates tend to preempt NBC programming after 12 Noon ET for their own programming, especially college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
.
Episodes
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "The Face at the Window" | September 10, 1977 |
| 1-2 | "The Spooky Hideout" | September 17, 1977 |
| 1-3 | "The Search" | September 24, 1977 |
| 1-4 | "Beware the Red Hand Gang" | October 1, 1977 |
| 1-5 | "The Mystery Boat" | October 8, 1977 |
| 1-6 | "The Man in the Mask" | October 15, 1977 |
| 1-7 | "The Missing Jewels" | October 22, 1977 |
| 1-8 | "Search and Rescue" | October 29, 1977 |
| 1-9 | "Doc's Big Idea" | November 5, 1977 |
| 1-10 | "The Photo Clue" | November 12, 1977 |
| 1-11 | "Monkey Business" | November 19, 1977 |
| 1-12 | "Devil's Canyon" | November 26, 1977 |
Syndication and DVD release
The series has often been broadcast in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where it is considerably better known than in its home country. The Red Hand Gang was initially released on DVD in the U.K. only, on September 30, 2008 in its first ever retail release. A 2-disc DVD set was released on July 28, 2009 in the U.S.