F TROOP
WARNER BROTHERS TELEVISION
Information From IMDb
Plot Summary
Becoming a hero by accidentally leading a cavalry charge the wrong way,
Lieutenant Wilton Parmenter is given command of Fort Courage.
The Fort's crafty Sgt. O'Rourke has a deal with the local Hekawi Indians
to market their wares to the tourists.
They must sometimes pretend to be enemies (and the Shugs really are enemies).
Jane is out to marry the innocent Parmenter.
Written by Ed Stephan
Series Cast
Forrest Tucker ... Sgt. Morgan O'Rourke / ... (65 episodes, 1965-1967)
Larry Storch ... Cpl. Randolph Agarn / ... (65 episodes, 1965-1967)
Ken Berry ... Capt. Wilton Parmenter / ... (65 episodes, 1965-1967)
Melody Patterson ... Wrangler Jane Angelica Thrift (65 episodes, 1965-1967)
James Hampton ... Hannibal Dobbs / ... (65 episodes, 1965-1967)
Frank DeKova ... Chief Wild Eagle / ... (63 episodes, 1965-1967)
Bob Steele ... Trooper Duffy (63 episodes, 1965-1967)
Ben Frommer ... Smokey Bear / ... (52 episodes, 1965-1967)
Don Diamond ... Crazy Cat / ... (50 episodes, 1965-1967)
Joe Brooks ... Trooper Vanderbilt / ... (48 episodes, 1965-1967)
Ivan Bell ... Trooper Duddleson / ... (45 episodes, 1965-1967)
John Mitchum ... Hoffenmueller / ... (11 episodes, 1965-1967)
Series Directed
Charles R. Rondeau (19 episodes, 1965-1966)
Seymour Robbie (12 episodes, 1966-1967)
and others...
Series Produced
Hy Averback .... producer / executive producer (64 episodes, 1965-1967)
Herman S. Saunders .... associate producer / producer (64 episodes, 1965-1967)
Phil Rawlins .... associate producer (31 episodes, 1966-1967)
William T. Orr .... executive producer (17 episodes, 1965-1966)
Series Writing Credits
Arthur Julian (30 episodes, 1965-1967)
Stan Dreben (10 episodes, 1965-1966)
Howard Merrill (10 episodes, 1965-1966)
Series Original Music
William Lava (60 episodes, 1965-1967)
Frank Comstock (3 episodes, 1965)
Richard LaSalle (3 episodes, 1966-1967)
Trivia
Melody Patterson was only 16 when she auditioned for the part, not really expecting to get it. When she found out that she did indeed get it, she and her mother put off telling the show's producers her real age until just before shooting started. By that time she had turned 17, still not of legal age. That's the main reason that, although you'll see Wrangler Jane pursue Wilton Parmenter at every conceivable opportunity, grabbing and kissing him whenever she gets the chance, he never kisses her first or even returns a kiss. In the second season - by which time Melody had turned 18 - Wilton is seen to be a bit more affectionate.
The names of Captain Parmenter's family all came from mythology. His first cousin was a major named Achilles (Greek), his second cousin was a lieutenant colonel named Hercules (Romanisation of Greek Herakles), his uncle was a colonel named Jupiter (Roman) and his father was a general named Thor (Scandinavian).
Many viewers have thought that because "Old Charlie" the town drunk would usually be thrown through the saloon doors (or window), bounce off a support post, fall face forward over the hitching rail, spin around and land on his face or back at least once an episode, he was actually a young stuntman in "old man" makeup. In reality "Charlie" was ace stuntman Harvey Parry, who at that time was 65 years old and had been a stuntman for almost 45 years.
The name of the tribe that Wild Eagle belonged to was the Hekawe. In one episode it was explained that the name came about by two Indians falling off a cliff and one asking "Where the heck are we?" The original name of the tribe, the Fugawe (As in, "Where the Fugawe?"), was rejected by network censors.
It is mentioned several times throughout the run of the series that Sergeant O'Rourke was a veteran of the Mexican War. However, it is not made clear as to whether or not he or Corporal Agarn fought in the Civil War.
Goofs
Anachronisms: Set in 1865-7, the series contains many references to the Battle of Little Big Horn (1876).
Anachronisms: In his backstory, told in all opening credits, Wilton Parmenter is receiving a Silver Star, an award created in 1918 that became a medal in 1932.
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Trooper Duffy claims to have been a Texas Independence fighter wounded at the Alamo. No white adult males from that army survived the battle. However, he is probably telling a tall tale.
Anachronisms: The show takes place from 1865 to 1867, yet the fort flag has 37 stars on it. But the 37th state (Nebraska) wasn't admitted to the Union until Friday, March 1, 1867, so the number is incorrect for most of the series.
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: James Hampton's character, Bugler Hannibal Dobbs, is a Texan serving in the United States Army immediately after the Civil War. Although white males from Reconstruction (formerly Confederate) states were under a blanket suspicion of treason at the time, many non-conformists proved loyalty by fighting for the Union during the War. It's possible that Dobbs was one of these.
Filming Locations
Kanab Movie Ranch - 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah, USA
Laramie Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
Stage 28, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
Stage 28A, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA