THE ADVENTURES OF CHAMPION
aka Champion, The Wonder Horse
FLYING 'A' PRODUCTIONS (Gene Autry)
COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM (CBS)
Information from IMDb
Plot Summary
The exploits of Champion, a wild stallion who befriends twelve year-old Ricky North
in the American Southwest in the 1880's.
Although Ricky, who lived on his Uncle Sandy's ranch, had a magnetic attraction for trouble,
he was always rescued by the Wonder Horse, aided by the boy's other bosom companion,
German shepherd dog, Rebel.
Written by Andy Barsby
Series Cast
Champion ... Champion, the Wonder Horse / ... (26 episodes, 1955-1956)
Barry Curtis ... Ricky North (26 episodes, 1955-1956)
Jim Bannon ... Sandy North (26 episodes, 1955-1956)
Blaze ... Rebel, the Dog (26 episodes, 1955-1956)
Ewing Mitchell ... Sheriff / ... (7 episodes, 1955-1956)
Bob Woodward ... Stage Driver / ... (6 episodes, 1955-1956)
Frank Matts ... Townsman / ... (6 episodes, 1955-1956)
Francis McDonald ... Will Calhoun / ... (4 episodes, 1955-1956)
Glenn Strange ... Dodge Kelley / ... (4 episodes, 1955-1956)
Jack Tornek ... Townsman / ... (4 episodes, 1955-1956)
Hank Patterson ... Trem Holt / ... (3 episodes, 1955-1956)
Tex Palmer ... Bucking Cowpoke / ... (3 episodes, 1955-1956)
Edgar Dearing ... Sarge Elwood / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
William Henry ... Carter / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Harry Lauter ... Hank Elwood / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Tristram Coffin ... Tom Bennett / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Myron Healey ... Duke / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Ed Hinton ... Joe Bates / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
John War Eagle ... Chief Thunder Sky / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
Howard Negley ... Bentley Cameron / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
William Tannen ... Cole / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Roy Barcroft ... Emmett Kane / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
John Damler ... Brock Stevens / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
Don C. Harvey ... Raine / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Edna Holland ... Aunt Emily / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
George J. Lewis ... Bert Hollis / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Leonard Penn ... Jonah Mattson / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Keith Richards ... Andrews / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Rick Vallin ... Ledoux / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Walter Reed ... Ed Neely / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
James Best ... Mace Kincaid / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Lane Bradford ... Carr Preston / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Chris Alcaide ... Frank / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
House Peters Jr. ... Frank Parker / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Marshall Bradford ... Marshal Hale / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
Larry Hudson ... Jud / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
Melinda Plowman ... Lorna Brighton / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Rhodes Reason ... Molson / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Mark Dana ... George McNab / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
Charles Hayes ... Sheriff / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Johnny Dallas ... Sheriff Bilson / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Mauritz Hugo ... Runnels / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Steve Conte ... Fred Hackett / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
Duane Grey ... Doug / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
Robert 'Buzz' Henry ... Landers / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
Terry Frost ... Fred Carter / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Gregg Palmer ... Al / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Gregg Barton ... Bundy / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Frank Fenton ... Sheriff / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
Kenne Duncan ... Brice / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
I. Stanford Jolley ... Barstow / ... (2 episodes, 1955)
John L. Cason ... Burke / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
Robin Short ... Fred / ... (2 episodes, 1956)
John Parrish ... Sheriff Ray Thomas / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Herman Hack ... Cowboy / ... (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Series Directed
George Archainbaud (14 episodes, 1955-1956)
John English (6 episodes, 1955-1956)
Ford Beebe (6 episodes, 1955)
Series Produced
Louis Gray .... producer (26 episodes, 1955-1956)
Series Writing Credits
Eric Freiwald (6 episodes, 1955-1956)
Robert Schaefer (6 episodes, 1955-1956)
J. Benton Cheney (3 episodes, 1955-1956)
Oliver Drake (3 episodes, 1955-1956)
Ty Cobb (2 episodes, 1955-1956)
Maurice Geraghty (2 episodes, 1955)
Orville H. Hampton (2 episodes, 1955)
Series Cinematography
William Bradford (22 episodes, 1955-1956)
Harry Neumann (4 episodes, 1955-1956)
Trivia
Champion was in fact played by four different horses.
The original "Champion" that made Gene Autry famous in the movies is not the same horse
that appeared in the 1955-1956 TV series.
Champion easily earned his title of "Wonder Horse" by performing a variety of tricks
which included kneeling, untying rope knots and dancing and prancing for the public.
It died (buried at Autry's Melody Ranch) when Autry was serving in the military during World War II.
The others: "Champion" (the horse of the TV series), a chestnut stallion foaled in 1940.
The others - "Champion Jr." and "Little Champion" - were all used in Autry's postwar films.
"Champion's" hoofprints can be seen in front of Graumann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
Show's theme song was sung by (an uncredited) Mike Stewart.
Filming Locations
Andy Jauregui Ranch - Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA
Lone Pine, California, USA
Melody Ranch - 24715 Oak Creek Avenue, Newhall, California, USA
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA