![]() Preston was played by different actors over the course of the long run. In the early radio shows, the cry of "On, you huskies!" would alternate with "On, you malamutes" from show to show. Sergeant 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!)". Typical plots involved the pair helping injured trappers, tracking down smugglers, or saving cabin dwellers from wolverines. In one radio episode Preston indicates King's mother had been a wolf, which would make him a wolfdog. At least once, Preston answered "malamute" to the question from another character. The writers seemed to use malamute and husky interchangeably. There is some confusion regarding King's actual breed. The dog received star billing right after Preston, and alongside his horse, Rex. On television, Yukon King was still a vital element, though the dog was now played by an Alaskan Malamute trained by Beverly Allen. Preston then raised the animal as his own dog team captain. When a lynx attacks the wolf and her cub, Sergeant Preston arrives in time to save King. As radio historian Jim Harmon recalled, King had been a Husky puppy raised by a mother wolf. The radio series supplied King with a back story. In the radio version, King's barks were usually provided by animal imitators, usually sound effects artist Dewey Cole, and later, actor Ted Johnstone. Yukon King had a keen instinct for sensing criminals, and was equally valuable dealing with wild animals, once saving a small child from a wolverine. Preston's side-kick and ally (and arguably the true star of the show), was the brave Alaskan husky, Yukon King. Each episode has him battling a new crisis, whether it be tracking down a murderer, a gang of thieves, or claim jumping miners. During the course of the series, Preston successfully puts down a rebellion, and captures assassins. Preston worked under the command of Inspector Conrad, and in the early years was often assisted by a French-Canadian guide named Pierre. Preston, according to radio historian Jim Harmon, first joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to capture his father's killer, and when he was successful, he was promoted to sergeant. The show's episodes ended with the official pronouncement, "Well, King, this case is closed." The theme music was Emil von Reznicek's overture to Donna Diana, an old opera, though the overture remains a concert staple to this day. In January 1951, the radio version was resurrected, running until 1955, when the show moved once again to television as Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. The original television program ran from 1947 through 1949 on ABC and was sponsored by Quaker Oats. The serial began on radio in 1938 and continued through 1947, after which the series moved to television. The program was an adventure series about Sergeant Frank 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. In September 1950, when the show moved to three broadcasts a week, the title was changed to Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. It was then heard on The Mutual Broadcasting System from January 2, 1950, through the final broadcast on June 9, 1955. The program aired on ABC from June 12, 1947, to December 30, 1949. Shortly thereafter, the program acquired a sponsor, Quaker Oats, and the series, in a half-hour format, moved to the networks. ![]() From 1922 a series of novels by Laurie York Erskine featuring Renfrew of the Royal Mounted warranted enough popularity to begin a radio series of the same title in 1936 and a film series beginning in 1937 the latter featuring a canine sidekick.Ĭhallenge of the Yukon began as a 15-minute serial, airing locally from 1938 until May 28, 1947. King, a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman like Sgt. Shortly before the two Trendle series aired ( Lone Ranger and Challenge of the Yukon), popular author Zane Grey had a book in circulation ( The 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. However, Trendle's criticism of Dougall may have had another reason behind it. ![]() Fran Striker, who also wrote for The Lone Ranger, contributed show scripts. The dog was originally called Mogo, but after criticism by Trendle, Dougall re-christened the canine King. It had to be a working dog." Writer Tom Dougall, who had been influenced by the poems of Robert W. According to WXYZ staffer Dick Osgood, in his history of the station, Trendle insisted that it not be "a dog like Lassie because. Trendle, asked for a similar adventure show with a dog as the hero. 5 Television series: Sergeant Preston of the Yukonįollowing the success of The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet on Detroit's WXYZ (now WXYT), the station owner, George W.
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