CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Adventure series
Sky
King (1951-59)
Whirlybirds (1957-60)
Ripcord (1961-63)
Ripcord
Episode Guide - September 2005
(#2.01 #2.25)
compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
"Ripcord" skydiver
"Bob Henry" <vitalforces@hotmail.com>
Jorge Reinaldo Galindo
Tom Alger
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (http://us.imdb.com)
-------
RIPCORD
-------
Ivan Tors Films, (early episodes) (1961-62) (black-and-white?)
in association with
ZIV-United Artists Television
Executive Producer, Ivan Tors (early episodes) (1961-62)
Produced by Leon Benson
Rapier production, (later episodes)(1963)(color?)
in association with
United Artists Television
Executive producer,
Babe Unger (a.k.a.
Maurice Unger?) (later episodes)(1963)
Produced by Leon Benson
for
First-Run Syndication
US Adventure series 1961-63 76 episodes x 30 min bw/color
(later episodes color ?)
Starring:
Larry Pennell
as Ted McKeever
Ken Curtis
as Jim Buckley (later to be Festus on Gunsmoke)
Recurring Cast:
Paul Comi as Chuck Lambert, pilot (1961-62)
Shug Fisher as Charlie Kern, pilot (1962-63)
EITHER -George Fisher III (born 1944 Montana)
OR -
Shug Fisher (born 1907 Oklahoma)
Page Slattery as Brewster
Premise:
Two unusual detectives are trained skydivers.
Similar show to "Whirlybirds", only parachutes instead
of helicopters
Ripcord, Inc. called their airplane "Old Betsy."
Opening Narration
"This is the most danger-packed show on television. Every jump, every
aerial maneuver is real, photographed just as it happened, without
tricks or illusions. All that stands between a jumper and death is
his RIPCORD."
Stunt Divers include: Bob Henry
Original Music by Stanley Wilson
################## Ripcord ###################
############## season 1 1961-62 ##############
##############################################
Syndicated Program
1.00 [--] Ripcord: THE SKY DIVER (1961)(pilot episode ?)(color)
Guest Cast:
Russell Johnson (as Stan Warner)
Joan Evans (as Juli Warner)
Doug Kennedy (as Henry Kruger)
Alex Montoya (as Mendez)
Janet Lake (as Sybil)
Harvey Stephens (as Dr. Pareto)
Joanne Smith (as Kip)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
Synopsis 1:
Ted Mckeever and Jim Buckly are not exactly jumping
for joy-they do it for a living as partners in Sky Divers Inc. an
outfit that hires out for aerial jumps. In this premiere episode
Ted and Jim are on their way to Central Mexico with an instrument
urgently needed by a group of geologist.
(28Sep61 NYC) (also shown on BBC-uk)
Synopsis 2:
Ted and Jim are on their way to Central Mexico with an instrument
urgently needed by a group of geologist. [TA]
(Aired 25Jan64 in COLOR on WHDH-5, Boston, Saturday 6:30pm)
1.01 [--] Ripcord: AIR CARNIVAL (1961)
Guest Cast:
Carol Ohmart (as Betty)
Willis Bouchey (as Hank)
Stu Erwin (as Justin Rock)
1.02 [--] Ripcord: AIRBORNE (1961)
Guest Cast:
Susan Silo (as Suzy Thomas)
Pat De Simone (as Frank "Digger" Dillworth)
Craig Curtis (as Gordon Cox)
James Ragan (as John Monroe Singleton III)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
Synopsis:
Skydiving student Suzy Thomas is harassed by a gang of hot rodders. [TA]
(aired 11Jan65 on KTEN, ch. 10, Ada, Oklahoma, Monday 4:00 pm)
1.03 [--] Ripcord: CHUTING STARS (1961)
Guest Cast:
John Agar (as Warrant Officer Frank Pearson)
Ed Faulkner
Dani Lynn
Bill Sergeant
Paul Sorenson
Stephen Pearlman
Clarke Alexander
1.04 [--] Ripcord: COLORADO JUMP (1961)
Guest Cast:
Ty Whitney (as Bobby Lucas)
Jean Carson (as Blanche Telford)
Neil Grant (as John Wallis)
Teenage recording star Bobby Lucas is accompanied by Jim on
a publicity-stunt jump [ta]
(Aired 26Mar66 WNHC(ABC) NYC Sat 8:00am)
(shown on BBC-UK - date unknown)
1.05 [--] Ripcord: THE CONDEMNED (1961)
Guest Cast:
Denver Pyle ........... Charles Guest
Sarah Selby ........... Sarah Guest
Michael Pataki ........ Joe Bartram
Synopsis:
At a ski resort, Ted and Jim are searching for the body of Jean Bartram
who has presumably been shoved off a cliff by her husband Joe. [TA]
(25Oct61 WMAZ-13, Macon, Georgia, Wednesday 8:00pm)
1.07 [--] Ripcord: COUNTER-ATTACK (1961)
Guest Cast:
Peter Walker (as Tom Jordan)
Lonie Blackman (as Kay Wilson)
Ken Drake (as the helipcopter chutist)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot) (recurring)
28Jun62 [us] NYC
1.08 [--] Ripcord: CRIME JUMP (1961)
Guest Cast:
Richard Arlen (as Phillip Hanna)
Leo Penn (as Johnny)
Norbert Schiller (as Dr. Horzeyny)
1.09 [--] Ripcord: D.A.R.B. -aka- Dangerous Night
(1961)
Guest Cast:
Harry Townes .......... Dr. Gustave Merril
Paul Comi ............. Chuck Lambert (pilot)(recurring)
Synopsis:
Archeologist Gustave Merril wants Ted to smuggle an
Aztec death mask into the States. Ted refuses - and
Merril promptly takes him prisoner. [TA]
(30Nov61 New York City)
(20Nov64 on WSIX-8, Nashville, Fri. 6:30pm)
1.10 [--] Ripcord: DEATH CAMP
Guest Cast:
Biff Elliot
Kelton Garwood
Shug Fisher (recurring)
Mike Masters
Allen Jaffe
Synopsis:
The mysterious deaths of three uranium prospectors prompt Ted and Jim to
investigate. [TA]
(Aired 13Feb63 on KFVS-12, Girardeau, MO, Wednesday 5:30pm)
1.11 [--] Ripcord: DERELICT
Guest Cast:
Alan Baxter (as Leach)
Marshall Reed (as Harvey)
Ashley Cowan (as Parrot)
1.12 [--] Ripcord: TOP SECRET (1961/62)
Guest Cast:
Robert Clarke (as Carl Sexton)
Paul Birch (as Dr. Rupert Sexton)
John Alonzo (as Amendarez)
(12Apr62 [us] NYC)
1.13 [--] Ripcord: RADAR RESCUE (1961/62)
Guest Cast:
Edward Norris (as George Anderson)
John Considine (as Lt. Bill Kirk)
Jack Hogan (as Major Jackson)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
Gary True (as Capt. Reeves)
Mary Ann Durken (as Anderson's Daughter)
(7Jun62 [us] NYC)
1.14 [--] Ripcord: SIERRA JUMP (1961)
(a.k.a. "Under the Influence of Drugs")
Guest Cast:
Byron Morris (as Henry Harris)
Charles G. Martin (as Bradley Spencer)
Kenny Roberts (as Andy)
Synopsis:
Chuck is trying to stop passenger Jay Coates Spencer from jumping out
of his plane. [TA]
(23Nov61 US airdate)
(Aired 5Dec61 on WTVN-6, Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday 7:00pm)
1.15 [--] Ripcord: THE SILVER CORD (1961)
Guest Cast:
Richard F. Simon ("The Amazing Soiderman")(as Speed Domaine)
Jack Chaplain (as Billy Domaine)
James Anderson (as Skinner)
George Dunn (as John Chapman)
(11Jan62 [us] NYC)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: THOROUGHBRED
Guest Cast:
Doris Dowling (as Margo Kane)
Lee Van Cleef (as Henry Kane)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: RANSOM DROP
Guest Cast:
Tracy Olsen (as Dana Oliver)
Rick Marlow (as Leather Jacket)
Jerry Lazarre (as Webb Moody)
Jack Raine (as Brandon Oliver)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
1.19 [--] Ripcord: DOUBLE DROP
Guest Cast:
Kenneth MacDonald (as Dr. Page)
Gene Roth (as The Sheriff)
James Coburn (as Bert Tucker)
Chris Kims (as Webb)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
Bert Tucker, Jim's old Army buddy, is on the lam following a robbery.
Injured, he seeks refuge in a mountain cabin owned by Dr. Page. [TA]
1.xx [--] Ripcord: ESCAPE
Guest Cast:
Lane Bradeford (as Steve Danton)
Page Slattery (as Brewster)(recurring)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: THE FINANCIER
Guest Cast:
Myron Healey (as Joe Manson)
Robert Karnes (as Sam Patton)
Leo Needham (as the pilot)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: SENTENCE OF DEATH
Guest Cast:
(no details)
Ted and Jim are hired to parachute a propeller device to the
fishing trip "Caroline" [ta]
(26Apr62 NYC)
(14Apr65 Ch14. Wed 10:00pm)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: DESPERATE CHOICE
Guest Cast:
Michael Clay (as Sep Wilson)
Leslie Barrett (as David Croft)
Dan White (as Simmons)
Page Slattery (as Brewster)(recurring)
(15Feb62 NYC)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: DIPLOMATIC MISSION
Guest Cast:
Walter Brooke (as Frank Taylor)
Richard Simmons (as Jock Sutherland)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: HAGEN CHARM
Guest Cast:
Arthur Franz (as Dr. Joe Hagen)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: THE HELICOPTER RACE
Guest Cast:
Dyan Cannon (as Marion Hines)
Tom Brown (as Frederick Stanton)
Norman Alden (as Owen
1.xx [--] Ripcord: HIGH JEOPARDY
Guest Cast:
Lorrie Richards (as Linda Fortnum)
Don O'Kelly (as Johnny Grimes)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: HI-JACK (1961)
Guest Cast:
Whit Bissell (as Elmo Gossett)
Betty Lou Gerson (as Emily Burton)
Liam Sullivan (as Jeffrey Hamlin)
(26Oct61 NYC)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: THE HUMAN KIND
Guest Cast:
Paul Lambert (as Colin Garth)
Miranda Jones (as Ruth Rutledge)
Nick Nicholson (as Andy, the pilot)
Kenneth Tobey (as Rev. Dr. Darrell)
Ted and Jim join in an air search for Ruth Rutledge - the kidnapped
wife of a rancher. [TA]
(Aired 12Jan66 on KTTS, Ch. 10, Springfield, MO, Wednesday 11:20pm)
1.30 [--] Ripcord: HURRICANE CHARLIE
21Jun62 [us] NYC
Guest Cast:
Grant Lockwood (as Bob Archer)(recurring)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
1.31 [31] Ripcord: ELEGY FOR A HERO
(c)1962 ZIV-UA-Ivan Tors. Release no. 1031.
producer-director, Leon Benson
Writer, Stuart Jerome.
Film Editor, Bruce Pierce
photography, Robert Wyckoff.
Guest Cast:
Lang Jeffries
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
1.32 [32] Ripcord: COUGAR MESA (a.k.a. "Hand To Hand")(1962)
(c)1962 by ZIV-UA-Ivan Tors. Release no. 1032.
Executive producer: Ivan Tors
Producer: Stanley Colbert
Director: James Clavell
Writer: P.K. Palmer
Film Editor: Warren H. Adams
Photography: Monroe Askins
Guest Cast:
Michael Pate
Della Sharman
Joey Faye
William Benedict
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
Synopsis:
An airplane owner tells his insurance company that his plane has
crashed. But the company wants proof. [TA]
(Aired 10May62 on WNEP-16, Scranton; Thursday 7:00pm)
(Aired 17May62 NYC)
1.xx [--] Ripcord: JUNGLE SURVIVAL
Guest Cast:
(no details)
1.33 [--] Ripcord: LAST CHANCE
Guest Cast:
Hank Patterson (as Henry Patterson)
Tom London (as Garet)
Nick Pawl (as Brinker)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
1.34 [--] Ripcord: LOG JAM
Guest Cast:
Paul Langton (as Haney)
Michael Harvey (as George St. Martin)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
Lumberman George St. Martin hires Ted and Jim to fly in nitroglycerin to
help break up a logjam. Seems a sawmill tow is depending on the logs for
economic survival. [TA]
(14Jan62 NYC)
1.35 [--] Ripcord: MILE HIGH TRIANGLE
Guest Cast:
Robert Sampson (as Eric Ashley)
Walter Mathews (as Charley Carroll)
Page Slattery (as Brewster)(recurring)
(22Jan62 NYC)
1.36 [--] Ripcord: MILLIONAIRE DOCTOR
Guest Cast:
Lee Philips (as Dr. Kendrick)
George MacReady (as Hal Glinders)
Meade Martin (as Mark)
Erica Elliot (as Ellen)
Mary Lou Stevens (as Norma)
1.37 [--] Ripcord: ONE FOR THE MONEY
Guest Cast:
(no details)
1.38 [--] Ripcord: PARA-NURSE
Guest Cast:
Harry Carey Jr. (as Carl Devlin)
William Flahery (as Dr. Barnes)
Curtis Haymore (as Carl Jr,)
Grant Lockwood (as Bob Archer) (recurring)
Allison Hayes ("Attack of the 50 ft Woman" 1958)
################## Ripcord ###################
############## season 2 1962-63 ##############
##############################################
Syndicated Program
2.01 [39] Ripcord: AERIAL BACKFIRE
(color)
(a.k.a. "Cold Turkey")
Guest Cast:
Michael Petit ......... Billy Jacobi
Rex Hollman ........... Fellows
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
Synopsis:
Ted and Jim are fighting a forest fire and they're too busy to rescue
Billy Jacobi's lost dog. [TA]
(18Oct62 NYC )
(Aired 20Sep65 in COLOR on KVOO-2, Tulsa, OK., Monday 6:30pm)
2.02 [40] Ripcord: AMONG THOSE MISSING
Guest Cast:
Paul Lambert (as Sandoe)
Vic Creatore (as Deputy Turner)
Gordon Jones (as Captain Blacker)
2.03 [41] Ripcord: CHUTE TO KILL
Guest Cast:
Joanna Moore (as Jill Kelly)
Jerome Cowan (as Stuart Ferris)
2.04 [42] Ripcord: DAY OF THE HUNTER (color)
Guest Cast:
Karl Swenson (as Will Gorman)
King Calder (as John Harland)
Synopsis:
On a hunting trip, Will Gorman accidentally shoots his boss, John
Harland. Ted & Jim find the injured Harland and it looks as if he's going
to survive the shooting - until Gorman decides that his boss will
charge him with attempted murder. [TA]
(Aired 3Aug63 in COLOR on WHDH-5, Boston, Mass., Sat. 7:00pm)
2.05 [43] Ripcord: DEVIL'S CANYON
Guest Cast:
Audrey Dalton (as Janice Dean)
Paul Birch (as Bill Dean)
Pat Conway (as Johnny Bicker)
2.06 [44] Ripcord: EXPOSE (a.k.a. "Skepical Reports")(color)
Guest Cast:
Steve Brodie (as Allison Hartford)
William Boyett (as Gore)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot, pilot)(recurring)
Synopsis:
Hackwriter Allison Hartford decides to vent his spleen, and the target
he picks for his libelous journalism is skydiving. [TA]
(Aired 28Jan68 in COLOR on KXTV-10, Sacramento, California, Sunday
8:30am)
2.07 [45] Ripcord: THE FINAL JUMP
Guest Cast:
Grant Richards (as "Doctor" Partlow)
Tim Mathieson (as David)
Morgan Jones (as Jeff Kilby)
Joan Granville (as Doris Thurston)
2.08 [46] Ripcord: FLIGHT FOR LIFE
Guest Cast:
Adam Hill (as Jud Strother)
Don Eitner (as Milt Clay)
Dayton Lummis (as Dr. Chapman)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
2.09 [47] Ripcord: FLIGHT TO TERROR (color)
Guest Cast:
Joe De Santis (as Louis Santee)
Helena Nash (as Mrs. Judita Santee)
Al Ruscio (as Carlo Minnelli)
Synopsis:
Ted and Jim answer an SOS from a downed plane near the Mexican
border.
(Aired 28Dec63 in COLOR on WHDH-5, Boston, Mass. Sat. 6:30pm)
2.10 [48] Ripcord: A FREE FALLING STAR
Guest Cast:
Harry Carey Jr. (as Cheyenne Bronson)
Ben Welden (as Dan Larch)
Barbara Collentine (as Dorothy Bronson)
Sherry Alberoni (as Pamela Bronson)
Synopsis:
Singing star Cheyenne Bronson wants to open his new act with a skydiving
stunt. [TA]
(Aired 26Feb63 NYC)
(Aired 14Feb63 on WTVW-7, Evansville, Indiana, Thursday 6:00pm)
2.11 [49] Ripcord: HOSTAGE BELOW
Guest Cast:
Paul Lambert (as Dick Kupper)
Mikki Jamison (as Laurie Hart)
Richard Eastham (as Don Hart)
(15Jan62 [us] NYC ?????????)
2.12 [50] Ripcord: THE HUNTER (color)
Guest Cast:
Gerald Mohr ............ Cliff Street
Russ Conway ............ Scott
Joseph Turkel .......... the Bush Pilot
Howard Curtis .......... the Man
Shug Fisher ............ Charlie Kern (pilot)(recurring)
Synopsis:
Cliff Street tells Ted and Jim he's hunting a mountain
lion which killed his partner a year ago. [TA]
(Aired 28Jan67 on WHBF-4, Rock Island, Illinois, Sat.
6:00pm, COLOR)
2.13 [51] Ripcord: INFILTRATION
Guest Cast:
John Zaremba (as Harvey Stanton)
Lane Bradford (as MacQuarrie)
Ric Marlow (as Steve Neven)
2.14 [52] Ripcord: THE INVENTOR (1963)
Guest Cast:
Cheryl Holdridge (as Angie Carter)
Grandon Rhodes (as Dwight Carter)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
(30Apr63 NYC)
2.15 [53] Ripcord: JUMP OR DIE
Guest Cast:
Lurene Tuttle (as Helen Brandon)
Carl Crow (as Steve Brandon)
Michael Vandever (as Mark Brandon)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
2.16 [54] Ripcord: JUMP TO A BLIND VALLEY
Guest Cast:
Paul Fix (as Josh Parker)
James Johnson (as Tom Asher)
Michael Barrier (as Garson)
2.17 [55] Ripcord: JUMP TO FREEDOM
Guest Cast:
Charles Bronson (as Korvich)
John Apone (as Andrei)
Don Harvey (as Rand)
Adam La Zarre (as Sergei)
(21May63 NYC)
2.18 [56] Ripcord: MAN ON A MOUNTAIN
(color)
Guest Cast: (no details)
Ted and Jim find that a landslide was not an accident - it was caused
by a renegade fleeing from the law. [TA]
(29Jul67 in COLOR on WPIX-11, New York City, NY, Saturday 5:30pm)
2.19 [57] Ripcord: THE LAST CHAPTER (color)
Guest Cast:
John E. Wengraf (as Jans Rovag)
Albert Szabo (as Herman Witz)
Dolores Faith (as Tanya Rovag)
Synopsis:
Col. Jans Rovag, a refugee from Communism, has written an expose of Red
tactics. Ted learns that someone is desperate to stop publication of the
story. [TA]
(Aired 29May66 in COLOR on WISC-3, Madison, Wisconsin, Sunday 5:30pm)
2.20 [58] Ripcord: THE LOSERS
Guest Cast:
Frederick Beir (as Ed Sutton)
(13Dec62 NYC)
2.21 [59] Ripcord: THE LOST ONES (a.k.a. "X-Factor")
Guest Cast:
Lyle Cameron (as Jim's pilot)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
2.22 [60] Ripcord: THE LOST TRIBE
Guest Cast:
Douglas Dick (as Mike Alberts)
2.23 [61] Ripcord: MILLION DOLLAR DROP
Guest Cast:
Edward C. Platt (as Jake Miller)
Ken Drake (as Hal Lundy)
Leigh Chapman (as Sal)
(18Jun63 NYC)
2.24 [62] Ripcord: THE MONEY MINE (1962)
Guest Cast:
Lee Van Cleef (as Jack Martin)
Kendrick Huxham (as Fred Reynolds)
John Bryant (as Stuart Langton)
(3Jan63 NYC)
2.25 [63] Ripcord: PANIC AT 10,000 (aka "Panic at
Ten Thousand") (color)
Guest Cast:
Myron Healey ......... Sen Gilbert
Ken Drake ............ Rep Fant
Ted Knight ........... The Attendant
Synopsis:
When the boys are invited to perform at the opening ceremonies of an airport,
they become involved in a long-standing feud. [TA]
(Aired 4Oct65 in COLOR on KVOO-2, Tulsa, OK., Monday 6:30pm)
2.26 [64] Ripcord: PICTURE OF TERROR
Guest Cast:
Dick Sargent (as Frank Webb)
Tyler McVey (as Dan Jenkins)
(23Apr63 NYC)
2.27 [65] Ripcord: A PRESENT FOR FELIPE (color)
Guest Cast:
Barbara Luna (as Domi Dias)
Ted and Jim perform their sky-diving act for a party. [TA]
(Aired 18Jan64 in COLOR on WHDH-5, Boston, Saturday 6:30pm)
2.28 [66] Ripcord: THE PROUD LITTLE MAN
Guest Cast:
Arthur Peterson (as Doc)
Paul Comi (as Chuck Lambert, pilot)(recurring)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
Note:
Both pilots were featured in this episode
- was this the transition episode with both pilots?
- if so maybe this should move earlier - say start of season2
2.29 [67] Ripcord: RACE MORGAN: BOUNTY HUNTER
Guest Cast:
Johnny Seven (as Race Morgan)
Earl Hansen (as Al Sorto)
David Tomack (as Smith)
(25Oct62 NYC)/
2.30 [68] Ripcord: REPRISAL
Guest Cast:
Mary Scott (as Reba Mason)
Ed Peck (as Sheriff Clanton)
Howard Wendell (as Sam Marks)
2.31 [69] Ripcord: RUN, JOBY RUN
Guest Cast:
Carl Crow (as Joby Mason)
Dani Lynn (as Ella Ledbetter)
Robert J.Wilke (as Samuel Wilson)
2.32 [70] Ripcord: SEMPER PARATUS ANY TIME
Guest Cast:
Bryan Russell (as Tim)
John Gallaudet (as Fred)
Ward Wood (as Com. Condon)
Shug Fisher (as Charlie Kern, pilot)(recurring)
2.33 [71] Ripcord: THE SUICIDE CLUB
Guest Cast:
Philip Ober (as Dr. Ladd)
Forrest Taylor (as Martin Seims)
Lester Matthews (as Hugh Olds)
Paul R. Maxey (as Sam Breckridge)
2.24 [72] Ripcord: THE TROUBLE WITH DENNY COLLINS
Guest Cast:
Lynn Bari (as Meg Collins)
Peter Helm (as Denny Collins)
2.35 [73] Ripcord: THE WELL (1963)
(c)1963 Rapier Productions, Inc. -UA , Prod. no. 67B
executive producer, Babe Unger /producer, Leon Benson
director, Jack Herzberg
writer, Karl Daniels.
photography, Monroe Askins /
Film Editor, John B. Woelz;
Guest Cast:
Kathie Browne (as Lucy Williams)
William Fawcett (as the prospector)
Lyle Cameron
Linden Chiles.
Synopsis:
Ted McKeever (Larry Pennell) joins an insurance investigator Lucy
Williams (Kathie Browne) in search of a stolen payroll. Johnny Reed
turns up, identifies himself as a G-man and warns Jim Buckley (Ken
Curtis) that Lucy is the girlfriend of one of the payroll robbers.
Sensing McKeever's danger, Jim takes off in pursuit to warn him.
When Ted and Lucy reach the cache, it's empty! He suddenly finds
himself faced with an enraged gun-armed girl. She thinks he's
double crossed her. It's a race between trigger-finger and Ripcord
as Jim makes a desperate plunge from the sky, to save his partner.
2.36 [74] Ripcord: WHERE DO ELEPHANTS GO TO DIE?
Written by Harlan Ellison
Guest Cast:
Denver Pyle (as Aaron Sparks)
Lynn Cartwright (as the Newspaper woman)
Alan Reynolds (as Dr. Newcomb)
(12Feb63 NYC)
2.37 [75] Ripcord: WILLIE (Color)
(c) 1963 Rapier Productions, Inc. -UA Prod. no. 63B
executive producer, Babe Unger ;
producer, Leon Benson ;
director, Jack Herzberg ;
writer, Steve Fisher ; story by Sid Harris.
Film Editor, John F. Schreyer
photography, Monroe Askins.
Guest Cast:
Michael Vandever (as Willie Sandstrom)
Steve Terrell (as Nick Lacy)
Dawn Wells (as Evvie Eden)
John Rockwell,
Lyle Cameron
(26Mar63 NYC)/
2.38 [76] Ripcord: THE WRONG WAY DOWN
Guest Cast:
Bill Quinn (as Ericson)
Sue Randall (as Nora Willis)
################## Ripcord ###################
####### email from Skydiver Bob Henry #########
##############################################
Letter from "Ripcord" skydiver
Bob Henry <vitalforces@hotmail.com> January 2001
Here is as much information as I can summon from memory (I'm 63 but still
savvy and jumping periodically at the Beaver Valley Skydivers DZ in Western
Pennsylvania. Ripcord was founded by General James C. Hall, U.S.A.F.,
Retired, and David Burt, deceased. Together, having parachuted into remote
parts of Mexico searching for gold and other special escapades, they formed
Paraventures Incorporated. In 1961, Jim Hall, in colaboration with his
partner Dave Burt, wrote the pilot film for Ripcord and sold it to ZIV
Television. The sale included a contract to do all the jumping for at least
the first year of the series, 1961/62. The subsequent years, were contracted
by Lyle Cameron and others for a flat rate to make whatever and whenever
jumps were necessary. Bob Bouquor did their air-to-air photography until
he
was killed while filming for the series. The way the story goes, he was
filming jumpers OVER the ocean bay at Malibu and they opened rather late.
Bob did not have time to open his parachute. One of their jumpers, Rod Pak
made a jump, rigged with a harness and no parachute, but connected with
fellow jumper (I think Jim Tyler or Taylor, since killed making a BASE
jump
off El Capitan) who passed a reserve parachute to him. Rod hooked it up and
landed safely. Jim Hall, as of a year ago, resides in Aurora, Colorado with
his wife and son. Dave Burt died after being in a coma due to a car accident
Side note: Jim made the first US zero-zero ejection for Burns (ejected 150
feet into the air from an ejection seat on the ground and his parachute was
BALLISTICALLY DEPLOYED, successfully. I think someone in England prempted
this feat.) Both Jim and Dave were members of the Adventurer's Club in Los
Angeles. Sky God, Bob Sinclair, did most all the air-to-air photography
from the concept to the end of Paraventure's contract.
If ever saw the TV show of Johnny Carson jumping from 12,500
feet, twice, it was Bob who trained him and held him on buddy jumps
(before tandems). Bob is now 74 years old and still making an average of one
jump per WEEK. He has trained astronauts, filmed skydivers in numerous TV
commercials, documentaries, movies and originated the four-line cut on round
canopies in order to make them quasi steerable. BOB, ALMOST A
PARTNER IN PARAVENTURES, CAN GIVE YOU MORE ACCURATE AND DETAILED
INFORMATION THAN I CAN. HE IS CONSTANTLY VISITING DROP ZONES ALL OVER THE
US.
Two pros, Bud Kesow (spelling ?) and Vern Williams made
most of the jumps
for ACTORS Larry Pennell and Ken Curtis. Both were
natives of Lake Elsinore, CA
where most of the filming was done during the first year. I made twelve
jumps for the series, one doubling as Ken Curtis. The scene was about an
escaped convict hiding in the woods and Jim Buckley (Ken) was knocked
unconscious by the convict's bullet. The landing had to be an uncontrolled,
accurate landing with 15 mile-an-hour winds aloft and 3 to 6 on the ground.
I left the plane at 2000 feet and opened at 1200. At about 800 feet, I was
signaled by a flag to throw my head back and render myself limp and ride the
round canopy to the ground in a ravine. Other jumps I made were doubling
for ??? a teen-age music idol named "Bobby" and, because I'm short, a girl
in one of the series named "Linda." While only making twelve jumps, they
were used numerous times throughout the first year of the series.
Larry Pennel (Ted McKeever) was a former professional baseball pitcher. I
do not know which team he played for. He might still be living in Santa
Monica, California. Ken Curtis (Jim Buckley) passed away in Arizona, I
think
in 1994 from cancer. He was a heavy smoker. You might be aware, Ken played
Festus on GUNSMOKE. Ken was married and subsequently divorced from John Ford
's daughter. John Ford, a producer, discovered and produced many of John
Wayne's movies in which Ken had small parts. Ken was also one of the original
Sons of the Pioneers singing group in, I believe, the late forties and early
fifties.
Bob Henry vitalforces@hotmail.com
Jan 2001
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############### copyright info ###############
############ Library of Congress #############
Unfortunately Episode Title is NOT listed with Prod. No.
Ripcord; No. 1001. ODAT: 20Sep61; OREG: LP50502.
Ripcord; No. 1002; ODAT: 27Sep61; OREG: LP50503.
Ripcord; No. 1003; ODAT: 04Oct61; OREG: LP50504.
Ripcord; No. 1004; ODAT: 11Oct61; OREG: LP50505.
Ripcord; No. 1005; ODAT: 18Oct61; OREG: LP50506.
Ripcord; No. 1006; ODAT: 25Oct61; OREG: LP50507.
Ripcord; No. 1007; ODAT: 01Nov61; OREG: LP50508.
Ripcord; No. 1008; ODAT: 08Nov61; OREG: LP50509.
Ripcord; No. 1009; ODAT: 15Nov61; OREG: LP50510.
Ripcord; No. 1010; ODAT: 22Nov61; OREG: LP50511.
Ripcord; No. 1011; ODAT: 29Nov61; OREG: LP50512.
Ripcord; No. 1012; ODAT: 13Dec61; OREG: LP50513.
Ripcord; No. 1013; ODAT: 18Dec61; OREG: LP50514.
Ripcord; No. 1014; ODAT: 25Dec61; OREG: LP50515.
====
Ripcord; No. 1017; ODAT: 15Jan62; OREG: LP50532.
Ripcord; No. 1018; ODAT: 25Jan62; OREG: LP50533.
Ripcord; No. 1019; ODAT: 01Feb62; OREG: LP50534.
Ripcord; No. 1020; ODAT: 08Feb62; OREG: LP50535.
Ripcord; No. 1021; ODAT: 15Feb62; OREG: LP50536.
Ripcord; No. 1022; ODAT: 22Feb62; OREG: LP50537.
Ripcord; No. 1024; ODAT: 08Mar62; OREG: LP50538.
Ripcord; No. 1025; ODAT: 15Mar62; OREG: LP50539.
Ripcord; No. 1026; ODAT: 22Mar62; OREG: LP50540.
Ripcord; No. 1027; ODAT: 29Mar62; OREG: LP50541.
Ripcord; No. 1028; ODAT: 05Apr62; OREG: LP50542.
Ripcord; No. 1029; ODAT: 16Apr62; OREG: LP50543.
Ripcord; No. 1030; ODAT: 23Apr62; OREG: LP50544.
Ripcord; No. 1031; ODAT: 26Apr62; OREG: LP50545.
Ripcord; No. 1032; ODAT: 03May62; OREG: LP50546.
Ripcord; No. 1033; ODAT: 10May62; OREG: LP50547.
Ripcord; No. 1034; ODAT: 17May62; OREG: LP50548.
Ripcord; No. 1035; ODAT: 24May62; OREG: LP50549.
Ripcord; No. 1036; ODAT: 31May62; OREG: LP50550.
Ripcord; No. 1037; ODAT: 07Jun62; OREG: LP50551.
Ripcord; No. 1038; ODAT: 14Jun62; OREG: LP50552.
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Ripcord; No. 1040; ODAT: 25Sep62; OREG: LP50516.
Ripcord; No. 1041; ODAT: 08Oct62; OREG: LP50517.
Ripcord; No. 1042; ODAT: 09Oct62; OREG: LP50518.
Ripcord; No. 1043; ODAT: 16Oct62; OREG: LP50519.
Ripcord; No. 1044; ODAT: 29Oct62; OREG: LP50520.
Ripcord; No. 1045; ODAT: 31Oct62; OREG: LP50521.
Ripcord; No. 1046; ODAT: 06Nov62; OREG: LP51692.
Ripcord; No. 1047; ODAT: 13Nov62; OREG: LP50522.
Ripcord; No. 1048; ODAT: 20Nov62; OREG: LP50523.
Ripcord; No. 1049; ODAT: 27Nov62; OREG: LP50524.
Ripcord; No. 1050; ODAT: 04Dec62; OREG: LP50525.
Ripcord; No. 1051; ODAT: 11Dec62; OREG: LP50526.
Ripcord; No. 1052; ODAT: 18Dec62; OREG: LP50527.
Ripcord; No. 1053; ODAT: 25Dec62; OREG: LP50528.
Ripcord; No. 1054; ODAT: 07Jan63; OREG: LP50553.
Ripcord; No. 1055; ODAT: 08Jan63; OREG: LP50554.
Ripcord; No. 1056; ODAT: 15Jan63; OREG: LP50555.
Ripcord; No. 1057; ODAT: 22Jan63; OREG: LP50556.
Ripcord; No. 1058; ODAT: 29Jan63; OREG: LP50557.
Ripcord; No. 1059; ODAT: 05Feb63; OREG: LP50558.
Ripcord; No. 1060; ODAT: 12Feb63; OREG: LP50559.
Ripcord; No. 1061; ODAT: 19Feb63; OREG: LP50560.
Ripcord; No. 1062; ODAT: 26Feb63; OREG: LP50561.
Ripcord; No. 1063; ODAT: 05Mar63; OREG: LP50562.
Ripcord; No. 1064; ODAT: 12Mar63; OREG: LP50563.
Ripcord; No. 1065; ODAT: 19Mar63; OREG: LP50564.
Ripcord; No. 1066; ODAT: 26Mar63; OREG: LP50565.
Ripcord; No. 1067; ODAT: 02Apr63; OREG: LP50566.
Ripcord; No. 1068; ODAT: 09Apr63; OREG: LP50567.
Ripcord: No. 1069; ODAT: 16Apr63; OREG: LP50568.
Ripcord; No. 1070; ODAT: 23Apr63; OREG: LP50569.
Ripcord; No. 1071; ODAT: 30Apr63; OREG: LP50570.
Ripcord; No. 1072; ODAT: 07May63; OREG: LP50571.
Ripcord; No. 1073; ODAT: 14May63; OREG: LP50572.
Ripcord; No. 1074; ODAT: 21May63; OREG: LP50573.
Ripcord; No. 1075; ODAT: 28May63; OREG: LP51123.
Ripcord; No. 1076; ODAT: 04Jun63; OREG: LP51124.
Ripcord; No. 1077; ODAT: 11Jun63; OREG: LP51125.
################## Ripcord ###################
################# the end ##################
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