CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - Canadian  Series
"Radisson/Tomahawk" (1957-58)        "Hudson's Bay" (1959-60)
"Hawkeye" (1957-58)         "Northwest Passage" (1958-59) 
Radisson TV intro (1957) aka Tomahaw (French version)
Radisson/ Tomahawk (1957-58)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Blaine Allan, Boyce Hart, Alan Keeling, West Midlands UK
John King, New York City (synopsis of eps 1-14)
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://www.imdb.com)

"Turn Up the Contrast: CBC Television Drama to 1987"
UBC/CBC co-publication, Vancouver : 1987,
book written by
Mary Jane Miller, Professor of Literature (Emerita)
Department of Dramatic Arts, Brock University, Ontario , Canada

------------------------------------
RADISSON (Canadian title) /TOMAHAWK (UK and US title)
------------------------------------
Omega Productions (Montreal Studios) /Radio Canada production
for
CBC
Distributed overseas by Associated-British Pathe
Produced by Yves Bigras
Written by John Lucarotti  Jean Desprez  Renée Normand
Directed by Pierre Gauvreau

Canadian Western Adventure series 1957-58      26 episodes  x 30 min bw
CBC airdates  Sat 7:00-7:30 p.m., 9 Feb-4 May 1957  (premiered on French Stations 3Feb57)
Sat 7:00-7:30 p.m., 2 Nov 1957-25 Jan 1958
starring
Jacques Godin as Pierre Esprit Radisson
René Caron as Medard Chouart, Sieur Des Groseilliers
(Radisson's brother-in-law and partner)
-----------------------------------------------------
Raymond Royer as Onega (Radisson's Indian blood brother)
Percy Rodriquez as Iroqois Chieftain
---------------------------------------------------
Julien Bessette as Nahala (Radisson's Indian enemy)
Jean Boisjoli as Mojida  (Huron Chieftain)
Francoise Faucher as Marguerite (Radisson's sister)
Camille Ducharme as French Governor of 3 Rivers
William Robert Fournier as Dutch Governor of Fort Orange

Set Designer Leo Jacques / Costumes: Monique Charbonneau
Director of Photography Dennis Mason
Sound Engineer Eric Reed / Cameraman Hans Reymer

Premise: The continuing story of Piere Esprit Radisson on his journey up
the Hudson during the 17th Century. Based on a true story.

Location filming at Ile Perrot on the St. Lawrence River
Studio filming at the Montreal studios of Omega Productions

 Location filming: Perrot Dowker's Island off Ile Perrot near on
the St. Lawrence River, Montreal.
Studio filming: Cote des Neiges Studios of Omega Productions,Montreal

Note:
This 26 episode series is a continuing story and should be shown in the
CORRECT order for continuity. However, the correct order is still to be verified.
There is much confusion over episode titles/aka's,  synopses and air dates.
We have to assume that the original CBC broadcasts were in the correct sequence.
Whereas American and British syndicators may have varied the sequence and
also may have given the episodes Alternative titles - AKA'S.
Come on guys lets get this guide sorted!

########## Radisson -aka - Tomahawk ##########
############## season 1 Early 1957 ###########
##############################################
13 New Episodes
CBC Saturdays (02Nov57-25Jan58)

1.01 [--] Radisson/Tomahawk: CAPTURE - BY THE IROQUOIS
(episode title from CBC Times/ US TV Guide)
09Feb57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Cast [BH]:
Jacques Godin .............. Pierre Radisson
Rene Caron ................. des Groseilliers
Andre Page ................. Jacques
Claude Provencher .......... Herdsman
Julien Bessette ............ Nahahla
Raymond Royer .............. Onenga
Jose Rodriguez ............. Iroquois Chieftain
Jack Zolov ................. Lone Indian
Synopsis [BH]:
Pierre Radisson, after witnessing the slaying of two of his friends,
is captured by Iroquois Indians who promise to spare his life if he
will withstand their torture without flinching. [BH]
Synopsis (from US)
Voyageur Pierre Esprit Radisson goes on the warpath after two
friends on a hunting trip are killed by the Iroquois. [JK]
(US syndication: 6Oct57 New York City)   

1.02 [--] Radisson/Tomahawk: ESCAPE - FROM THE INDIANS
(episode title from CBC Times / US TV Guide)
16Feb57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Guest Cast [BH]:
William Robert Fournier ..... Dutch Governor of Fort Orange
Boudra Bradon ............... Dutchman
Synopsis [BH]:
While the chief and his tribe go on the warpath and attack the French,
Radisson and his blood-brother, Onenga, attack a neighboring tribe.
Later, Radisson and the other Indians in his war party visit the Dutch
at Fort Orange. When he is recognized as a Frenchman, the governor of
the fort offers to bribe the Indians to give him his freedom. [BH]
(US syndication: 13Oct57 New York City)

1.03 [--] Radisson/Tomahawk: FEAST OF THE GLUTTONS
(episode title from CBC Times/ US TV Guide)
23Feb57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Guest Cast: [BH]
Pierre Boucher ............ Pere Ragueneau
Bertrand Gagnon ........... Major Dupuis
Edouard Wooley ............ Parisian Host
Michele Le Hardy .......... Parisian Lady
Francoise Faucher ......... Marguerite, Radisson’s Sister
Lionel Villeneuve ......... Pere Radisson
Laurette Fournier ......... Mere Radisson
Camille Ducharme .......... Governor of Three Rivers
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson is summoned by the governor of Three Rivers to guide a
missionary through Iroquois territory. When they arrive at the
mission, they find that the Iroquois have slaughtered all the
Huron converts. [BH]
Synopsis (from US):
Radisson journeys from Fort Orange to Three Rivers and is asked
by the Governor to accompany a Jesuit Missionary to Fort Onandagua,  
small mission in the heart of Iroquois Country. [JK]
(US syndication: 20Oct57 New York City) 
(UK syndication: 17Jan61 ITV Tyne-Tees, Wed 5:25 pm)
Synsopsis: [CA]
Radisson, arriving home after two year's absence, is warmly welcomed
by his family, and later he is summoned to the presence of the governor
of Three Rivers. There he meets a missionary, who wants Radisson to guide
him through Iroquois territory to his mission. When the missionary and
Radisson arrive at their destination, they find that Iroquois have
slaughtered all the Huron converts. Radisson learns that the Indians
are planning to attack a nearby French fort and persuades the fort
commander to turn over his food supplies to the Indians for a feast,
hoping that while the Indians steer off the effects of the prolonged
feasting, the fort settlers can escape. [CA]

1.04 [--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE (THREE) GENTLEMEN OF NEW FRANCE
(episode title from CBC Times)
02Mar57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Guest Cast: [BH]
Jean Brousseau ............. D’Avignon
Gerard Poirier.............. Dubois
Roland Lepage .............. Ferrand
Andre Loiseau .............. Algonquin
Synopsis [BH]:
With three French nobles, Radisson and his brother-in-law, sieur
des Groseilliers, set out on a journey which eventually leads them
to Lake Winnipeg. [BH]
Synopsis: [CA]
Radisson, back in Three Rivers, is persuaded by his brother-in-law, Des Groseilliers,
to set out to find what later becomes known as Lake Winnipeg. The governor of Three
Rivers insists that they take three French nobles with them. During the journey
there is friction between the three gentlemen of New France and the woodsmen—until
the party runs into a war party of Iroquois. Radisson saves the lives of the nobles
who apologize for their foolishness and return to Three Rivers. Radisson and Des
Groseilliers push on. [CA]

[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: CAT AND THE MOUSE (episode title from US TV Guide)
    Synopsis (from UK)
Radison and Medard, accompanied by four young French nobles on
their journey to Lake Winnipeg, find they are being followed
by a party of Iroquois braves.
(US syndication: 3Nov57 New York City)
(UK syndication: 31Jan61 ITV Tyne-Tees, Tue 5:25 pm)

1.05 [--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE ADVENTURERS
(episode title from CBC Times)
09Mar57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis: [CA]
Journeying by canoe, Radisson and Des Groseilliers fall in with a tribe of Huron
Indians. The two woodsmen quickly win the Hurons to their banner when they drive
off a war party of Iroquois. When Des Groseilliers falls sick Radisson pushes on
without him, and after much hardship finds the lake for which he has been looking.
He returns to the Huron Indian settlement for Des Groseilliers and together they
begin the return journey to Three Rivers, accompanied by the Hurons. Soon after,
the Hurons hear that the Iroquois are on the war path again, and rather than
continue through Iroquois territory, they decide to get rid of the two Frenchmen. [CA]

[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: LAKE WINNIPEG (episode title from US TV Guide)
    10Nov57 [us] New York City   
Synopsis (from US)
En route to Lake Winnipeg, Radisson and his friend Medard come to
the aid of the Hurons. [JK]

1.06 [--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE IROQUOIS BLOCKADE
(episode title from CBC Times/ US TV Guide)
16Mar57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Guest Cast: [BH]
Jean Boisjoli ............... Mojida, Huron Chieftain
Marc Forrez ................. Medicine Man
Synopsis [BH]:
Having subdued the Hurons, Radisson and des Groseilliers continue
their journey through Iroquois territory. Meanwhile, the Iroquois
have attacked a French settlement and massacred the inhabitants.
Radisson and his party are bypassed by the main body of Iroquois
but a small party led by an old enemy, Nahahla, discovers them. [BH]
Synopsis (from US)
While traveling with a group of friendly Hurons, Radisson is
surrounded by Iroquois. [JK]
(US syndication: 17Nov57 New York City) 

1.07 [--] Radisson/Tomahawk: FEAR AND FIREWORKS
(episode title from CBC Times / US TV Guide)
23Mar57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson and des Groseilliers decide to set out to find a sea that
the young adventurers heard about while traveling to Lake Winnipeg.
The governor of Three Rivers will not allow them to leave, however,
unless they agree to share the furs they collect during the trip. [BH]
Synopsis (from US)
Radisson and Medard plan a voyage to the North. [JK]
(US syndication: 1Dec57 New York City)    

1.08 [--] Radisson/Tomahawk: FEAST AND FAMINE (episode title from CBC Times)
30Mar57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
The search for the Northern sea. [BH]

1.09[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
06Apr57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis:
Tales of a fabulous land in the North arouse the enthusiasm of
Radisson and des Groseilliers. When the governor of Three Rivers
hears that they plan to explore the area, he forbids them to
leave unless they agree to share the profits of the trip. [BH]

[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE OLD AND THE NEW (episode title from US TV Guide)
   Synopsis 1 (from US):
On a visit to France, Radisson is horrified to discover that the
     French Government considers Canada merely a source of revenue. [JK]
(US syndication: 27Oct57 New York City)
Synopsis (from UK) 2:
During a visit to France, Radisson is horrified to discover that
the French attitude to New France (Canaada) is that it is merely a
source of revenue. In disgust, he returns to Three Rivers and meets
his new brother-in-law and future partner, Medard Chouart, Sieur
Des Groseilliers (René Caron).
(UK syndication: 24Jan61 ITV Tyne-Tees, Tue 5:25pm)

[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE ADAM DOLLARD MASSACRE (episode title from US TV Guide)
Synopsis (from US)    
Radisson and his party travel downriver in the middle of Iroquois
territory. [JK]
(US syndication: 24Nov57 New York City)  

1.10[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
13Apr57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson and des Groseilliers attack and blow up a fortified
Iroquois encampment before continuing on their journey to the
Arctic Seas. The expedition is halted by cold weather and a
winter camp is established. [BH]
[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: RACE AGAINST TIME (episode title from US TV Guide)
Synopsis (from US)     
On their Northern expedition, Raidsson and his group are caught by
the approach od winter. Radisson orders hunting parties to trap
enough animals to feed them all for the coming season, but the
Indians disagree with his concern over their food supply. [JK]
(US syndication 8Dec57 New York City)  

1.11[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
20Apr57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Des Groseilliers and Radisson are faced with starvation. They are
kept in their winter camp by a howling blizzard as game becomes
steadily scarce. To make matters worse, a roving band of Indians
comes to beg for food. [BH]
[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE FAMINE (episode title from US TV Guide)
Synopsis (from US) 
While Radisson, Medard and the Hurons are on a strict rationing
system to make their supplies last the winter, they are visited by
a party of starving Ottowa Indians begging for food. [JK]
(US syndication: 15Dec57 New York City) 

1.12[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
27Apr57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis:
Radisson’s Huron companions oppose his plan to spend the winter on
the shores of Hudson Bay. [BH]

[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE SEA TO THE NORTH (episode title from US TV Guide)
Synopsis (from US)
After a long journey, Radisson and the Huron finally reach the
      destination of their Northern trek. [JK]
(US syndication: 5Jan58 New York City)  

1.13[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
04May57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson and Groseilliers rescue a Huron chief when he is attacked
by a pack of hungry wolves. [BH]

[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE MIGHTY HUNTER (episode title from US TV Guide)
Synopsis (from US)
Scornful of Radisson's fur-trapping ability, the Huron Chief
      sets out alone into the woods to prove his own skill at trapping
beaver. [JK]
(US syndication: 12Jan58 New York City)

########## Radisson -aka - Tomahawk ##########
############## season 2 1957-58 ##############
##############################################
13 New Episodes
CBC Saturdays (02Nov57-25Jan58)

2.01 [14] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
02Nov57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson makes preparations to leave the Hudson Bay with the winter's
catch of furs. A major difficulty arises when the chief of a nearby
Cree village invites his complete party to spend the summer as his
guests. Indian customs decree that the refusal of such an invitation
would be an insult - and the future of the fur trade in the area
- and even the lives of the trappers - could be placed in jeopardy. [BH]

2.02 [15] Radisson/Tomahawk: CAESARS OF THE WILDERNESS
(episode title from CBC Times & US TV Guide)
09Nov57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Des Groseilliers is hit by an arrow during a siege of his cabin. He
and Radisson are then taken prisoner by the Cree prisoners. [BH]
Synopsis (from US) - possibly a different episode
A blizzard confines Radisson and the Huron to their cabin.
After three weeks Radisson comes close to losing his sanity. [JK]
(US syndication: 19Jan58 New York City) 

2.03 [16] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE FIGHT WITH LERCA (episode title from CBC Times)
16Nov57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
No information listed in CBC Times

2.04 [17] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
23Nov57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
The departure from the Cree village. [BH]

2.05 [18] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
30Nov57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
No information listed in CBC Times

2.06 [19] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
07Dec57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson and Groseilliers discover a band of warlike Iroquois
heading toward the camp of the Ottawas. [BH]

2.07 [20] Radisson/Tomahawk: TREASON
(episode title from CBC Times)
14Dec57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson is enraged by the injustice of two scheming officials
who pluck a fortune from his grasp. [BH]

2.08 [21] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
21Dec57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Quebec officials force Radisson and des Groseilliers to seek
financial aid from the British in order to continue their fur
trading [BH]
(or)
Radisson and des Groseilliers set out on a dangerous voyage. [BH]

2.09 [22] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED ("THE MUTINY")
28Dec57 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson and des Groseilliers are passengers on a ship threatened
by mutiny [BH]
(or)
A three-way fight breaks out between crew, officers and two passengers. [BH]
[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE MUTINY (from ITV Tyne-Tees -UK)
Directed by Pierre Gauvreau
Cast: (verified on ITV Tyne-Tees)
Jacques Godin ........... Pierre Esprit Radisson
Rene Caron .............. Medard Chourt
Raymond Boyer ........... Onenga
Percy Rodriquez ......... Iroquois Chieftan
Julien Bessette ......... Nahala
Jean Boisjoli ........... Mojida
Francoise Faucher ....... Marguerite
Camille Ducharme ........ French Governor of Three Rivers
Wm. Robt. Fournier ...... Dutch Governor of Fort Orange
Synopsis: (verified on ITV Tyne-Tees)
Radisson and Medard , after many refusals for a ship, finally are talked into
hiring an old vessel by two schemers - a captain and his first mate.
(UK syndication: 10Jun61 ITV Tyne-Tees, Sat 5:15)

2.10 [23] Radisson/Tomahawk: RETURNING TO BOSTON
(episode title from CBC Times)
04Jan58 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson and des Groseilliers attempt to reach Boston in an
unseaworthy ship manned by a treacherous crew.[BH]

2.11 [24] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED
11Jan58 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis:
Radisson and des Groseilliers run into trouble when they visit a
tiny fishing village gripped by strange tensions. [BH]

2.12 [25] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED   ("TRAITORS")
18Jan58 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson and des Groseilliers are branded traitors in New France
because of their attempt to reach Hudson Bay in an English ship. [BH]

2.13 [26] Radisson/Tomahawk: UNTITLED  (possibly  DISCOVERER v GOVERNOR ) (final episode)
25Jan58 CBC Saturday - original Canadian airdate
Synopsis [BH]:
Radisson and des Grosseilliers are taken into protective custody
by the British when authorities of French Canada issue a warrant
for their arrest. [BH]

########## Radisson - aka - Tomahawk #########
######### unmatched episode titles ##########
##############################################

[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE THIEF (episode title from UK TV Times)
(UK syndication: 22Nov59 ITV ABC North/Midlands, Sun 5.15pm)

[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE LONG NIGHT
[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE DECISION

[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE FUR TRADERS (episode title from UK TV Times)
Synopsis (from UK)
On the way to Three Rivers, Radisson, Medard and the Hurons head
for a cabin where they have left a quantity of furs with the
Ottowas. (UK syndication: 02May61 ITV Tyne-Tees, Tue 5:25 pm)

[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: A FAIR BARGAIN
[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE BETRAYAL
[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE DEFEAT
[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE PERSONAL GRUDGE
[--] Radisson/Tomahawk: THE DEPARTURE

########## Radisson - aka - Tomahawk #########
########### series background #############
##############################################

The first major dramatic series produced on film in Canada, "Radisson" attracted inevitable comparisons with
Walt Disney's Davy Crockett films, phenomenally popular in the U.S.A. and Canada when they were first broadcast
in l955. In fact, the serialized adventures of explorer Pierre Esprit Radisson were generally thought a response
to the Disney series, with all the attendant merchandising and publicity.

The idea for the series belonged to Monica Clare, the CBC's national organizer of children's programming. It had
arisen in l954, but waited until the completion of the national television network two years later. The adventures
of Radisson had also arisen as a prospect in the French language division of the CBC, and plans went ahead to produce
a series with one cast in both French and English, as the network was doing with the live, studio production,
"The Plouffe Family".

The British born John Lucarotti, who had written CBC radio series on Robin Hood and Marco Polo, was contracted to
write the series at a price of three hundred dollars per half-hour script for the right to run the shows once on each
station in the CBC network. (Rene Normand wrote the French translation.) Early on, Jacques Godin, a twenty-six year
old actor with the Thatre du Nouveau Monde, was cast as Radisson. Subsequently Rene' Caron signed to play Groseilliers,
Radisson's sidekick, the Buddy Ebsen to Godin's Fess Parker. Pierre Gauvreau, producer of the Montreal children's
program "Ppinot et Capucine", agreed to direct the series, which was shot in Montreal studios and at Ile Perrot,
on the St. Lawrence River southwest of Montreal. The series producer was Yves Bigras, and the director of photography
was Denis Mason, for Omega Productions, a Montreal company responsible for the technical production of the show.

Shooting started on 20 August l956, with a scheduled television premiere two months later. The budget was originally
set at $7,000 per episode, but shortly had to be raised to $l5,000, and the targeted premiere had to be pushed back
to December. The production was plagued with problems: swarms of mosquitoes, St. Lawrence river traffic that upset
the already unsteady birchbark canoes, airplanes from Dorval airport and trains that regularly disrupted the
authenticity of the seventeenth century period piece, and especially weather, which stalled production for
twenty-three days out of the first month and a half. As time wore on and winter approached, the costs escalated to
an estimated $25,000 per episode.

When the series finally appeared on television sets in French on 3 February l957 and in English the following Friday,
the 8th, the CBC hoped that the adventures of Radisson would capture Canadians' attention and imagination, and
advertisers, merchandisers, and John Lucarotti, who licensed the television character, hoped that those viewers
would snap up Radisson gear the way they had swallowed the Davy Crockett image. Wally Koster, star of Cross Canada
Hit Parade, had recorded the ballad of Radisson on the Spiral label:

"Radisson, Radisson,
Canada's courageous pioneer!
Radisson, Radisson,
Lord of the Wilderness,
The man who knew no fear."

With lyrics by the scriptwriter Lucarotti and melody by Johnny Cowell, the song never caught fire. Toy manufacturers
issued a Radisson doll, a Radisson rifle, a Radisson belt, a Radisson music box, a Radisson buckskin suit, a Radisson
t-shirt, a Radisson board game, and Radisson fur hats, which were actually leftover Davy Crockett coonskin caps,
with the tail pulled off and a white feather added.

Although the series ran 26 episodes, over two seasons, it was not a critical success. But what do critics know?
Nevertheless the show was sold to Australian and English television, and to stations in the U.S.A., where it was retitled 'Tomahawk'. .
 
################# Tomahawk #################
################## the end ##################
##############################################

Have you any comments, corrections, episode titles, air dates, production numbers, directors, writers, story/synopsis, guest stars, cast lists, etc?
Have you any old videos, or tv guides? Dust them off and let us know if you have any information on this series or any other tv series from the
Golden Age of TV, which is missing from any episode guides on the web. Perhaps a certain episode of a particular series coincided with a key
moment in your life, or in world events - and or has left a vivid memory of when it was shown. Let us know. Would you like to see any other
tv series guides on this site? If so please e-mail The Classic TV Archive - see Feedback below.
This guide may be distributed and copied freely, in its entirety, for personal use. All original author and copyright information must
remain intact. Any sales or other uses of this document are expressly forbidden, without the specific consent of the author(s).
Copyright © The Classic TV Archive. All rights reserved.

Return to The Classic TV Archive Western  Page
Return to The Classic TV Archive Home Page