CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - TV Western series
Movie
Archive -
US
Cliffhanger Serials
"Mascot Pictures"
(1926-35) / "Republic Pictures"
(1936-1955)
Western Cliffhanger Serials
Mascot Serial #1: Heroes of the Wild (1927)(silent) (First Mascot serial)
(10 chapters Genre: Western
Directed by Harry S. Webb
Mascot Serial #3: The Golden Stallion (1927)(silent)
(10 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Harry S. Webb
Mascot Serial #4: The Vanishing West (1928)(silent)
(10 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Mascot Serial #8: The Lone Defender (1930)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Starring Rin Tin Tin
Mascot Serial #9: The Phantom of the West (1931)
(10 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by D. Ross Lederman
Starring Tom Tyler
Mascot Serial #11: The Vanishing Legion (1931)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Ford Beebe and B. Reeves Eason
Mascot Serial #12: The Galloping Ghost (1931)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Harold "Red" Grange
Mascot Serial #13: The Lightning Warrior (1931)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Benjamin H. Kline and Armand Schaefer
Starring Rin Tin Tin
Mascot Serial #15: The Last of the Mohicans (1932)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Ford Beebe and B. Reeves Eason
Starring Harry Carey
Mascot Serial #17: The Devil Horse (1932)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Otto Brower
Starring Harry Carey
Mascot Serial #20: Fighting with Kit Carson (1933)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Colbert Clark and Armand Schaefer
Mascot Serial #21: The Wolf Dog (1933)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Colbert Clark and Harry L. Fraser
Starring Rin Tin Tin
Mascot Serial #25: The Law of the Wild (1934)
(12 chapters)
Directed by B. Reeves Eason and Armand Schaefer
Starring Rin Tin Tin
Mascot Serial #26: Mystery Mountain (1934)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed by Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason
Starring Ken Maynard, Gene Autry
Mascot Serial #28: The Miracle Rider (1935)
(15 chapters) Genre: Western
Directed byOtto Brower and B. Reeves Eason
Starring Tom Mix
Mascot Serial #27: The Phantom Empire (1935)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western / Science fiction
Directed by Otto Brower and B. Reeves Eason
Starring Gene Autry
Mascot Serial #29: The Adventures of Rex and Rinty (1935)
(12 chapters)
Directed by B. Reeves Eason and Ford Beebe
Starring Rin Tin Tin & Rex, the Wonder Horse
"Republic Pictures"
Western Cliffhanger Serials
(1935-1955)
Between 1936 and 1955 Republic Pictures produced 66
Theatrical Serials of various Genres
- Western / Jungle Adventure / Crime Adventure / Science Fiction / Canadian
Mounty adventure
Normally around 12-15 chapters by approx
15-20 min
Republic was one of the first Hollywood studios to offer its film library to
television. In 1951 Republic
established a subsidiary, Hollywood Television Service, to sell
screening rights in its vintage westerns
and action thrillers. Hollywood Television Service also produced television
shows filmed in the same style
as Republic's serials such as The Adventures of Fu Manchu (1956).
Also, in 1952 the Republic studio lot
became the first home of MCA's series factory, Revue Productions. While it would
appear that Republic was
well suited for television-series production, it did not have the finances or
vision to do so. Yet by the
mid-fifties, thanks to its sale of old features and leasing of studio space to
MCA, television was the prop holding
up Republic Pictures. During this period, Republic produced Commando Cody:
Sky Marshal of the Universe;
unsuccessful as a theater release, the 12-part serial was later sold to NBC for
television distribution.
Talent-agent MCA exerted influence at the studio, bringing some high-paid
clients in for occasional features,
and it was rumored at various times that either MCA or deposed MGM head Louis B.
Mayer would buy the studio
outright. From 1954-1955, Republic produced Stories of the Century,
starring and narrated by Jim Davis.
The syndicated series was the first western to win an Emmy Award.
Republic Serial #3. The Vigilantes Are Coming (1936)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Directed by Ray Taylor and Mack V. Wright
Starring Hoot Gibson .
Republic Serial #6. The Painted Stallion (1937)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Directed by Alan James
Starring Ray Corrigan
Republic Serial #8. Zorro Rides Again (1937)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley.
Directed by William Witney
Starring John Carroll
Republic Serial #9. The Lone Ranger (1938)
(15 chapters) Genre: Western.
Based on the radio series 'The Lone Ranger'.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Billy Bletcher (voice)
Republic Serial #13. The Lone Ranger Rides Again (1939)
(15 chapters) Genre: Western.
Based on the radio series 'The Lone Ranger'.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Robert Livingston / Billy Bletcher (voice) & Chief
Thunder Cloud (as Tonto)
ctva Playlist -
The Lone Ranger Rides Again
(1939) (Chapters 1 to 5) - "serialsquadron"
Republic Serial #16. Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Reed Hadley
This is the serial that featured an identical death each episode. Each
informant, trying to reveal the identity
of the main villain would utter the phrase "Don del Oro is..." and then be shot
by a golden arrow (wielded by
Don del Oro himself, hidden behind a curtain) and die with a grunt before being
able to name the villain's alter ego.
Republic Serial #17. Drums of Fu Manchu (1940)
(15 chapters) Genre: Yellow Peril.
Based on Fu Manchu created by Sax Rohmer.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Henry Brandon
Republic Serial #18. Adventures of Red Ryder (1940)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Based on the comic strip 'Red Ryder'.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Don "Red" Barry
Republic Serial #23. King of the Texas Rangers (1941)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Slingin' Sammy Baugh .
Although the serial's plot involves Nazi agents in Texas, this serial predates
America's entry into World
War II. The Nazis are never named as such but it is strongly implied within the
serial
Republic Serial #29
Daredevils
of the West (1943)
A 'Republic' Western Serial (1-May-1943)
Associate Producer William J. O'Sullivan
Directed by John English
Written by Ronald Davidson, Basil Dickey, William Lively, Joseph O'Donnell,
Joseph F. Poland
12 Chapters x approx 16 min (Total Length 196 min)
Allan Lane in Republic's serial Dardevils of the West Chp2 Pt1
Republic Serial #52 "The James Brothers of Missouri" (1949)
A 'Republic'Western Serial (3rd of 3 Jesse James serials)
Associate Producer Franklin Adreon
Directed by Fred C. Brannon
Written by Royal Cole, William Lively, Sol Shor
12 Chapters x approx 14 min (Total Length 167 min)
Starring:
Keith Richards as Jesse James, aka John Howard
Robert Bice as Frank James, aka Bob Carroll
The James Brothers of Missouri #1. Frontier Revenge (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #2. Racing Peril (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #3. Danger Road (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #4. Murder at Midnight (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #5. Road to Oblivion (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #6. Missouri Manhunt (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #7. Hangman's Noose (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #8. Coffin on Wheels (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #9. Dead Man's Return (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #10.Galloping Gunslingers (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #11.The Haunting Past (1949)
The James Brothers of Missouri #12.Fugitive's Code (1949)
Republic Serial #55. Desperadoes of the West (1950)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Directed by red C. Brannon
Starring
Richard Powers (aka Tom Keene) .
Republic Serial #57. Don Daredevil Rides Again (1951)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Directed by Fred C. Brannon
Starring Ken Curtis
Includes footage from Zorro's Black Whip
Loosely based on 'Zorro' created by Johnston McCulley. The character of Don
Daredevil was
created for this serial as the rights to Zorro belonged to Disney by 1951.
Republic Serial #64. Man with the Steel Whip (1954)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western.
Directed by Franklin Adreon
Starring Richard Simmons
Man with the Steel Whip used stock footage from all of the previous Zorro
serials produced by Republic
Pictures. The result of this is that the costume and body shape of the hero, El
Latigo, keeps changing
between scenes, even becoming female in scenes taken from Zorro's Black Whip.
"Republic Pictures"
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Serials
(1940-1953)
Canadian Mounty genre films are generally similar to Westerns but the action
occurs in the
Canadian North and typically feature Mounties instead of, for example, Cowboys
or Sheriffs.
Republic Serial #19. King of the Royal Mounted
(1940)
(12 chapters) Genre: Northern - Canadian Mounties
Directed by William Witney and John English
Starring Allan Lane
Based on the comic strip 'King of the Royal Mounted'..
Opening caption, "Although the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are few in number,
they successfully guard a
vast dominion of the British Empire. From the United States border to the Arctic
ice pack and from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, the red coat of the Mountie is the symbol of law and order and a
promise that justice will prevail.
To these gallant men, "King of the Royal Mounted" is respectfully dedicated."
Republic Serial #27. King of the Mounties (1942)
Genre: Northern -Canadian Mounties
Based on the comic strip 'King of the Royal Mounted'.
Republic Serial #40. King of the Forest Rangers (1946)
(12 chapters) Genre: Western / Northern
Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Fred C. Brannon
Starring Larry Thompson
Republic Serial #47. Dangers of the Canadian Mounted (1948)
(12 chapters) Genre: Northern - Canadian Mounties
Directed by Fred C. Brannon
Starring Jim Bannon
Republic Serial #62. Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders
(1953)
(12 chapters) Genre: Northern - Canadian Mounties & Spy.
Directed by Franklin Adreon
Starring Bill Henry
######## Republic Western Serials ############
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