Champion the Wonder Horse was a children's television series in 26 episodes set in the Old West. It was first broadcast in 1955 and 1956, and starred Barry Curtis as twelve-year-old Ricky North, who lived on his uncle's ranch in the American southwest. Ricky's companions were the wild stallion, Champion, and the German Shepherd Dog, Rebel. Ricky's uncle, Sandy North, was played by Jim Bannon.

Title song

The title song was sung by Norman Luboff, and later recorded by Frankie Laine:

Champion the Wonder Horse! Champion the Wonder Horse!
Like a streak of lightnin' flashin' cross the sky,
Like the swiftest arrow whizzin' from a bow,
Like a mighty cannonball he seems to fly.
You'll hear about him ever'where you go.
The time'll come when everyone will know
The name of Champion the Wonder Horse!

Gene Autry

In real life, the Wonder Horse, Champion, was owned by Gene Autry who, over many years, owned a succession of celebrity horses bearing the same name.

Comic strip

Starting from the issue dated 4 June 1966, it appeared as a comic strip in the UK comic Buster.

Minor characters in the series included Sheriff Sean Kelly, bare-knuckle boxing champion Gentlemen Tom, Dick Crabtree the town's ambulance chasing lawyer and Nicky Brandwood - queen of the saloon.

Origins of the TV show

The show was based on an earlier serial called "The Adventures of Champion" which told the tale of young Ricky West (as opposed to Ricky North), raised in the wilderness by his adopted Uncle Smoky, and Ricky's German Shepherd, Rebel.

External links

• Video clip with theme tune