Red Ryder is the FIGHTING REDHEAD of the title. Starring in this double bill of western action is Jim Bannon, the fourth actor to portray Fred Harman’s comic strip and comic book western movie and radio hero Red Ryder. Due to a clerical error the rights to the character were not renewed at Republic Pictures and the new films were being shot in a two-color process called Cinecolor for Poverty Row producers, Eagle Lion. THE FIGHTING REDHEAD (1949) is Bannon’s third appearance as Red. Bannon had been a star athlete in college, became a sportscaster and radio actor in the late 1930s. His voice was well suited for movies. So were his looks and 6’2” height.
Before being tapped as Red Ryder, Bannon had starred in several films based on the popular radio serial, I LOVE A MYSTERY, and married radio and movie character actress Bea Benaderet, later to star on TV’s PETTICOAT JUNCTION. Their son was actor Jack Bannon, a series regular on LOU GRANT starring Ed Asner. Jack was only 9 when his father was starring as Red and told me that he was very upset when his father suddenly began playing bad guys after first being a famous cowboy hero.
Action in THE FIGHTING REDHEAD begins when Red receives a telegram from an old friend asking for his help in fighting off cattle rustlers. The rustlers are led by conniving John Hart, a couple of years before he would don a mask and replace Clayton Moore for 52 episodes of THE LONE RANGER, a role he had until the outraged fans of Clayton forced the producers to rehire the “real” Lone Ranger.
Don Reynolds, billed as Little Brown Jug, is the new Little Beaver and character actress Marin Sais, who began her career in 1911 as a child actress in silents, is the new Dutchess, and Red’s aunt.
To have a little continuity for Red Ryder fans, ex Republic leading lady Peggy Stewart was hired for the film and is Red’s leading lady. She’s falsely accused of murder and becomes the film’s damsel in distress. Another recognizable face to give credence to the new Red is that of Lane Bradford.
Following the demise of the Red Ryder features, it was decided to produce a TV series with Jim Bannon returning as the fighting redhead. He certainly had the right look. As a bonus for all you western and Red Ryder fans out there, we are showing the rare Red Ryder TV pilot, “Whiplash,” produced in 1951. It features Louis Lettieri as Little Beaver. The supporting cast is truly amazing. Harry Carey Sr’s wife, Olive, is cast as the Dutchess. She had starred in silent films with her husband but may be best known for her role in John Ford’s classic, THE SEARCHERS.
B movie stalwarts Lyle Talbot, Dick Curtis, Monte Blue, Earle Hodgins, Kenneth MacDonald and Robert J. Wilke are all in the fast-paced half hour pilot directed by veteran Thomas Carr. His name may be familiar to you because he directed serials at Columbia and multiple episodes of early, now classic, TV series. 38 episodes of THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN; 18 episodes of TRACKDOWN; 26 episodes of WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE; 28 episodes of RAWHIDE, among others.
Two pilots were made for a RED RYDER TV series. This one and another, 7 years later, produced by Gene Autry and starring Allan Rock Lane, which is available to screen here on A WORD ON WESTERNS vast catalogue of programs. It’s too bad neither one of them was picked up. It would have been a nice addition to the 1950a long line of TV westerns. Anyway, here’s a double dose of Jim Bannon as Red Ryder. A movie & a pilot. Hope you enjoy them. Let us know what you think about his interpretation. Thanks for joining us. Now, let’s ride with Jim Bannon as THE FIGHTING REDHEAD.
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