"Legends Of My Childhood"  

Posted by Stan Harrington



Red Ryder and his wonder horse "Thunder" was created by Fred Harman when he was on a ranch in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. He was well known for his ink drawings of western figures and the detail in his work. He moved to Hollywood and the first "comic strip" was inserted into the daily newspapers under the title of "Bronc Peeler". Because Harmon had bright red hair, it was determined that the name of the cowboy would be changed to "Red Ryder".

On November 6, 1938 "Red Ryder" became a syndicated comic strip in 750 newspapers with a national reading audience of fourteen million nationally. Globally, the syndicated comic strip was printed in ten languages.

In September 1940 it was developed into a "Comic Book" which was in print until 1957. In 1940, the Red Ryder would also ride onto the silver screen in local theatres. Between 1940 and 1950 a total of thirty movies would be produced. The Red Ryder was one of the good guys, he seldom had to shoot a villain, he would simply disarm them by shooting their weapon out of their hands. Being from the San Juan Mountain area, the Red Ryder had a young Navajo Indian boy that also rode with him as a sidekick.

Several actors played the role of this young Indian boy, if you can answer the following questions, you will be able to solve the "Prattler Trivia Mystery".

1. What active toy did Red Ryder series make popular and is still being produced today?

2. What was the name of the horse that Little Beaver rode?

3. Who was the actor that is most famous for playing "Little Beaver"? **

**Hint: He turned down the role of "Little Joe Cartwright" in Bonanza in 1959, a role that Michael Landon would accept.

In March 2005, he would be found innocent of murdering his wife.

This entry was posted on February 29, 2008 at Friday, February 29, 2008 . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

14 comments

Happy Leap Day To All

2/29/08, 2:19 AM

the bee bee gun

2/29/08, 5:45 AM

papoose

2/29/08, 5:46 AM

robert blake

2/29/08, 5:46 AM

and not just any bee bee gun-a red ryder 200 shot carbine

2/29/08, 5:47 AM

I would suggest Little Beaver needs to be recast for today's audience. Jennifer Aniston,
Valerien Bertinelli could play the role.

2/29/08, 5:50 AM

And Red Ryder should be disarmed,
otherwise the show would be much too violent.

2/29/08, 5:51 AM

Leave it to Holly wierd and it would be released as the Brokeback Ryder.

2/29/08, 5:51 AM

I thought Sly played the Red Ryder and he packed a M-16, because he needed the large caliber rifle to blow aweay the bad guys helicopters. I don't remember the sidekick, but it was probley Elvis, before his rock carrer began

2/29/08, 8:49 AM

I thought Sly played the Red Ryder and he packed a M-16, because he needed the large caliber rifle to blow aweay the bad guys helicopters. I don't remember the sidekick, but it was probley Elvis, before his rock carrer began

2/29/08, 8:49 AM

Ranger Bill, glad to see that you are back and that your internet still works or you would have never got all the questions correct. this was not an open book test! Da Bear: Things have changed a bit since the days of old, one man, one gun, and fast horse to big guns, fast cars and loose women.

2/29/08, 9:39 AM

If anyone from Colorado is wondering, the concept of Red Ryder was developed in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Robert Blake came on the scene as Little Beaver after several others played the role becauseof age, the original Little Beaver was a Navajo Indian boy.

2/29/08, 9:41 AM

Hey I remember that comic book...but is the red rider not a wagon?? I remember the bee bee gun...Shane shot me in the butt more than once with his...and that hurts!...Have no clue who the rest of those people are...but I remember Michael Landon...he was cute.....Run Mackey Run!!!

3/1/08, 7:44 PM

I told you to take off running!!

3/3/08, 8:59 AM

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