Cast of songbird series#
Cast of songbird tv#

Many of the storylines would parallel those used in such dramatic pot-boilers as Adventures of Superman with the supporting cast repeatedly finding themselves in near-death situations and the hero rescuing them with seconds to spare. Other recurring characters included Jim Bell, the ranch foreman, played in four episodes by Chubby Johnson, as well as Sheriff Hollister portrayed by Monte Blue in five episodes, and Bob Carey, portrayed in ten episodes by Norman Ollestad.

Mitch, a competent and intelligent law enforcement officer, depended on his friend Sky's flying skills to solve the harder cases. Other regular characters included Sky's nephew Clipper, played by Ron Hagerthy, and Mitch the sheriff, portrayed by Ewing Mitchell. The television version starred Kirby Grant as Sky King and Gloria Winters as Penny. The radio show continued until 1954, broadcasting simultaneously with the first portion of the television version. Other notable premiums were the Magni-Glo Writing Ring, which had a luminous element, a secret compartment, a magnifier, and a ballpoint pen, all in the crown piece of a 'fits any finger' ring. The premiums were innovative, such as the Sky King Spy-Detecto Writer, which had a 'decoder' ( cipher disk), magnifying glass, measuring scale, and printing mechanism in a single package slightly over two inches long. With the Signalscope, one could also see around corners and trees. The Signalscope included a glow-in-the-dark signaling device, whistle, magnifying glass, and Sky King's private code. Listeners were advised to get their own for only 15 cents and the inner seal from a jar of Peter Pan Peanut Butter, which was produced by the sponsor, Derby Foods. For example, the Sky King Secret Signalscope was used on November 2, 1947, in the 'Mountain Detour' episode. ' Radio premiums' were offered to listeners, as was the case with many radio shows of the day. Jack Bivans played Clipper, and Beryl Vaughan portrayed Penny. Several actors played the part of Sky, including Earl Nightingale, John Reed King, and Roy Engel. The radio show began in 1946 and was based on a story by Roy Winsor, the brainchild of Robert Morris Burtt and Wilfred Gibbs Moore, who also created Captain Midnight. Penny was an accomplished air racer, rated as a multiengine pilot, whom Sky trusted to fly the Songbird. Penny and Clipper were also pilots, although they were inexperienced and looked to their uncle for guidance. King and his niece Penny (and sometimes her brother ClipperВ - first season only) lived on the Flying Crown Ranch, near the fictitious town of Grover, Arizona. The 310's make and model type number was prominently displayed during the closing titles. The first was a Cessna T-50 and in later episodes a Cessna 310B was used till the series' end.

Cast of songbird tv#

Two twin-engine Cessna airplanes were used by King during the course of the TV series. King usually captured criminals and spies and found lost hikers, though he did so with the use of his airplane, the Songbird.

Cast of songbird series#

The series may have been based on a true-life personality of the 1930s, Jack Cones, known as the 'Flying Constable' of Twentynine Palms in San Bernardino County, California, although this notion is unverified. Its lead character was Arizona rancher and aircraft pilot Schuyler 'Sky' King. Sky King was an American radio and television series. Grant as Sky King with Gloria Winters as his niece, Penny, and Ron Hagerthy as his nephew, Clipper