Brave Eagle
Brave Eagle is a 26-episode half-hour western television series which aired on CBS from September 28, 1955, to March 14, 1956, with rebroadcasts continuing until June 6.[1] Keith Larsen, who was of Norwegian descent, starred as Brave Eagle, a peaceful young Cheyenne chief.
| Brave Eagle | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Keith Larsen Bert Wheeler Kim Winona Anthony Numkena (then Keena Nomkeena) Pat Hogan |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Picture format | Black and white |
| Original release | September 28, 1955 – March 14, 1956; rebroadcasts to June 6 |
The program was unconventional in that it reflects the Native American viewpoint in the settlement of the American West and was the first series to feature an American Indian as a lead character.[2][3]
Larsen's co-stars were Kim Winona (1930–1978), a Sioux Indian, as Morning Star, Brave Eagle's romantic interest; Anthony Numkena (born 1942) of Arizona, a Hopi Indian then using the stage name Keena Nomkeena, appeared as Keena, the adopted son of Brave Eagle; Pat Hogan (1920–1966) as Black Cloud, and Bert Wheeler (1895–1968) of the comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey, as the halfbreed Smokey Joe, full of tribal tall tales but accompanying wisdom.[4]
The episodes center upon routine activities among the Cheyenne, clashes with other tribes, attempts to prevent war, encroachment from white settlers, racial prejudice, and a threat of smallpox.
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Blood Brother" | Paul Landres | Mona Fisher, Jack Jacobs, and Malvin Wald | September 28, 1955 |
| 2 | 2 | "Cry of the Heron" | Paul Landres | Mona Fisher | October 5, 1955 |
| 3 | 3 | "The Treachery of At-Ta-Tu" | Paul Landres | Dwight V. Babcock | October 12, 1955 |
| 4 | 4 | "Gold of Haunted Mountain" | Paul Landres | Wells Root | October 19, 1955 |
| 5 | 5 | "Search For The Sun" | Paul Landres | Mona Fisher | October 26, 1955 |
| 6 | 6 | "Moonfire" | Paul Landres | Mona Fisher | November 2, 1955 |
| 7 | 7 | "Mask Of The Manitou" | Paul Landres | William Copeland | November 9, 1955 |
| 8 | 8 | "The Flight" | Paul Landres | Jack Laird | November 16, 1955 |
| 9 | 9 | "Code Of A Chief" | Paul Landres | Lawrence L. Goldman | November 23, 1955 |
| 10 | 10 | "Face Of Fear" | TBA | TBA | November 30, 1955 |
| 11 | 11 | "Voice Of The Serpent" | Paul Landres | Mona Fisher | December 7, 1955 |
| 12 | 12 | "Shield Of Honor" | Paul Landres | Mona Fisher | December 14, 1955 |
| 13 | 13 | "The Challenge" | Paul Landres | Jack Jacobs and Malvin Wald | December 21, 1955 |
| 14 | 14 | "Medicine Drums" | Paul Landres | William Copeland | December 28, 1955 |
| 15 | 15 | "The Spirit of Hidden Valley" | TBA | TBA | January 4, 1956 |
| 16 | 16 | "Papoose" | Paul Landres | Wells Root | January 11, 1956 |
| 17 | 17 | "The Storm Fool" | Paul Landres | Mona Fisher | January 18, 1956 |
| 18 | 18 | "The Gentle Warrior" | Paul Landres | TBA | January 25, 1956 |
| 19 | 19 | "The Strange Animal" | Paul Landres | William Copeland | February 1, 1956 |
| 20 | 20 | "White Medicine Man" | Paul Landres | Dwight V. Babcock | February 8, 1956 |
| 21 | 21 | "Death Trap" | TBA | TBA | February 15, 1956 |
| 22 | 22 | "War Paint" | Paul Landres | Wells Root | February 22, 1956 |
| 23 | 23 | "Valley Of Decision" | George Blair | William Copeland | February 29, 1956 |
| 24 | 24 | "Witch Bear" | Paul Landres | William Copeland | March 7, 1956 |
| 25 | 25 | "Trouble at Medicine Creek" | Paul Landres | Lawrence L. Goldman | March 14, 1956 |
| 26 | 26 | "Ambush at Arrow Pass[5]" | TBA | TBA | March 21, 1956 |
Guest stars
Production notes
Though Brave Eagle was produced by NBC, it aired on CBS at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday preceding Arthur Godfrey and His Friends. Since the 1980s, several episodes have been released on videotape.[3] Brave Eagle was filmed by Roy Rogers Productions on Rogers' 130-acre (0.53 km2) ranch in Chatsworth in Los Angeles, California, as well as the Corriganville Ranch in Simi Valley.[2]Brave Eagle's principal competition was ABC's Disneyland, the Walt Disney anthology series.[6]
Merchandising
Dell Comics released a Brave Eagle comic book series based on the TV show. It was published between 1956 and 1958 and drawn by Dan Spiegle.[7]
References
- Woolery, George W. (1985). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series. The Scarecrow Press. pp. 71–72. ISBN 0-8108-1651-2.
- "Brave Eagle". TV Acres. Archived from the original on 2012-09-17. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
- "Brave Eagle (1955) Review Summary". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
- Alex McNeil, Total Television, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, 4th ed., p. 116
- "Brave Eagle Episode List". Internet Movie Data Base.
- 1955-1956 American network television schedule; in appendix of Total Television
- "Dan Spiegle". lambiek.net.
External links
- Brave Eagle at IMDb