Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
"Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" is a serialized drama that first aired as a radio show in 1938, created by George W. Trendle, known for other popular series like "The Lone Ranger." Initially titled "Challenge of the Yukon," the show featured Sergeant Preston, a member of the Northwest Mounted Police, and his Alaskan Malamute, King. The program transitioned to television in 1955, where it was renamed "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon." The lead role was played by Dick Simmons, a versatile actor and pilot, with King being portrayed by a trained Malamute who contributed significantly to the show's appeal. The series portrayed themes of heroism and justice, resonating with the cultural ideals of the 1950s. The television episodes were originally broadcast in black and white, later transitioning to color, expanding its reach and popularity. Through its engaging narratives, the series left a lasting impact on audiences and contributed to the portrayal of law enforcement in popular media.
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Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
Identification Radio-turned-television program set during the 1890’s-era Canadian Yukon
Date Aired from 1955 to 1958
One of the many radio programs that made the successful transition to television, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon featured a unique setting, the Yukon Territory, Canada, when many of its contemporaries were set in the historical American West.
Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police and his faithful dog, King, first hit the radio airwaves in early 1938 with a locally produced radio show, Challenge of the Yukon. George W. Trendle, who was also responsible for the popular television programs The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet, created the series. The fifteen-minute-long serial drama aired on WXYZ in Detroit and ran for 943 episodes. On June 12, 1947, it became a national half-hour show on the ABC Radio network, sponsored by Quaker Oats. The program was renamed Sergeant Preston of the Yukon on November 13, 1951.
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon made the transition to television in 1955. The lead role went to Dick Simmons, a professional pilot and horseman discovered by MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer in 1937. Simmons agreed to Mayer’s offer because he was promised “rugged, outdoor roles.” Simmons appeared in more than sixty films during the course of his career, but Sergeant Preston was the role that made him famous.
For many, Simmons’s canine co-star was as crucial to the success of the show. King, or Yukon King as he was sometimes called, was an Alaskan Malamute, and the first of his breed trained for motion pictures. His trainer, Beverly Allen, was one of the first African American dog trainers in Hollywood.
The show’s first episode, “Vindication of the Yukon,” aired in September, 1955. The episodes were thirty minutes long, and the initial run of seventy-two episodes aired until September, 1958. Originally made in black and white, the episodes later were filmed in color, which enabled them to be rebroadcast by NBC on Saturdays from 1963 to 1964.
Impact
Sergeant Preston joined the ranks of several of the era’s television heroes, who displayed valor, sought justice, and represented the 1950’s ideal of law and order.
Bibliography
Beck, Ken, and Jim Clark. The Encyclopedia of TV Pets. Nashville, Tenn.: Rutledge Hill Press, 2002. A reference book covering animals and the television programs on which they appeared.
Hilmes, Michele. Radio Reader: Essays in the Cultural History of Radio. New York: Routledge, 2001. A comprehensive collection of essays on how radio programs such as Sergeant Preston of the Yukon affected American culture.