The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin

1 9 5 4 - 1 9 5 9 (USA)
164 x 30 minute episodes

In 1954, former silent screen canine character Rin-Tin-Tin was resurrected and became the star of a weekly, half-hour children's adventure series set in the late 1880s at an army outpost 'out West'. Rin-Tin-Tin, like his silent screen ancestor, was a magnificent German Shepherd dog who was the heroic mascot of a boy who had been orphaned during an Indian raid and lived at the fort under the care of the soldiers (and had been given an honorary rank of corporal). The dog was also more than welcome at the fort as he had saved the life of Sgt Biff O'Haa.

The show was packed with action - Indian massacres, gunfights and horseback chases. The boy, Rusty, was played by child actor Lee Aaker. Also featured in prominent roles were James Brown (not the godfather of soul!) as Lieutenant Rip Masters, Joe Sawyer as Sergeant Biff O'Hara and Rand Brooks as Corporal Boone.

Three different German Shepherds were actually used to portray Rin-Tin-Tin during the series run. Two of the dogs were actual descendants of the silent screen dog star.

Re-runs of the show were shown as a Saturday morning offering and began to appear on television shortly after the program stopped production in 1959.