The Adventures of Kit Carson

The Adventures of Kit Carson is an American Western that aired from 1951 to 1955 and consisted of 103 episodes.[1] While airing, the show was shown in over 130 markets and was sold to the Coca-Cola Bottling Company by MCA-TV.[2] After airing, MCA-TV acquired syndication rights to the show. In New York, the show aired on Tuesday evenings on WNBT (TV) and ran for thirty-minutes.[2] The show starred Bill Williams in the title role as frontier scout Christopher "Kit" Carson, and Don Diamond co-starred as El Toro, Carson's Mexican companion. Though the show may have been inspired by the historic Kit Carson, it is not historically accurate.[3]

The Adventures of Kit Carson
GenreWestern
Inspired byKit Carson
Directed byJohn English
Lew Landers
Paul Landres
Philip Ford
Charles S. Gould
Derwin Abrahams
Will Sheldon
Norman Lloyd
StarringBill Williams
Don Diamond
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes104
Production
ProducersLeon Fromkess
Richard Irving
CinematographyClark Ramsey
Joe Novack
John Macburnie
Jack Greenhalgh
Jack MacKenzie
Camera setupSingle-Camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesMCA TV
Revue Productions
Release
Original networkSyndication
Picture formatBlack-and-white
Audio formatMonaural
Original releaseAugust 11, 1951 (1951-08-11) –
November 22, 1955 (1955-11-22)
Related
The Lone Ranger (TV series)

In Omaha, there was a horse drawing competition to promote the show. The winner received a real Shetland pony.[4] During the shows airtime, it received fair reviews from a variety of publications. Many critiques critiqued the direction of the show but generally liked the acting of Bill Williams and Don Diamond. However, for a children's show, it was well liked.

Premise

The show is set in the Wild West in the late 19th century.[5] Carson and El Toro, his Mexican partner, travel around the American West helping people.[1]

Cast
  • Bill Williams as Kit Carson (103 Episodes)[1]
  • Don Diamond as El Toro (103 Episodes)[1]
  • John Cason as Carl Rigby, Deputy, Drayson's Henchman, Henchman Ben, Henchman Carson, Henchman Trig, Lead Henchman, Marshal Trent, Morgan, Porter, Stage Driver, Trigger Dawson, Wagon driver Morris (12 Episodes)
  • Peter Mamakos as El Broho, Benito Morales aka El Morosco, Henchman Spence, Hernandez, Marco Mesconti, Padre Diego, Ricardo (11 Episodes)
  • Boyd Stockman as Henchman, Henchman Joe, Henchman Pete, Last Stage Driver, Murdock (9 Episodes)
  • Carol Henry as Henchman, Deputy, Garth, Hadley Man, Hank, Ned, Outlaw (7 Episodes)
  • Tristam Coffin as Col. Culver, Maj. John Phelps, Malee, Mark Stacey, Padre, Taggart, The Baron (9 Episodes)
  • Richard Avonden as Don Felope, Barker, Captured Henchman, Henchman Wolf (9 Episodes)
  • Terry Frost as Commandant, Henchman, Langley, Sheriff (9 Episodes)

Episodes

Series overview
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
126August 11, 1951 (1951-08-11)February 2, 1952 (1952-02-02)
226August 2, 1952 (1952-08-02)January 24, 1953 (1953-01-24)
326August 1, 1953 (1953-08-01)January 30, 1954 (1954-01-30)
426July 31, 1954 (1954-07-31)January 22, 1955 (1955-01-22)

Season 1 (1951–52)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
11"California Outlaws"August 11, 1951 (1951-08-11)
22"Prince of Padua Hills"August 18, 1951 (1951-08-18)
33"Road to Monterey"August 25, 1951 (1951-08-25)
44"Padres Treasure"September 1, 1951 (1951-09-01)
55"The Murango Story"September 8, 1951 (1951-09-08)
66"Rides of Capistrano"September 15, 1951 (1951-09-15)
77"Enemies of the West"September 22, 1951 (1951-09-22)
88"Law of Six Guns"September 29, 1951 (1951-09-29)
99"The Devil Angel's Camp"October 6, 1951 (1951-10-06)
1010"Law of the Frontier"October 13, 1951 (1951-10-13)
1111"The Road to El Dorado"October 20, 1951 (1951-10-20)
1212"Fury at Red Gulch"October 27, 1951 (1951-10-27)
1313"Outlaws of Manzanita"November 3, 1951 (1951-11-03)
1414"The Desperate Sheriff"November 10, 1951 (1951-11-10)
1515"Hero of Hermosa"November 17, 1951 (1951-11-17)
1616"A Ticket to Mexico"November 24, 1951 (1951-11-24)
1717"The Return of Trigger Dawson"December 1, 1951 (1951-12-01)
1818"The Teton Tornado"December 8, 1951 (1951-12-08)
1919"Bad Man of Briscoe"December 15, 1951 (1951-12-15)
2020"Spoilers of California"December 22, 1951 (1951-12-22)
2121"Feud in San Felipe"December 29, 1951 (1951-12-29)
2222"The Trap"January 5, 1952 (1952-01-05)
2323"Border Corsairs"January 12, 1952 (1952-01-12)
2424"Curse of the Albas"January 19, 1952 (1952-01-19)
2525"Bandit's Blade"January 26, 1952 (1952-01-26)
2626"The Marauder of Madera"February 2, 1952 (1952-02-02)

Season 2 (1952–53)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
271"Snake River Trappers"August 2, 1952 (1952-08-02)
282"Baron of Black Springs"August 9, 1952 (1952-08-09)
293"Danger Hill"August 16, 1952 (1952-08-16)
304"Wild Horses of Pala"August 23, 1952 (1952-08-23)
315"Trail to Fort Hazard"August 30, 1952 (1952-08-30)
326"Warwhoop"September 6, 1952 (1952-09-06)
337"Outlaw Paradise"September 13, 1952 (1952-09-13)
348"Powdersnake Trail"September 20, 1952 (1952-09-20)
359"Trouble in Tuscarora"September 27, 1952 (1952-09-27)
3610"Trail to Old Sonora"October 4, 1952 (1952-10-04)
3711"Road to Destiny"October 11, 1952 (1952-10-11)
3812"Border Town"October 18, 1952 (1952-10-18)
3913"Roaring Challenge"October 25, 1952 (1952-10-25)
4014"Range Masters"November 1, 1952 (1952-11-01)
4115"Thunder Over Inyo"November 8, 1952 (1952-11-08)
4216"Pledge to Danger"November 15, 1952 (1952-11-15)
4317"Golden Snare"November 22, 1952 (1952-11-22)
4418"Singing Wires"November 29, 1952 (1952-11-29)
4519"Mojave Desperados"December 6, 1952 (1952-12-06)
4620"Highway to Doom"December 13, 1952 (1952-12-13)
4721"Hideout"December 20, 1952 (1952-12-20)
4822"Broken Spur"December 27, 1952 (1952-12-27)
4923"Ventura Feud"January 3, 1953 (1953-01-03)
5024"Bad Men of Marysville"January 10, 1953 (1953-01-10)
5125"Claim Jumpers of Juniper"January 17, 1953 (1953-01-17)
5226"Mask of the Vigilantes"January 24, 1953 (1953-01-24)

Season 3 (1953–54)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
531"Outlaw Trail"August 1, 1953 (1953-08-01)
542"Savage Outpost"August 8, 1953 (1953-08-08)
553"Hawk Raiders"August 15, 1953 (1953-08-15)
564"Widow of Indian Wells"August 22, 1953 (1953-08-22)
575"The Law of Boot Hill"August 29, 1953 (1953-08-29)
586"Trouble at Fort Mojave"September 5, 1953 (1953-09-05)
597"Powdersmoke Law"September 12, 1953 (1953-09-12)
608"Secret Sheriff"September 19, 1953 (1953-09-19)
619"Outlaw Army"September 26, 1953 (1953-09-26)
6210"Lost Treasure of Panamint"October 3, 1953 (1953-10-03)
6311"Frontier Mail"October 10, 1953 (1953-10-10)
6412"Open Season"October 17, 1953 (1953-10-17)
6513"Gunsmoke Justice"October 24, 1953 (1953-10-24)
6614"Challenge to Chance"October 31, 1953 (1953-10-31)
6715"Marshall of Gun Town"November 7, 1953 (1953-11-07)
6816"Uprising at Pawhuska"November 14, 1953 (1953-11-14)
6917"Army Renegades"November 21, 1953 (1953-11-21)
7018"Badman's Escape"November 28, 1953 (1953-11-28)
7119"Haunted Hacienda"December 5, 1953 (1953-12-05)
7220"Gunsmoke Valley"December 12, 1953 (1953-12-12)
7321"Renegade Wires"December 19, 1953 (1953-12-19)
7422"Ambush"December 26, 1953 (1953-12-26)
7523"Dry Creek Chase"January 9, 1954 (1954-01-09)
7624"Copper Town"January 16, 1954 (1954-01-16)
7725"Counterfeit County"January 23, 1954 (1954-01-23)
7826"Cache"January 30, 1954 (1954-01-30)

Season 4 (1954–55)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
791"Trails Westward"July 31, 1954 (1954-07-31)
802"Stampede Fury"August 7, 1954 (1954-08-07)
813"Bullets of Mystery"August 14, 1954 (1954-08-14)
824"The Wrong Man"August 21, 1954 (1954-08-21)
835"Gatling Gun"August 28, 1954 (1954-08-28)
846"Powder Depot"September 4, 1954 (1954-09-04)
857"Hermit of Indian Ridge"September 11, 1954 (1954-09-11)
868"Riders of Hooded League"September 18, 1954 (1954-09-18)
879"Frontier of Challenge"September 25, 1954 (1954-09-25)
8810"Trail to Bordertown"October 2, 1954 (1954-10-02)
8911"No Man's Law"October 9, 1954 (1954-10-09)
9012"Missing Hacienda"October 16, 1954 (1954-10-16)
9113"Renegades of Rejo"October 23, 1954 (1954-10-23)
9214"Ghost Town Garrison"October 30, 1954 (1954-10-30)
9315"Eyes of the Outlaw"November 6, 1954 (1954-11-06)
9416"The Valiant Outlaw"November 13, 1954 (1954-11-13)
9517"Judge of Black Mesa"November 20, 1954 (1954-11-20)
9618"Frontier Empire"November 27, 1954 (1954-11-27)
9719"Trouble at Sundown"December 4, 1954 (1954-12-04)
9820"Outlaw's Justice"December 11, 1954 (1954-12-11)
9921"Golden Ring of Cibola"December 18, 1954 (1954-12-18)
10022"The Overland Stage"December 25, 1954 (1954-12-25)
10123"Devil's Remuda"January 1, 1955 (1955-01-01)
10224"Phantom Uprising"January 8, 1955 (1955-01-08)
10325"Mission to Alkali"January 15, 1955 (1955-01-15)
10426"Incident at Wagontire"January 22, 1955 (1955-01-22)

Production

Crew

Production Companies

Technical Aspects
  • Run Time: 30 minutes
  • Sound Mix: Mono
  • Color: Black and White
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33 : 1

Early Promotion

KETV - Omaha
  • KETV held a pony drawing contest for children to promote The Adventures of Kit Carson. The promotion was targeted at children to determine who could draw the best horse. The winner of the competition received a real Shetland pony.[4]

Reviews and Reception

During The Adventures of Kit Carson's original air time, the show was generally well-received. The show saw several good reviews in trade press publications at the time.

Variety
  • Variety said that the show "fit like a glove into the groove for which it's patterned; and should keep the juves (and Coca-Cola) happy." Variety also said that Bill Williams and Don Diamond were "just okay."[7]

S.S. Picturegoer
  • Called the show "energetic and likeable" but also critiqued the direction of the show. Additionally, they stated the plot was "well-constructed" and applauded the acting of Bill Williams and Don Diamond.[8]

Streaming

Amazon Prime Video

Limited episodes of The Adventures of Kit Carson are available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.[9]

  • 40 episodes included with Amazon Prime subscription.

Roku Channel
  • 49 Episodes of The Adventures of Kit Carson are available to watch for free on the Roku Channel. The available episodes are from the first and second season.[10]

References
  1. Agnew, Jeremy (November 1, 2012). The Old West in Fact and Film: History Versus Hollywood. McFarland. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-7864-6888-1. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  2. "Advertisers & Agencies: Coca-Cola of N.Y. Names Murray V.P. for Radio-Tv". Broadcasting, Telecasting. Vol. 45, no. 18. November 2, 1953. ProQuest 1401209923. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  3. The Adventures of Kit Carson | TVmaze, retrieved 2021-05-06
  4. "PROGRAMS & PROMOTIONS: KETV (TV) Promotes 'Kit Carson'". Broadcasting. Vol. 54, no. 2. January 13, 1958. ProQuest 1285752549. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  5. "Adventures of Kit Carson TV in Public Domain". www.fesfilms.com. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  6. "Production Of Kit Carson Shows Is Boom For Actors". Springfield News-Sun. December 14, 1952. p. 44. Retrieved February 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "TV-Films: TELEPIX REVIEWS - Nelson Vice Cole". Variety. Vol. 188, no. 9. Los Angeles. November 5, 1952. ProQuest 963128386. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  8. "Bad Men Of Marysville". S.S. Picturegoer. Vol. 11, no. 1010. London. September 11, 1954. ProQuest 1705006939. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  9. "Watch The Adventures of Kit Carson | Prime Video". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  10. "The Adventures of Kit Carson". Roku Guide. 2019-06-27. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
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