Series synopsis
Zorro is an American western action & adventure television series that premiered on ABC on October 10, 1957. It ended on July 2, 1959. It stars Guy Williams, Gene Sheldon, Henry Calvin and Romney Brent.
Diego de la Vega, the son of a wealthy landowner, returns from his studies in Spain and discovers that Los Angeles is under the command of Capitan Monastario, a cruel man who relishes in the misuse of his power for personal gain. Knowing that he cannot hope to single-handedly defeat Monastario and his troops, Diego resorts to subterfuge. He adopts the secret identity of Zorro, a sinister figure dressed in black, and rides to fight Monastario's injustice.
Premise
Diego de la Vega, the son of a wealthy landowner, returns from his studies in Spain and discovers that Los Angeles is under the command of Capitan Monastario, a cruel man who relishes in the misuse of his power for personal gain. Knowing that he cannot hope to single-handedly defeat Monastario and his troops, Diego resorts to subterfuge. He adopts the secret identity of Zorro, a sinister figure dressed in black, and rides to fight Monastario's injustice.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Guy Williams as Don Diego de la Vega / Zorro
- Gene Sheldon as Bernardo
- Henry Calvin as Demetrio López García
- Romney Brent as Padre Felipe
- Eduard Franz
- Lisa Gaye
- Sebastian Cabot
- Anthony Caruso
Supporting cast
- Rodolfo Acosta
- Alex Gerry
- Michael Pate
- Gloria Castillo
- Michael Forest
- BarBara Luna
- James Hong
- Patricia Medina
- Booth Colman
- Paul Richards
- Myrna Fahey as Maria Crespo
- Jack Kruschen
Guest cast
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 82 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 4 | October 30, 1960 | April 2, 1961 |
| Season 1 | 39 | October 10, 1957 | July 3, 1958 |
| Season 2 | 39 | October 9, 1958 | July 2, 1959 |
| Season 3 | 0 | October 30, 1960 | April 2, 1961 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
El Bandido Mexican bandits fleeing north to California under the leadership of clever and charismatic El Cuchillo ride into Los Angeles and decide to steal a shipment of silver. Don Diego quickly becomes suspicious of them and saves the day as Zorro, but the sword fight between El Zorro and El Cuchillo has to be aborted when Sgt. Garcia and his lancers arrive. Nevertheless, Zorro leaves Cuchillo with a "Z" slashed into his coat and a warning to get out of California. |
October 30, 1960 |
| 2 |
Adios El Cuchillo El Cuchillo and his men return to Los Angeles to loot the city, but Zorro is prepared for them and deals with the bandits one by one, leaving another "Z" on El Cuchillo's coat just as he is leaving the tailor shop after getting it repaired. After several more attempts that are all thwarted by Zorro, El Cuchillo goes to the de la Vega hacienda and holds the family for ransom. Eventually Bernardo helps Don Diego escape and the final swordfight ensues between Cuchillo and Zorro. But not before the bandito realizes that Don Diego and Zorro are one and the same. |
November 6, 1960 |
| 3 |
The Postponed Wedding Zorro tries to save Constancia de la Torre from an ill-considered elopement with Miguel Serrano, who only wants her family jewels. |
January 1, 1961 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Presenting Señor Zorro The story of the masked rider in Old California opens as Don Diego de la Vega is returning to California from Spain, where he has been studying for several years. |
October 10, 1957 |
| 2 |
Zorro's Secret Passage It is a calm morning in Spanish California, and Sergeant Dimetrio Lopez Garcia is putting up posters, with another soldier, which are asking for reward money for Don Ignacio Torres and the now famous Zorro. |
October 17, 1957 |
| 3 |
Zorro Rides to the Mission Finding that Don Torres is in hiding at the Mission, Monastario forces the local Indians into hard labor until the Padre agrees to surrender the fugitive. |
October 24, 1957 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Welcome to Monterey The second season of Zorro opens with Don Diego and Bernardo visiting Monterey, California. They have been sent there by a group of Los Angeles investors to look over an import business. The visitors have barely arrived in town when two men burst into their room and demand the investors' money. |
October 9, 1958 |
| 2 |
Zorro Rides Alone Diego continues his investigation into Señor Verdugo's business by riding to his house, where Verdugo greets him and Bernardo with his arm in a sling. Although Verdugo claims an old injury is bothering him, Diego suspects he may be the leader of the robbers, so he sets a trap. |
October 16, 1958 |
| 3 |
Horse of Another Color Lieutenant Rafael Santos is ambushed on his way to Monterey and left for dead when the ambushers take his identification and uniform. One of them, a killer named Anastacio, puts on the uniform and rides to Verdugo's, where Diego is discussing the investment deal. |
October 23, 1958 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
El Bandido A group of bandits fleeing Mexico arrive in Los Angeles. Led by the charismatic El Cuchillo (The Knife), they plan to steal a shipment of silver being guarded by Sgt. Garcia. |
October 30, 1960 |
| 2 |
Adios, El Cuchillo Returning to Los Angeles, El Cuchillo and his men are once again humiliated by Zorro. El Cuchillo then goes to the de la Vega hacienda and holds the family for ransom. Will he discover Don Diego's secret identity? |
November 6, 1960 |
| 3 |
The Postponed Wedding When Don Diego discovers that an old acquaintance plans to elope with a young man who is probably only after her family's jewels, he contrives to delay the wedding until he can confirm his suspicions. |
January 1, 1961 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ABC |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 10, 1957 |
| Last aired | July 2, 1959 |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Thursday at 20:00:00 |