Series synopsis
Sky King is an American drama western television series that premiered on NBC on April 5, 1952. It ended on March 8, 1959. It stars Kirby Grant, Gloria Winters, Mike Steen and Lomax Study.
Sky King is an American radio and television adventure series. The title character is Arizona rancher and aircraft pilot Schuyler "Sky" King. The series was likely based on a true-life personality of the 1930s, Jack Cones, the "Flying Constable" of Twentynine Palms in San Bernardino County, California, although this claim is unverified.
Although the series had strong western elements, King mostly captured criminals and spies, and found lost hikers with the use of his plane, the Songbird. Though ...
Premise
Sky King is an American radio and television adventure series. The title character is Arizona rancher and aircraft pilot Schuyler "Sky" King. The series was likely based on a true-life personality of the 1930s, Jack Cones, the "Flying Constable" of Twentynine Palms in San Bernardino County, California, although this claim is unverified.
Although the series had strong western elements, King mostly captured criminals and spies, and found lost hikers with the use of his plane, the Songbird. Though the planes used changed during the course of the series, the later model was not given a number, but was still known as the Songbird.
King and his niece, Penny, lived on the Flying Crown Ranch, near the town of Grover, Arizona. Penny and Clipper were also pilots, though still relatively inexperienced and looking to their uncle for guidance and mentoring. Penny was an accomplished air racer and rated multi-engine pilot, whom Sky trusted to fly the Songbird. In the third TV episode, Penny refers to Clipper as "my brother", so they are siblings.
The musical score was largely the work of Herschel Burke Gilbert.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Kirby Grant as Sky King
- Gloria Winters as Penny King
- Mike Steen as Paul Prentiss (as Malcolm Steen)
- Lomax Study as Andre Ramel
- Robert Stevenson as Deputy Sheriff Bob
Guest cast
- Mike Steen as Paul Prentiss (as Malcolm Steen)
- Lomax Study as Andre Ramel
- Robert Stevenson as Deputy Sheriff Bob
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 72 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 19 | April 5, 1952 | December 20, 1952 |
| Season 2 | 20 | January 2, 1956 | April 30, 1956 |
| Season 3 | 20 | December 29, 1957 | March 30, 1958 |
| Season 4 | 13 | December 28, 1958 | March 8, 1959 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Operation Urgent During a fierce thunderstorm, Sky picks up a mayday call from a Air Force courier plane which is about to run out of gas. The Air Force request Sky's assistance in locating the downed aircraft because the pilot is transporting secret documents that are of interest to foreign governments. Sky locates the plane wreck, but the pilot is nowhere to be found. When he discovers that the navigational instruments have been tampered with, Sky fears that enemy agents may have located and stolen the secret plans and are headed for the nearby Mexican border. |
April 5, 1952 |
| 2 |
Carrier Pigeon When Penny discovers a wounded carrier pigeon carrying a valuable ruby attached to its leg, Sky suspects a gang of jewel smugglers is operating in the area. With the help of a Mexican police detective, Sky sets up to break up the criminal operation. |
April 19, 1952 |
| 3 |
Stage Coach Robbers A crooked express agent fakes a hold-up to steal gold from his company's vault. He uses an old stagecoach to get the stolen loot out of town. |
May 3, 1952 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Neckerchief Sky attempts to help a young man recently paroled from prison get started again, but the ex-convict's former friends frame him for a bank robbery. |
January 2, 1956 |
| 2 | Manhunt | January 2, 1956 |
| 3 | The Plastic Ghost | January 9, 1956 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mystery Horse | December 29, 1957 |
| 2 | Double Trouble | December 29, 1957 |
| 3 |
Note for a Dam Sky and Penny are held captive by a maniac planning to dynamite a waterworks facility. |
January 5, 1958 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Wild Man Sky and Penny try to clear a gentle, animal-loving "wildman" who has been blamed for the robbery of a logging company payroll. |
December 28, 1958 |
| 2 |
Sky Robbers Sky and Penny enter an air race, and it's soon discovered that the main office has been robbed and all of the receipts have been stolen. Sky suspects that one of the contestants in the race is the culprit and is using the race to make his getaway. |
December 28, 1958 |
| 3 |
A Dog Named Barney Sky follows the seeing-eye dog of a blind newsboy, who he believes will lead him to a holdup man living with a party of wolf hunters. |
December 28, 1958 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | NBC |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 5, 1952 |
| Last aired | March 8, 1959 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 18:00:00 |