''Mackenzie's Raiders'' is an American
Western television series starring
Richard Carlson that was broadcast in
syndication and produced in 1958–1959. The series is narrated by
Art Gilmore, and was produced by
Ziv Television Programs
Ziv Television Programs, Inc., was an American production company that specialized in productions for first-run Broadcast syndication, television syndication in the 1950s.
History
The company was founded by Frederick Ziv in 1948 and was a subsid ...
.
Synopsis
The basis for the program was ''Mackenzie's Raid'', a book by Russell P. Reeder. It told about a 32-hour raid by Mackenzie and 550 cavalrymen to destroy a Mexican town that harbored kidnappers, rustlers, and arsonists.
Set in the 1870s, ''Mackenzie's Raiders'' depicted activities of the Fourth Cavalry around the Rio Grande and the Mexican border.
Experiences of Union Army Col.
Ranald S. Mackenzie formed the basis for episodes.
Mackenzie, with orders from President Grant, operated out of Fort Clark, in Texas, "to rid the Southwest of Mexican marauders and renegade Indians, pursuing them across the Rio Grande if necessary."
If Mckenzie were to be caught in a foreign country, the United States would deny knowledge of his mission.
Cast
*
Richard Carlson as Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie (39 episodes)
* Kenneth Alton as Raider (11 episodes)
*
Morris Ankrum
Morris Ankrum (August 28, 1897 – September 2, 1964) was an American radio, television, and film character actor.
Early life
Ankrum was born in Danville in Vermilion County in eastern Illinois, and pursued a career in law. After graduating ...
as Raider (12 episodes)
* Charles Boaz as Corporal Dixon (11 episodes)
* Jim Bridges as Private Lewis (11 episodes)
*
Louis Jean Heydt as Raider (11 episodes)
*
Brett King as Raider (11 episodes)
Guest stars
*
John Archer
*
Jim Bannon
*
Jeanne Bates
*
Rand Brooks (multiple appearances)
*
Harry Carey, Jr.
*
Iron Eyes Cody
Iron Eyes Cody (born Espera Oscar de Corti, April 3, 1904 – January 4, 1999) was an American actor of Italian descent who portrayed Native Americans in Hollywood films, including the role of Chief Iron Eyes in Bob Hope's '' The Paleface'' ...
*
Walter Coy
*
Ted de Corsia
*
John Doucette
*
Jack Elam
William Scott "Jack" Elam (November 13, 1920 – October 20, 2003) was an American film and television actor best known for his numerous roles as villains in Western films and, later in his career, comedies (sometimes spoofing his villaino ...
*
Jack Ging (multiple appearances)
*
Steve Gravers
*
Virginia Gregg
Virginia Lee Gregg (March 6, 1916 – September 15, 1986) was an American actress known for her many roles in radio dramas and television series.
Early life
Born in Harrisburg, Illinois, she was the daughter of musician Dewey Alphaleta (née T ...
*
Robert Griffin
*
Brett Halsey (as Lt. Summers)
*
Robert Karnes
*
DeForest Kelley
Jackson DeForest Kelley (January 20, 1920 – June 11, 1999) was an American actor, screenwriter, poet, and singer. He was known for his roles in film and television Western (genre), Westerns and achieved international fame as Dr. Leonard McCoy ...
*
Ray Kellogg
*
Gail Kobe
*
Bethel Leslie (as Lucinda Cabot)
*
Forrest Lewis
Raymond Forrest Lewis (November 5, 1899 – June 2, 1977) was an American actor of the theater, radio, motion pictures and television.
Early years
Lewis was born in Knightstown, Indiana, the son of Joseph Saint Lewis and Myla Leota Lewi ...
*
Judy Lewis
Judy Lewis (born Judith Young; November 6, 1935 – November 25, 2011) was an American actress, writer, producer, and therapist. She was the secret biological daughter of actors Loretta Young and Clark Gable.
Early life
Lewis was born on No ...
*
Steve London
*
Herbert Lytton
*
Walter Maslow
*
Robert McQueeney
*
Dennis Moore (multiple appearances)
*
Burt Mustin (as Mr. Devin)
*
Anna Navarro
*
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy ( ; March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor and director, famous for playing Spock in the ''Star Trek'' franchise for almost 50 years. This includes Development of Spock, originating Spock in Star Trek: T ...
*
Vic Perrin
*
Glenn Strange
George Glenn Strange (August 16, 1899 – September 20, 1973) was an American actor who appeared in hundreds of Western (genre), Western films. He played Sam Noonan, the bartender on Columbia Broadcasting System, CBS's ''Gunsmoke'' televisio ...
*
Joe Turkel
*
John Vivyan
*
H. M. Wynant
Critical response
John P. Shanley, writing in ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', complimented the show's "realistic settings and good photography" and added, "It was a better-than-average adventure show."
[
]
Episodes
Production notes
Prior to ''Mackenzie's Raiders'', Carlson had previously starred in another Ziv Productions series, '' I Led Three Lives''.
DVD release
On October 8, 2013, Timeless Media Group released ''Mackenzie's Raiders- The TV Series'' on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.TMG's Package Art for 'The Television Series' on DVD
References
* Alex McNeil, ''Total Television'', New York: Penguin Books, 1996, 4th ed.,
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackenzie's Raiders
1958 American television series debuts
1959 American television series endings
First-run syndicated television programs in the United States
Black-and-white American television shows
Television shows set in Texas
Television series by Ziv Television Programs
1950s Western (genre) television series