Mackenzie's Raiders is an American Western television series starring Richard Carlson that was broadcast in syndication and produced in 1958–1959.[1] The series is narrated by Art Gilmore, and was produced by Ziv Television Programs.
Mackenzie's Raiders | |
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Genre | Western |
Written by |
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Directed by |
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Starring | Richard Carlson |
Narrated by | Art Gilmore |
Composer | David Rose |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 39 |
Production | |
Producers |
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Cinematography |
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Editors |
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Running time | 30 mins. (approx) |
Production company | Ziv Television Programs |
Original release | |
Network | Syndication |
Release | October 1, 1958 1959 | –
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.[2]
Set in the 1870s, Mackenzie's Raiders depicted activities of the Fourth Cavalry around the Rio Grande and the Mexican border.[3] Experiences of Union Army Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie formed the basis for episodes.[4]
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."[5] If Mckenzie were to be caught in a foreign country, the United States would deny knowledge of his mission.[5]
John P. Shanley, writing in The New York Times, complimented the show's "realistic settings and good photography" and added, "It was a better-than-average adventure show."[3]
No. | Title | Original air date |
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1 | "Night Raid" | October 10, 1958 |
2 | "The Long Day" | October 17, 1958 |
3 | "Death by the Numbers" | October 24, 1958 |
4 | "Indian Agent" | October 31, 1958 |
5 | "Deadly Mirror" | November 7, 1958 |
6 | "Attack" | November 14, 1958 |
7 | "Hostage" | November 21, 1958 |
8 | "Eastern Colonel" | November 28, 1958 |
9 | "The Renegade (aka Pistol Whipped)" | December 5, 1958 |
10 | "Dream of Empire" | December 13, 1958 |
11 | "The Plague (aka Cholera)" | December 20, 1958 |
12 | "Broken Treaty (aka Quanah Parker)" | December 27, 1958 |
13 | "The Imposter" | January 3, 1959 |
14 | "Apache Boy" | January 10, 1959 |
15 | "Blood on the Rio" | January 17, 1959 |
16 | "Murder is the Bid" | January 24, 1959 |
17 | "Thunder Stick" | January 31, 1959 |
18 | "Terror in Chuma Valley" | February 7, 1959 |
19 | "Raid on San Rodrigo" | February 14, 1959 |
20 | "Violent Sanctuary" | February 21, 1959 |
21 | "The Scalp Hunters" | February 28, 1959 |
22 | "Son of the Hawk" | March 7, 1959 |
23 | "The Pen and the Sword" | March 14, 1959 |
24 | "The Poisoners" | March 21, 1959 |
25 | "The Lost Raider" | March 28, 1959 |
26 | "The Fast Gun" | April 4, 1959 |
27 | "Mutiny" | April 11, 1959 |
28 | "The Court Martial of Trooper Davis" | April 18, 1959 |
29 | "Joe Ironhat" | April 25, 1959 |
30 | "Drought" | May 2, 1959 |
31 | "Uprising" | May 9, 1959 |
32 | "Desertion" | May 16, 1959 |
33 | "Deadlock" | May 23, 1959 |
34 | "Lucinda Cabot" | May 30, 1959 |
35 | "Missing--Presumed Dead (aka Captured in Mexico)" | June 6, 1959 |
36 | "Death Patrol (aka Long Ride Home)" | June 13, 1959 |
37 | "Ambush" | June 20, 1959 |
38 | "Death Road" | June 27, 1959 |
39 | "Devil Trap" | July 4, 1959 |
Prior to Mackenzie's Raiders, Carlson had previously starred in another Ziv Productions series, I Led Three Lives.[5]
The series was produced by Lou Breslow and Elliott Lewis.[6] Carlson also served as a writer and director.[7] Jim Thompson was credited with writing four episodes of the show.[5]
Location shots were filmed along the Santa Ana River in California, an area that resembles that of the Rio Grande.[8]
The series is currently being shown on the over the air channel ThisTV.
On October 8, 2013, Timeless Media Group released Mackenzie's Raiders- The TV Series on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.[9]