"Yancy Derringer" (1958) TV series 1958-1959

Creators:

Mary Loos
Richard Sale

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

2 October 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Western | Adventure

Plot:

Yancy Derringer, an ex-Confederate soldier turned gambler, was a suave lady's man in New Orleans, Louisiana...

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Jock Mahoney	...	Yancy Derringer / ... (32 episodes, 1958-1959)
X Brands	...	Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah / ... (30 episodes, 1958-1959)
Kevin Hagen	...	John Colton / ... (25 episodes, 1958-1959)
Frances Bergen	...	Madame Francine (18 episodes, 1958-1959)

Runtime:

30 min (34 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Derringer Productions

Trivia:

The decaying Southern mansion seen on the series was the Tara set from Gone with the Wind (1939), which stood on the back lot at Desilu Studios (formerly Selznick International Pictures). The facade was sold and moved to Georgia later in 1959.

Soundtrack:

Yancy Derringer

Several Derringers, One Big Shotgun

When I watched Yancy Derringer as a 6 year old, the guns were especially fascinating. Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah had a big shotgun, maybe 10 gauge. Yancy had several tiny guns that were hidden in his clothes. One in his hat, one in his boot. He could be searched, but still pull a derringer out of his sleeve. X Brands, as Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah, had the biggest shotgun I have every seen. As I recall, it had a single barrel with a mighty power. If needed, Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah could blast the bad guys with such force, smoke, kick, and noise, that it was the grand finale to any fight!

The derringers came in a variety of arrangements, with most of them having two barrels. But some may have had more than two. The smallest derringer had only one barrel. There was a trick derringer, if my memory as a boy serves me correctly. One trick derringer was up Yancy's sleeve on a spring-loaded mechanism. It had scissor shaped metal supports that would expand to full length on command of a gesture. The contraption would spring out of his sleeve into Yancy's hand into the right firing position. The gesture that triggered the spring to release was for Yancy to press his elbow against his side. One derringer was hidden in his belt buckle. Toy stores sold belts with hidden derringers after that show!

Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah would carry his shotgun with him wherever he went, but with poise and dignity which seemed non-threatening. X Brands' dispassionate face would seldom display any emotion. He spoke slowly and deeply, with somber meaning that always was important. Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah was tall and strong. In a fight, I only remember his 8 gauge shotgun: as the ultimate weapon in any New Orleans brawl. It could knock down a wall!