Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (1955–1958) User Reviews

One of the BEST of the 50s

[macdan · 9/10 · 22 August 2008]

Takes me back..... I remember this series fondly. It taught morals, values, tolerance for others & respect for the law and it did it with good stories and solid acting.

Rex & Yukon King were a big part of the series. Dick Simmons looked every bit the Mountie and could sit Rex well on his English saddle. He was even better with sled & team of huskies with King in the lead of course. This was one of the few 50s shows shot in color but shown in B & W.

Big Bear Lake Ca was as close as Hollywood could approximate for the Yukon in the 50s. So sit back relax and enjoy "...in the wild days of the Yukon. Back to the days of the Gold Rush, as Sergeant Preston, with his wonder dog, Yukon King, meets the challenge of the Yukon."

...."On King, on you huskies!!!!"

Hey! All you fancy pants Hollywood Big Shots! Why not a SERGEANT PRESTON & YUKON KING movie? Try it and 'member who toldja!

[redryan64 · 8/10 · 18 December 2007]

"THE CHALLENGE OF THE YUKON", a Radio Series from the fertile program hatchery of Radio Station WXYZ, Detroit, made its debut on February 3, 1938 as a 15 minute installment. The series followed the adventures of one Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police and his Horse, Rex and his canine ally, "…Yukon King, the swiftest and strongest lead dog in the North!" It later became a half-hour weekly show on the ABC Radio Network.

It was during this period that the show acquired a regular sponsor in the Quaker Oats Company. It's Quaker that was responsible for the Nations supply of nice, piping hot and wholesome Quaker Oat Meal, as well those two "shot from guns" and ready to eat twins of breakfast, Quaker Puffed Wheat and Quaker Puffed Rice.

Anyone who ever heard one of the shows would not soon forget the excitement generated by one of their radio episodes. There was a certain enchanting and heart-felt spectrum of moods generated in these episodes. The main story lines were propelled forward and necessary exposition was ably handled by the golden voiced narrator. We were bombarded with a variety of rich, image-forming sounds. The wind constantly whistling through the lofty coniferous pines, spruce, balsam and larches, was a constant reminder of the great, snowy wilderness being portrayed.

And that my, dear reader, brings us to a most important element in creating an exciting, memorable drama; be it feature film, television or (especially) radio. That is the music, both themes (sort of the 'Overture' of the radio play) and the incidental music for creating mood and serving as queues for impending action sequences.

Much like the two other highly successful series that came out of WXYZ, Sgt. Preston's "THE CHALLENGE OF THE YUKON" would have a theme culled from the seemingly endless library of Classical Music compositions. They would provide a great list of substantive, charming and memorable fine and adaptable scores. And they all just about all happened to be in Public Domain.

The WXYZ staff had previously chosen the Finale from Rossini's Overture to his Opera, WILLIAM TELL and virtually made it their own as the theme for their own immortal radio series, "THE LONE RANGER". Likewise, when the Masked Man's great,great nephew, Newspaper Publisher, Britt Reid, was in need of a similarly rich and memorable "tune" for a theme, what they pressed into service was Rimzky-Korsakov's The Flight of the Bumble Bee." Hence, it became forever identified with THE GREEN HORNET.

So two good themes were taken, but there were plenty of fish in the sea. What was chosen for "THE CHALLENGE OF THE YUKON", which was officially renamed "SERGEANT PRESTON OF THE YUKON" in 1951, was a lesser known composition by a not as 'famous' composer. It was Nichlaus von Reznicek's overture from his Opera,'Donna Diana'. Once heard it's powerful, lively and triumphant melodies will not soon be forgotten.

As an adaptation from Radio, the TV Series of SERGEANT PRESTON OF THE YUKON made the transition as smoothly as one could hope. The voice over narration was continued, but as you would expect, it was in a slightly diminished capacity; the visual medium being not so demanding as Radio.

Overall, it sounded much like the Radio version had been; what with the ever whistling North Wind, Lead DogYukon King's barking, his sled dog team, Rex his horse and the good Sergeant's frequent shouts of "ON KING!" and "MUSH, YOU HUSKIES!" The choice of the lead to portray the Mountie Sergeant was a crucial one and its selection was well done.

In discharging their duty of auditioning and finding the right man they could't have made a better choice. Tall, burly and broad shouldered Richard Simmons was chosen. (Not that one, who was still in diapers then.) He cut a fine figure in his red tunic, dark blue side-striped pants and Pershing-style brown hat.

Furthermore, and just as importantly, Mr. Simmons sounded like the Radio actor who originated the role. So it was with a rich, baritone that all of the Good Sgt.'s various and oft used commands of, "On King", "Mush You Huskies" and "I arrest you in the Name of the Crown", were heard.

And much like "THE LONE RANGER" TV Series, there was plenty of outdoor shooting to add authenticity to whatever studio and back lot "town" shots that they did. We had thought that it was around Lake Tahoe, on the Nevada-California border that starred and doubled for the Canadian Yukon Territory. But we have since then been informed that it was done a California's Big Bear Lake. (I guess I wasn't far off, but no matter!)

That locale provided a beautiful array of, large, snow-covered expanses of looked like fine skiing country. The location was ringed by great growths of pine forest; giving it an authentic look of the arctic. Later episodes, being filmed in Color, made for an excellent record or even a travelogue for this part of Northern (?) California.

One item that Sgt. Preston retained from his Radio Days was the all important Sponsor. Good, old reliable Quaker Oats. After signing on in the '40's, they continued their association with the show up until the end of the TV run. And it is this that will surely awaken a very fond memory of Sgt. Preston. "And that would be…….?", I hear you ask.

Sometime during the run of the TV Series, Quaker offered "inside specially marked boxes" of Quaker Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice, one special Land Deed to One Square Foot of Yukon Territory. (I tink it wuz 1 foot! Any body 'member dat?) When considered today, the whole body of the Sgt. Preston saga, it appears that he truly made a fine impression in our national psyche as a great, immortal symbol of Law & Order and all that is good in Canada and her Neighbor to the South.

A Different Locale, But Another Great TV Show Of The '50s

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 4 April 2007]

Here is another old television show that brings back fond memories. My dad used to get a special charge out of this show, yelling "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" after the introduction. All of kids would excited.

What I remember most, to be honest, is Preston's dog, "King" and our hero, played by Dick Simmons, who looked like an honest-to-goodness Mountie, telling the dog at the end of many episodes, "Well, King, this case is closed."

If I recall, there was nothing supernatural about this, no Superman or Batman stuff, just a straight action story that most times involved the great scenery of the North. That also made it different as most of the stuff we watched was the either the above or the many good westerns that were available in the '50s. This show offered a totally different atmosphere, although it was the same simple good guys-vs.-bad guys stuff, easy to follow and easy to like.

"I arrest you in the name of the Crown."

[Bookwus · 30 January 1999]

With these words, Sergeant Preston and his loyal dog, Yukon king always got their man. Played by Richard Simmons, Sergeant Preston patrolled the western reaches of the Canadian frontier in the 1890s. Action and justice in such locales as Yellowknife, Dawson, and Whitehorse were seen each Saturday morning by the same kids who had just finished watching The Lone Ranger and Sky King.

The series episodes featured stories set against the harsh extremes of the Yukon winter and summers in the Canadian Rockies. To match the climate, Preston would trade his dogsled for his horse, Rex. King was along wherever the good sergeant went.

Simmons was the perfect embodiment of Sergeant Preston, the pride of the Northwest Mounted. To this day (despite Due South) when I picture a Mountie......it's always Sergeant Preston. And of those of who watched the show as kids, who can forget that stirring theme music and the words with which Sergeant Preston closed each episode, "Well King, this case is closed."

Here Is The Yukon.....

[aimless-46 · 8/10 · 27 March 2008]

The 78 half-hour episodes of the "kiddie" television adventure series "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" were originally broadcast on CBS during the 1955 to 1958 broadcast seasons; and in syndication for many years after.

This was one of many transplants to early television from network radio. It was created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker who also put together both the radio and television versions of "The Lone Ranger" and the radio version of "The Green Hornet".

At a time of look-alike westerns filmed on the back-lots of Hollywood, "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" offered viewers the white landscape of Canada's Yukon Territory. It was actually filmed each winter in the mountains of Big Bear Lake, in southern California.

Like "The Lone Ranger", each week the story's setting and characters were described by the narrator in the opening credits: "Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police with Yukon King, swiftest and strongest lead dog breaking the trail in the relentless pursuit of lawbreakers, in the wild days of the Yukon. Back to the days of the Gold Rush, as Sergeant Preston, with his wonder dog, Yukon King, meets the challenge of the Yukon".

The gold rush he is talking about occurred in the 1890's as Canada's desolate western frontier found itself suddenly occupied by a swarm of gold crazed miners, cutthroats, and tenderfeet. It was up to Sgt. Preston (his first name is never used) to track down thieves, murderers, and claim jumpers. The job left him no time for romance even though his Boston Blackie mustache, red uniform, puffed-out trousers, and DI hat must have driven the ladies crazy.

No doubt the education of baby boomers on NWMP lore was responsible for the successful introduction of "Dudley Do-right" to "Rocky and and His Friends/The Bullwinkle Show" (1959-1964).

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

A Beloved Childhood Memory

[rusher33707 · 10/10 · 4 August 2016]

I have had the great privilege of watching daily episodes of Sergeant Preston on "Grit TV" for the last couple of months. It was one of my all-time favorite TV shows when I was a kid in the '50's. Millions of other kids loved it too -- so much so that Milton Bradley issued a "Sergeant Preston" board game. My brother and I and the neighborhood kids used to play that game all the time. Fast-forward to today: Shortly after I started watching the show on "Grit", I went to eBay and found a copy of the game. It is now in my possession, and will be a cherished possession of mine for the rest of my life. As for the show itself: for those who might remember -- Dick Simmons WAS Sergeant Preston, in much the same way that Clayton Moore WAS the "Lone Ranger". In fact, the two made personal appearances in costume together from time to time. With his handsome good looks, pencil-thin mustache, and resonant voice ("On, You Huskies!!"), no one else could have pulled off that role the way that Dick Simmons did. He was awesome. But of course, the real star of the show was "King". Seeing this show for the first time in color (we only had black-and-white TV in the fifties), I was truly taken by how gorgeous and lovable this animal truly was. You can see it in every scene he is in -- a true scene stealer. It is no wonder that the kids of the 1950's loved him so much. I have read that once the series ended, King went on to a long and happy life in retirement. He earned it for sure.

Dick Simmons is perfect as Sgt. Preston

[Matthew_Capitano · 10/10 · 26 March 2018]

Richard 'Dick' Simmons was the perfect choice to play the Yukon constable.

Simmons was tall, handsome, and a great actor. He had a masculine voice and he exuded not only bravery, but compassion and understanding to the people who visited the northwest territory. With his trusty dog (King) and dependable horse (Rex), Sergeant Preston defended law and order as a stalwart representative of the Northwest Mounted Police.

This series was excellent thanks to fine actor Richard 'Dick' Simmons.

DOG Punchers?

[edrybaaudio · 9/10 · 20 June 2020]

If you like Westerns, and I've got to admit I do since my late Dad introduced me to them starting when I was about 4 years old, you'll love Sgt. Preston of the Yukon... although, since there's really nowhere else to put it, it's often classified as a Western when it's really more of a "Northern".

If you're in the business of creating programs for a living, you know how lucky you are if you get ONE show on the air in your entire career. Sergeant Preston was the THIRD show created for Radio back in the day by George W. Trendle, and in this case, Fran Striker (his first name is short for Francis, and for whatever reason, he didn't want to be called Frank, in the way that one Francis Albert Sinatra was) at WXYZ Detroit... an independent station at the time, where Trendle created "The Lone Ranger" (and Striker became what is now called the "show runner" and one of its writers). Trendle then created "The Green Hornet" for WXYZ, and again Striker was his right hand man, WHILE "The Lone Ranger" was still on the air!

Some time during this period, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), formerly the Federal Radio Commission (FRC), decided "No one company should be able to own TWO (or more) separate and distinct Radio Networks", so they ordered NBC (owners of the NBC Red and the NBC Blue Networks) to divest itself of one of them. I could be wrong here, but I believe NBC unloaded their Red Network, and it became The American Broadcasting Company (ABC). Both Sgt. Preston and WXYZ Detroit became affiliated with this new ABC Network. And as if that weren't enough, G.W. Trendle created "Sgt. Preston" for ABC Radio (but at the time, it was entitled "The Challenge Of The Yukon").

Given all the other reviews of the TV version of the show listed here, there isn't a lot left I can add that hasn't already been discussed... except maybe to say that I wholeheartedly DISagree with the reviewer who calls himself "old geezer", just a couple of reviews above this one.

The "geezer" throws derogatory terms at this show, such as "cheap" and "cheesy". He quite wrongly says the Exterior cabin sets are "all the same wall with a door in it", which, if you actually have enough brain cells still functioning to pay attention to what's actually on the screen, it's VERY obvious there are several more than THREE sets (more like five or six). And there are some very clever creative touches - such as this one: unlike every other show of the period and 99% of them ever since, between scenes Sgt. Preston DOES NOT FADE TO BLACK! It fades TO WHITE (like the snow - get it?) except where the ORIGINAL commercial breaks went. Of course, it's been a very long time since Quaker Oats sponsored the show on ABC-TV, and if you don't know this, I'm gonna tell you: whoever is running the show NOW has ADDED SOME EXTRA COMMERCIAL BREAKS. When they show these extra breaks, they tend to just CUT to commercial, rather than taking ANY time to fade, so there's simply no time for ANY fade, whether to black, white or chartreuse.

Suffice it to say that if you enjoy outdoor adventure series, Sgt. Preston of the Yukon is one show that's right up your alley. As of the time of this writing, you can see the Sarge on FETV, most evenings of the week.

"I arrest you all in the name of the Crown!"

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 9 March 2012]

I'm sure I speak for a lot of folks in my age bracket who grew up in the 1950's when I say that it was probably the greatest time ever to be a kid. Saturday mornings spent with The Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers, Wild Bill Hickok, Sky King, and yes - Sergeant Preston of the Yukon! As another reviewer for this series mentions, the values of a generation were formed by the honesty and integrity of these heroes of the silver screen. Watching these stories today takes one back to a simpler time, and granted, even though things are a lot more complex today, any single episode of any of these shows helps one put things in proper perspective when it comes to telling right from wrong.

In many respects, one could categorize 'Sergeant Preston' as a TV Western, in fact, it's included in Harris M. Lentz's 'Television Westerns Episode Guide' for all Western series airing from 1949 to 1996. Just like many other non-traditional Western series are included, such as 'Circus Boy', 'Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin' and 'My Friend Flicka'. The common denominator for all these shows is an unerring principal that good triumphs over evil and honesty is the best policy.

"Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" aired from September 1955 to September 1958, a three season total of seventy eight shows. It's star was Richard Simmons, somewhat ironic in retrospect as most people today would associate that name with the exercise and weight loss guru who seems to pack on the pounds as he ages. Other than Roy Rogers, Sergeant Preston is the only principal Western TV character I can think of that had two animal sidekicks. Roy of course had Trigger and Bullet, while Preston had Yukon King and Rex. Apparently, King had a much better agent as he appeared in every show, while Rex was primarily featured in the first season with twenty appearances.

Recently I've watched a handful of episodes, and with the passage of time, one's expectations wind up taking a hit as it were. The stories are relatively simplistic, sometimes even goofy. Don't take this the wrong way, the same can be said of a couple of my other favorite childhood hero series, The Lone Ranger and Superman. It's just the way things were back in the early days of TV with unsophisticated stories pretty much pitting the good guys versus the bad guys with the white hats always on the winning side. Or in the case of Sergeant Preston, the guys in the red coats. Speaking of which, when I saw these episodes back in the day, it would have been on a black and white TV, but some of the shows I've seen recently were done in color, or at least what passed for color with a somewhat muddied and muted palette.

In any event, I can still look back on Sergeant Preston as one of my boyhood heroes with a fond memory. Simmons' character was a staunch, no nonsense individual that commanded respect and admiration, and if it weren't for all that snow and ice, I'd want to follow right in his footsteps.

Richard Simmons is perfect as Canadien Mountie Sergeant Preston

[Matthew_Capitano · 10/10 · 6 January 2013]

No other actor could have done a better job of portraying Northwest Mountie Policeman Sergeant Preston than did the fine and stalwart actor Richard Simmons.

With his faithful dog, Yukon King, Sergeant Preston traveled the countryside of the Northwest Territories bringing peace and justice to that freezing cold region. Always exciting stories and authentic atmosphere which captured the sub-zero temperatures of the north made each episode lots of fun.

Highly recommended series for fans of outdoor adventures, as well as to see the excellent acting of ruggedly handsome actor Richard Simmons.

This Mountie Always Got His Man

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 8 November 2010]

Sergeant Preston Of The Yukon like The Lone Ranger created from the minds of George W. Trendle and Fran Striker was a staple of radio for many years. When series radio was coming to an end, the Sergeant brought his team of huskies led by his lead dog King to television and week and after week for three years kids got snow blind watching those wintry episodes. Of course in the tradition of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the sergeant never failed to get his man.

As it was from the folks who gave you the Lone Ranger the show did emphasize clean living and strict family values. Of course what those folks in the frozen north did to get a little comfort on those cold winter nights is best left unsaid.

King was as helpful to Preston as Rin Tin Tin was to Rusty and the rest of the US Cavalry. And during the winter months he was essential. I can't conceive of Richard Simmons ever being forced to eat King as say Polar explorers like Scott, Nansen, Peary, and Amundsen being forced to eat their transportation to prevent starvation.

I may be a bit to jocular and humorous, but Sergeant Preston Of The Yukon was a decent show and for more than just the kid trade. It did evoke some fond memories after seeing some episodes recently.

And still he and Nelson Eddy have in their images set a kind of standard for the men of the RCMP to live up to.

Corny Elements and Strange Story Lines make for a great laugh!

[jessie_virgo · 10/10 · 29 January 2012]

My father brought this series home on DVD ranting and raving about how terrible a show it was when he used to watch it with his father, he figured that with the Hollywood style of movies we are accustomed to now, it would be a great laugh. Low and behold, it was! You laugh from the acting, the shadows on the blue backdrop and the trusty side-kick Yukon King, as he looks around for whichever crew member has his milk bone.

"On you huskeys!"

Fabulous!

I recommended it to everyone and anyone!

10 stars!

"The Lone Ranger" -- with dogs schlepping his sled

[grizzledgeezer · 1/10 · 1 June 2016]

If there were ever a vote on "Worst TV Series", "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" would be an easy favorite. Its only distinction is that it was voted "Best TV Show of All Time" by the Flocking Institute of America.

Other than the handsome color (which looks great on studio sets, but rather washed-out in outdoor scenes), everything about SPOTY (pronounced as if there were two Ts) can summed up in one word -- cheap.

The indoor sets are crabbed, and unconvincingly dressed. Outdoors, the same generic cabin is used over and over and over and over. (It's not so much a cabin, as a longish wall with a door in it.)

Outdoor scenes jump between location shots and studio sets. (This was normal, especially with Westerns, as outdoor shooting was not only more expensive, but there was no control over weather or the lighting.) Unfortunately, there's only one or two indoor "outdoor" sets, which hardly ever match up with the location shots.

Not much can be said for Yukon King, the wonder dog who leads Sergeant Preston's team. He seems to have been cast for affability, rather than the edginess one would expect from a sled dog. He usually sits quietly, or sometimes wanders around the set, to no particular purpose, showing neither enthusiasm nor affection. (Another poster's suggestion, that YK is looking for Milk-Bone handout, seems reasonable.)

But the worst thing about SPOTY, the thing that consigns it to the bottom of the barrel, is poor writing. It appears the radio programs were simply re-written for the series. Not only are they aimed at the intelligence of a four-year-old, but the dialog is mostly tedious and often clumsy exposition. And, of course, there's a narrator explaining things for the radio audience. (You could turn off the picture and not miss anything.)

Given the low production values and poor scripts, it would be unkind to criticize the acting (though Richard Simmons, as the eponymous hero, brings to his role all the excitement of staring at wallpaper). At least everyone manages to hit their marks and speak clearly.

Unlike "The Cisco Kid" or "Adventures of Superman" (two other early syndicated color series), SPOTY is devoid of character or style. There's nothing memorable about it, other than its cheesy lameness.

For those not familiar with classical music, the theme is from the overture to Řezníček's "Diana Banana". As with "The Lone Ranger" and "The Green Hornet", George Trendle selected PD classical music so he wouldn't have to pay royalties.

PS: I've often wondered why Union Carbide never did TV commercials with "Sergeant Prestone of the Yukon". It would have been a perfect match of product, character, and environment.

If only

[L_Forster · 25 December 2004]

I remember watching this program as a kid. There were no fancy special effects, no blood and gore, just edge of your seat excitement. There was a clear distinction between the good guys and the bad guys, and the good guys won. The dedicated Sargent Preston, and his faithful dog King, fighting the elements and the bad guys. You always knew who the hero was, and the bad guys always got what they deserve. Perhaps if there were shows like this today, children would have a better sense of right and wrong. Clear definitions of right and wrong, where the objective is to bring the wrongdoer to justice, not smash, mutilate or destroy them. No super powers, no high technology, just plain old fashioned using your brain. Clear values and no gratuitous violence.

Iconic

[steve-667-10190 · 8/10 · 22 March 2019]

Sgt Preston and Tales of the Texas Rangers were the reasons I became a policeman.

As a kid I loved the uniforms and the adventure.

As a young man I admired the courage.

As a policeman I respected the duty and the sense of justice and mercy.

If only we'd never lost our way with the swill that masquerades as entertainment nowadays.

Creators of Sgt Preston

[Shadow-6 · 13 September 1999]

"On King! On you huskies!" I loved this show! The redoubtable Sgt Preston always used to end the show by saying to his dog, "Well, King, this case is closed!" The show was created by George W. Trendle & Fran Stryker who also created The Lone Ranger & The Green Hornet!

GREAT COMMENTS BOOKWUS...HERE'S SOMETHING FROM ME...

[renfield54 · 11 September 1999]

I happened to tune into the Norm McDonald TV show for the first time last week (9-99). In it someone made a passing reference to Sgt. Preston. (It's how I ended up on the IMDb reading about it and writing this.) A comment I'm sure was not noticed by many. It hit home with me. I used to love catching the re-runs of Sgt. Preston and his dog, Yukon King. I couldn't have been more than 6 or 7 but I loved the show. My memories aren't as clear as BOOKWUS (another commenter), but I would like to compliment BOOKWUS on wonderful and complete comments that really bring the show back into view for us Sgt. Preston fans. Great job and I can't add anything else. I would love to see the show again to see what passed for entertainment to me as a child. The simplicity of old TV is lost now, but man, we were "living".

StumbleOn.

[rmax304823 · 13 October 2015]

In switching TV service providers there occurred a gap, during which my selection of channels seemed to be limited to about half a dozen -- the Prayer Channel, Home Shopping Network, The News in Urdu, that sort of thing.

I happened across Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. It was at least WATCHABLE.

True, the values were rudimentary -- good versus evil -- and as easy as it is to watch such a Manichaean story, that's not the way the universe is structured, is it. It doesn't get past Kohlberg's Level 2 stage of moral development, in which you either obey the rules or you don't.

Still, it's reassuring to see the distinction played out in a fictional story. It's ritualized, a fixed point in a changing and disappointing world, like a religious service.

I used to listen to the program on the radio -- I'm pretty old and we were pretty poor. (The house was always full of winter snow regardless of season and we had to pounce on mice for a meal.) The characters and the trajectory of the story were no longer familiar.

What struck me was the sound, the voices, and the musical score. "On, King, ON, YOU HUSKIES!" And the theme music, which I haven't heard for more than half a century. I found myself able to hum along with the theme.

The human mind is a very strange thing, even compared to the relationship between Sergeant Preston and his faithful dog King.