Casey Jones

Casey Jones

1957 - United States

Popular Western series for kids that was made along similar lines to The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid and other successfully syndicated shows of the late 1950's. Alan Hale Jnr (who was later marooned with the rest of the Gilligan's Island crew) starred as the heroic driver of the Cannonball Express, which traversed the Illinois Central Railroad circa 1890. 

Unlike the song from which the show was derived Casey Jones (steamin' and a rollin') didn't meet with a sticky end and with the aid of his wife, Alice (Mary Lawrence), son, Casey Jnr (Bobby Clark), fireman, Wallie Simms (Dub Taylor), conductor, Red Rock (Eddy Waller) and faithful dog, Cinders, Jackson Tennessee's most notable citizen outwitted the slimy sidewinder's that attempted to break the law or would otherwise stop him bringing his train in on time. 

Published on December 3rd, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

The Dukes of Hazzard

Cousins Bo and Luke Duke and their car "General Lee", have a running battle with the authorities of Hazzard County.

Also tagged Us Action Adventure

The Adventures of Tugboat Annie

Anglo-Canadian sitcom about Annie Brennan, the fog-horn voiced captain of the Narcissus, a tugboat based in a harbour on the Pacific North West of America.

Also released in 1957

Land of the Lost

Children's adventure series in which a father and his two children are transported to a mysterious prehistoric world populated by dinosaurs and primitive humanoids and where they have to rely on quick thinking and bravery to survive

Also tagged Us Kids Series

Educated Evans

Based on an Edgar Wallace created character this 1957/8 sitcom starred Charlie Chester as the popular Cockney racing tipster 'Educated' Evans, who ducked and dived through the back streets and public houses of London all the while trying to stay one step ahead of the law.

Also released in 1957

Bionic Woman

This NBC reimagining of the 1970s mega-hit series starring British actress Michelle Ryan as a young woman whose life is saved by the implementation of enhanced bionics was short lived. NBC missed a trick in not giving it a fair chance to fully develop...

Also tagged Us Action Adventure

Baywatch

Action drama about lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, and Hawaii - although it appeared to do little more than showcase the golden bodies of the cast, it became a guilty pleasure to millions

Also tagged Us Action Adventure

Reacher - Season 2

Second season of Amazon's hugely successful series based on Lee Child's novels in which a former military policeman metes out his own particular brand of justice

Also tagged Us Action Adventure

The Adventures of Long John Silver

Australian series filmed in colour but only available to the UK viewing public of 1957 in black and white, The Adventures of Long John Silver was based very loosely on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel Treasure Island.

Also released in 1957

Walker, Texas Ranger

Chuck Norris stars as a member of the Texas Ranger Division, keeping law and order in the Code of the Old West - utilising his skills as a martial arts expert - of course

Also tagged Us Action Adventure