Casey Jones

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.