F Troop

A Cavalcade of Chaos and Comedy in the Wild West

A broadly played slapstick comedy that never took itself too seriously, F Troop was a tongue-in-cheek romp through the American frontier, gleefully lampooning military life in the post-Civil War era. Set at the fictional Fort Courage — “somewhere west of the Missouri River” — the series delivered a hearty mix of physical gags, visual silliness and irreverent humour that struck a chord with younger audiences during its original run in the mid-1960s.

At the centre of the mayhem was Captain Wilton Parmenter, portrayed with wide-eyed innocence by Ken Berry. Parmenter is improbably promoted to command after accidentally leading a victorious charge in the wrong direction — a suitably absurd origin for the bumbling officer. Yet it is no secret that the real power behind the powder keg was the ever-scheming Sgt. Morgan O’Rourke (Forrest Tucker), a classic con man with a glint in his eye and a knack for turning a profit. His right-hand man, the delightfully dim Corporal Randolph Agarn (Larry Storch), provided the perfect comic foil — a duo whose antics often outshone the official storyline.

O’Rourke’s clandestine enterprise with the nearby Hekawi Indian tribe — manufacturers of “authentic” souvenir tat — offered both satire and slapstick, though the portrayal of Native Americans would undoubtedly raise eyebrows today. Nevertheless, the Hekawi were largely depicted with good humour and cleverness, most notably in the form of Roaring Chicken (Edward Everett Horton), who brought a gentle absurdity to the role.

Another recurring thread was Wrangler Jane (Melody Patterson), a pistol-packing sharpshooter who was as forthright in her affection for the bashful Captain as she was with her aim. Jane’s unrequited love added a sweet, if predictable, romantic subplot to the comedic chaos.

Guest stars were sprinkled throughout the series like seasoning in a stew — from Phil Harris to a pre-Laugh-In Henry Gibson as the ill-fated Wrongo Starr. Their appearances added sparkle to the show’s already boisterous formula of pratfalls, double-takes and deadpan one-liners.

Premiering in 1965 in sumptuous black and white, F Troop initially held its own when teamed with fellow military caper McHale’s Navy. But its second season, presented in colour, was less fortunate — relegated to a weaker time slot and subsequently trounced in the ratings by NBC’s more earnest frontier fare, Daniel Boone. By the time F Troop left the air in 1967, it had already become a cult favourite for a generation of television viewers who appreciated its unique brand of organised lunacy.

Though rarely seen on modern screens, F Troop remains a nostalgic relic for those who remember a time when comedy was broad, the cavalry wore moustaches, and the Wild West came with a laugh track. For those viewers, the "F" in F Troop undoubtedly still stands for “fun.”