“The time will come when everyone will know the name of Champion the Wonder Horse”, or so sang Frankie Lane in the theme song to ‘The Adventures of Champion’, or ‘Champion The Wonder Horse’, as the television series was known in Britain. A horse called ‘Champion’ – a dark chestnut with three white socks and a distinctive white blaze – first appeared in the silver screen alongside his owner, Gene ‘The Singing Cowboy’ Autry, in the 1935 Western musical ‘Melody Trail’. However, it is worth noting that, down the years, Autry also owned two similar, but not identical, horses, known as ‘Champion Jr.’ and ‘Television Champion’. The former appeared in films between 1946 and 1950 – the original Champion having died in 1943 – while the latter appeared in films and, as his name suggests, on television between 1950 and 1956.
A lighter chestnut gelding with four, rather than three, white socks and his mane and tail dyed flaxen, for continuity, Television Champion appeared in 91 episodes of ‘The Gene Autry Show’, which was screened on CBS between 1950 and 1956 and, latterly, 26 episodes of ‘The Adventures of Champion’, which was originally screened on the same network between 1953 and 1956. The second of the two was repeated by the BBC, in the school holidays, throughout the succeeding decades, such that anyone who grew up in Britain in the seventies, including your correspondent, really did know the name of Champion the Wonder Horse.
Set in the Southwestern United States – but filmed on location in the Far West, in California – ‘The Adventures of Champion’ features the exploits of adventurous, but rather hapless, 12-year-old Ricky North, played by Barry Curtis, his German Shepherd, Rebel and, of course, Champion, a wild stallion whom he has befriended. Ricky invariably sails close to the wind, but with the help of his Uncle, Sandy, and his constant canine and equine companions – in the case of Champion, aided by several uncredited stunt horses – repeatedly manages to extracate himself from challenging, and often perilous, situations. The show served to exemplify the strong, reciprocal bond between humans and animals and how it can be strengthened by positive, shared experiences.