Wild Bill Hickok

Juvenile western adventure (1951 - 56)

First heard on Mutual Network sponsored by Kellogg, and then by other advertisers, Wild Bill Hickok was a solid cowboy hero of the kids. He and his sidekick "Jingles," played to the hilt by Andy Devine, rode through the west looking for adventure and getting it. Remember their horses? Wild Bill rode "Buckshot," and Jingles rode "Joker." Guy Madison played Marshal Wild Bill Hickok on radio and TV, with Andy Devine as Jingles. Hollywood actors did the bad guys and townsfolk. Charlie Lion did the announcing, and was "Panhandle Jim" for the Corn Pops commercials.

This series followed the format developed by the Lone Ranger and many other westerns for kids. Wild Bill was up against Roy Rogers a nd the Cisco Kid, as all of these cowpokes crossed-over from radio to TV with success. Wild Bill's adventures followed the same trail of bad hombres that needed straightening out. Wild Bill was not all that wild, however, as he seemed a mild-mannered honest good-guy in tone.

To modern adult ears who may have grown up listening to these shows Cisco Kid seems a more authentic in tone. Maybe this series was a little tamer, perhaps since it was sponsored by Kellogg Company. Panhandle Jim, "your ole sidekick" delivers the Kellog's Corn Pops commercials with a western pitch. You'll certainly remember their beloved jingle, "Kids loves Pops, Moms love Pops, Pops love Pops"