On this day in 1948, that fearless fighter of the north woods, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, made his national debut.
Originally developed by Detroit radio station WXYZ, originator of the Lone Ranger and the Green Hornet, it moved to the ABC network. It remained there less than a year before landing on the Mutual Broadcasting System. It was turned into a weekly television series in 1955.
If radio historians are correct, the intrepid Mountie was largely a foil for King, the wonder dog. Seeing the popularity of the Lone Ranger, WXYZ station owner, George Trendle wanted to develop a series with a canine hero. The Lassie model didn’t work for Trendle, however. He was looking for a more muscular dog.
Preston was played by a number of actors starting with Jay Michael in 1938. The part of Preston was an upgrade for Michael, who also played the heavy, Butch Cavendish in the Lone Ranger broadcasts. He was succeeded by film actor Paul Sutton and then briefly by Brace Beemer, the voice of the Lone Ranger.
Sound effects guys provided King’s barking and snarling until live animals were needed for television. Sometimes referred to as a Husky and other times as a Malamute, Yukon King was in fact an Alaskan Malamute. Larger than a Husky, the Malamute is known for strength and endurance.
TV actor Richard Simmons, not to be confused with fitness guru Richard Simmons, won the role of the sergeant after years as a contract player at MGM. A Minnesota native, Simmons attended the University of Minnesota where he competed in fencing and swimming. He spent a number of years after college as a merchant seaman before landing in California.
Simmons was rarely required to recall his old Minnesota cold-weather skills. Most episodes, broadcast between September 1955 and September 1958 were filmed in more seasonal weather in Ashcroft, Colorado and on a stage set. Some outdoor scenes were then added to lend an air of authenticity to the show.
Dell Comics produced 29 Sergeant Preston of the Yukon full-color comics from 1951 to 1958, contemporaneously with both radio and television versions of the series. Until 1955, the comic book covers featured paintings of Sergeant Preston, Yukon King and the Mountie’s horse, Rex. Four-color photo covers replaced the artist renditions following the advent of the television series.
A veteran of more than 40 movies, Simmons did little acting after his Sergeant Preston days but appeared in the mid-1960s on TV’s weekly Western documentary, Death Valley Days, playing Meriwether Lewis in one episode. He died in Oceanside, California in 2003 at the age of 89.
The second Sergeant Preston, Paul Sutton also left acting following his stint on the radio, making two unsuccessful bids for a U.S. House seat from Michigan.
And after more than a decade as the voice of the Lone Ranger, Brace Beemer was the third and final radio Preston. He too, left acting soon after his time on the Preston series
Yukon King was also retired when filming ended and lived with the Jack Wrather family. Wrather, president of his own production company, had produced both the Lassie and Lone Ranger television show.
And so as Sergeant William Preston would say, “Well, King, it looks like this case is closed.”
The Ashcroft Ghost Town, is preserved and administered by the Aspen Historical Society. Located 11 miles south of Aspen, it was featured in the Sgt. Preston series of the 1950. For the television show, the buildings were fitted with false fronts to more closely resemble a Canadian goldrush-era
setting. Established in 1880 on a silver strike, it was a virtual ghost town just five years later. The nine remaining buildings are on the National Register of Historic Sites. Open daily, 9 to 5, from June 16 to Oct 7. Admission for adults is $5, children under 12, free. For more information go the aspenhistory.org, call (970) 925-3721 or write 620 W. Bleeker St., Aspen Colorado 81611. © Text Only – 2017 – Headin’ West LLC – All photos – public domain.