As a young boy I remember watching Sky King on a black & white TV. Not everyone had a TV, but we kids managed to get to a neighbor's home who had one. It was a great series and the kids all enjoyed it. I now especially enjoy looking at those great old cars of the day, the wide open country, and the characters. It was a different world then. One I miss tremendously and very lucky to have experienced it. Those were the days my friend......
Thank you for this episode, Rob. About 4 years ago I bought the complete 72 DVD Episodes set from the great show 'Sky King.' That first year had a lot of Cold War espionage stories. This show inspired many teenage boys to become pilots. One of them, my cousin, who trained to be a Marine Corps pilot. The person I bought the DVD set from is located in Tennessee whose father bought the rights to the show from Kirby Grant. He, also, had the rights to 'Amos and Andy.' He called me because I had ordered the VHS tapes because they were at lower cost. He called me to verify the order. He offered me the DVDs for the price of the cassette tapes. We chatted and he told me the story. But, this show is one of the TV greats that taught that good always triumphs over evil. Take care and thanks, again.
I grew up watching every episode! Always wanted to fly. Finally did it later in life and became a commercial pilot and a CFII, flight instructor instrument single and multi-engines. Flew a piston twin, Cessna Golden Eagle for a coal company. Most of us older pilots found our beginning intro to flight from Sky King! Nice to see the beginning of Van Cleef’s career too.
WOW! What a gem even w/the Nabisco advertising. Some of these old first films had such creative imaginative writers and actors. Thanks for this today Rob. 🤠
Many thanks, Rob, RJ and Team AWOW for another interesting program. One of my favorite Rifleman episodes was Lee as Johnny Drako. He was a great talent and is sorely missed. Best of health to you all.
Born in 1946 to nomadic parents, we lived in over 50 dwellings - some for less than a month "Gas is cheaper than rent" Dad would say. There were a few times when we spent a year in one spot and even had a TV. Thankfully that was my Sky King phase. Sky was my inspiration to be a pilot - for just a few years. While the wanderlust is still deep in my bones, my Starlink buddy and the internet travel with me in my classic 38' motorhome. Thanks Sky and Thank you Mr. Word
Thank you for airing this, born in '53 and as a child I loved this program. Of course i watched all the other great shows on Saturday morning but I think this was my favorite. The cartoons that came after this show went off the air didn't interest me, and older by then spending the days outside with my friends in the neighborhood all of us barefoot until dinnertime. What a great time to be alive!
I met Kirby when I was about 16 or 17 and he was employed by the Carson and Barnes Circus. I also worked for them for a stint in northern B.C. and Alberta helping set up props and general Carnie stuff back in the mid to late 60s. He did some nice baritone western singing and some phony trick shooting in the big top and his name helped draw the crowds He appeared to have fallen on hard times by then and seemed to display a severe alcohol problem. I remembered him from the Sky King series on TV when I was a little kid. I also remember Grant as being a nice guy in person - when he was sober. I hope he was able to straighten things up before his unfortunate accident.
You are right, ross, Kirby was a wonderful man and became a good friend when I worked in Central Florida. He had a marvelous singing voice and wowed the fans in MAN OF LA MANCHA, surprising those who only knew him from SKY KING. Glad you had a chance to spend time with him.
Wow! I remember watching Sky King when i was a little girl❤❤🎉 Many thanks for sharing Rob thank you ever so much❤I'm very lucky I remember back when I was 3 years old! My Uncle from Long Island brought us a tv and roof antenna! It was a very exciting day! I remember 12 o'clock high and rip cord! Bomba the jungle boy and jungle Jim Johnny Weissmuller ♥️ and Tarzan! Romar and little monkey babet! Great movies❤❤❤
This was great. I asked my uncle about it when I was growing up in the 70's - he said "it's a western with airplanes!" It was one of his favorites. Not a western, but Sky King got me thinking of Ripcord (?) with Ken Curtis.
SKY KING! One of my SATURDAY MORNING HEROES! LEE was a very good villain before he did those spaghetti Westerns. Thanks, Rob! Kirby Grant should be in the Cowboy Hall of fame.
I remember too Rob! Black &white was Great! Old movies were full of morals and wisdow! Wagon train rawhide borax 20 muleteam ! Circle D Mille was the best loved 10 commandments and other movies he Produced🎉🎉❤❤❤❤Thank you Rob for Sharing our favorite s❤❤❤
Wonderful show Rob I never saw it before as it was before my childhood movie watching, I loved the ending with aspect of freedom and the doc and niece knowing freedom needs protection. Couldn't be truer some 70 years later !!!!
Lee Van Cleef was as unique as they come. As they say, he stole every scene he was ever in in “The Good The Bad and The Ugly”. His background acting experience definitely paid off in the end…
I loved Sky King when I was a kid though I can't remember much about it. I was just 6 yrs old when the last season aired. I mostly remember the plane and the commercials. As always thanks for the jogging of my memories.🛩(ps the girl kinda sounds like Speedy the Alka Seltzer Boy)
Thanks for the interesting introduction and history of the shows you always give. Having the Kirby Grant interview made this vintage Sky King even more special. Don't ever stop.
His voice was iconic. I loved his banter with the train passenger in fistful of dolllars. " the train will stop in tecumcari" but he says TU-CUM-CARI. Instead of tu cum carry. That deep droll at the end is lee vsn cleef the way. Keep up the great videos. 🙂🙂🙂
I grew up in the Los Angeles area, and in the early '60's my Saturday routine was: cartoons all morning, capped off with Sky King at noon and outside to play for the rest of the afternoon...happy times!
I've been thinking about sky King recently. I'm now 72 do I just couldn't remember the name I'm glad I saw your channel. In the writing of the story there is a lot of hidden truths inside their. And I must say the battle is still raging.
The Sky King series, and the 1965 "Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines", urged my brother and me to learn to fly. He still has his license at age 75 too. 👍👍5💖 10🌟🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
I’m reminded of the wonderful experience I had watching the movie “Giant” in 16mm with Kirby and his wife at your home! I prefer not to be reminded how long ago that was!
If only you kept in the closing credits. I would've like to know who the other actors, producers, director, writers, and technical staff were also in that episode.
We knew there were no closing credits on our print, Kraken, but wanted to air it because it's the only episode that featured Lee. Our Description is very detailed and includes the credits.
Kirby Grant was an actor and a pilot. SKY KING was shot in 3 days and there was always a B unit shooting the aerial footage. Pretty cool that your instructor got to work on the show. Thanks.
I recall one episode of "The Rifleman" where Lee Van Cleef was on the side of good. Then there was another episode where Lee's character had cautionary words to Lucas's son, Mark, about the downside of being a gun-slinger.
Lee said he never made much money in Hollywood but late 60s he went to Italy and become a star in THE SPAGHETTI WESTERNS they were called , clint Eastwood got a major boost in his movie career from them also
I didn't consider it a Kid Show like the others I mentioned. Lee certainly was good in his RIFLEMAN's episodes. He did so many more adult and prime time programs, too, western and non-western. It was always nice to see him in...anything! Thanks.
LOL. How could you have missed the Leone posters behind me and the story I told about Lee getting paid in cash, which is also in the Description. We love LVC!
Quite frankly, as a kid in the mid 50s, I really didn't like the show, but watched it anyway, because two other shows I really wanted to see (I don't remember) came on right before and after that. Most of my friends felt the same way, so it might not have been quite as "Popular" as it was made out to be. It bored me silly, just another "Kid's Western", but with an Airplane "gimmick", I wanted to watch the CARTOONS. I saw it as a "Filler" or "Bridge" between two "good" shows at the time. Thru adult eyes though, it was not too bad. It does pose an interesting question though, Do/did people watch TV shows, deemed "Popular" because they actually were popular or by virtue of their order in the program lineup at the time? I remember Sky King precisely because of this observation I made about the show, even as a kid. Just something to hold the channel and place and kill 30 minutes until my good show came on.
In those "olden golden" days, tom, there was less channel churning and viewers stayed tuned to the same station. I remember the Saturday lineup with FURY, THE ROY ROGERS SHOW, CIRCUS BOY, ROBIN HOOD and topped off with SKY KING, all on network affiliates. There were lots of cartoons too.
I was too, jon, but having LVC in the episode made all the difference. That's why I added the short clip of Kirby, Gloria and Ron in the Songbird at the top of the show. Thanks for your comment.
Every Saturday morning. Sky King, Fury, Rin Tin Tin, The Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers, Mr. Wizard, Superman. Ah! Those were the days.
Loved Saturday mornings as a kid!!!
I remember all of them....
yeah......... the kids nowadays dont know that stuff.
Lassie too. I didn’t know about cartoons.
You are showing my age! I remember them all because I watched them , intently.
As a young boy I remember watching Sky King on a black & white TV. Not everyone had a TV, but we kids managed to get to a neighbor's home who had one. It was a great series and the kids all enjoyed it. I now especially enjoy looking at those great old cars of the day, the wide open country, and the characters. It was a different world then. One I miss tremendously and very lucky to have experienced it. Those were the days my friend......
Neat story I love it .....yes me too I miss those times as well 😢...& I didn't even live then. !
Thank you for this episode, Rob. About 4 years ago I bought the complete 72 DVD Episodes set from the great show 'Sky King.' That first year had a lot of Cold War espionage stories. This show inspired many teenage boys to become pilots. One of them, my cousin, who trained to be a Marine Corps pilot. The person I bought the DVD set from is located in Tennessee whose father bought the rights to the show from Kirby Grant. He, also, had the rights to 'Amos and Andy.' He called me because I had ordered the VHS tapes because they were at lower cost. He called me to verify the order. He offered me the DVDs for the price of the cassette tapes. We chatted and he told me the story. But, this show is one of the TV greats that taught that good always triumphs over evil. Take care and thanks, again.
I would love the set of Sky King.
@@cynthiamcgee4829 I'm seeing more and more episodes start to come up on TH-cam, even in color which is pretty neat.
Several years ago, I bought the complete DVD set of "Amos & Andy" and they are hilarious. I have not got the "Sky King" set as of yet, but plan to.
Sky King and Penny I grew up watching all of those shows. Thank you, Rob.
Nabisco Fig Newtons…Yum !
@@robertknowles2699 reach for Nabisco
Lee was such a great badass!
Lee Van Cleef served in the U.S. Navy during WWII before he became an actor. Thank you for his service.
Whatever. He got paid for that "service", you know.....
I grew up watching every episode! Always wanted to fly. Finally did it later in life and became a commercial pilot and a CFII, flight instructor instrument single and multi-engines. Flew a piston twin, Cessna Golden Eagle for a coal company. Most of us older pilots found our beginning intro to flight from Sky King! Nice to see the beginning of Van Cleef’s career too.
Thanks, Unc. Great story.
I grew up watching Sky King and Penny, Those were the days of great innocence for our generation. Positive and Patriotic Messaging.
This was my favorite show when I was a kid.
Thanks for posting, brings back some lost memories.
One of my favorites, too, jim. Thanks.
I watched Sky King as a kid.. one of my all time favorite TV shows.
So did I!
Many thanks, Rob. I loved this series. I'm still in love with the Cessna 310. 👍⬆
Me too. I made a model of it. Such a cool plane.
I LOVED THE ROUND ENGINES OF THE OLD CESSNA SONGBIRD 1
loved that show on Saturday mornings....
I remember Saturday mornings ...The Lone Ranger, Sky King, Fury, My Friend Flicka...(not necessarily in that order)
I used to love watchng Sky King! The plane aspect of the west was so neat!
What good tv show, Rob. It was a little before my time since I’m only 62. Thanks Rob.
@@gregdavis19 even though you’re still just a kid, Greg, there’s still plenty of time to catch up.
Thanks. i grew up watcing this show. Was one of my favorites.
Mine too!
I remember watching this show on tv on Saturday mornings. Enjoyed it very much.
Wow Thank You for sharing this Sky King episode. Really enjoyed it. Lee Van Cleef an absolute legend. Thanks again Rob 👍
WOW! What a gem even w/the Nabisco advertising. Some of these old first films had such creative imaginative writers and actors. Thanks for this today Rob. 🤠
A 50's morality play. In the 60's is was, " West Side Story" on the Big screen!
Many thanks, Rob, RJ and Team AWOW for another interesting program. One of my favorite Rifleman episodes was Lee as Johnny Drako. He was a great talent and is sorely missed. Best of health to you all.
Born in 1946 to nomadic parents, we lived in over 50 dwellings - some for less than a month "Gas is cheaper than rent" Dad would say. There were a few times when we spent a year in one spot and even had a TV. Thankfully that was my Sky King phase. Sky was my inspiration to be a pilot - for just a few years. While the wanderlust is still deep in my bones, my Starlink buddy and the internet travel with me in my classic 38' motorhome. Thanks Sky and Thank you Mr. Word
SKY KING inspired many to become pilots, astronauts too. Thanks.
Thank you for airing this, born in '53 and as a child I loved this program. Of course i watched all the other great shows on Saturday morning but I think this was my favorite. The cartoons that came after this show went off the air didn't interest me, and older by then spending the days outside with my friends in the neighborhood all of us barefoot until dinnertime. What a great time to be alive!
Glad you enjoyed it then and now.
Been long long time since I watched Sky King!
I met Kirby when I was about 16 or 17 and he was employed by the Carson and Barnes Circus. I also worked for them for a stint in northern B.C. and Alberta helping set up props and general Carnie stuff back in the mid to late 60s. He did some nice baritone western singing and some phony trick shooting in the big top and his name helped draw the crowds He appeared to have fallen on hard times by then and seemed to display a severe alcohol problem. I remembered him from the Sky King series on TV when I was a little kid. I also remember Grant as being a nice guy in person - when he was sober. I hope he was able to straighten things up before his unfortunate accident.
You are right, ross, Kirby was a wonderful man and became a good friend when I worked in Central Florida. He had a marvelous singing voice and wowed the fans in MAN OF LA MANCHA, surprising those who only knew him from SKY KING. Glad you had a chance to spend time with him.
Wow! I remember watching Sky King when i was a little girl❤❤🎉 Many thanks for sharing Rob thank you ever so much❤I'm very lucky I remember back when I was 3 years old! My Uncle from Long Island brought us a tv and roof antenna! It was a very exciting day! I remember 12 o'clock high and rip cord! Bomba the jungle boy and jungle Jim Johnny Weissmuller ♥️ and Tarzan! Romar and little monkey babet! Great movies❤❤❤
I remember all of those, too, Bonnie. It was a terrific time to be a TV kid! Thanks.
I am old enough to remember listening to Sky King on the radio!
Thanks Rob... One of my favorites as a child...👍
Mine, too!
me and my brother watched this it was for sure his favorite he bought a plane learned to fly it was a big part of his life.
This was great.
I asked my uncle about it when I was growing up in the 70's - he said "it's a western with airplanes!"
It was one of his favorites.
Not a western, but Sky King got me thinking of Ripcord (?) with Ken Curtis.
Ripcord was one of my favorite. And why I parachuted myself. First time 1977
SKY KING! One of my SATURDAY MORNING HEROES! LEE was a very good villain before he did those spaghetti Westerns. Thanks, Rob! Kirby Grant should be in the Cowboy Hall of fame.
I agree Terry. Thanks.
I remember too Rob! Black &white was Great! Old movies were full of morals and wisdow! Wagon train rawhide borax 20 muleteam ! Circle D Mille was the best loved 10 commandments and other movies he Produced🎉🎉❤❤❤❤Thank you Rob for Sharing our favorite s❤❤❤
Wonderful show Rob I never saw it before as it was before my childhood movie watching, I loved the ending with aspect of freedom and the doc and niece knowing freedom needs protection. Couldn't be truer some 70 years later !!!!
Dr. Bellows, Danny DeVito, and Lee VanCleef…what more could one want?
Lee Van Cleef was as unique as they come. As they say, he stole every scene he was ever in in “The Good The Bad and The Ugly”. His background acting experience definitely paid off in the end…
Drinking a glass of Bosco or Ovaltine while watching uncle Sky, great moments.
LOL
Out of the Blue of the Western Sky comes SKY KING....
LVC ....what a legend. Why has no one ever done a documentary on him? Well..Mike Malloy wrote an amazing book on him, so that's a damn good start.
Good episode. Notable character actors.
LOVED SKY KING. They took it off the air way too soon. Producers had no idea what kids liked.
I really enjoyed the show Rob. Thank you & kind regards from Perth, Western Australia 🇦🇺
I loved Sky King when I was a kid though I can't remember much about it. I was just 6 yrs old when the last season aired. I mostly remember the plane and the commercials. As always thanks for the jogging of my memories.🛩(ps the girl kinda sounds like Speedy the Alka Seltzer Boy)
Van Cleef was my favorite actor as a kid . Sky King was a Wimp.
Thanks for this video and the reminder.
“Out of the blue of the western sky … comes … SKY KING!
Thanks for the interesting introduction and history of the shows you always give. Having the Kirby Grant interview made this vintage Sky King even more special. Don't ever stop.
Legend......
Sky King, Penny, and Clipper - yep, i remember them.
His voice was iconic. I loved his banter with the train passenger in fistful of dolllars. " the train will stop in tecumcari" but he says TU-CUM-CARI. Instead of tu cum carry. That deep droll at the end is lee vsn cleef the way. Keep up the great videos. 🙂🙂🙂
Thanks for sharing.
👍👍👏👏🇺🇲🇺🇲
Dr bellows from i dream of Jeannie 😂 before he joined the airforce & the space program. Incidentally found 61 of the 72 episodes on TH-cam.
LOL
I never missed a Sky King episode when I was a kid.
Neither did I, Doc.
I grew up in the Los Angeles area, and in the early '60's my Saturday routine was: cartoons all morning, capped off with Sky King at noon and outside to play for the rest of the afternoon...happy times!
I watched this show every Saturday morning.
Me, too, frank. Thanks.
Wish TV shows were like that now !!!. Good clean entertainment !!!
Thank you
You're welcome, Doug.
I watched the reruns in the 60's
When I was growing up I used to watch Sky King on Saturday
Me, too, Alfonso. It was a Saturday ritual and inspired many people to become pilots.
Great video and channel! It was a pleasure to meet you yesterday at the Hollywood Heritage Museum. -Vito
Thanks, Vito. Nice meeting you, too. That was quite a fine selection of used film books at the Museum. My car was loaded when I left.
@@AWordonWesterns good to hear! Hope to see you again.
5:00 Hey, it's Danny Devito! 😂😂😂
Because of those shows and the Apollo program........ I did all of those, a lot.
Ahh shucks!!! I haven't watched Sky King on TV since 1962'!
Sky King 😊
Time for an Oreo too!
Is that the guy from I Dream Of Jeannie?!
Yes, TT, that's Hayden Rorke, Dr. Bellows on I DREAM OF JEANNIE. Oreos are my wife's favorite cookie!
Fascinating!!!
From out of the clear blue of the western sky comes .......Whatzisname. 😮😮😮
I've been thinking about sky King recently. I'm now 72 do I just couldn't remember the name I'm glad I saw your channel. In the writing of the story there is a lot of hidden truths inside their. And I must say the battle is still raging.
Thanks, Maurice. I'm glad you found our channel, too.
The Sky King series, and the 1965 "Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines", urged my brother and me to learn to fly. He still has his license at age 75 too. 👍👍5💖 10🌟🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
My Mom, Dad and younger brother (and his wife) are all pilots, too, OD. SKY KING was an inspirational show.
i forgot about this show. i use to watch it over 60 years ago.
Lee was great in A few dollars more he had a great movie career
rob can u pleeeeasee do 45 mins on melody patterson of f-troup???
I’m reminded of the wonderful experience I had watching the movie “Giant” in 16mm with Kirby and his wife at your home! I prefer not to be reminded how long ago that was!
Try OVER 50 years, Ralph. Glad you can still remember it! C'mon down for a new Movie Night.
Those old cars were like bing on a boat
Rifleman and Cheyenne and sugarfoot and Branded❤❤❤
Wasn't his appearance on"Space Patrol" prior to "Sky King"?
We understand that the SKY KING episode may have been shot first but not aired until later.
If only you kept in the closing credits. I would've like to know who the other actors, producers, director, writers, and technical staff were also in that episode.
We knew there were no closing credits on our print, Kraken, but wanted to air it because it's the only episode that featured Lee. Our Description is very detailed and includes the credits.
@AWordonWesterns thank you!!!
Wow, Danny Devito hasn't changed a bit from the 50's.
I had a crush on Penny.
You were not alone, King!
Good to get back to the "WOW" . Had some technical issues but it's great to get back.
They should have known to keep Dr. Bellows away from Jeanie. 🤣🤣🤣
Skylar name of Walter Whites wife in Breaking Bad
My flight Examiner was the REAL pilot on This show. Sky king was an actor not a pilot 😂😂
Kirby Grant was an actor and a pilot. SKY KING was shot in 3 days and there was always a B unit shooting the aerial footage. Pretty cool that your instructor got to work on the show. Thanks.
I recall one episode of "The Rifleman" where Lee Van Cleef was on the side of good.
Then there was another episode where Lee's character had cautionary words to Lucas's son, Mark, about the downside of being a gun-slinger.
Lee said he never made much money in Hollywood but late 60s he went to Italy and become a star in THE SPAGHETTI WESTERNS they were called , clint Eastwood got a major boost in his movie career from them also
These shows are like joining Mister Peabody😅 and Sherman in the WayBack Machine to the 1950s and 60s.
You forgot to mention the Rifleman.
I didn't consider it a Kid Show like the others I mentioned. Lee certainly was good in his RIFLEMAN's episodes. He did so many more adult and prime time programs, too, western and non-western. It was always nice to see him in...anything! Thanks.
skkkyyy kiiinnngg how silly😅😅
Hayden Rorke?
@@KyleCowden yep. Before he was dreaming of Jeannie!
T h a n k s !
Didn’t you show this episode before Rob???….
Yes, about 4 years ago, John, during a month long tribute to Lee. He was featured in several other TV roles and movies.
There was so much room back then.
Can't believe you didn't even mention Lee Van Cleefs roles in the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns. That's actually what he is MOST known for 😮😊😊
LOL. How could you have missed the Leone posters behind me and the story I told about Lee getting paid in cash, which is also in the Description. We love LVC!
Wow,Danny Davito was old back then,too!🤪
Bobby Benson and the B- Bar-B ranch,,, air plane, song bird. Radio Saturdays,,, in the 40's
LEE on the Rifleman too ...
Yep, twice I think.
I think there were a couple other western shows to my friend flika comes to mind and black beauty to
Yep, Dave. MY FRIEND FLICKA was even in color! Thanks.
Quite frankly, as a kid in the mid 50s, I really didn't like the show, but watched it anyway, because two other shows I really wanted to see (I don't remember) came on right before and after that. Most of my friends felt the same way, so it might not have been quite as "Popular" as it was made out to be. It bored me silly, just another "Kid's Western", but with an Airplane "gimmick", I wanted to watch the CARTOONS. I saw it as a "Filler" or "Bridge" between two "good" shows at the time. Thru adult eyes though, it was not too bad. It does pose an interesting question though, Do/did people watch TV shows, deemed "Popular" because they actually were popular or by virtue of their order in the program lineup at the time? I remember Sky King precisely because of this observation I made about the show, even as a kid. Just something to hold the channel and place and kill 30 minutes until my good show came on.
In those "olden golden" days, tom, there was less channel churning and viewers stayed tuned to the same station. I remember the Saturday lineup with FURY, THE ROY ROGERS SHOW, CIRCUS BOY, ROBIN HOOD and topped off with SKY KING, all on network affiliates. There were lots of cartoons too.
You see? They had Karens back then too !!!
A little disappointed that we did not get to see much plane scenes
I was too, jon, but having LVC in the episode made all the difference. That's why I added the short clip of Kirby, Gloria and Ron in the Songbird at the top of the show. Thanks for your comment.
And switchblades.
To me the star of the show was the Olds convertible.
wow. its dr bellows being dr bellows, a shrink
Cool, huh?
Yes. the actor's name was Hayden Rorke, and he played various parts in numerous early TV shows.
I could never Forgive Sky King for getting rid of his Beechcraft, and going to the Cessna 310
When America was civilized.