When I was a kid in the 1950s, I’d rush home from school so I could watch The Cisco Kid on TV. From 1950 to 1956 Cisco and his wacky sidekick Pancho rode across the Wild West righting wrongs and stirring up trouble with Bad Guys. Based on O. Henry’s fabulous “Robin Hood of the Old West,” The Cisco Kid featured characters that were very different from the dozens of Westerns on television at that time. This box set presents 10 hours and 45 minutes of action and adventure. Were you a fan of the Cisco Kid and Pancho? GRADE: B+
DISC 1
Ball Bar Jellies
Big Switch
Buried Treasure
Cattle Rustling
Chain Lightning
DISC 2
Freightline Feud
Dog Story
Counterfeit Money
Convict Story
Confession for Money
DISC 3
Ghost Town
Heaven for Heavies
Jewelry Holdup
Lynching Story
Medicine Flats
DISC 4
Quick Silver Murder
Protective Association
Poncho Hostage
Oil Land
Newspaper Crusade
DISC 5
Railroad Landrush
Solen Bonds
Uncle Disinherits Niece
Water Rights
Well
I was as a little kid in the fifties. But like most shows from my childhood they now seem cheap and poorly done. I doubt I could make it through theses.
Steve, you’re right about the production values of these early TV shows. But THE CISCO KID always had humor going for it.
I remember it well and went to see one of their houses out in California. Quite a nice hacienda.
Patti, I always enjoyed Pancho’s humor in these episodes.
that would probably be the leo carrillo ranch in No San Diego County
Maggie, you’re probably right!
Cool! I haven’t seen these in fifty or sixty years but I was definitely a fan of them in the’fifties.
Jeff, there were plenty of westerns on television back in the 1950s. But THE CISCO KID stood out for me.
One of my favorites, George. Duncan Renaldo and Leo Carrillo were class acts both on screen and off. Part of me feels sorry for kids who did not grow up with this show.
Jerry, THE CISCO KID was certainly a favorite TV show of mine while I was growing up. Not many westerns of that vintage had its humor and wit.
George, I hope you’ve read Mike Nevins’ definitive book on the subject.
Dan, I have not read Mike Nevin’s definitive book…but I will now!
I remember it, remember liking it a lot, considering my sense of humor and adventure at that age, 5 to 10. Truthfully, I preferred Zorro, but this was funnier.
Rick, I was a big ZORRO fan, too. But THE CISCO KID always tickled my funny bone!
Two questions:
– Are these the color prints, or are they black&white?
– If the latter, do they have the original commercials, for the regional brands of bread (Butternut, Weber, some others)?
Neither of these is a dealbreaker; this is historical material we’re talking about, in whichever form.
” Tut Tut
Nothin’ But
Butternut Bread!”
Mike, no commercials. These episodes are in color, but you can find the original B&W episodes on AMAZON, too!
I saw them daily for a couple of years when I was working unless something came up that I had to do! As I recall, they were filmed in color originally, or perhaps just some of them were! Still, it was unusual for a producer to spend the extra money for color in those days! But I loved the show as a kid and still enjoy the reruns! My favorite showed Cisco mount one horse, ride across the desert on another, and arrive at his destination on a third, and they were all supposed to be his horse, Diablo! (Pancho’s horse was Loco!)
Bob, to me one horse looks pretty much like another. I just enjoyed the action and humor of THE CISCO KID.
“Oh Cisco!” “Oh Poncho!”
Roy, “Oh Loco!” “Oh Diablo!”
I named by dog Pancho after the tv character