Saturday, October 7, 2017

The Saga of Andy Burnett (Disney edition)


Disney's follow-up to the surprise hit Davy Crockett was the 6-part Saga of mountain man Andy Burnett, first airing between October 1957 and March 1958. The series was based on Stewart Edward White's 1932 novel The Long Rifle, discussed HERE

Andy was played by Jerome Courtland, who had been kicking around a dozen or more years in minor roles, and recorded a jazz vocal album called "Through a Long and Sleepless Night." Following the Andy series Courtland went on to play Lief Erickson in Tales of the Vikings and made guest appearances in shows like The Virginian and L.A. Law, but spent most of his later career as a director. His directing credits include multiple episodes of The Flying Nun, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Dynasty, Falcon Crest and Knots Landing. He also produced a few films, including Pete's Dragon and a couple in the Witch Mountain series. 

Andy's fellow mountain men were played by Jeff York, Slim Pickens and Andrew Duggan, with Iron Eyes Cody on hand as (you guessed it) an Indian. 

Sadly, you won't find the series on YouTube or DVD. Equally sadly (for me), though I taped all six episodes when they played on the Disney Channel, I can't find all the tapes. I'm making do by reading the books (White wrote four) and listening to the swell theme song. 



From a TV Guide of the time.









The sleeve for the YouTube song I posted yesterday.

3 comments:

  1. I loved that series, too. I wish now I hadn't destroyed my AB Big Big Book when I used it as a target for my sling shot.

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  2. Tsk. Should have used toy soldiers, like me.

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