Circus Boy is an American Western adventure family television series that aired in prime time on NBC, and then on ABC, from 1956 to 1957. It was then rerun by NBC on Saturday mornings, from 1958 to 1960.
Summary
Set in the late 1890s, the title of the series refers to a boy named Corky. After his parents, "The Flying Falcons," were killed in a trapeze accident, young Corky (Micky Dolenz – billed at the time as Mickey Braddock)Matt Messina, "Western on NBC Agenda," New York Daily News, June 7, 1966, p. 69. was adopted by Joey the Clown (Noah Beery, Jr.), and the whole Burke and Walsh Circus family. When school was brought up for Corky, Joey said he was a school teacher for many years before joining the circus and could easily handle his education.
The young boy quickly found a role with the circus as water boy to Bimbo, a baby elephant whom Corky would come to consider his pet. Riding Bimbo's back, Corky dealt with adolescent problems, and helped the show's adults including Joey, owner/promoter Big Tim Champion (Robert Lowery) and head canvasman Pete (Guinn Williams), keep the circus successful as the traveling show moved from town to town each week.
Outside of an elephant being the animal companion, the series was similar to popular "boy and his dog" shows of the time, such as Lassie/Jeff's Collie, and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.
Unusually, the opening credits billed the regular actors by their character names, rather than their own names.
Cast
Series regulars Actor Role Mickey Braddock Corky Foster Noah Beery, Jr. Uncle Joey the Clown Robert Lowery Big Tim Champion Guinn Williams Pete Bimbo Corky's pet elephant
Recurring roles and notable guest stars Actor Role Appearances Billy Barty Little Tom Episodes 1 and 2 Tom Brown Ned Bailey Episodes 29 Andy Clyde Col. Jack Bixby Episodes 2, 18, 31 and 39 Jane Darwell Mamie, the seamstress Episode 17 Coco Dolenz sister of Micky Dolenz Annie Simmons Episode 26 Coco from the orphanage Episode 42 Anthony Caruso Gambino Episodes 3 and 22 Ed Hinton Mike Episode 18 Sheriff Episode 43 Glenn KeyesEpisode 48 Sterling Holloway Elmer Purdy Episodes 15, 37 and 44 Brad Johnson Frank Dillard Episode 27 Russell Johnson Ben Osgood Episode 5Ralph Moody Casey Perkins Episodes 6 and 41 Chief Spotted Horse Episode 9 Ezra Hillman Episode 23 Nan Leslie Muriel Episode 30 Ken Osmond Skinny Episode 23 Hal Peary Al Garson Episode 33 Slim Pickens Curly Episode 8 Dan White Deputy Gus, Sheriff and Ben Otis Episodes 16, 21 and 26 Willard Waterman Mayor Humphrey Episode 42
First episode guest stars The following cast appeared in the debut episode only. Several sources erroneously list these three, as well as Billy Barty from Episodes 1 and 2, as series regulars.
Actor Role Leo Gordon Hank Miller Eddie Marr Barker Olin Howlin Swifty
Episodes
Series overview <onlyinclude>
Season 1 (1956–57)
Season 2 (1957)
References in The Monkees Micky Dolenz sings the theme to the series in "The Monkees at the Circus", an episode of The Monkees. When asked by Mike Nesmith "What 'is' that?", Dolenz responds "It's the theme song for an old TV series". Their song "Porpoise Song" contains references to the series, most notably with the line "riding the back of giraffes for laughs is alright for a while." In their song, "I'm Going to Buy Me a Dog", Micky Dolenz says he can train a dog. Davy Jones says, "I thought you only trained elephants."
References
External links
Circus Boy, season 1, episode 1 YouTube