My Friend Flicka

30min

Western

Drama

My Friend Flicka is a 39-episode western television series set at the fictitious Goose Bar Ranch in Wyoming at the turn of the 20th century. The program was filmed in color but initially aired in black and white on CBS at 7:30 p.m. Fridays from February 10, 1956, to February 1, 1957. It was a mid-season replacement for Gene Autry's The Adventures of Champion. Both series, however failed in the ratings against ABC's The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. After the initial Friday airing, viewers could still find the series on CBS Saturdays at 7 p.m. Eastern during March 1957, on Sundays at 6 p.m. from April to May 1957, and on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. from June to August 1957. NBC carried the program in color at 6:30 p.m. Sunday from September to December 1957 and at 7 p.m. Sunday from January to May 1958. In subsequent years, the series aired mostly on Saturday mornings on all networks. The Disney Channel ran it on Monday evenings in the mid-1980s. Over the years many viewers were unaware that the series produced episodes for only a single season. My Friend Flicka starred native Canadian Johnny Washbrook as Ken McLaughlin, a boy devoted to his horse Flicka, Swedish for "little girl", but actually an Arabian sorrel named Wahana. Gene Evans played the authoritarian father Rob McLaughlin, a former U.S. Army cavalry officer. Anita Louise was cast as the gentle-spirited mother, Nell. Frank Ferguson portrayed Gus Broeberg, the loyal ranch hand. Flicka is based on a novel by Mary O'Hara, written at the Remount Ranch, located between Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Some Internet sites say that the series is set in Montana, where some of the filming was done. The majority of the filming, however, was at Fox Movie Ranch. My Friend Flicka holds the distinction of having been the first television series filmed by 20th Century Fox. A 1943 film, My Friend Flicka, starred Roddy McDowall as Ken.

Episodes

Cast

One Man's Horse

1. One Man's Horse

30min

30th Sep 1955

Flicka is stolen when Ken discovers an outlaw's identity.

Blind Faith

2. Blind Faith

30min

7th Oct 1955

When Flicka is accidentally hit by a hunter's bullet, Ken begs the hunter, who is also a surgeon, to operate on the horse.

A Case Of Honor

3. A Case Of Honor

30min

14th Oct 1955

A sheep herder moves into the valley and argues with the cattle ranchers over grazing land rights.

A Good Deed

4. A Good Deed

30min

21st Oct 1955

Ken, Flicka, and a young colt try to help a crippled boy overcome his fear of horses.

Cavalry Horse

5. Cavalry Horse

30min

28th Oct 1955

Sgt Tim O'Gara discovers that his old horse may be put to sleep.

The Accident

6. The Accident

30min

4th Nov 1955

After a riding accident leaves Ken immobile, a stalking cougar meets him face to face.

The Stranger

7. The Stranger

30min

11th Nov 1955

A wounded, escaped prisoner captures Ken and forces him to help with the getaway.

The Wild Horse

8. The Wild Horse

30min

18th Nov 1955

After refusing to sell Flicka to some strangers, Ken's horse mysteriously disappears.

Rogue Stallion

9. Rogue Stallion

30min

25th Nov 1955

When a captured stallion attacks its captor, Flicka is blamed for the deed.

The Little Secret

10. The Little Secret

30min

2nd Dec 1955

When an Indian girl leaves Ken with her sick papoose, Ken almost ends up in the middle of an Indian revolt.

Act Of Loyalty

11. Act Of Loyalty

30min

8th Dec 1955

When Flicka helps an escaped fugitive, Ken is accused of assisting.

The Silver Saddle

12. The Silver Saddle

30min

16th Dec 1955

Ken is accused of allowing a horse to escape to eliminate Flicka's competition for a silver saddle.

The Phantom Herd

13. The Phantom Herd

30min

23rd Dec 1955

Rob decides to sell his ranch when all of his horses escape from the corral.

The Little Visitor

14. The Little Visitor

30min

30th Dec 1955

While visiting the McLaughlin ranch, a spoiled city boy learns an important lesson.

The Golden Promise

15. The Golden Promise

30min

6th Jan 1956

When Ken and Gus neglect their gold hunting duties, Rob fractures his leg trying to handle the ranch alone.

Black Dust

16. Black Dust

30min

13th Jan 1956

A mine construction crew threatens livestock by contaminating water and blocking mountain pastures.

The Night Rider

17. The Night Rider

30min

20th Jan 1956

Ken and Flicka unearth an old murder mystery involving a ghostly rider.

The Settler

18. The Settler

30min

27th Jan 1956

When a man's horse bolts, the McLaughlins offer him and his family shelter.

Wind From Heaven

19. Wind From Heaven

30min

3rd Feb 1956

Even though Ken's father and the rest of the ranchers are at war with a family of nesters, Ken befriends one of the youngsters.

The Whip

20. The Whip

30min

10th Feb 1956

When a wild stallion injures his trainer, Ken takes over.

The Runaways

21. The Runaways

30min

17th Feb 1956

Flicka and Rebel, a wild stallion, disappear from Rob's corral.

The Cameraman

22. The Cameraman

30min

24th Feb 1956

When a cameraman attempts to photograph a herd of wild horses, the horses turn and stampede in his direction.

Old Danny

23. Old Danny

30min

2nd Mar 1956

McLaughlin's niece runs away with a dog, when the neighbor blames the dog for killing chickens and threatens to get rid of it.

Rough And Ready

24. Rough And Ready

30min

9th Mar 1956

Ken unknowingly saves his father's grazing land, by helping a fellow fisherman land a big catch.

The Royal Carriage

25. The Royal Carriage

30min

16th Mar 1956

While stopping by to pick up parts for his family's carriage, Ken discovers a beautiful royal carriage at the blacksmith's shop.

Mister Goblin

26. Mister Goblin

30min

23rd Mar 1956

After finding a white colt, Ken learns the difficulties of growing up for both people and horses.

Rebels In Hiding

27. Rebels In Hiding

30min

30th Mar 1956

Ken befriends two runaway Indians from a neighboring reservation.

Lock, Stock & Barrel

28. Lock, Stock & Barrel

30min

6th Apr 1956

Settlers move near Ken's father's ranch and try to claim all of his property, including Flicka.

The Unmasking

29. The Unmasking

30min

13th Apr 1956

Ken tries to retrieve stolen horses from a rodeo veteran-turned- horse thief.

Refuge For The Night

30. Refuge For The Night

30min

20th Apr 1956

While Ken's father is away on business, a cattle rustler visits the ranch.

Against All Odds

31. Against All Odds

30min

27th Apr 1956

Ken finds a puppy in one of his rabbit snares, creating havoc in the McLaughlin home.

The Old Champ

32. The Old Champ

30min

4th May 1956

When Ken learns of Rob's decision to join a traveling medicine show, he wages Flicka in a bet that Rob is sure to win.

The Medicine Man

33. The Medicine Man

30min

11th May 1956

Prejudiced neighbors interfere when Ken asks a young Indian doctor to treat his ill mother.

When Bugles Blow

34. When Bugles Blow

30min

18th May 1956

After listening to the stories of his old cavalry buddy, Rob considers re-enlistening in the Army.

The Recluse

35. The Recluse

30min

25th May 1956

Ken and two boys learn about kindness from an old woman they thought was a witch.

The Foundlings

36. The Foundlings

30min

1st Jun 1956

Ken rebels against his father by running away, but regrets it after me meets two young orphans.

Growing Pains

37. Growing Pains

30min

8th Jun 1956

Ken's father purchases a prize bull and a young girl visits the ranch.

Lost River

38. Lost River

30min

15th Jun 1956

The Mclaughlin ranch is on water rationing. Rob buys a horse from a horse trader. The horse is suppose to be bad luck because of his markings on the face. Rob's new well is dry. The horse is not bad luck, he finds water.

Big Red

39. Big Red

30min

22nd Jun 1956

Rob and Ken must find a valuable show horse that has fled from a fire.

First air date

30th Sep 1955

Last air date

22nd Jun 1956

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks