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
Flicka is stolen when Ken discovers an outlaw's identity.
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 sheep herder moves into the valley and argues with the cattle ranchers over grazing land rights.
Ken, Flicka, and a young colt try to help a crippled boy overcome his fear of horses.
Sgt Tim O'Gara discovers that his old horse may be put to sleep.
After a riding accident leaves Ken immobile, a stalking cougar meets him face to face.
A wounded, escaped prisoner captures Ken and forces him to help with the getaway.
After refusing to sell Flicka to some strangers, Ken's horse mysteriously disappears.
When a captured stallion attacks its captor, Flicka is blamed for the deed.
When an Indian girl leaves Ken with her sick papoose, Ken almost ends up in the middle of an Indian revolt.
When Flicka helps an escaped fugitive, Ken is accused of assisting.
Ken is accused of allowing a horse to escape to eliminate Flicka's competition for a silver saddle.
Rob decides to sell his ranch when all of his horses escape from the corral.
While visiting the McLaughlin ranch, a spoiled city boy learns an important lesson.
When Ken and Gus neglect their gold hunting duties, Rob fractures his leg trying to handle the ranch alone.
A mine construction crew threatens livestock by contaminating water and blocking mountain pastures.
Ken and Flicka unearth an old murder mystery involving a ghostly rider.
When a man's horse bolts, the McLaughlins offer him and his family shelter.
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.
When a wild stallion injures his trainer, Ken takes over.
Flicka and Rebel, a wild stallion, disappear from Rob's corral.
When a cameraman attempts to photograph a herd of wild horses, the horses turn and stampede in his direction.
McLaughlin's niece runs away with a dog, when the neighbor blames the dog for killing chickens and threatens to get rid of it.
Ken unknowingly saves his father's grazing land, by helping a fellow fisherman land a big catch.
While stopping by to pick up parts for his family's carriage, Ken discovers a beautiful royal carriage at the blacksmith's shop.
After finding a white colt, Ken learns the difficulties of growing up for both people and horses.
Ken befriends two runaway Indians from a neighboring reservation.
Settlers move near Ken's father's ranch and try to claim all of his property, including Flicka.
Ken tries to retrieve stolen horses from a rodeo veteran-turned- horse thief.
While Ken's father is away on business, a cattle rustler visits the ranch.
Ken finds a puppy in one of his rabbit snares, creating havoc in the McLaughlin home.
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.
Prejudiced neighbors interfere when Ken asks a young Indian doctor to treat his ill mother.
After listening to the stories of his old cavalry buddy, Rob considers re-enlistening in the Army.
Ken and two boys learn about kindness from an old woman they thought was a witch.
Ken rebels against his father by running away, but regrets it after me meets two young orphans.
Ken's father purchases a prize bull and a young girl visits the ranch.
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.
Rob and Ken must find a valuable show horse that has fled from a fire.
