Wild Bill Hickok

Wild Bill Hickok was based on the legend of James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, variously a drover, wagon master, U. S. Marshal, gunfighter, and gambler in America's "Wild West" in the mid-1800s. The radio show starred Guy Madison as Wild Bill and Andy Devine as his sidekick "Jingles"; they portrayed the same characters on a successful television series in the 1950s. Both series focused on Wild Bill's sting as a lawman and ignored the more dubious aspects of his life.

The series were targeted at children, and my brother and I were fans of the television show, though I don't recall hearing the radio show. If for no other reason, listen to at least one episode for the over-the-top Kellogg's Sugar Pops commercials.

Hickok was famously shot in the back and killed while playing poker in Deadwood, South Dakota; the hand he was said to be holding, two pairs--aces and eights--became known as the "Dead Man's Hand." On a personal note, when we went on the family tour of the country before the oldest went to college, I got to play the part of Wild Bill in a reenactment of his death in a bar in Deadwood, S. D., for the benefit of us tourists.

Learn more at Wikipedia.

Series description provided by Frank Bell.