1 9 6 0 (USA)
17 x 60 minute episodes
The adventures of Fred Kelly (William Bendix, star of The Life of Riley) – a former civil war engineer and crusty superintendent for the Overland Stage Co – and his young sidekick, Flip Flippen (Doug McClure) as they try to keep the stage routes safe.
Overland was pushing west and establishing a trail from Missouri to California. Stories followed Fred and Frank as they supervised operations and protected the route from whatever dangers drivers and passengers faced – from outlaws to renegade Indians.
Flip had been raised by Indians and had a reckless streak in him, which the gruff Mr Kelly tried to keep in check.
The show had a short run, lost in the glut of TV westerns.
Frederick Thomas ‘Fred’ Kelly
William Bendix
Frank ‘Flip’ Flippen
Doug McClure