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{{short description|American radio and television series}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Sky King cast.JPG
| caption              = Grant as Sky King with Gloria Winters as his niece, Penny, and Ron Hagerthy as his nephew, Clipper
| genre                = [[Western (genre)|Western]]-themed [[adventure]]
| creator              =
| writer               =
| director             =
| presenter            =
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Kirby Grant]]
* [[Gloria Winters]]
* [[Ron Hagerthy]]
* [[Ewing Mitchell]]
* [[Gary Hunley]]
* [[Chubby Johnson]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist|
* Milton Raskin
* Herbert Taylor
}}
| opentheme            =
| composer             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Herschel Burke Gilbert]]
* Alec Compinsky
* Eve Newman
}}
| country              = [[United States]]
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 4
| num_episodes         = 72
| list_episodes        =
| executive_producer   = Stuart E. McGowan
| producer             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Jack Chertok]]
* Harry Poppe
}}
| editor               =
| cinematography       =
| camera               = [[Single-camera setup|Single-camera]]
| runtime              = 25 minutes
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* Jack Chertok Television Productions
* McGowan Productions
}}
| channel              =
| network              = {{Plainlist|
* [[NBC]]; [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]],
* [[Broadcast syndication|Syndication]]
}}
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1951|09|16}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1959|03|08}}
}}
'''''Sky King''''' is an American radio and television series. Its lead  character was [[Arizona]] rancher and [[aircraft pilot]] Schuyler "Sky" King.
The series had strong [[western (genre)|Western]] elements.<ref name=Daytime>{{cite book |last1=Hyatt |first1=Wesley |title=The Encyclopedia of Daytime Television |date=1997 |publisher=Watson-Guptill Publications |isbn=978-0823083152 |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofda00hyat/page/396/mode/2up|access-date=22 March 2020|pages=396–397}}</ref> Cattle rancher King usually captured criminals and spies and found lost hikers, though he did so with the use of his airplane, the ''Songbird''. Two twin-engine Cessna airplanes were used by King during the course of the TV series. The first was a [[Cessna AT-17 Bobcat|Cessna T-50]] and in later episodes a [[Cessna 310|Cessna 310B]] was used till the series's end.<ref name=gan>Godlewski, Meg.[https://generalaviationnews.com/2009/09/22/flying-songbird-iii/ "Flying ''Songbird III''"], ''General Aviation News'' (September 22, 2009).</ref> The 310's make and model type number was prominently displayed during the closing titles.<ref>{{YouTube|id=k8cBNGuuVMs|title=Sky King - Sky Robbers * Classic episode Western TV Series}}</ref>
King and his niece Penny lived on the Flying Crown Ranch, near the fictitious town of Grover, Arizona. Penny's brother Clipper also appeared during the first season. Penny and Clipper were also pilots, although they were inexperienced and looked to their uncle for guidance. Later, Penny became an accomplished air racer, rated as a multiengine pilot, whom Sky trusted to fly the ''Songbird''.
== Radio synopsis ==
The radio show began in 1946 and was based on a story by Roy Winsor, the brainchild of Robert Morris Burtt and Wilfred Gibbs Moore, who also created ''[[Captain Midnight]]''. Several actors played the part of Sky, including [[Earl Nightingale]], [[John Reed King]], and [[Roy Engel]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Harmon |first1=Jim |title=Radio Mystery and Adventure and Its Appearances in Film, Television and Other Media |date=2011 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9780786485086 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fReqCt2Nqk4C |access-date=8 April 2020 |pages=183–196}}</ref> Jack Bivans played Clipper, and [[Beryl Vaughan]] portrayed Penny.<ref>{{cite news |title=Freckle-Faced Pair |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Life/50s/51/TV-Radio-Life-1951-03-02.pdf#page=2 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |work=TV-Radio Life |date=March 2, 1951 |page=2}}</ref>
[[Radio premium]]s were offered to listeners, as was the case with many radio shows of the day. For example, the Sky King Secret Signalscope was used on November 2, 1947, in the ''Mountain Detour'' episode. Listeners were advised to get their own for only 15 cents and the inner seal from a jar of [[Peter Pan (peanut butter)|Peter Pan Peanut Butter]], which was produced by the sponsor, Derby Foods. The Signalscope included a glow-in-the-dark signaling device, whistle, magnifying glass, and Sky King's private code. With the Signalscope, one could also see around corners and trees.<ref>[http://members.cox.net/skykingtv/skcollect.html Sky King Memorabilia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022105232/http://members.cox.net/skykingtv/skcollect.html |date=2007-10-22 }}</ref> The premiums were innovative, such as the Sky King Spy-Detecto Writer, which had a decoder ([[cipher disk]]), magnifying glass, measuring scale, and printing mechanism in a single package slightly over two inches long. Other notable premiums were the Magni-Glo Writing Ring, which had a luminous element, a secret compartment, a magnifier, and a ballpoint pen, all in the crown piece of a "fits any finger" ring.
The radio show continued until 1954, broadcasting simultaneously with the first portion of the television version.
== Television synopsis ==
The television version starred [[Kirby Grant]] as Sky King and [[Gloria Winters]] as Penny.<ref name="Woolery">{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946–1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series |date=1985 |publisher=The Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-1651-2 |pages=458–461}}</ref> Other regular characters included Sky's nephew Clipper, played by [[Ron Hagerthy]], and Mitch the sheriff, portrayed by [[Ewing Mitchell]]. Mitch, a competent and intelligent law enforcement officer, depended on his friend Sky's flying skills to solve the harder cases. Other recurring characters included Jim Bell, the ranch foreman, played in four episodes by [[Chubby Johnson]], as well as Sheriff Hollister portrayed by [[Monte Blue]] in five episodes, and Bob Carey, portrayed in ten episodes by Norman Ollestad.
After appearing in the first 19 episodes of the show, Hagerthy was drafted into the Army; the show saying Clipper had joined the Air Force. Leaving the army in 1955, he was more interested in motion pictures than rejoining the show. Unlike Grant and Winters, he never made any personal appearances for the show.<ref name=":0" />
Many of the story lines would feature the supporting cast repeatedly finding themselves in near-death situations and the hero rescuing them with seconds to spare. Penny would particularly often fall into the hands of spies, bank robbers, and other ne'er-do-wells.
Sky never killed the villains, as with most television cowboy heroes of the time. ''Sky King'' was primarily a show for children, although it sometimes broadcast in prime time. The show also became an icon in the aviation community. Many pilots, including American [[astronaut]]s, grew up watching ''Sky King'' and named him as an influence.
Plot lines were often simplistic, but Grant was able to bring a casual, natural treatment of technical details, leading to a level of believability not found in other TV series involving aviation or life in the [[Western United States]].
Likewise, villains and other characters were usually depicted as reasonably intelligent and believable, rather than as two-dimensional and cartoonish. The antagonists usually had fairly logical motivations as opposed to seemingly random evil as common in many action dramas of the time. The writing was generally above the standard for contemporary half-hour programs, although sometimes critics suggested that the acting was not.
Later episodes of the television show were notable for the dramatic opening with an air-to-air shot of the sleek, second ''Songbird'' banking sharply away from the camera and its engines roaring, while the announcer proclaimed, "From out of the clear blue of the Western sky comes Sky King!" The short credit roll which followed was equally dramatic, with the ''Songbird'' swooping at the camera across [[El Mirage Lake]], California, then pulling up into a steep climb as it departed. The end title featured a musical theme, with the credits superimposed over an air-to-air shot of the ''Songbird'', cruising at altitude for several moments, then banking away to the left.
The show also featured low-level flying, especially with the later ''Songbird'', highlighting the desert flashing by in the background.
== Cast ==
* [[Kirby Grant]] as Schuyler "Sky" King
* [[Gloria Winters]] as Penny King
* [[Ewing Mitchell]] as Sheriff Mitch Hargrove
* [[Ron Hagerthy]] as Clipper King
* [[Gary Hunley]] as Mickey (final season)<ref name="b">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWVZAAAAMAAJ|title=Western and Frontier Film and Television Credits 1903-1995: Section I. Actors and actresses. Section II. Directors, producers, and writers|page=399|first=Harris|last=Lentz|publisher=McFarland|date=1996|isbn=9780786401581 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
=== Recurring cast ===
* Norman Ollestad as Bob Carey
* [[Chubby Johnson]] as Jim Bell
* [[Monte Blue]] as Sheriff Hollister
* Terry Kelman as Davey Wilson
=== Guest stars ===
{{col-begin|width=65%}}
{{Col-2}}
* [[Stanley Andrews]]
* [[Richard Beymer]]
* [[James Brown (actor)|James Brown]]
* [[Stephen Chase (actor)|Stephen Chase]]
* [[Gary Clarke]]
* [[Mason Alan Dinehart]]
* [[Herman Hack]]
* [[Darryl Hickman]]
* [[Ed Hinton (actor)|Ed Hinton]]
* [[I. Stanford Jolley]]
* [[Ted Jordan]]
* [[Fred Krone]]
{{Col-2}}
* [[Walter Maslow]]
* [[Gregg Palmer]]
* [[James Parnell (actor)|James Parnell]]
* [[Sammee Tong]]
* [[Robert Rockwell]]
* [[Frank J. Scannell]]
* [[Roy N. Sickner]]
* [[Jill St. John]]
* [[Boyd Stockman]]
* [[Glenn Strange]]
* [[Carol Thurston]]
* [[Lee Van Cleef]]
{{Col-end}}
==Episodes==
===Season 1===
{{Episode table |background=7e2304 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes =
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 1
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = Operation Urgent
| DirectedBy      = [[Hollingsworth Morse]]<br>(as John H. Morse)
| WrittenBy       = David P. Sheppard
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|04|05}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 2
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Carrier Pigeon
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Bill Bruckner Ray Winsor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|04|19}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 3
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = Stagecoach Robbers
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Tom Seller
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|05|03}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 4
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = Deadly Cargo
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Sidney Renthal Harry Poppe Jr. Don Tait
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|05|17}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 5
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = Jim Bell's Triumph
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = David P. Sheppard
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|05|31}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 6
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = Designing Women
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Curtis Kenyon
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|06|14}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 7
| EpisodeNumber2  = 7
| Title           = One for the Money
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Joe Richardson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|06|28}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 8
| EpisodeNumber2  = 8
| Title           = Danger Point
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Charles Larsen
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|07|12}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 9
| EpisodeNumber2  = 9
| Title           = Desperate Character
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Tom Seller
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|07|26}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 10
| EpisodeNumber2  = 10
| Title           = The Man Who Forgot
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Tom Seller
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|08|09}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 11
| EpisodeNumber2  = 11
| Title           = The Threatening Bomb
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Charles Larson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|08|23}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 12
| EpisodeNumber2  = 12
| Title           = Speak No Evil
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Charles Larson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|09|06}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 13
| EpisodeNumber2  = 13
| Title           = Two-Gun Penny
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Tom Seller
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|09|20}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 14
| EpisodeNumber2  = 14
| Title           = Formula for Fear
| DirectedBy      = Paul Landres
| WrittenBy       = Joe Richardson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|10|04}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 15
| EpisodeNumber2  = 15
| Title           = The Giant Eagle
| DirectedBy      = Paul Landres
| WrittenBy       = Curtis Kenyon
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|10|18}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 16
| EpisodeNumber2  = 16
| Title           = Blackmail
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = David Lang
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|11|08}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 17
| EpisodeNumber2  = 17
| Title           = Wings of Justice
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = David P. Sheppard
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|11|22}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 18
| EpisodeNumber2  = 18
| Title           = Destruction from the Sky
| DirectedBy      = Paul Landres
| WrittenBy       = Harry Poppe Jr. Roy Winsor
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|12|06}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 19
| EpisodeNumber2  = 19
| Title           = The Porcelain Lion
| DirectedBy      = John H. Morse
| WrittenBy       = Curtis Kenyon
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1952|12|20}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 7e2304
}}
}}
===Season 2===
{{Episode table |background=264766 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes =
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 20
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = The Neckerchief
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = Fran van Hartesveldt
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|01|02}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 21
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Man Hunt
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = Barney A. Sarecky
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|01|02}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 22
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = The Plastic Ghost
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = Adrian Gendot
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|01|09}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 23
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = The Rainbird
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = Orville H. Hampton
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|01|09}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 24
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = The Crystal Trap
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = Burt Sims
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|01|30}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 25
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = The Red Tentacle
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = Burt Sims
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|01|30}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 26
| EpisodeNumber2  = 7
| Title           = Boomerang
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = Orville H. Hampton
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|02|06}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 27
| EpisodeNumber2  = 8
| Title           = The Geiger Detective
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = Ed Erwin
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|02|06}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 28
| EpisodeNumber2  = 9
| Title           = The Golden Burro
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = Burt Sims
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|02|27}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 29
| EpisodeNumber2  = 10
| Title           = Rustlers on Wheels
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = Harry Poppe Jr.
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|03|05}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 30
| EpisodeNumber2  = 11
| Title           = The Silver Grave
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = Burt Sims
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|03|05}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 31
| EpisodeNumber2  = 12
| Title           = Uninvited Death
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = Adrian Gendot
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|03|12}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 32
| EpisodeNumber2  = 13
| Title           = Fish Out of Water
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = Adrian Gendot
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|03|19}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 33
| EpisodeNumber2  = 14
| Title           = Diamonds on a Sky-Hook
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = Fran van Hartesveldt
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|03|26}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 34
| EpisodeNumber2  = 15
| Title           = Flood of Fury
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = Burt Sims
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|04|02}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 35
| EpisodeNumber2  = 16
| Title           = Rocket Story
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = Adrian Gendot
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|04|02}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 36
| EpisodeNumber2  = 17
| Title           = Rodeo Roundup
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = John O'Dea Jerry Thomas
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|04|23}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 37
| EpisodeNumber2  = 18
| Title           = Showdown
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = Adrian Gendot
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|04|23}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 38
| EpisodeNumber2  = 19
| Title           = Land o'Cotton
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = Tom Gries
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|04|30}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 39
| EpisodeNumber2  = 20
| Title           = Dust of Destruction
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = Adrian Gendot
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1956|04|30}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 264766
}}
}}
===Season 3===
{{Episode table |background=360731 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes =
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 40
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = Mystery Horse
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = Tom Murray Pat Cherr
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|12|29}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 41
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Double Trouble
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = William Welch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|12|29}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 42
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = Note for a Dam
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = R.F. Maury
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|05}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 43
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = Bad Actor
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = William Welch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|05}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 44
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = Fight for Oil
| DirectedBy      = Oliver Drake
| WrittenBy       = David Karp
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|12}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 45
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = Lost Boy
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = William Welch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|12}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 46
| EpisodeNumber2  = 7
| Title           = The Brain and the Brawn
| DirectedBy      = Ricard C. Kahn
| WrittenBy       = Tom Murray Pat Cherr
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|26}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 47
| EpisodeNumber2  = 8
| Title           = The Feathered Serpent
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = Douglas Johnson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|26}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 48
| EpisodeNumber2  = 9
| Title           = The Circus Clown Mystery
| DirectedBy      = Oliver Drake
| WrittenBy       = David Karp
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|02|22}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 49
| EpisodeNumber2  = 10
| Title           = Dead Man's Will
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = Fran Harris
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|02|22}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 50
| EpisodeNumber2  = 11
| Title           = Cindy, Come Home
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = William Welch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|09}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 51
| EpisodeNumber2  = 12
| Title           = Rodeo Decathlon
| DirectedBy      = Richard C. Kahn
| WrittenBy       = William Welch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|09}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 52
| EpisodeNumber2  = 13
| Title           = Abracadabra
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = William Welch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|09}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 53
| EpisodeNumber2  = 14
| Title           = Triple Exposure
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = Jack Anson Finke
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|09}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 54
| EpisodeNumber2  = 15
| Title           = The Haunted Castle
| DirectedBy      = Jodie Copelan
| WrittenBy       = William Welch
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|16}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 55
| EpisodeNumber2  = 16
| Title           = Manhunt
| DirectedBy      = Herbert L. Strock
| WrittenBy       = Douglas Johnson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|16}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 56
| EpisodeNumber2  = 17
| Title           = Danger at the Sawmill
| DirectedBy      = Stuart E. McGowan
| WrittenBy       = Douglas Johnson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|16}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 57
| EpisodeNumber2  = 18
| Title           = Sleight of Hand
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = Fran Harris
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|23}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 58
| EpisodeNumber2  = 19
| Title           = The Runaway
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = Douglas Johnson
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|23}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 59
| EpisodeNumber2  = 20
| Title           = Stop That Train
| DirectedBy      = Herbert L. Strock
| WrittenBy       = Fran Harris
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|30}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 360731
}}
}}
===Season 4===
{{Episode table |background=6fcbe0 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes =
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 60
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = The Wild Man
| DirectedBy      = Paul Landres
| WrittenBy       = Alexander J. Wells
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|12|28}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 61
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Sky Robbers
| DirectedBy      = William J. Hole Jr.
| WrittenBy       = John Grey Del Lord
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|12|28}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 62
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = A Dog Named Barney
| DirectedBy      = Paul Landres
| WrittenBy       = Dwight V. Babcock
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|12|28}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 63
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = Bullet Bait
| DirectedBy      = Paul Landres
| WrittenBy       = Burt Sims
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|12|28}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 64
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = Money Has Wings
| DirectedBy      = Paul Landres
| WrittenBy       = Stanley H. Silverman C. Ray Stahl
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|01|04}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 65
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = Frog Man
| DirectedBy      = William Witney
| WrittenBy       = Sherman L. Lowe P.K. Palmer
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|01|04}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 66
| EpisodeNumber2  = 7
| Title           = Terror Cruise
| DirectedBy      = Paul Landres
| WrittenBy       = Budd Lesser William Lively
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|02|01}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 67
| EpisodeNumber2  = 8
| Title           = Runaway Truck
| DirectedBy      = William Witney
| WrittenBy       = Sherman L. Lowe P.K. Palmer
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|02|01}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 68
| EpisodeNumber2  = 9
| Title           = Bounty Hunters
| DirectedBy      = William J. Hole Jr.
| WrittenBy       = C. Ray Stahl P.K. Palmer
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|02|01}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 69
| EpisodeNumber2  = 10
| Title           = A Mickey for Sky
| DirectedBy      = William Witney
| WrittenBy       = John Grey C. Ray Stahl Sloan Nibley
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|02|22}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 70
| EpisodeNumber2  = 11
| Title           = Dead Giveaway
| DirectedBy      = William Witney
| WrittenBy       = Budd Lesser Sloan Nibley
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|03|01}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 71
| EpisodeNumber2  = 12
| Title           = Ring of Fire
| DirectedBy      = Paul Landres
| WrittenBy       = Burt Sims
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|03|01}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 72
| EpisodeNumber2  = 13
| Title           = Mickey's Birthday
| DirectedBy      = Clark L. Paylow
| WrittenBy       = John Grey C. Ray Stahl
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|03|08}}
| ShortSummary    =
| LineColor       = 6fcbe0
}}
}}
== Production ==
A unique introduction featured the triangular Nabisco logo flying across the screen, accompanied by the sound of the ''Songbird'' flying past. Nabisco included plastic figures of characters from the show and the ''Songbird'' in packages of Wheat Honeys and Rice Honeys [[breakfast cereal]]s.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110717060146/http://www.timepassagesnostalgia.com/%26searchkeywords%3Dsky+king+cereal+premium+figure%26sis%3D1%26rdir%3D1 (2) 1956 Sky King Character Nabisco Cereal Prize Play Set Toy Figures – TPNC<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref>
The show's budget was $9,000 per episode.
The series was set in Arizona, but exteriors were actually filmed in the high desert of California at the [[Movie ranch#Iverson Movie Ranch|Iverson movie ranch]] in [[Chatsworth, Los Angeles|Chatsworth]] and in the desert outside of [[Indio, California]]. Interiors were shot at [[General Service Studios]] in Hollywood.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=McLellan |first=Dennis |date=1996-08-09 |title=High-Flying Past |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-09-ls-32774-story.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Grant recalled they filmed two episodes per week on a 2 1/2-day shooting schedule.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yorke |first=Jeffrey |date=1985-09-06 |title=The Man Who Was 'Sky King' |language=en-US |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/09/06/the-man-who-was-sky-king/e8dbf84c-e609-4ddf-b33c-9681c55c8c93/ |access-date=2023-02-07 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
The ranch house used for exterior shots of the Flying Crown Ranch is an actual residence in [[Apple Valley, California]], although it has been extensively remodeled since its use as headquarters of the ranch. Other locations were shot in and around Apple Valley<ref name="Rob Word">{{cite news |author=Rob Word |date=December 12, 1976 |title=Kirby Grant as still active pilot has fond memories of Sky King |page=46 |work=The Ledger |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19761212&id=F6suAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vvoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4798,3928611}}</ref> and the nearby [[San Bernardino Mountains]], [[George Air Force Base]], and [[Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake]].
It was expensive for a children's show, but most of the budget went into aircraft, vehicles, fuel, and sets. This meant that some standard production methods had to be abandoned, giving the series a more realistic look. For instance, in some shots, pilot Bill Fergusson actually did taxi the 310B rather than the more common (but time-consuming and costly) method of simulating movement by towing or dolly shots. [[Plymouth (automobile)|Plymouth]] provided several 1951 [[Woodie (car body style)|woodie]] [[station wagon]]s for the series.
The show was filmed and shown during three periods as sponsors changed: 1951–1952 (Derby Foods), 1955–1956 and 1957–1962 (Nabisco, though the copyright notices continued to name Derby Foods). It continued in syndication for years afterward, and was a staple on Saturday morning television into the mid-1960s.
The musical score was largely the work of composer [[Herschel Burke Gilbert]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_events/features/2003/061303_2.html | title=Film Music Society }}</ref>
Nabisco sold the series complete with all rights to Kirby Grant in 1959. In later years, Grant considered bringing back the series and even a "Sky King" theme park, but nothing ever happened on either of these projects. At least one writer has [[Boilerplate text|boilerplated]] a ''Sky King'' film, but none has been produced.
=== Aircraft ===
[[File:Songbird III.jpg|right|thumb|Songbird III, a 1960 Cessna 310D]]
King originally flew a [[Cessna AT-17 Bobcat|Cessna T-50 Bobcat]], a twin-engine wooden-framed airplane some called the "Bamboo Bomber".<ref name="Rob Word" /> The craft was a World War II surplus UC-78B, owned by legendary Hollywood pilot [[Paul Mantz]]<ref>FAA aircraft registration file, NC67832.</ref> and flown by employees of his Paul Mantz Aerial Services for filming the flying sequences.<ref>Aircraft logbook, NC67832.</ref> At least two other T-50s are known to have been used for on-ground and in-the-cockpit scenes. The T-50 was grounded after episode 39 due to rot in the wooden frame. Songbird I was de-registered by the FAA in March 2018.
The best-known ''Songbird'' was a 1957<ref name="gan" /> twin-engine [[Cessna 310]]B used in episodes 40 through 72. It was the second production 310B (tail number N5348A), provided by Cessna at no cost to the producers and piloted by Cessna's national sales manager for the 310, Bill Fergusson. Fergusson got the job after the motion picture pilot already selected was deemed unqualified to land the airplane at some of the off-airport sites required. Some months after a library of stock footage had been compiled, additional sequences were filmed using a different airplane.<ref>Interview of Bill Fergusson, 1996.</ref> Cockpit sequences were filmed using the static test fuselage, also provided by Cessna.<ref>Article from Cessna ''Cessquire'' magazine, issue unknown.</ref>
The original 310B was eventually destroyed in a crash at Delano, California, in 1962, which killed its owner-pilot.<ref>[https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp National Transportation Safety Board Aircraft Accident Database].</ref> A 1962 310D took its place.<ref name="gan" /> A third 310, “Song Bird III,” was used for publicity photos. It is still flying today, making appearances at airshows in a modified Sky King livery.<ref name="gan" />
The budget issue also forced the frequent reuse of aircraft stock footage, sometimes "flopped" (i.e., reversing the flight position) in [[post-production]], to show airplanes banking in the opposite direction. In these cases letters and numbers (especially wing and tail numbers) read backwards.
The monotone black-and-white film disguised the actual color scheme of the Cessna 310B, which was painted in a rich multi-color pattern of Coronado Yellow, Sierra Gold, and White, with a gold interior.<ref>Cessna production record, s/n 35548; Cessna 310B sales brochure.</ref>
As opposed to [[rear projection]] showing the sky outside of the [[mockup]] airplane’s windows, the show utilised [[Scrim (material)|scrim]] on a metal frame with clouds painted on it that would be rolled past the cockpit windows. Hagerthy claimed that if the scene was long, the same clouds would pass by in the other direction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLELLAN |first=DENNIS |date=1996-08-09 |title=High-Flying Past |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-09-ls-32774-story.html |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Release ==
=== Broadcast ===
The television show was first broadcast on Sunday afternoons on [[NBC|NBC-TV]] between September 16, 1951, and October 26, 1952.<ref name="Brooks_and_Marsh">{{Cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim|author-link=Tim Brooks (historian)|last2=Marsh|first2=Earle F.|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present|publisher=[[Ballantine Books]]|year=2007|page=932|isbn=978-0-345-49773-4|location=New York|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC|access-date=May 28, 2021}}</ref><ref name="McNeil">{{cite book|last=McNeil |first=Alex |title=Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present |location=New York |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |page=763|isbn=0-14-02-4916-8 |date=1996 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dctkAAAAMAAJ| access-date=May 28, 2021}}</ref> These episodes were rebroadcast on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s Saturday morning lineup the following year from November 8, 1952 through September 21, 1953 when it made its prime-time debut on ABC's Monday night lineup. It was telecast twice a week in August and September 1954, before ABC cancelled it. New episodes were produced when the show went into syndication in 1955. The last new episode, "Mickey's Birthday", was telecast March 8, 1959.<ref name="b">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWVZAAAAMAAJ|title=Western and Frontier Film and Television Credits 1903-1995: Section I. Actors and actresses. Section II. Directors, producers, and writers|page=399|first=Harris|last=Lentz|publisher=McFarland|date=1996|isbn=9780786401581 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Thereafter, ''Sky King'' surfaced on the [[CBS]] Saturday schedule in reruns until September, 1966.
=== Syndication ===
[[CBS]] began airing reruns of the show on early Saturday afternoons (at 12 pm Eastern/Pacific times; late Saturday mornings at 11 am Central/Mountain times) on October 3, 1959, and continued to do so until September 3, 1966.  The CBS reruns were sponsored by Nabisco.
=== Home media ===
All 72 episodes of the TV series have been released on DVD in North America, available from Sky King Productions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.skyking.com/store.php?seller=skyking&per=6|title=The Official Sky King Website|website=Sky King Productions}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Sky King (radio and television program)}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0043232}}
* {{official website|http://skyking.com/}}
*Bill Bryson's [[The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid]]
* [https://www.gypsyjournalrv.com/2018/11/sky-kings-final-landing Sky King's Final Landing]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120225013557/http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=175 Missoula City Website states Kirby Grant was a pilot]
* [http://www.cfidarren.com/r-famous.htm Celebrity Pilots, Famous Pilots, Darren Smith, Flight Instructor, CFI Homepage] This Web site list famous actors that were pilots with no FAA records on file; Kirby Grant is listed as a pilot with no FAA records on file.
{{Children's programming on CBS in the 1960s}}
[[Category:1946 radio programme debuts]]
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