''Ripcord'' was an American syndicated

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...

that ran for a total of 76

episode An episode is a narrative unit within a larger dramatic work or documentary production, such as a series intended for radio, television or streaming consumption. The noun ''episode'' is derived from the Greek term ''epeisodion'' (), meaning th ...

s from 1961 to 1963 about the exploits of a

skydiving Parachuting, including also skydiving, is a method of transiting from a high point in the Atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere to the surface of Earth with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachut ...

operation of its namesake.

Premise

The premise was a variety of adventures surrounding the then-new, thrilling sport of

. The two men and their private

Cessna Cessna () is an American brand of general aviation aircraft owned by Textron Aviation since 2014, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Originally, it was a brand of the Cessna Aircraft Company, an American general aviation aircraft manufacturing ...

airplane were placed in unusual situations where their special skills and abilities were needed. This led them on exciting weekly adventures from chasing dangerous criminals to performing difficult and daring, if occasionally absurd, rescues.

Cast

Larry Pennell Lawrence Kenneth "Larry" Pennell (February 21, 1928 – August 28, 2013) was an American television and film actor, often remembered for his role as "Dash Riprock" in the television series ''The Beverly Hillbillies''. His career spanned ha ...

as Theodore "Ted" McKeever (skydiver) audacious, intrepid, clever, headstrong, brave. *

Ken Curtis Ken Curtis (born Curtis Wain Gates; July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991) was an American singer and actor best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the CBS western television series ''Gunsmoke''. Although he appeared on ''Gunsmoke'' earl ...

as James "Jim" Buckley (skydiver) older, level-headed mentor to Ted McKeever. *

Paul Comi Paul Domingo Comi (February 11, 1932 – August 26, 2016) was an American film and television actor. Biography Paul Comi was born 1932 in Brookline, Massachusetts. Comi grew up in North Quincy, Massachusetts and joined the United States Army a ...

as Chuck Lambert (airplane pilot) - this character was phased out midway through first season, replaced by... *

Shug Fisher Shug Fisher (born George Clinton Fisher Jr.; September 26, 1907 – March 16, 1984) was an American character actor, singer, songwriter, musician, and comedian. During his 50-year entertainment career, he performed in many Western films, oft ...

as Charlie Kern (airplane pilot) - replaced the Chuck Lambert character played by

midway through first season. Fisher and Curtis were bandmates in the musical group

Sons of the Pioneers The Sons of the Pioneers are one of the United States' earliest Western singing groups. Known for their vocal performances, their musicianship, and their songwriting, they produced innovative recordings that have inspired many Western music perf ...

Production

The stuntmen performing the actual skydiving were Bob Fleming, an airline pilot, and Joe Mangione, both from Brooklyn, New York. Fleming also doubled as the pilot at the controls when not involved in the scene. Cameramen included Tom Ryan, whose previous experience included early parachute development, testing, and design. Ryan was a pioneer in capturing closeup film footage of free-falling skydivers. In 1962, the filming of the series involved the transfer of a stuntman between two airplanes, which was being filmed from a third aircraft. Due to air turbulence, the transfer failed and both aircraft touched and subsequently crashed. The pilots of both airplanes and the stuntman involved were able to parachute to safety. Later, the dramatic footage from this near tragic event was subsequently used in two ''Ripcord'' second season episodes.

Episodes

Season 1 (1961–1962)

# The Sky Diver - Pilot (Thursday September 28, 1961 - guest starred

Russell Johnson Russell David Johnson (November 10, 1924 – January 16, 2014) was an American actor. He played Professor Roy Hinkley in ''Gilligan's Island'' and Marshal Gib Scott in '' Black Saddle''. Early life Johnson was born in Ashley, Pennsylvania, o ...

) # Air Carnival # Airborne # Chuting Stars (guest starred

John Agar John George Agar Jr. (January 31, 1921 – April 7, 2002) was an American film and television actor. He is best known for starring alongside John Wayne in the films ''Sands of Iwo Jima'', '' Fort Apache'', and '' She Wore a Yellow Ribbon''. In h ...

) # Colorado Jump # The Condemned (guest starred

Michael Pataki Michael Pataki (January 16, 1938 – April 15, 2010) was an American actor. Early life Pataki was born in Youngstown, Ohio. His parents were Hungarians. He was the youngest of three children - one older brother and one older sister. He atte ...

) # Counter-Attack # Crime Jump (Thursday October 5, 1961 - guest starred

Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor, considered a sex symbol and icon of 1970s American popular culture. Reynolds first rose to prominence when he starred in television series such as ' ...

) # Dangerous Night, a.k.a. DARB (Distressed Airman Rescue Beacon) - guest starred

Harry Townes Harry Rhett Townes (September 18, 1914 – May 23, 2001) was an American actor who later became an Episcopalian minister. Early life Harry Townes was born in Huntsville, Alabama. the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Townes. He had a brother and ...

# Death Camp # Derelict # Top Secret # Radar Rescue (Thursday December 28, 1961 - guest starred John Considine and Jack Hogan) # Sierra Jump # The Silver Cord # Thoroughbred # Ransom Drop (guest starred Tracy Olsen) # Escape # Double Drop # The Financier # Sentence of Death # Desperate Choice # Diplomatic Mission (guest starred

Richard Simmons Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons (born July 12, 1948) is an American fitness personality and public figure, known for his eccentric, flamboyant, and energetic personality. He has promoted weight-loss programs, most prominently through his ''Swe ...

) # Hagen Charm (guest starred

Arthur Franz Arthur Sofield Franz (February 29, 1920 – June 17, 2006) was an American actor whose most notable feature film role was as Lieutenant, Junior Grade, H. Paynter Jr. in ''The Caine Mutiny'' (1954). Early life Franz was born in Perth Amboy, ...

) # The Helicopter Race (Thursday March 15, 1962 - guest starred Dyan Cannon) # Jungle Survivor # High Jeopardy # Hi-Jack # The Human Kind # Hurricane Charley # Elegy for a Hero # Cougar Mesa # Last Chance # Log Jam # Mile High Triangle (Thursday May 31, 1962 - guest starred Walter Mathews, Page Slattery, Robert Sampson and Kathie Browne) # Millionaire Doctor # One for the Money # Para-Nurse (guest starred Harry Carey, Jr. and

Allison Hayes Allison Hayes (born Mary Jane Hayes; March 6, 1930 – February 27, 1977) was an American film and television actress and model. Early life Allison Hayes was born to William E. Hayes and Charlotte Gibson Hayes in Charleston, West Virginia. She ...

)

Season 2 (1962–63)

International broadcast

''Ripcord'' aired in Brazil in the 1960s under its original title at the same time as in the United States. ''Ripcord'' aired in the UK (under its original title) on

BBC1 BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...

in 1964, with repeats airing the following year until October 1965.

Home media

On July 23, 2013,

TGG Direct TGG may refer to: * Rugby league football, sometimes referred to as The Greatest Game, shortened to "TGG" * Sultan Mahmud Airport, airport serving Kuala Terengganu, with IATA code: TGG * Terbium gallium garnet, a chemical compound whose crystals h ...

released both seasons of Ripcord as a Region 1 DVD. Some of the ''Ripcord'' episodes can be found on YouTube, Veoh and Uncle Earl's Classic Television Channel.

Comic

adapted the series into a comic strip.

Toy

This show sponsored a popular ''Ripcord'' tie-in toy, consisting of a large plastic

parachute A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag or, in a ram-air parachute, aerodynamic lift. A major application is to support people, for recreation or as a safety device for aviators, w ...

with a plastic skydiver figure attached to it, which could be thrown in the air and would float down to the ground, just like a real parachute. It was a big toy seller. At the end of every episode, Larry Pennell as Theodore (Ted) McKeever, along with Ken Curtis as James (Jim) Buckley, delivered a brief comment, addressing to viewers the importance of sport

parachuting Parachuting, including also skydiving, is a method of transiting from a high point in the Atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere to the surface of Earth with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachut ...

safety.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, id=0055698, title=Ripcord 1961 American television series debuts 1963 American television series endings Television series by MGM Television First-run syndicated television programs in the United States Black-and-white American television shows American action television series English-language television shows Aviation television series Skydiving in fiction Television shows adapted into comics