The Red Hand Gang

The Red Hang Gang always takes me back to my childhood in the 70's and early 80's. Certainly in the UK, kids used to be treated to very cheap cinema showings on Saturday mornings, which we kids used to call Saturday Morning Pictures.

The Red Hang Gang, was always a part of those mornings. We always saw part of a storyline each week, before a film such as Herbie was shown.

The theme tune after all this time is still catchy and unforgettable, the kids are likable and nearly every kid wanted to be involved in such stories as those in the show (of course we didn't think of the circumstances).

Overall one of the best kids shows in the 70's and one which will always transport me back to summer school holidays and those Saturday Morning Picture showings.

This series was what I was brought up on. I watched every episode. It was on in the mornings in the UK. Made me want to have a Chopper bike just like one of the kids in the show. I thought the little kid on his skateboard was ultra-cute. I remember the kidnapping episode, one with baseball cards, one where they were trapped in a basement with one of those dumb-waiter things, lots of chopper biking, that one at a marina, and I think there was one with a horse or stables. All in all, good clean child-friendly fun. Great for a 6 year old like I was. Wouldn't mind seeing it again. Can anyone let me know of any place that I can get hold of a copy to watch?

Now kids are on holiday and seeing the rubbish they have to watch ,it got me thinking about 'The red hand gang' One of the best kids dramas ever! I can't believe they only made 12 episodes! It also had one of the most annoying and catchy theme tunes of all time.When is this show going to be released on video or DVD? kids of today are missing out!

I remember the final episode of the kidnapped boy stories. Lil" Bill and the kidnapped boy are being held hostage on a boat. They're tied up below deck in their underwear. They are subsequently rescued and the kidnapped boy is carried off in a blanket by his parents.

It's truly a pity that the powers that be have not seen fit to put it out on DVD.

The only wee criticism I have is that either Bill or the kidnapped boy weren't gagged. I guess that was not done for the seek of dialog.

I also recall the first episode of that arc. They first spot a picture of the kidnapped boy in the paper. Then they see him in the window. Not terribly professional kidnappers.

Was watching Eerie Iniana with a friend and suddenly thought of this amazing show and wondered if it was out their to watch. Loved this when I was 3 and 31 would love to watch it for old times sake. Its a classic with a great idea and catchy theme tune. It needs a DVD release now!

The Red Hand Gang was a gang of five stereotypical street kids who met in a clubhouse. They solved crimes and mysteries, the usual stuff. The gang was led by a character called Doc a smart kid with glasses (pictured top left in the picture).

The show was first shown on the American NBC network on Saturday mornings between the 9th September 1977 and 28th January 1978. There were only twelve episodes ever made which makes me wonder why it was so popular and why so many people remember it. However it was even more popular in the UK than it was in the USA.

Throughout the series they prevented a jewel heist, captured some kidnappers, and prevented a museum robbery. The shows were arranged so that the stories overlapped between the episodes and the shows creators would always end an episode at a cliffhanging pinacle moment... to be continued.

They were called the "Red Hand Gang" because they would leave their red hand prints on fences. In one episode they drew around a hand with a red marker pen onto the back of a truck so that they could follow it.

The opening theme credits show the gang running towards the camera to the very catchy theme tune, then cut to shots of each them jumping on a trampoline as their credit pops up onto the screen. Then some action shots, such as on skateboards and shots from the episodes. As you would imagine, chopper bikes and sweat bands also featured in the show!

The show was probably very successful because kids wanted to be like the Red Hand Gang.