Mackenzie's Raiders

Finally!I have been trying to find info on this show for some time. I recalled it from the late 50s and reruns in the 60s probably because my father was in the 4th Cavalry,in the 1930's tho not in Texas,by then they were at Ft.Meade,S.D. but still mounted. Glad to see the info and that Richard Carlson was the Colonel,always did like him. I do recall a rather odd bit of uniform/costuming info unless I am confusing with another show.I remember the hats worn by the Raiders as having "plumes" or rather ostentatious feathers.Not a bit of US Cav kit I ever recall as proper but more reminiscent of Confederate Cavalry.The show ran late nights for quite some time in our broadcast area in syndication.

Haven't seen it since the 60's , but somehow my sister found a kid's T-Shirt with a couple of horses and Mackenzie Raiders printed on it a couple of years ago!!!

How a T-Shirt of a 50's American western series that hasn't been shown on Australian TV in 40 odd years turns up in 2nd hand store in Brisbane, Australia I don't know but my boy now wears it around .

Though my memory grows dim it was a good series although they always had to stop their pursuit at the border and that did irk me at the time , if I can remember that it still must!

With a lot of 50's television westerns now getting released on DVD I hope they get around to releasing some episodes and I hope I am not disappointed if they do .

I've spent the last few weeks viewing 38 episodes on Youtube (one appears not to have been uploaded). Annoyingly a third or so of the latter episodes lack their final minute or two of plot.

The series compares well enough with other TV westerns of the 1950s period that I vaguely recall, though I would like be able to see the apparently-lost "Boots and Saddles" before saying which is best.

The latter did have rather more vivid characters whom I can still recall 60 years later, whereas Colonel Mackenzie is supported by a somewhat drab cast: the succession of junior officers look mostly the same and the personalities of the two NCOs most often seen never develop. Perhaps having a civilian scout appearing regularly would have helped - Chiricahua Corporal Killeagle appears in the penultimate episode and could have featured in earlier ones.

At least there very little contrived love interest (though in one episode the colonel does have to deal with an infatuated lady admirer), and now and then a familiar face appears: Doug McClure, Jack Elam, Morris Ankrum, John Doucette and - before stardom as Mr Spock - Leonard Nimoy.

One might carp at patrols away from the fort for several days with no apparent supplies - or did they live off the land? And each episode commences with the voice-over announcing that Mackenzie's illegal forays into Mexico risked death by hanging - so why do the soldiers not wear civilian clothing? One might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb! Still, I did enjoy the 850 minutes of viewing.

This was my favorite television series when I was a kid,almost 9 when this splendid production ,hit the screens .I've seen it until 1961 or 1962.

Also liked Cisco Kid,77 Sunset Street,and others.

But Ranald Mackenzie was a Super-Real-Heroe of Paramount importance,to us , more than Superman or Batman.

The presentation and End of the series was devastating,very exiting with all mustangs galloping in a cavalry charge,soldiers with sable in hand, advancing towards their enemies at their best speed to engage in close combat.

Not a single merchandise has been marketed in our country,not even a T-Shirt . I feel this is the moment to release DVD copies since we're around 56 years old or more , so what are you waiting for ? will be dead in a couple of decades,hurry up DVD distributors.

Alex Piacentini Buenos Aires Argentina

I didn't care for it but i bought it for the guest stars. Blood in the rio ep had John Milford who is just a gorgeous hunk of man flesh. Pistol whipped ep had Charles Maxwell, another gorgeous goon, Jack Elam who is wonderful was in an ep. However i must complain - Nimoy & Jaffe are not Indians!