Tales of the Vikings

Though my recollections are vague, I clearly recall the use of a club as weapon. Neighbors and I (born in '53) all sought a fine wooden club, which for a while supplanted the handguns and spears we had previously used to "kill" each other in our warlike games. Previously we played as Yankees vs Rebels (in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) or cowboys and Indians, but something about the Vikings enthralled us all briefly. I'm surprised it lasted through only one season. it's impact on me as a young boy was significant. I recall the use of a long alpine type horn in the intro, the theme music, the beautifully-lined canoe like ship, and the club most of all.

Inspired by the movie, "Tales of the Vikings" regularly used stock footage from "The Vikings" and starred Jerome Courtland (Brave Eagle, Andy Bernette, Major Rogers of Rogers Rangers on the show "Northwest Passage") as a quite civilized, charismatic, and sophisticated Viking adventurer. After we see the stock footage from "The Vikings" where Ragnar's ship hits a rock and sinks, Jerome Courtland as Lief would find himself shipwrecked and in a strange land. He'd have to prove himself by undergoing "Viking Tests" of sticking his hand in a fire, wrestling with the locals, and drinking a brew of grog, soil, and untold "spices." Of course, Jerome Courtland would always prevail. Inspired by such TV "Viking Tests", my adolescent brother and I invented and engaged in our own "Viking Tests" which were downright dangerous. In the interest of public safety, I will not give out the details here. Thirty years after the series had played on American television, I was taking a PhD course in Educational Research at the University of Hawaii and struck up a friendship with a fellow teacher/graduate student. When we were exchanging tales of the various places of the world in which we had lived, he mentioned spending some time in Norway, adding, "I won't tell you why I went there because you'd think it silly. Well, OK. It was because when I was a kid I was nuts about a TV show called 'Tales of the Vikings.' You probably never heard of it." Instead of saying, "I've heard of it", I sang him the theme song to "Tales of the Vikings."

I'm 53 now, and I clearly remember how much my two older brothers and I enjoyed watching "The Vikings". I'm surprised there isn't more written about this series, or more people commenting. I was only about 6 or so when these series were running, and my older brothers and I lived in the basement since my mom and dad had seven children and not enough room upstairs. But on the plus side my brothers and I had our own TV room; shows like "The Vikings", old John Wayne movies, "Have Gun Will Travel" and later, "Bonanza" were our favorites. "The Vikings" was cool because of the soundtrack, the cinematography and authenticity of the costumes and props (the ships etc.) as well as, if I remember right, some reasonably good acting without being campy. To us boys, however, laden with testosterone as we were, it was the macho appeal of the rough-hewn, manly Viking warriors that struck a chord with us! Whenever "The Vikings" was coming on, I remember how excited I was to watch it on TV. We'd make Jiffy Pop popcorn and drink Coke from heavy glass bottles....ah I miss those days!!

I remember this show so well. I had an intense interest in the Vikings before this show appeared and became my favorite. While the other 12-year-old girls were mooning over the tall dark and handsome type, I was daydreaming about Jerome Courtland as Leif Erickson. I never missed an episode, except for one horrible, horrible time when my father watched a special about I think the Civil War. I didn't see the movie The Vikings when it was in theaters, so I didn't know the show was inspired by that. However, I did see the movie years later on TV, and loved it. Now that we have all these old shows on DVD, I'll be sure to get the whole series if I can. I'm so glad I stumbled onto this site! Also - this isn't old TV, but I also enjoyed The 13th Warrior, which is loaded with Leif Erickson types and has the added attraction of a youngish Antonio Banderas.

We were just talking about the Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas film, The Vikings, and that got me remembering the TV series.

I remember it was on Sunday nights here in St. Louis, and was sponsored by the local Laclede Gas company.

Let's see...

"From out of the North like an icy wind, came Odin's fair warriors free... With broadaxe and spear, they conquered...(something)

Don't remember much more!

I recall that Buddy Baer had a huge club carved into the shape of a woman which he called the "little maiden".

I'm wondering if this was only on kinescope, and no copies remain?