The Adventures of Spin and Marty

Walt Disney used to come down alone to sit on the ranch set and chat with Harry Carey Jr. Everybody remembers the Davey Crockett craze and the coonskin hats but Disney told Carey that they got MUCH more mail for Spin and Marty and it was mostly little boys who longed to go to the Ranch that summer. I myself as a little boy would make my mom put on my official Triple R ranch t shirt on as I watched the show. As I sit and watch this, now in my sixties I STILL feel the lost dream of male belonging that has been crushed and misshapen and parodied to death.

Spin and Marty are better as very fond memories like Nancy Drew books and circus peanuts. I, too, ran home to watch the Mickey Mouse Club every afternoon and Spin and Marty were my favorites. Spin, was the first male I found "easy on the eyes". My cousin also had a crush on Marty, but when she discovered that Marty was a red-head, abandoned him. I think there may be a lot of women who discovered boys watching Spin and Marty. It was so much fun to follow the adventures of the two boys, a breed that the oldest daughter of three girls found to be from a different planet, but oh so interesting... But, like my opening line, it is better as a memory than as the real thing. Nancy Drew mysteries are not half as mysterious. Circus peanuts are sickeningly sweet. Spin and Marty shows are corny. But Spin is still a dream boat.

With only the fondest of memories do I recall the days of The Mickey Mouse Club. It was a quieter, gentler time which I dearly miss. And what better way to celebrate such a time than with the youthful innocence and vigor of young boys at a summer camp known as The Triple R. Before the DVD's came out I could only vaguely remember bits and pieces of this series. However, now that the DVD's came out last year I have once again been enraptured by the memories of such a wonderful time in my life.

In this modern, fast paced, tech-no life that has been thrust upon us all, it's comforting to know that the "Good Old Days" of youth and innocence have not been forgotten, thanks to The Spin and Marty DVD's.

I have more than 1,200 movies, television series, documentaries, etc. in my personal collection and Spin and Marty is on my top shelf because it is a Top Rated series. I only hope that they release the other two series that came about because of spin and Marty; The Further Adventures of Spin and Marty, and, The New Adventures of Spin and Marty. If and when they do, I will be amongst the first in line to buy them.

One of my favorite characters was "Al" played by Brand Stirling. Does anyone know what became of him or where he is nowadays? It was because of him and other characters that I learned how to ride a horse and to break them and teach them their gaits. Thanks guys! Thanks for the memories and let me know if the other two series come out. "Way out there at the Triple R...Yippie ya, yippee yo!"

I was delighted to find ..at long last...that Disney has put out the first season of Spin & Marty on DVD ! What a treat to see this again after so many years.I was a kid when it first aired on the Mickey Mouse Club and I have seen a few reruns over the years, but I enjoyed seeing all the episodes in one long viewing. Leonard Maltin does an introduction to the series. Then we get to see each episode in glorious black and white...each one proceeded by the Mickey Mouse Club logo. Each installment runs about 10 minutes and the total running time is just over 4 hours. There are some nice extras too. We get to see Tim Considine and David Stollery visit the ranch where they filmed the show. Now I'm hoping they bring out the old Hardy Boys on DVD.

When this first aired on the Mickey mouse club in 1955, I was not even born yet. In fact, it wasn't till recently that I saw this serial in it's entirety on DVD. Wow, what a good show this was! Spread out over 25 11 minute segments on the original Mickey Mouse club in 1955, now we can see this all in one sitting! Spioled rich kid Marty Markum(David Stollery)arrives at the ranch-and he is trouble right from the start. He calls the triple R ranch a "dirty old farm". When Spin Evans(Tim Considine)Puts a frog in his bed-Marty is mad-he does not like the joke-and he wants to knock Spin's block off. Well, the Ranch's Counseler Gives Marty a chance to do just that in a boxing match. Mr. Logan-who heads the ranch, isn't crazy about the idea-but goes along with it.

Marty has a chip on his shoulder the size of the national debt-and it is hoped that boxing match would knock that chip off his shoulder-but Marty puts up a very good fight-better than anyone expected. You need to see this to see who wins.

In time Marty begins to get along with others. He makes friends with "Skyrocket" the horse he's been given for the summer. He must however face himself first. He lies about being a polo player. Before this, he tells Mr. Burnett-The Ranch's Counseler(Harry Carey, Jr.)that he has never been on a horse before. As Mr. Burnett points out "For a kid who's never been on a horse-you sure picked your self a hobby" He is forced to reveal the truth, he tries to runaway.

But Marty Returns to the ranch in style-riding "Skyrocket". He becomes a pretty good rider. He makes friends with "Ambitus" "Al" and Freddie" But when he decides to go on a secret ride, "Skyrocket" encounter a snake Knocking Marty off-breaking his arm. The horse then tramples on the snake-saving Marty's life.

The serial culminates with the rodeo between Tripple R and Northfork-this is perhaps the most fun part of this show. There is some comical moments-Besides the frog incident, There's a scene where Ambitus, Freddie and Marty Fixed Marty's Jeans! Then there's The Ghost trick that Marty & Ambitus played on Spin & 2 others.

This show has everything, there's the fun of watching kids riding horses and wrestling calves(and occasionally each other)It has drama and comedy. Great actors-and great script-all contribute to this show. It takes 4 1/2 hours to unfold on two discs. It's the kind of storytelling that we don't see much of any more. There's a sense of wonderment and joy watching this. I highly recommend it!