The Adventures of Spin and Marty

"The Adventures of Spin and Marty" title refers to the first season (1955-56) of the show; the second and third seasons were given a modified title. When originally broadcast the total running time of 275 minutes was broken into 25 episodes and shown as part of the first year "Mickey Mouse Club". The show was broadcast Monday-Friday from 5Pm-6PM. The serials were structured in a mild cliffhanger format with a teaser at the end enticing viewers to watch the next episode for a resolution. When they were shown a few years ago on "Vault Disney" the episodes were paired up to provide a 22-23 minute running time.

If you grew up with the original MMC you already know that serials like this were the most anticipated part of the show and that "Spin and Marty" was by far the most popular. The reason for their popularity was no mystery, they were the only kid's shows in those days that featured kids instead of puppets or animation.

If you were not around for the "Spin and Marty" phenomenon, think of it as a 1950's version of "The Saddle Club", both featured kids getting to spend all their time with horses. But instead of girls hanging out at the Pine Hollow stables, here it's boys living in bunk houses at "The Triple R", a dude ranch summer camp. And who wouldn't like spending an entire summer at a ranch, riding horses far away from parental supervision?

The first season's story was adapted from the novel "Marty Markham" by Lawrence Watkin. The show went rapidly downhill after the first season so it is no great tragedy that only season one is out on DVD. Mostly this was because the writers were never able to duplicate the charm of the first season's premise. But the show also fell victim to the Kevin Corcoran curse. Corcoran was a terminally precocious little actor that Disney tried to make a star by inserting him into this popular show at the start of the second season. Corcoran was an unbearably bad actor and the damage was compounded by Disney's insistence on manipulative showcasing of his terminal cuteness; an especially bad fit for a show whose first season appeal had been its naturalness and the understated performances of the cast.

Like "Saddle Club's" first season, it revolves around a new kid who has difficulty fitting in at the ranch. Marty Markham (David Stollery) is an overprotected orphaned rich kid who arrives in his grandmother's chauffeured limousine with his own butler (Perkins-J. Pat O'Malley-who is detailed to help the ranch's cook) and immediately manages to offend all the boys by calling the Triple-R Ranch "a smelly old farm".

A rivalry soon develops with Spin Evans (Tim Considine), a popular boy who has to work all year to pay the attendance costs. Marty is afraid of horses but lies about being a polo player. Considine and Stollery are both convincing although Stollery has the more difficult part. The supporting cast of boys have appropriate nicknames; the lazy "Ambitious", the freckled "Speckle" and the chunky "Russell the Muscle".

Special effects are a bit weak (like the woodchuck chase scene where you have to accept that a ball of fur pulled though the field on a string is a woodchuck) and the campfire scenes are obvious day for night shooting.

Harry Carey Jr. and Roy Barcroft provide sympathetic and concerned authority figures but my favorite is insightful horse trainer Ollie (Leonard Geer) who always seemed to have about nine days worth of stubble and repeatedly said: "Well I'll be a blue-nosed gopher".

Predictably Marty learns to love horses and to get along with the other boys. He breaks his arm but Perkins is able to keep the news from his grandmother so that he is not sent home early. There are all the great summer camp elements from bears to ghost stories.

The two-disc DVD set has a photo gallery, interviews, and a little feature called "The Return to the Triple-R"; which includes the adult Considine and Stollery visiting the ranch where most of the show was filmed.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

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.

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.

I just recently purchased the DVD set and have watched the first DVD. Like all the others on this post, I, too, would race home to watch this show. Yeah a little corny by today's standards, I guess, but the innocence and clean cut type stories are refreshing.

My grandsons (4 & 5 1/2) sat and watched part of the DVD with me. I think it was hard to get them interested because it was in black and white....I kept telling them, "look at the horsies" -- and they thought it was a bit boring....a sign of the times, I guess. But, I will not give up!

I had a crush on Spin....he was a cutie. And then when "Annette" came into the picture, I was really glued to the TV set! I hope they bring that series to us on DVD....does anyone know if it is available?

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!