Red Ryder was a western licensing juggernaut which began as a comic strip which ran from November 6, 1938 through 1965. Created by comic syndicator Stephen Slesinger and western artist Fred Harman, the strip's rollout was carefully times to take advantage of all possible merchandising opportunities: radio, films, Big Little Books, events, rodeos, powwows, contest, commercial tie-ins, and licensed products (including the famous Red Ryder BB Gun; Slesinger also had Harman make numerous personal appearances at charity benefits, schools, and civic and Red Ryder youth enrichment programs. Slesinger was no slouch at such promotion, having already worked his magic with Tarzan, Winnie the Pooh, and other comic strip character franchises. "Red Ryder became the longest-running and most popular comic character of the Western genre movies, radio, comic strips, comic books, mass marketing retailing, and the collectors' market."
Red Ryder was a tough and decent cowboy who lived on the Painted Valley Ranch in the the San Juan Mountain Range section of the Rocky Mountains in the 1890's with his aunt (the Duchess) ans his young Indian companion Little Beaver ("You betchum, Red Ryder!"). Red Ryder and Little Beaver would face off against many bad guys over their career, but like the Lone Ranger, our hero did not kill the villains, preferring instead to shoot the guns from their hands.
The Red Ryder radio series began on the NBC Blue Network three days a week in 1942, and proved more popular than The Lone Ranger among its young audience until it moved to the Mutual Network and was heard only on the West Coast. The program ran until 1951, and featured Reed Hadley, Carlton KaDell, and Brooke Temple in the title role. The radio program also founded the Red Ryder Victory Patrol, a club that promoted conservation to further the war effort.
There were 28 Red Ryder films made, beginning with a 12-part serial in 1942, which stared Don Barry (who became professionally known was Red Barry because of this role); Tommy Cook, who also had the role in the radio series, played Little Beaver. The second film, 1944's Tucson Raiders, featured Wild Bill Elliot as Ryder ( a role he would play for another 15 films) and Robert Blake as Little Beaver. (Blake, who has starred in the Our Gang shorts as Bobby, would go to acclaim for his role in 1967's In Cold Blood and in the television series Baretta, would also go on in notoriety for his arrest and trial for the murder of his second wife, Bonny Lee Bakeley (he was acquitted but later found liable for civil damages in her death). Blake would be featured as Little Beaver in 23 of the Republic westerns, the last seven featuring Allen Lane as Ryder.
Slesinger published a Red Ryder comic book in 1940, followed by one issue of Hi-Spot comics. In 1941, Dell began publishing its Red Ryder comic book, using newspaper strips for the first 46 issues, then original stories from #47 on. in total, Dell published 151 issues of the book, ending in 1957 -- one of the longest continuous newsstand runs for a western comic book. For the next four decades, King Features Syndicate would issue reprints in eleven languages (unauthorized reprints would reach 30, languages). From 1954 to 1984, Spanish distributor Novaro would issue 474 regular editions (plus specials) in 21 Spanish-speaking countries and territories.
We start 1952 with a warrant issued for Red Ryder's arrest. (Ryder's neighbor has accused him of moving mortgaged cattle across state lines.) The year ends after 314 daily strips, with Ryder rescuing a pretty lady geologist from a gang of gold-hungry thieves. Along the way are thrills, shills, hard riding, and hard fighting.
Enjoy.
https://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=96918&comicpage=&b=i
For those who are interested, Comic Book Plus also has Red Ryder Sunday strips from 1938-39 and 1943. Check 'em out.
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