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''Challenge of the Yukon'' is an American radio adventure series that began on Detroit's station WXYT and is an example of a Northern genre story. The series was first heard on February 3, 1938. The title changed from ''Challenge of the Yukon'' to ''Sergeant Preston of the Yukon'' in November 1951, and remained under that name through the end of the series and into television. ==Background== Following the success of ''The Lone Ranger'' and ''The Green Hornet'' on Detroit radio station WXYZ (now known as WXYT), the station owner, George W. Trendle, asked for a similar adventure show with a dog as the hero. According to WXYZ staffer Dick Osgood, in his history of the station, Trendle insisted that it not be "a dog like Lassie because... this must be an action story. It had to be a working dog." Writer Tom Dougall, who had been influenced by the poems of Robert W. Service, naturally chose a Husky. The dog was originally called Mogo, but after criticism by Trendle, Dougall re-christened the canine King. Dougall likewise created Sgt. Preston and the French-Canadian guide. Fran Striker, who also wrote for ''The Lone Ranger,'' contributed show scripts. However, Trendle's criticism of Dougall may have had another reason behind it. Shortly before the two Trendle series aired (''Lone Ranger'' and ''Challenge of the Yukon''), popular author Zane Grey had a book in circulation (''Lone Star Ranger'') about a Texas Ranger like the ''Lone Ranger'' and a comic book series in circulation (''King of the Royal Mounted'') about the adventures of Sgt. King, a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman like Sgt. Preston. From 1922 a series of novels by Laurie York Erskine featuring ''Renfrew of the Royal Mounted'' warranted enough popularity to begin a radio series of the same title in 1936 and a film series beginning in 1937; the latter featuring a canine sidekick. It could be that Trendle borrowed both ideas from Erskine's or Grey's work and wanted to retain the name "King" as a tribute to Grey, who died after a long illness one year following the first airing of ''Challenge of the Yukon''. ''Challenge of the Yukon'' began as a 15-minute serial, airing locally from 1938 until May 28, 1947. Shortly thereafter, the program acquired a sponsor, Quaker Oats, and the series, in a half-hour format, moved to the networks. The program aired on ABC from June 12, 1947, to December 30, 1949. It was then heard on The Mutual Broadcasting System from January 2, 1950, through the final broadcast on June 9, 1955. In November 1951, the title was changed to ''Sergeant Preston of the Yukon''. ==Details== The program was an adventure series about Sergeant Frank Preston of the North-West Mounted Police and his lead sled dog, Yukon King, as they fought evildoers in the Northern wilderness during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. The serial began on radio in 1938 and continued through 1947, after which the series moved to television. The original television program ran from 1947 through 1949 on ABC and was sponsored by "Quaker Oats". In January 1951, the radio version was resurrected, running until 1955 , when the show moved once again to television as ''Sergeant Preston of the Yukon''.〔Osgood, Dick; 1981; ''Wyxie Wonderland: An Unauthorized 50-Year Diary of WXYZ Detroit''; Bowling Green University Press; Ohio.〕 The show starred Richard Simmons. The theme music was Emil von Reznicek's overture to ''Donna Diana'', an old opera, though the overture remains a concert staple to this day. The show's episodes ended with the official pronouncement, ''Well, King, this case is closed.'' === Sgt. Preston === Preston, according to radio historian Jim Harmon, first joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to capture his father's killer, and when he was successful, he was promoted to sergeant. Preston worked under the command of Inspector Conrad, and in the early years was often assisted by a French-Canadian guide named Pierre. During the course of the series, Preston successfully puts down a rebellion, and captures assassins. Each episode has him battling a new crisis, whether it be tracking down a murderer, a gang of thieves, or claim jumping miners. ===Yukon King=== Preston's side-kick and ally (and arguably the true star of the show), was the brave Alaskan husky, Yukon King. Yukon King had a keen instinct for sensing criminals, and was equally valuable dealing with wild animals, once saving a small child from a wolverine. In the radio version, King's barks were usually provided by animal imitators, usually sound effects artist Dewey Cole, and later, actor Ted Johnstone. The radio series supplied King with a back story. As radio historian Jim Harmon recalled, King had been a Husky puppy raised by a mother wolf. When a lynx attacks the wolf and her cub, Sergeant Preston arrives in time to save King. Preston then raised the animal as his own dog team captain. On television, Yukon King was still a vital element, though the dog was now played by an Alaskan Malamute trained by Beverly Allen. The dog received star billing right after Preston, and alongside his horse, Rex. There is some confusion regarding King's actual breed. The writers seemed to use malamute and husky interchangeably. At least once, Preston answered "malamute" to the question from another character. In one radio episode Preston indicates King's mother had been a wolf, which would make him a wolfdog. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Challenge of the Yukon」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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