'Challenge of the Yukon' also known as 'Sgt Preston of the Yukon'

AKA Challenge of the Yukon (prior to November, 1951)
Juvenile Adventure (1938 - 55)

This long-running favorite of adventure lovers, as well as Husky lovers, swept into the old time radio juvenile lineup like a Canadian cold frontl.

Before the 1940s, this old time radio classic was brought to you by Quaker Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice.

From the mid 1940s right up to 1954, Paul Sutton played Sgt. Preston, with Brace Beemer (of The Lone Ranger fame), himself, taking the role for a short time in the mid 1950s. That's understandable, as this show was a George W. Trendle production, the man who gave us the Green Hornet old time radio classics. John Dunning (of On the Air, The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio) says of Trendle's work, "His shows bore the common trademarks of simple, vigorous adventure plotting, a staunchly bigger-than-life male hero, and lively music cribbed from the classics."

Sgt. Preston's sidekick is a Malemute named "Yukon King." It works great, because it harkens back to the Robert Service and Jack London tales of the frozen North, and the canny canine continues to amaze the happy listener in adventures that often end with the two tackling toughs. Soundman Dewey Cole "barked and whined and made other appropriate dog sounds as King," Dick Osgood said in a book about Trendle's station, WXYZ that first carried the show. When Challenge of the Yukon, as it was titled then, went national, the kids of America took to the frozen North's blizzards and winds..

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2023 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

More amazing still, real dogs Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin had their own old time radio shows! Lassie did her own lines, with backup from a soundman. And Rin-Tin-Tin, and then Rin-Tin-Tin Jr. did their show. All three dog characters went on to TV shows, and all were quite popular. That's fitting for man's (and kid's) best friend.

For more adventurous animals, see also: Adventures of Champion (Gene Autry's Horse), Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, The Challenge of the Yukon, and the Original OTRCAT Dog Collection.

For other great serials, see also: Captain Midnight, Jerry at Fair Oaks, Adventures of Dick Cole, Bobby Benson, Buck Rogers, Dick Tracy, Flash Gordon, Hop Harrigan, Jungle Jim, Magic Island, Sky King, Speed Gibson, Superman, Terry and the Pirates, and Tom Mix.

Note: The theme music is Donna Diana [opera] Overture [aka: Challenge of the Yukon] by Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek.