Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders

Bobby Benson as portrayed in Radio TV Mirror magazine's August 1950 issue. The actor was Ivan Cury.
Other names	Bobby Benson's Adventures The H-Bar-O Rangers B-Bar-B Ranch B-Bar-B Songs Bobby Benson and Sunny Jim
Genre	Juvenile Western adventure
Running time	15 minutes (1932-1936) 30 minutes (1949-1955)
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
Home station	WGR
Syndicates	CBS Mutual
Starring	Richard Wanamaker (1932-1933) Billy Halop (1933 - 1936) Ivan Cury (1949-1950) Clyde Campbell (1951-1955)
Announcer	Dan Seymour André Baruch Art Millet Bob Emerick Bucky Cosgrove Carl Warren
Created by	Herbert C. Rice
Written by	Peter Dixon John Battle Jim Shean
Directed by	Bob Novak
Original release	October 17, 1932 – June 17, 1955
Opening theme	"Westward Ho"
Sponsored by	Hecker H-O Company Kraft Foods

Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders was a super popular old-time radio show for kids in the United States. It was a Western adventure that first aired on CBS from 1932 to 1936. Later, it came back on Mutual from 1949 to 1955. It was one of the very first radio shows made just for young people.

How the Show Started

The idea for Bobby Benson came from Herbert C. Rice. He was a director at a radio station in Buffalo, New York. In 1932, a company called Hecker H-O wanted a radio show for kids to promote their cereals.

Rice thought of the "H-O" name as a cattle brand. This led him to create a story about an orphan boy named Bobby Benson. Bobby's guardian was Sunny Jim, a character used to represent H-O cereals. When Hecker sponsored the show, it was called The H-Bar-O Rangers.

What Was the Show About?

The story began when 12-year-old Bobby Benson's parents passed away. He then inherited the B-Bar-B Ranch in Big Bend, Texas. This meant lots of adventures! Every week, bad guys and outlaws tried to cause trouble for the ranch and its people.

Young Bobby got help from his foreman, Tex Mason. A book about old radio shows said that the program "captured the imagination" of kids. Bobby and his ranch hands would find themselves in exciting situations. They often chased and caught many different kinds of bandits. These included cattle rustlers, smugglers, and bank robbers.

The show wasn't just about drama and suspense. It also had fun parts like songs sung around a campfire. There were also funny tall tales told by a handyman named Windy Wales. Adding comedy made the show even more popular with kids.

In 1949, a reviewer said the show had "fast action and fancy gun play." They also noted it was "wholesome enough" for parents to approve. The show was set in the modern West. So, it featured cars and airplanes along with horses.

How Long Were the Episodes?

From 1932 to 1936, each episode was 15 minutes long. They aired two to five times a week. Later, from 1949 to 1955, episodes were 30 minutes long. They aired three to five times per week.

In 1949, the show's creator, Herbert Rice, explained why they made the episodes longer. He said that kids were used to longer, complete stories. He felt that "cliffhangers" (where each episode ends on a suspenseful moment) were "outdated" for young audiences.

Who Were the Characters?

Many actors played the characters in Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders. Here are some of the main ones:

Many other actors also appeared on the show. Some famous names included Walter Tetley and Bert Parks in the early years. Later, Ross Martin and Bill Zuckert were part of the cast.

The main show was produced on the East Coast. It started in Buffalo, New York, at WGR radio. Then it moved to New York City. In 1933, a separate version of the show was made in Los Angeles for West Coast listeners.

Other Bobby Benson Adventures

The popularity of Bobby Benson led to other fun projects.

Songs of the B-Bar-B

In 1951, a chewing gum company wanted to sponsor a show. But they didn't have much money for airtime. So, a five-minute show called Songs of the B-Bar-B was created. It featured a tall tale told between two songs.

Comic Books

Cover of an issue of Bobby Benson's B-Bar-B Riders comic book

In 1950, Magazine Enterprises started publishing Bobby Benson's B-Bar-B Riders. This was a comic book version of the radio show. Over time, other characters like the Lemonade Kid and Ghost Rider joined the storylines.

Comic Strips

After the radio show ended in 1936, the Hecker H-O Company still promoted the "Cowboy Kid" idea. They did this through comic strip advertisements in newspapers. These were printed in the northeastern United States.

Television Show

On April 18, 1950, WOR-TV in New York City launched a 30-minute TV version of the program. Herb Rice, who created the radio show, was the producer for the TV show. Pete Dixon, a writer for the radio show, also worked on the TV version. Another TV show with fewer characters was made in the 1950s.

Fun Activities and Merchandise

The show's popularity also led to many real-world activities and products.

Merchandise

In 1950, the Mutual network allowed companies to sell Bobby Benson themed items. This was the first time Mutual had done this for any of its shows! A company planned to sell 15 different items. These included cowboy hats, shirts, record albums, and gun holsters. They also sold clothing accessories and a comic book.

By May 1950, over 300 department stores across the U.S. sold Benson-related items. Sales from March to May were over $300,000. Part of this money went to Mutual as royalties.

Amusement Park

In 1951, Palisades Park in New Jersey made a deal to change its "kiddieland" area. This area had 16 rides. It was redesigned to look like a ranch and corral. The park used Bobby Benson's name and the B-Bar-B Ranch name a lot in its promotions. Kraft Caramels, a sponsor of the show, also sold candy in the park. The actor who played Bobby Benson even made personal appearances there.

Personal Appearances

In the spring of 1950, the actor playing Bobby Benson went on a tour. He visited places like Paterson, New Jersey, and Richmond, Virginia. A big highlight was his appearance at the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus in Madison Square Garden. A live stage show based on the radio program also toured in the early 1950s.