Run, Joe, Run facts for kids

Run, Joe, Run was a fun TV show that aired on NBC on Saturday mornings from 1974 to 1975. It was all about a brave German Shepherd dog named Joe. Joe was a special kind of military dog, part of the K-9 corps, and his best friend was his master, Sergeant Will Corey (played by Arch Whiting).

This show was a bit like a mix of two other famous TV shows: Lassie (because it had a heroic dog) and The Fugitive. Just like The Fugitive, and later The Incredible Hulk, Run, Joe, Run was about someone who was wrongly accused and had to run from the police. In this case, it was Joe the dog! While on the run, Joe would often stop to help people he met along the way. The show was made by D'Angelo Productions, which also created other live-action shows for Saturday mornings.

What Is Run, Joe, Run About?

Joe's Big Problem

One day, during a training exercise, something terrible happened. Joe was wrongly accused of attacking his master, Sergeant Corey. This was a very serious charge, and the punishment for a military dog would be to be put down. But Joe managed to escape before this could happen.

After Joe escaped, a reward of $200 was offered to anyone who could find him. Sergeant Corey, Joe's master, truly believed that Joe was innocent. So, he decided to join the search himself. He hoped to find Joe before the authorities did, to prove his dog's innocence.

New Adventures in Season Two

In the show's second season, Sergeant Corey still hadn't found Joe, even though he came very close many times. Sergeant Corey was then called back to his military duties.

Joe, still on the run, then met a new friend: a hiker named Josh McCoy (played by Chad States). Joe and Josh teamed up and continued their adventures, helping different people they met while still trying to avoid being caught.

Meet the Characters

The show had a narrator, Paul Frees, who told the story.

• Arch Whiting played Sergeant William Corey in the first season.
• Chad States played Josh McCoy in the second season.

Episode Guide

The show had a total of 26 episodes over two seasons. Each episode showed Joe and his friends helping people and facing new challenges while on the run.

Season 1 (1974–75)

The first season had 13 episodes. In these episodes, Joe was often on his own or with Sergeant Corey, helping people and trying to stay hidden from those looking for him.

• Bounty Hunter (September 7, 1974): Joe is chased by someone trying to get the reward.
• Yardbirds (September 14, 1974): Joe uses his Army training to help a guard at a railroad station.
• Bon Voyage (September 21, 1974): Joe helps a fisherman convince his nephew to go back to school.
• Missionary (September 28, 1974): Two people try to catch Joe.
• False Alarm (October 5, 1974): Joe acts like a fire dog. Two boys learn a lesson about setting off fake fire alarms.
• The Big Race (October 12, 1974): Joe runs into some bad guys.
• Homecoming (October 19, 1974): A little girl helps Joe get better after he gets hurt.
• Six Seals, Two Whales and a Dog (October 26, 1974): A boy and his dad include Joe in their dolphin show.
• Little Big Bear Hunter (November 2, 1974): Joe helps a young Native American boy who meets a wild bear.
• Sunken Treasure (November 9, 1974): Joe finds valuable jewels while saving a boy.
• The Mute (November 16, 1974): A boy who cannot speak helps Joe after he falls and gets hurt.
• Blind Girl (November 23, 1974): Joe helps a blind girl who is lost in the forest. She then saves him from danger.
• Little Old Lady Antique Dealer (November 30, 1974): Joe becomes friends with an older woman who sells old items.

Season 2 (1975)

The second season also had 13 episodes. In this season, Joe was joined by Josh McCoy, and they continued their adventures together.

• Joe's New Friend (September 6, 1975): Joe meets Josh McCoy while being chased by hunters.
• The Secret, Part 1 (September 13, 1975): Josh is accused of stealing while working as a handyman.
• The Secret, Part 2 (September 20, 1975): Joe and Josh get involved in a truck hijacking.
• Rip Off (September 27, 1975): Joe and Josh don't realize that thieves hid stolen diamonds in Josh's backpack.
• The Prisoner (October 4, 1975): Joe looks for a prisoner who escaped from a crashed plane.
• The Town Hero (October 11, 1975): A dogcatcher tries to use Joe and other dogs to commit crimes.
• Trackdown (October 18, 1975): Joe chases a car thief who is trying to escape.
• The Hitchhiker (October 25, 1975): Josh breaks his leg.
• The Wild Stallion (November 1, 1975): Joe and Josh work on a farm where the farmer is obsessed with a horse.
• The Runaway (November 8, 1975): Josh meets a girl who has run away from home.
• The Long Wait (November 15, 1975): Josh tries to end a long-standing disagreement between two people.
• The Scrap Heap (November 22, 1975): Josh gets a job driving an old car, which is then stolen by thieves.
• The Hunters (November 30, 1975): Bank robbers take over a cafe where Josh is working.