The Forest Rangers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Forest Rangers |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Children's adventure |
| Written by | Lindsay Galloway (most episodes) |
| Starring | Graydon Gould Rex Hagon Michael Zenon Gordon Pinsent |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 104 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Maxine Samuels |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | A.S.P. Productions Ltd. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Incorporated Television Company |
| Distributor | NBC Films |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBC Television |
| Original release | December 1963 – 1965 |
The Forest Rangers was a popular Canadian TV show that aired from 1963 to 1965. It was an exciting adventure series for children. The show was made by CBC Television and ITC Entertainment. It was also the very first Canadian TV show ever produced in color! Maxine Samuels was the executive producer who started the show.
The series ran for three seasons, with a total of 104 episodes. Each episode was about 30 minutes long. Even though the show was filmed in color, most people in Canada and the UK didn't get to see it in color until much later. Some of the first episodes were shown as part of another CBC children's series called Razzle Dazzle.
This show was one of the first big roles for actor Gordon Pinsent. He left the series in 1965 to star in another show. Later, in 1966, The Forest Rangers was even turned into a comic strip in a British comic magazine called Tiger. The show was also shown in the United States from 1965 to 1966.
What Was The Forest Rangers About?
The show followed the adventures of Chief Ranger George Keeley and a group of young "Junior Rangers." They lived and worked in the beautiful, wild forests of Canada. Their job was to protect the forest, its animals, and the people who lived there. This meant they often faced exciting challenges and mysteries.
The Junior Rangers learned important lessons about nature, teamwork, and problem-solving. They helped Chief Keeley with everything from rescuing lost campers to dealing with wild animals. The series was known for its outdoor scenes and exciting stories.
Meet the Cast!
The show featured a great cast of actors who brought the characters to life. Here are some of the main characters and the actors who played them:
- Graydon Gould played Chief Ranger George Keeley, the leader of the forest rangers.
- Rex Hagon was Junior Ranger Peter Keeley, Chief Keeley's son.
- Michael Zenon played Joe Two Rivers, a Junior Ranger with a strong connection to nature.
- Gordon Pinsent played Sergeant Scott, another important adult figure in the forest.
- Rolland Bédard was Uncle Raoul, a friendly character.
- Ralph Endersby played Junior Ranger Chub Stanley.
- Peter Tully was Junior Ranger Mike Forbes.
- Susan Conway played Junior Ranger Kathy.
- Syme Jago was Junior Ranger Gaby La Roche.
Filming Locations
The Forest Rangers was filmed in many beautiful places in Ontario, Canada. These real-life locations helped make the show's wilderness scenes look very real.
- The main studio where they filmed was Cinespace Film Studios in Kleinburg, Ontario.
- Winter lake scenes were filmed at Lake Muskoka.
- Fire tower scenes were shot at the Widdifield Fire Tower in North Bay, Ontario and the Draper Fire Tower in Bracebridge, Ontario.
- Some river rapids scenes were filmed in Whitney, Ontario.
- An old mill in Mono Mills, Ontario was used in one season.
- The opening credits scene was filmed at the Dorset Fire Tower in Dorset, Ontario.
- Summer lake scenes were filmed at Mary Lake in King City, Ontario, Dickie Lake near Baysville, Ontario, and Echo Lake also near Baysville.
Reunions
Years after the show ended, the cast and fans had special reunions.
- In June 2004, a reunion happened near Kleinburg, Ontario, where the show was filmed. Six of the actors who played Junior Rangers attended. One even flew all the way from Ireland!
- Another reunion took place on June 15, 2013, at the actual studios where the show was made. This time, nine Junior Ranger actors and Gordon Pinsent were there. It was a great chance for everyone to remember the show.
DVD Release
The first season of The Forest Rangers was released on DVD in early 2007 by a company called Imavision. This allowed new generations to enjoy the classic Canadian adventure series.
