Cisco Kid: Duncan Renaldo and Leo Carrillo - Sitcoms Online Photo Galleries

The Cisco Kid was one of the first successful syndicated series on television. It ran from 1950 until 1956 and produced 156 episodes. The picture above is From the Doug Abbott Collection.

One of the most popular kids westerns of early television never ran on a network. Sold individually to local stations, The Cisco Kid was not only the first big syndicated film hit, but was in fact one of the first popular filmed programs on tv ( most shows at the time were done live). Eventually 156 half-hour episodes were made by Ziv Television, surprisingly all of them in color, although most stations showed them in black-and-white during the 1950's. The Cisco Kid ( Duncan Renaldo), was a Mexican adventurer who ranged the old Southwest with his trusty sidekick, Pancho ( Leo Carrillo). Dressed immaculately in a highly embroidered black oufit, and endowed with an excess of Latin charm, he usually swept some senorita off her feet after running the criminals to Earth. All she got was a kiss and a dashing sweep of the sombrero, however, before the 2 knights on horseback rode off with a laugh. Cisco's horse was Diablo, and Pancho's was Loco. Fat old Pancho was always ready with a crack and some fratured English that kids loved to imitate ( " Ceesco? Let's went! The Shereef, he ees getting closer!"). But he was brave in a fight, and an expert with the bullwhip. They saw a lot of action together, but relatively little gunplay. Usually Cisco's fast draw was to shoot the gun out of the bad guy's hand. The ready fun-loving comaraderie between Cisco and Pancho was what made the series work. The Cisco Kid had a long and glorious history before coming to tv. Invented by O. Henry in the short story " The Caballero's Way," he was originally a scruffy bandito who victimized the rich and helped the poor. He turned up in early silent movies, and then in many sound features beginning with In Old Arizona in 1929 ( For which Warner Baxter as Cisco won one of the first Academy Awards). Dozens of films followed with Caesar Romero, Gilbert Roland, and Duncan Renaldo in the lead role, and their was a popular radio series off and on during the 1940's. Beginning simultaneously with the tv series, there was also a comic strip, which lasted until 1968. Renaldo was in his 50's and Carrillo in his 70's when the tv films were made, but they nevertheless did much ( though not all) of the hard riding and stunts themselves. They were both excellent horsemen. Years after production finally ended, Renaldo continued to tour with the aging Diablo, and he will always be, in his own way and the public's eye, The Cisco Kid. Carillo died in 1961 at the age of 81. Renaldo died in 1980 at the age of 76.

For a little history on The Cisco Kid go to www.pioneertown.com/view/theciscokid.html