The Serial Squadron Cinema Cliffhanger Archive
MASKED RIDER SERIALS
✦✦✦ (Shamrock/Arrow, 1919, 15 Episodes)
Restored to 9 half-hour episode edition by Eric Stedman
Harry Myers, Ruth Stonehouse, Paul Panzer D: Aubrey Kennedy
The murder of a Texas ranch owner and subsequent betrayal and deliberate torture of Pancho, master of a Mexican hacienda, inflame a border country conflict to deadly proportions. From the inferno emerges the mysterious, faceless avenger, the Masked Rider! But whose side is he—or she—really on? Pancho’s daughter Juanita and his traitorous lieutenant Santas know. Shot entirely on location in San Antonio and Mexico.
Influenced: The Mark of Zorro and all Western masked rider serials and films to follow
Transfer Quality: Excellent, from 21/30 reels of the only known 35mm nitrate original. Episode 1 partially re-created by volunteer Squadron actors.
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Trailer | Shootout on the Dam
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✦✦✦✦ (Republic, 15 Chapters)
Lee Powell, Chief Thunder Cloud D: William Witney
The sole survivor of a massacre of Texas Rangers and Tonto, an Indian who rescued him, hunt down a schemer posing as a government official who wants to take over Texas with his small army of mercenaries.
Influences: Buck Jones (costume and horse named Silver)
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View Online Video: Chapter 7
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CHAPTERS 1-7 Runtime: 2 hours, 15 minutes
CHAPTERS 8-15 Runtime: 2 hours, 11 minutes
✦✦✦ (Republic, 15 Chapters)
Robert Livingston, Duncan Renaldo D: William Witney/English
The Ranger poses as a rancher called Bill Andrews in order to better be able to fight those who would take land from honest ranchers, and befriends a Mexican who thinks he killed his brother.
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View Online Video: Chapter 1
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✦✦ (Columbia, 13 Chapters)
Featuring Paul Guilfoyle
and Victoria Horne
Rarely-seen masked-rider serial in which the title character poses as a mythological figure during a conflict with the Comanche. A greedy woman uses the alias "Matoska" and the acquisition of a sacred sword to try to divide Texas.
13 Episodes / Black and White
4 hours 40 minutes
Restored picture and audio
Dual-layer DVD
Transfer Quality: Excellent; newly restored audio & picture
Extras: The Scarlet Cloak audition program
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SON OF ZORRO
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Featuring George Turner and Peggy Stewart with Roy Barcroft and Ernie Adams
A descendant of the original Zorro attempts to set things right when a crooked sheriff and judge conspire to swindle money out of settlers. Decent low-budget action serial with a small cast, not based on stock footage.
Standard-definition transfer, excellent exposure, very clean, no splices or reel change markers, audio enhanced & very clear and strong.
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Click Below to View Chapter 1 of SON OF ZORRO
✦✦✦ (Republic, 12 Chapters)
Linda Stirling, George J. Lewis D: Spencer Bennet
Criminals who wish to retain power are attempting to block Idaho's entrance into the Union. Standing almost alone against them is Randy Meredith, who dons a caballero outfit and mask for his missions. When Randy dies after returning to his headquarters behind a waterfall, his sister Barbara takes his place as the vigilante named the Black Whip, after her weapon of choice, and helps undercover agent Vic Gordon fight the outlaws.
Influenced by: The Masked Rider
Transfer Quality: Excellent; newly restored audio & picture
Extras: Linda Stirling Bio, Theatrical trailer
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View Online Video: Chapter 1: The Masked Avenger
✦✦✦+ (Columbia, 15 Chapters)
Don Douglas, Adrian Booth D: James W. Horne
When two of his friends are killed in a fight against a masked villain called the Skull, a quiet newspaper editor straps on his guns again and takes up the fight disguised as an avenger called Deadwood Dick.
Influenced by: Republic's The Lone Ranger; character's name originated in dime novels of the early 1900s but this Deadwood Dick does not resemble his namesake.
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Chapter 1: A Wild West Empire
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✦✦✦✦ (Republic, 12 Chapters)
John Carroll, Noah Beery, Duncan Renaldo D: William Witney
James Vega, great-grandson of Don Diego Vega, poses as a dandy while fighting to save the California-Yucatan railroad from the scheming of Marsden and his ramrod El Lobo. In the venerable Vega hacienda a giant painting of Zorro conceals a passage that leads to the masked rider's inner chamber, known only to James Vega and family retainer, Renaldo.
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✦✦✦✦ (Republic, 12 Chapters)
Reed Hadley, C. Montague Shaw D: William Witney/English
Who is the man inside the metal suit whose voice booms from the grotesque helmet, terrifying the Yaqui Indians whom he has virtually enslaved so that the gold from a rich mine can make him Emperor of Mexico? Who is Don Del Oro? Obviously, one of the provincial councilors of San Mendolito. But which? Certainly not the effete Don Diego Vega, visiting down Mexico way from California. But Vega is none other than the infamous Zorro, who with a small group of brave men in masks and capes, bedevils the evil troopers of Del Oro with whip, sword, and twin pistols.
Influenced by: Republic's Lone Ranger serials (masked hero on white horse, Indian companion, fellow "legionnaires" instead of Rangers)
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The Vigilantes are Coming
✦✦ (Republic, 12 Chapters)
Robert Livingston, Kay Hughes D: Ray Taylor, Mack Wright
A would-be dictator of California promises a Russian count gold in exchange for soldiers and is opposed by cloaked vigilante The Eagle.
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This title is being upgraded to DL-DVD