Henchman_Number1 Circus Boy is based on the adventures of young orphan Corky (Micky Dolenz nee Braddock) who along with his Uncle, Joey the Clown (Noah Beery Jr.) work for the Burke and Walsh Circus owned by 'Big' Tim Champion (Robert Lowery). Other regulars are Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as the cantankerous general handyman Pete and as himself Bimbo the Elephant, who actually gets top billing over Williams. There are also a few recurring characters that generally bring mayhem with each appearance. Set in the Pre-Automobile Age, the circus travels from town to town along the dusty roads of the West setting the stage for a new drama each week. Episodes are a blend of action, humor and family conflict.After watching Circus Boy again after these many years, there are several takeaways to be had.(1) Burke and Walsh should invest in fireproof tents. (2) If you are a Circus Act looking for long term employment Burke and Walsh is probably not for you. A large number of episodes have Big Tim Champion, always pleased to pick up performers for a discount, hiring a new act (often with personal problems) to replace a previous act. Big Tim goes through high wire performers like a pair of cheap socks. (3) If the Burke and Walsh circus comes to your town turn and run the other way. Townspeople looking for entertainment are instead usually treated to a large dose of pandemonium. Incidents such as forest fires, stampedes and water reservoir poisoning are not uncommon. The circus is also somewhat lax in keeping the wild animals secured.But things typically turn out pretty well and in the end the victims usually have a good laugh at the misadventures. Running for two seasons then released into syndication, Circus Boy was one of the iconic Saturday Morning Fare of the 1950's. Any resemblance to programming peers Rin-Tin-Tin and Fury was purely intentional, but all managed to capture a sense of adventure for kids of that era.

pensman Growing up in the 50's meant kids' TV was filled with scripted show like Circus Boy, Rin Tin Tin, Cisco Kid, and more. It was expected we could pay attention and follow a plot and learn a lesson. In Circus Boy it was Noah Beery, Jr (Joey the Clown) or Robert Lowery (Big Tim Champion) who helped Micky Dolenz (Corky) see the bigger picture: how to get along with people, show kindness, compassion, and understanding. There are times I shake my head at my generation and wonder what happened. We grew up with TV writers and actors trying to show us how to be good people, then we became flower children, but one of the best educated generations ever. And now we are either elites to be despised for working hard to achieve success or frightened selfish strangers who fear the future and expect a wall to be built to save us. What happened? Corky and the circus faced hatred, fear, bankruptcy, but learned to pull together and go on.The show also featured actors on the way up and who Hollywood considered used up. Some were Lee Van Cleef. Tim Considine, Robert Burton, Dean Fredericks, Sheb Wooley, Lyle Talbot, Burt Mustin, Harry Strang, John Hart, Francis McDonald, and Jack Elam. The Hortense the Hippo episode is like a who's who with Harold Peary (The Great Gildersleeve himself) as Al Garson, Frank Jenks (Great character actor in 40's and 50's films) as Flash, William "Billy" Benedict (East Side Kids/Bowery Boys) as Punk, and Rusty Wescoatt (appeared in episodes of almost every kid's TV show from 50's from Captain Video to The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin) as the deputy.

Pete Wagner I watched one of these out of curiosity and thought it was the worst thing I had ever seen, but it must have been the pilot or something, because the other episodes were all much, much better. Glad I gave it a 2nd chance because it became a source of fun, something to watch while eating my grapefruit on Sat. mornings. Especially nice to see Noah Beery, who played "Rocky," Jim Rockford's dad, on "Rockford Files." He made a superb clown and key character in "Circus Boy." It took me a few weeks to recognize the main character as Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees. He was billed with a different name in the credits. I kept thinking he was familiar and one day "got" who he was and went and looked up the show online and sure enough, I was right. Most of these, of course, are a trip through time but they also have some interesting stories, not badly produced. I give it a high rating overall. The only negative was in the first few episodes where they obviously were painting freckles on young Mickey's face to make him look more "gawsh, golly gee" boyish. He looked ridiculous, like Howdy Doody.

turtle1359 Circus Boy was a really great show. All shows done back then were. How they were made and how technology has improved doesn't matter. The show like others made in the 50's, 60's & 70's were great FAMILY programming. They taught lessons/morals that are very much needed in this time & age. The shows were also just plain good. That can't be said of most shows (& cartoon shows) done mainly in the last 20 years (but really since about 1980). T.V. Shows these days have too much sex and violence; Immorally corrupt. Early example: Roseanne. People should be ashamed of the work they do in the entertainment industry. They should bring more shows back instead of making new shows or remakes of the originals. (Remakes are NEVER as good as the originals.) So keep bringing back the good shows.