Circus Boy

File:Micky Dolenz Braddock Circus Boy 1958.JPG

Set in the late 1890s, the title of the series refers to a boy named Corky. After his parents, "The Flying Falcons," were killed in a trapeze accident, young Corky (Micky Dolenz – billed at the time as Mickey Braddock)Matt Messina, "Western on NBC Agenda," New York Daily News, June 7, 1966, p. 69. was adopted by Joey the Clown (Noah Beery, Jr.), and the whole Burke and Walsh Circus family. When school was brought up for Corky, Joey said he was a school teacher for many years before joining the circus and could easily handle his education.

The young boy quickly found a role with the circus as water boy to Bimbo, a baby elephant whom Corky would come to consider his pet. Riding Bimbo's back, Corky dealt with adolescent problems, and helped the show's adults including Joey, owner/promoter Big Tim Champion (Robert Lowery) and head canvasman Pete (Guinn Williams), keep the circus successful as the traveling show moved from town to town each week.

Outside of an elephant being the animal companion, the series was similar to popular "boy and his dog" shows of the time, such as Lassie/Jeff's Collie, and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.

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Unusually, the opening credits billed the regular actors by their character names, rather than their own names.

The following cast appeared in the debut episode only. Several sources erroneously list these three, as well as Billy Barty from Episodes 1 and 2, as series regulars.

{{Series overview

|caption = Overview of Circus Boy seasons

| infoA = Network

| infoB = Time slot

| color1 = #FFB077

| link1 = Circus Boy#Season 1 (1956–57)

| episodes1 = 36

| start1 = {{Start date|1956|09|23}}

| end1 = {{End date|1957|06|23}}

| infoA1 = NBC

| infoB1 = Sundays, 7:30 pm

| color2 = #77C6FF

| link2 = Circus Boy#Season 2 (1957)

| episodes2 = 13

| start2 = {{Start date|1957|09|19}}

| end2 = {{End date|1957|12|12}}

| infoA2 = ABC

| infoB2 = Thursdays, 7:30 pm

}}

{{Episode table|background=FFB077 |overall=|season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=1

|EpisodeNumber2=1

|Title=Meet Circus Boy

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|09|23}}

|WrittenBy=Douglas Heyes

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Big Tim Champion buys the Burke & Walsh Circus, and arrives just in time to stop a fight between the circus troupe and some strangers. He then turns his attention to Corky, the orphan who has been living with the circus since a trapeze accident had taken the lives of his parents. Initially, he decides that he cannot allow Corky to remain with the troupe.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=2

|EpisodeNumber2=2

|Title=The Fabulous Col. Jack

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|09|30}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod & Seymour Robinson

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Corky persuades Big Tim to hire Col. Jack, but the others of the troupe become suspicious of him when his tall tales come true.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=3

|EpisodeNumber2=3

|Title=The Great Gambino

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|10|07}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=The circus buys a new lion, but it is too ferocious, and turns on the trainer.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=4

|EpisodeNumber2=4

|Title=The Amazing Mr. Sinbad

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|10|14}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Horseback rider Ben Ali is the circus' star performer. He takes a dislike to Corky, and threatens to quit if the boy remains. Corky runs away and ends up in a ghost town, where he meets Mr. Sinbad, a former cavalry camel.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=5

|EpisodeNumber2=5

|Title=Corky and the Circus Doctor

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|10|21}}

|WrittenBy=Douglas Heyes & Otis Gaylord

|DirectedBy=Douglas Heyes

|ShortSummary=The circus veterinarian, Pop Warren, seems powerless to stop the spread of disease among the animals. This prompts Big Tim to hire a new veterinarian, Ben Osgood. When Bimbo takes ill, Osgood recommends he be destroyed.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=6

|EpisodeNumber2=6

|Title=Casey Rides Again

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|11|04}}

|WrittenBy=Lee Erwin

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=A flood has washed out the bridge to Carson City, where the circus is scheduled to perform. Retired railroad engineer Casey Perkins saves the show.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=7

|EpisodeNumber2=7

|Title=The Little Fugitive

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|11|11}}

|WrittenBy=Douglas Heyes

|DirectedBy=Douglas Heyes

|ShortSummary=Arthur Pincus, a friend of Joey's, plans to marry a widow, and must win the friendship of her son.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=8

|EpisodeNumber2=8

|Title=The Proud Pagliacci

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|11|18}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Fritz Phieffer, a former circus performer, visits his friends at the circus, and leads them to believe that he owns the farm where he works.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=9

|EpisodeNumber2=9

|Title=White Eagle

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|11|25}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Corky befriends Chief Spotted Horse, the wild west show star. Others of the circus troupe are jealous of the chief's popularity. Taylor, the groom, makes an attempt on his life.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=10

|EpisodeNumber2=10

|Title=The Little Gypsy

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|12|02}}

|WrittenBy=Seymour Robinson & Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Corky, Joey and Big Tim rescue an equestrienne, who has been kidnapped by her gypsy suitor.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=11

|EpisodeNumber2=11

|Title=The Masked Marvel

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|12|09}}

|WrittenBy=Max Lamb

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Circus trick shot artist Billy Stanton is kidnapped by his brother, Earl, who takes his place to rob the circus.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=12

|EpisodeNumber2=12

|Title=The Good Samaritans

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|12|23}}

|WrittenBy=Douglas Heyes & Otis Gaylord

|DirectedBy=George Archainbaud

|ShortSummary=At Christmas time, local tycoon Ben Farmer urges the townspeople to let the circus know that it is not welcome. To make matters worse, his son David picks a fight with Corky.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=13

|EpisodeNumber2=13

|Title=Daring Young Man

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1956|12|30}}

|WrittenBy=Charles Stewart

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Corky recommends his friend, Cal Jones, for a job as a high dive artist. However, Cal has a fear of heights.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=14

|EpisodeNumber2=14

|Title=Farewell to the Circus

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|01|06}}

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|t=Lee Erwin|s=Victor McLeod}}

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Martha Neilson discovers that she is Corky's aunt. Not feeling that the circus is a proper surrounding for the boy, she attempts to adopt him.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=15

|EpisodeNumber2=15

|Title=Elmer the Aeronaut

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|01|13}}

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|t=Lee Erwin|s=Thonnis Calhoun}}

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Corky helps his friend, fellow circus troupe member Elmer Purdy, build a passenger balloon. Against Big Tim's order's, the two take the balloon on its maiden flight.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=16

|EpisodeNumber2=16

|Title=The Remarkable Ricardo

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|01|20}}

|WrittenBy=Charles N. Stewart

|DirectedBy=George Archainbaud

|ShortSummary=The circus escape artist is suspected of being a thief. Corky follows him, hoping to find that it isn't true, but ends up locked in a bank vault.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=17

|EpisodeNumber2=17

|Title=Big Top Angel

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|01|27}}

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|t=Lee Erwin|s=Victor McLeod}}

|DirectedBy=Lew Landers

|ShortSummary=Circus wardrobe mistress Mamie is working to put her grandson Ken through medical school. After spending a summer with the circus, Ken wants to quit school to marry Estelle the trapeze artist.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=18

|EpisodeNumber2=18

|Title=The Return of Col. Jack

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|02|10}}

|WrittenBy=Lee Erwin

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=While Big Tim is away, Col. Jack shows up. Having loaned money to the circus, he takes it upon himself to run the show. His good intentions result in chaos.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=19

|EpisodeNumber2=19

|Title=The Knife Thrower

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|02|17}}

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|t=Rik Vollaerts & Victor McLeod|s=Rik Vollaerts}}

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Firpo the knife thrower saves Corky's life, but in so doing injures his eye. He makes Corky and Joey promise not to reveal this, so he can continue his act. Problems are compounded by tensions between Firpo and his brother Marino, the trapeze artist.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=20

|EpisodeNumber2=20

|Title=Joey's Wedding Day

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|02|24}}

|WrittenBy=Lee Erwin

|DirectedBy=George Archainbaud

|ShortSummary=Joey, thinking Corky needs a mother's care, considers marriage. Pete sends for his sister, to meet Joey. Once Joey decides that he is not ready for such a commitment, he must find a way to break it off without offending Pete or his sister.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=21

|EpisodeNumber2=21

|Title=Man From Cimarron

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|03|03}}

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|t=Lee Erwin|s=Victor McLeod}}

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=The harness repairman thrills Corky with stories of his days in the old west. When he witnesses a robbery, and refuses to identify the criminals, Corky becomes disillusioned.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=22

|EpisodeNumber2=22

|Title=The Great Gambino's Son

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|03|10}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=George Archainbaud

|ShortSummary=Gambino the lion tamer brings his son Antonio to the circus, presuming that he will want to continue in his father's footsteps. The younger Gambino initially rebels, then tries to honor his father's wishes, but eventually he finds his own role in the circus. At a staff party, Antonio leads the group in singing a song (the theme song of the TV series, with lyrics).

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=23

|EpisodeNumber2=23

|Title=Corky's Big Parade

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|03|24}}

|WrittenBy=Wallace Bosco

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Small town racket boss Flint demands an exorbitant fee for the circus to perform. A friendly farmer allows the show to set up in his field, just outside town. Corky and the local boys are called upon to promote the show, which Flint tries to shut down.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=24

|EpisodeNumber2=24

|Title=The Lady and the Circus

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|03|31}}

|WrittenBy=Barney Slater

|DirectedBy=George Archainbaud

|ShortSummary=A former sweetheart of Big Tim's arrives, and the relationship is rekindled. They plan to marry, but he feels that the hardships of circus life are more than he can ask his bride to share. So, he contemplates selling the circus.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=25

|EpisodeNumber2=25

|Title=Counterfeit Clown

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|04|07}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=Lew Landers

|ShortSummary=Minerva Murdock, a wealthy widow, hires the circus to perform at her engagement party. There are those who doubt her fiancè's intentions. Joey recognizes him as being a fellow clown from years past, which he denies.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=26

|EpisodeNumber2=26

|Title=The Pawnee Strip

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|04|14}}

|WrittenBy=Lee Irwin

|DirectedBy=George Archainbaud

|ShortSummary=When the government makes grant land available, Corky talks the circus folk into joining the land rush. Then they discover that they must farm the land to keep it. Meanwhile, a farm family, befriended by Corky, becomes the victim of an unscrupulous land investor.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=27

|EpisodeNumber2=27

|Title=The Cub Reporter

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|04|21}}

|WrittenBy=Kenneth A. Enochs

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Working at a newspaper during a winter break, Corky learns the importance of fair and unbiased reporting. He then discovers that the editor is allowing the mayor to control the paper.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=28

|EpisodeNumber2=28

|Title=General Pete

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|04|28}}

|WrittenBy=Wallace Bosco

|DirectedBy=Lew Landers

|ShortSummary=In the spring of 1898, at the onset of the Spanish–American War, Pete decides to join Teddy Roosevelt's Roughriders. He had known Roosevelt in years past, and Corky asks him to use his influence to get him on as a drummer boy. While at the camp, Pete discovers a plot to assassinate Roosevelt.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=29

|EpisodeNumber2=29

|Title=The Tumbling Clown

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|05|05}}

|WrittenBy=David Lang

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Ned Bailey, former clown and a friend of Joey, wants to return to the circus. However, Joey finds that some detectives are looking for him.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=30

|EpisodeNumber2=30

|Title=Death-Defying Dozetti

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|05|12}}

|WrittenBy=Wallace Bosco

|DirectedBy=Lew Landers

|ShortSummary=Aerialist Dozetti feels he's the star attraction, and his aerialist wife avoids the lime light. When he is injured and cannot do his act, he is surprised at his wife's ability.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=31

|EpisodeNumber2=31

|Title=Col. Jack's Brother

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|05|19}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=The circus' friend and creditor, Col. Jack, goes on a trip to Africa, and leaves his brother, Jonathan Bixby, in charge of his business. Against Col. Jack's orders, Jonathan tries to take over the circus, firing some of the crew and cutting the food supply. Andy Clyde played both brothers.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=32

|EpisodeNumber2=32

|Title=The Swamp Man

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|05|26}}

|WrittenBy=Wallace Bosco

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=While in Louisiana, Corky befriends a young Cajun man, who shows him a mysterious French note from his grandfather. The resulting treasure hunt attracts some local thieves.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=33

|EpisodeNumber2=33

|Title=Hortense the Hippo

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|06|02}}

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|t=Lee Irwin|s=P. K. Palmer}}

|DirectedBy=George Archainbaud

|ShortSummary=Col. Jack sends Corky a hippopotamus to work with. This further aggravates an ongoing rivalry with Al Garson's circus.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=34

|EpisodeNumber2=34

|Title=The Fortune Teller

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|06|09}}

|WrittenBy=Mona Fisher

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=A new cook joins the circus, and the troupe takes her tea leaf readings seriously.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=35

|EpisodeNumber2=35

|Title=The Gentle Giant

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|06|16}}

|WrittenBy=Barney Slater

|DirectedBy=George Archainbaud

|ShortSummary=Abdulla, the circus strong man, quits to join a medicine show. When the circus hires a new strong man, the owner of the medicine show proposes a contest between the two.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=36

|EpisodeNumber2=36

|Title=Little Vagabond

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|06|23}}

|WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|t=Lee Irwin|s=P. K. Palmer}}

|DirectedBy=Lew Landers

|ShortSummary=A lost boy, staying with the circus until his parents can be located, loses his belligerent attitude when he sees the equestrian act.

|LineColor=FFB077

}}

}}

{{Episode table|background=77C6FF |overall=|season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=37

|EpisodeNumber2=1

|Title=Elmer The Rainmaker

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|09|19}}

|WrittenBy=Kenneth A. Enochs

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=When the circus enters a drought stricken area, Corky joins Elmer in his balloon, to seed clouds. Their plan backfires, and the townspeople blame them for contaminating their dwindling water supply.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=38

|EpisodeNumber2=2

|Title=Royal Roustabout

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|09|26}}

|WrittenBy=Lee Erwin

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Eric, 15-year-old heir to the throne of Corvania, runs away from the embassy to join the circus. Big Tim gives him star billing as a horseman, not knowing his true identity.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=39

|EpisodeNumber2=3

|Title=Bimbo, Jr.

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|03}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Col. Jack returns, this time bringing a small royal elephant from India. Corky showers the new arrival with attention, and names him Bimbo, Jr. This makes Bimbo jealous, and he refuses to perform and runs away.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=40

|EpisodeNumber2=4

|Title=Alex The Great

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|10}}

|WrittenBy=Kenneth A. Enochs

|DirectedBy=William Beaudine

|ShortSummary=When Corky's parents had fallen, their catcher felt responsible and left the circus. Later, Joey sees him in the audience and persuades him to come back.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=41

|EpisodeNumber2=5

|Title=The Return Of Casey Perkins

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|17}}

|WrittenBy=Wallace Bosco

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Casey Perkins, a friend of the circus, wants to bring a railroad line into a small town, but meets opposition from a rival railroadman, and from Indians.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=42

|EpisodeNumber2=6

|Title=Major Buffington

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|24}}

|WrittenBy=Mona Fisher

|DirectedBy=Robert G. Walker

|ShortSummary=Two con men, escaping from a small town, stow away on a train which is taking a new tiger joining the circus. Once there, they concoct a scheme to steal the proceeds from performance which is intended to benefit a local orphanage.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=43

|EpisodeNumber2=7

|Title=The Clemens Boys

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|31}}

|WrittenBy=Kenneth A. Enochs

|DirectedBy=Fred Jackman

|ShortSummary=After seeing the circus, a young man is determined to join, but refuses to allow his brother to accompany him.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=44

|EpisodeNumber2=8

|Title=The Magic Lantern

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|07}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=Fred Jackman

|ShortSummary=Big Tim sends Corky and Joey into town to buy supplies, but they use the money to get their friend Elmer out of jail. This involves them in Elmer's latest scheme, the marketing of magic lantern motion picture shows.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=45

|EpisodeNumber2=9

|Title=The Dancing Bear

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|14}}

|WrittenBy=Andy White and Victor McLeod
(from a story by Andy White)

|DirectedBy=William Beaudine

|ShortSummary=Karl Hofer wants to join the circus, along with his performing bear, Mitzi. Having been cheated by this man in the past, Big Tim does not trust him, but hires him anyway. When Mitzi escapes, local farmers blame her for recent sheep killings.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=46

|EpisodeNumber2=10

|Title=The Marvelous Manellis

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|21}}

|WrittenBy=Victor McLeod

|DirectedBy=William Beaudine

|ShortSummary=Big Tim hires a three-person high wire act from another circus, and then finds that one recently injured member will not perform.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=47

|EpisodeNumber2=11

|Title=Uncle Cyrus

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|28}}

|WrittenBy=Wallace Bosco

|DirectedBy=William Beaudine

|ShortSummary=Pete has led his Uncle Cyrus to believe that he owns the circus. When Cyrus visits, Big Tim agrees to play along, and trades places with Pete.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=48

|EpisodeNumber2=12

|Title=The Judge's Boy

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|05}}

|WrittenBy=Kenneth A. Enochs

|DirectedBy=Fred Jackman

|ShortSummary=A local judge who is running for congress has little time for his son, Carlton, who joins the circus. Meanwhile, Big Tim rescues the judge from an attack by the son of an opposing candidate.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=49

|EpisodeNumber2=13

|Title=The Return Of Buffalo Bill

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|12}}

|WrittenBy=Jerome S. Gottler and
Victor McLeod (from a
story by Jerome S. Gottler)

|DirectedBy=Fred Jackman

|ShortSummary=Big Tim tries to convince Buffalo Bill Cody to perform. Cody wants to have nothing to do with the circus, feeling that his devotion to his own wild west show had been partly responsible for his son's death.

|LineColor=77C6FF

}}

}}

Micky Dolenz sings the theme to the series in "The Monkees at the Circus", an episode of The Monkees. When asked by Mike Nesmith "What 'is' that?", Dolenz responds "It's the theme song for an old TV series".

Their song "Porpoise Song" contains references to the series, most notably with the line "riding the back of giraffes for laughs is alright for a while." In their song, "I'm Going to Buy Me a Dog", Mickey Dolenz says he can train a dog. Davy Jones says, "I thought you only trained elephants."{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2cBQ_wC5lZUC&dq=%22porpoise+song%22&pg=PA94 | title=Soundtrack Available: Essays on Film and Popular Music |author=Pamela RobertsonWojcik | publisher=Duke University Press | page=94 | year=2002 | isbn=0-8223-2797-X}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e5lgPm5eq40C&dq=%22porpoise+song%22&pg=PA16 | title=The Words and Music of Carole King |author=James E. Perrone | publisher=PraegerPublishers | page=16 | year=2006 | isbn=0-275-99027-3}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U7cQmRsLgN8C&dq=%22porpoise+song%22&pg=PA384 | title=Turn On Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock |author=Jim DeRogatis | publisher=Hal Leonard | page=638 pages | year=2003 | isbn=0-634-05548-8}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|id=0048855|title=Circus Boy}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVqMrtVH-OI Circus Boy, season 1, episode 1] YouTube

Category:1956 American television series debuts

Category:1957 American television series endings

Category:1950s Western (genre) television series

Category:Television series set in the 1890s

Category:American adventure television series

Category:American Broadcasting Company original programming

Category:Black-and-white American television shows

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:NBC television dramas

Category:Television series about children

Category:Television series by Screen Gems

Category:Television shows set in circuses

Category:Television shows adapted into comics

Category:Television series about adoption