The Cisco Kid
The Cisco Kid
Posted by Kevin Neilson on 8/24/2011
The central character in “The Cisco Kid” was created by American short story author O. Henry in “The Caballero’s Way”, published in 1907. Although radio, TV and films have depicted the Cisco Kid as a Mexican caballero, in the original story he is non-Hispanic and a vicious outlaw. The Cisco Kid radio drama aired from 1942-1955, while the television series began in 1949.
Duncan Reynaldo starred as the Cisco Kid, with Leo Carrillo as his jovial sidekick, Pancho. Reynaldo and Carrillo were the first regular Hispanic television stars. (Desi Arnaz, Sr. starred with his wife Lucille Ball in “I Love Lucy” the following year.)
Cisco and Pancho were desperadoes, wanted for unspecified crimes, but were viewed by the poor as Robin Hood figures. They assisted the oppressed when law enforcement officials wouldn’t. Viewers became acquainted with their horses, Cisco’s Diablo and Pancho’s Loco.
In 1953 The Cisco Kid was nominated for an Emmy Award for children’s programming. It was the most popular filmed television series for American children in 1955. It was filmed at the Ray Corrigan Ranch in Simi Valley in Ventura County, California.
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