T V | House of Stapleton

F Troop (1965)

Rating

Run Time: 22 min

Color: Color

Aspect Ratio: 1.33 : 1

Sound: Mono

Producer: Warner Bros. Television

Genre

Comedy
Western

Seasons: 2

Episodes: 65

Overview

Debuting September 14, 1965, on ABC, the weekly, half-hour Western spoof F Troop was set at Fort Courage, a far-flung frontier cavalry outpost manned by a motley crew of misfits and screw-ups. Forrest Tucker headed the cast as Sgt. Morgan O'Rourke, a 19th century "Sergeant Bilko" who oversaw a variety of scams and get-rich-quick schemes with the help of his partner in crime, Cpl. Randolph Agarn (Larry Storch). The two sharpsters were able to operate their many underhanded business enterprises -- ranging from the local gambling emporium to a thriving traffic in phony souvenirs crafted by the local Hekawi Indian tribe -- right under the nose of Fort Courage's bumbling, stumbling commanding officer, Captain Wilton Parmenter (Ken Berry), who had received his commission as the result of an inadvertent act of valor during the Civil War. Parmenter was also the unwitting object of affection for curvaceous Jane Angelica Thrift (Melody Patterson), aka Wrangler Jane, the rootin', shootin' cowgirl who managed the local post store. (Unbeknownst to anyone in the cast, Patterson was only 15 years old when she joined the series!) Other regulars included Frank DeKova as Wild Eagle, enterprising chief of the Hekawis, a peace-loving soul who was forced to pose as a fierce warrior in order to keep Parmenter from glomming onto the fact that the Hekawis and O'Rourke were business partners; Don Diamond as Wild Eagle's doleful aide Crazy Cat; James Hampton as Fort Courage's off-key bugler, Hannibal Dobbs; onetime movie cowboy Bob Steele as grizzled Trooper Duffy, who always bragged about being at the Alamo with Davy Crockett (never mind that there were no American survivors at that battle!); and Joe Brooks as the hopelessly nearsighted Trooper Vanderbilt. Produced by Hy Averback, F Troop was seen for two seasons, ending its ABC run on August 31, 1967.

Edward Everett Horton

Roaring Chicken

Forrest Tucker

Sergeant Morgan Sylvester O'Rourke

Frank de Kova

Chief Wild Eagle

James Hampton

Bugler Private Hannibal Shirley Dobbs

Joe Brooks

Trooper Vanderbilt

Ken Berry

Captain Wilton Parmenter

Larry Storch

Corporal Randolph Agarn

Melody Patterson

"Wrangler" Jane Angelica Thrift

Season 1 Season 2

1. Scourge of the West

First Aired September 13, 1965

Captain Wilton Parmenter is assigned command of Fort Courage.

2. Don't Look Now, One of Our Cannons Is Missing

First Aired September 20, 1965

O'Rourke and Agarn loan the fort's cannon to the Hekawis for their moon festival; when the troop needs it back for an official visit, the tribe refuses.

3. The Phantom Major

First Aired September 27, 1965

A British major arrives to teach F Troop his new method of fighting Indians.

4. Corporal Agarn's Farewell to the Troops

First Aired October 04, 1965

Agarn is convinced that he is dying and writes a full confession about O'Rourke Enterprises to the inspector general.

5. The Return of Bald Eagle

First Aired October 11, 1965

Wild Eagle's son returns to lead an Indian revolt against Fort Courage.

6. Dirge for the Scourge

First Aired October 18, 1965

Parmenter accidentally humiliates a gunslinger, Sam Urp, who vows to get even.

7. The Girl from Philadelphia

First Aired October 25, 1965

Parmenter's old girlfriend from back East comes to Fort Courage, luring him into a marriage which will take him from the troop.

8. Old Ironpants

First Aired November 01, 1965

An officer training course changes Parmenter into an iron-fisted officer, which the rest of the troop hopes to change.

9. Me Heap Big Injun

First Aired November 08, 1965

Agarn's enlistment is almost up, but instead of reenlisting he decides to join the Hekowis.

10. She's Only a Build in a Girdled Cage

First Aired November 15, 1965

Trooper Dobs' old mother is coming to visit, but the troop thinks that she is a chanteuse.

11. A Gift from the Chief

First Aired November 22, 1965

After he saves Wild Eagle's life, Parmenter receives a infant as a reward.

12. Honest Injun

First Aired November 29, 1965

A con artist sells deeds to worthless mines around Fort Courage.

13. O'Rourke vs. O'Reilly

First Aired December 06, 1965

A woman arrives in Fort Courage and opens a saloon, in competition with O'Rourke's saloon.

14. The 86 Proof Spring

First Aired December 13, 1965

O'Rourke and Agarn must hide the wiskey still when an inspector general tries to find how the Hekawis are getting alcohol.

15. Here Comes the Tribe

First Aired December 20, 1965

As a reward for rescuing his daughter from another Indian, Wild Eagle tries to marry Parmenter to his daughter.

16. Iron Horse Go Home

First Aired December 27, 1965

The Hekawis sell their land to the railroad and choose to move their tribe into Fort Courage.

17. Our Hero, What's His Name?

First Aired January 03, 1966

Agarn claims to have killed Geronimo in order to impress his girlfriend but then Geronimo shows up for revenge.

18. Wrongo Starr and the Lady in Black

First Aired January 10, 1966

A jinxed private is assigned to F Troop.

19. El Diablo

First Aired January 17, 1966

Agarn goes after his look alike cousin, a Mexican bandit (Larry Storch in a dual role).

20. Go for Broke

First Aired January 24, 1966

O'Rourke loses the troop pension in a poker game, and Parmenter agrees to try to win it back.

21. The New I.G.

First Aired February 07, 1966

A new inspector general wants to try out his new rifle in a surprise attack on the Hekawis.

22. Spy, Counterspy, Counter Counterspy

First Aired February 14, 1966

When the War Department assigns F Troop to test a secret weapon, spies arrive in Fort Courage trying to find out what it is.

23. The Courtship of Wrangler Jane

First Aired February 21, 1966

In order for his latest money-making scheme to work, O'Rourke must get Parmenter to marry Wrangler Jane.

24. Play, Gypsy, Play

First Aired February 28, 1966

Three Hungarian gypsies arrive in Fort Courage.

25. Reunion for O'Rourke

First Aired March 07, 1966

To celebrate O'Rourke's twenty years in the cavalry, the troop arranges a surprise party with many of O'Rourke's old friends.

26. Captain Parmenter, One Man Army

First Aired March 14, 1966

Due to a technical mistake, the enlistments of the men in F Troop are invalid and Parmenter is the only soldier on duty at Fort Courage.

27. Don't Ever Speak to Me Again

First Aired March 21, 1966

The army decides to give F Troop a citation and a medal for their high morale, which inflates their egos and causes fighting among the men.

28. Too Many Cooks Spoil the Troop

First Aired March 28, 1966

When the troop cook is reassigned, Agarn is picked to take his place.

29. Indian Fever

First Aired April 04, 1966

Agarn insists that an Indian is spying on the fort, but no one else believes him.

30. Johnny Eagle Eye

First Aired April 11, 1966

O'Rourke enlists an expert Hekawi marksman into the troop for a sharpshooting competition, only to find out that he is the son of Sitting Bull.

31. A Fort's Best Friend Is Not a Mother

First Aired April 18, 1966

Parmenter's mother arrives at the fort, determined to have her son promoted out of the troop.

32. Lieutenant O'Rourke, Front and Center

First Aired April 25, 1966

O'Rourke is selected for an officer training course, which would mean he can't run O'Rourke Enterprises.

33. The Day the Indians Won

First Aired May 02, 1966

When the Hekawis need a victory or else be kicked out of the Council of Indian Nations, West, O'Rourke and Agarn agree to rig a fight between them and the fort.

34. Will the Real Captain Try to Stand Up

First Aired May 09, 1966

O'Rourke and Agarn agree to help the town drunk to impress his daughter, who thinks he is the captain of F Troop.