Four Feather Falls was the third puppet TV show produced by Gerry Anderson for Granada Television. It was based on an idea by Barry Gray, who also wrote the show's music. The series was the first to use an early version of Anderson's Supermarionation puppetry. Thirty-nine 13-minute episodes were produced, broadcast by Granada from February until November 1960. The setting is the late 19th-century fictional Kansas town of Four Feather Falls, where the hero of the series, Tex Tucker, is sheriff. The four feathers of the title refers to four magical feathers given to Tex by the Indian chief Kalamakooya as a reward for saving his grandson: two allowed Tex's guns to swivel and fire without being touched whenever he was in danger, and two conferred the power of speech on Tex's horse and dog. Tex's speaking voice was provided by Nicholas Parsons, and his singing voice by Michael Holliday. The series has never been repeated on British television, but it was released on DVD in 2005.
Cast: Nicholas Parsons, Kenneth Connor, Denise Bryer
Season 1
39 episodes
1. How It BeganSheriff Tex Tucker arrives in Four Feather Falls.CCFeb 25, 1960
2. KidnappedSheriff Tucker must solve a kidnapping.CCMar 3, 1960
3. Pedro Has A PlanPedro has a great idea, but will it all go wrong?CCMar 10, 1960
4. Pedro's PardonPedro is pardoned by Tex.CCMar 17, 1960
5. A Close ShaveTex Tucker has a close call.CCMar 24, 1960
6. Indian AttackFour Feather Falls is attacked by a group of Indians.CCMar 31, 1960
7. Sheriff For A DayTex takes a day off, but who will be the sheriff?CCApr 7, 1960
8. Dusty Becomes DeputyTex promotes Dusty to the position of deputy sheriff.CCApr 14, 1960
9. Gun RunnersTex encounters a group of gunrunners and it's his job to bring them in.CCApr 21, 1960
10. Trouble At Yellow GulchTex experiences a spot of bother at Yellow Gulch.CCApr 28, 1960
11. Frame UpCan Tex discover who really committed the crime?CCMay 5, 1960
12. Gold DiggersTex encounters some gold diggers.CCMay 12, 1960
13. Gold Is Where You Find ItTex and the gang go looking for gold.CCMay 19, 1960
14. TrappedTex and the gang become trapped in a dangerous situation, but can they save themselves?CCMay 26, 1960
15. The Best Laid PlansEven the best plans can go wrong.CCJun 2, 1960
16. EscortPedro and Fernando pose as sheriffs so they can steal a shipment of gold.CCJun 9, 1960
17. The Toughest Guy In The WestA reward is offered for the capture of Indian Jack.CCJun 16, 1960
18. Chance Of A GhostMarvin Jackson is trying to sell the Eureka Silver Mine, but the main buyer, Harman, pays Pedro and Fernando to pretend to be ghosts to bring the price down.CCJun 23, 1960
19. Gun PlayTwo cattle rustlers challenge Tucker to fight without his magic guns.CCJun 30, 1960
20. A Lawman Rides AloneAs Tex prepares to take a criminal to court, Big Ben plans a jail break.CCJul 7, 1960
21. Jail BreakPedro helps Tex capture some criminals in return for the reward money.CCJul 14, 1960
22. A Little Bit of LuckTex is away visiting family, but in his absence crime runs out of control.CCJul 21, 1960
23. Land GrabbersThe Circle Z Ranch is under siege from Morg Fenton and Big Ben, but Tex discovers it is outside his area of juristiction and cannot help defend it.CCJul 28, 1960
24. Once a LawmanWith the townspeople unhappy with Tex's dealing of a spate of robberies, Tex turns in his badge.CCAug 4, 1960
25. Election DayUsually Tex is the only one to run for the post of sheriff on election days, but this time Pedro makes a bid for the position.CCAug 11, 1960
26. Gun Fight On Main StreetTex's old friend arrives in town looking for two criminals. Tex helps him, but they end up in a dangerous showdown on Main Street.CCAug 18, 1960
27. A Bad NamePedro and Fernando steal all of Four Feather Falls' horses and Tex is unable to pursue them until new horses arrive.CCAug 25, 1960
28. Horse ThievesBig Ben needs Tex's help after being falsly accused of stealing cattle.CCSep 1, 1960
29. The Ma Jones StoryMa Jones falls a scam and is almost swindled out of her shop.CCSep 8, 1960
30. Bandits AbroadFernando bears a striking resemblance to another master criminal, so Pedro comes up with an idea to get the reward money for capturing him.CCSep 15, 1960
31. A Cure for EverythingA medicine man arrives in town claiming to have a cure for everything and almost puts Doc Haggerty out of business before he discovers the true source of the medicines.CCSep 22, 1960
32. Teething TroublesRocky gets toothache but won't let Doc Haggerty remove it.CCSep 29, 1960
33. Buffalo RockyWhen several horses are stolen, the only suspects seems to be a buffalo...CCOct 6, 1960
34. Safe As HousesA stranger arrives in town claiming to be able to sell things to people they didn't even know they wanted.CCOct 13, 1960
35. First Train ThroughThe railroad finally comes to Four Feather Falls connecting it to Dallas, however someone keeps sabotaging the tracks.CCOct 20, 1960
36. Happy BirthdayThe 'fastest and bestest in the westest' arrives in town, worrying Tex that he will attract other gunmen to the town.CCOct 27, 1960
37. Fancy ShootingThe townspeople plan a party for Tex's birthday.CCNov 3, 1960
38. AmbushThe train from Dallas is robbed of $10,000.CCNov 10, 1960
39. Ride 'Em CowboyTex takes part in the rodeo against Silver City's best rider, Bart Stevens.CCNov 17, 1960
Four Feather Falls
Four Feather Falls was the third puppet TV show produced by Gerry Anderson for Granada Television. It was based on an idea by Barry Gray, who also wrote the show's music. The series was the first to use an early version of Anderson's Supermarionation puppetry. Thirty-nine 13-minute episodes were produced, broadcast by Granada from February until November 1960. The setting is the late 19th-century fictional Kansas town of Four Feather Falls, where the hero of the series, Tex Tucker, is sheriff. The four feathers of the title refers to four magical feathers given to Tex by the Indian chief Kalamakooya as a reward for saving his grandson: two allowed Tex's guns to swivel and fire without being touched whenever he was in danger, and two conferred the power of speech on Tex's horse and dog. Tex's speaking voice was provided by Nicholas Parsons, and his singing voice by Michael Holliday. The series has never been repeated on British television, but it was released on DVD in 2005.
Creators and cast
- Created by
- Gerry Anderson
