At first glance some readers may be led to believe that this article has some connection to the Leave it to Beaver TV series starring Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow. Understandably since Tony Dow ( who played Wally from the aforementioned TV series) is a featured guest at this year’s SHOWCASE. However, the Little Beaver in this article is a young Navajo boy who shared adventures with western hero Red Ryder and who was played on radio, at one time or another , by three of our special guests. Red Ryder began as a comic strip in 1938 but Republic Pictures bought the movie rights soon after. It was not long and there were Red Ryder comic books, a radio series and movie serials. Tommy Cook portrayed Little Beaver in the 12 chapter movie serial The Adventures of Red Ryder released in June of 1940. Tommy would follow the series to radio in the same role when Red Ryder appeared on the Blue Network in 1942 and later on Mutual. It’s status as a national program was short lived. From the fall of 1942 until the series ended in 1951, the program was heard only on the West Coast stations of the Mutual Don Lee Network (generally Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm Pacific Time). Tommy recalls taking several connecting buses across town to get from home to the studio. Although his parents were generally there to pick him up after the broadcast to drive him home. Franklin Breesee, who has made prior appearances at REPS SHOWCASE, was also cast in the part of Little Beaver, from 1942-1946, as an alternate to Tommy and also to Henry Blair when Henry assumed the role from 1944-1947. Tommy Cook and Frank Bresee have maintained a long friendship from their days on Red Ryder and continuing to the present day. Frank Bresee has spent many years of his adult life documenting those bygone days of radio and hosted the long running radio show Those Golden Days of Radio. “Speaking of radio”, Tommy says “Those were some great days. I don’t want to forget them.”
In 1947 young actor Johnny McGovern took over as Little Beaver and held the role until 1950. “I succeeded Johnny as Little Beaver on Red Ryder” recalls Anne Whitfield. “His voice changed! . . . so they cast me because my voice was not going to change.” Anne doesn’t remember how long she played the part but she doesn’t think it was for very long. ” They probably figured that the show was not going to last very long when they realized they had a kind of effeminate sounding Little Beaver” she muses. Sammy Ogg is credited as taking on the role until the series ended in 1951.
Tommy Cook, Johnny McGovern and Anne Whitfield . . . they all played Little Beaver . . . and will be appearing April 15-16-17 at the REPS SHOWCASE.
