Do you think "The Cisco Kid" was politically incorrect or even racist?

[Phantom]

"The Cisco Kid", a ZIV production, ran in syndication from 1950-1955 with Duncan Renaldo as Cisco and Leo Carillo as his sidekick, Pancho.

The series began on radio in 1943. Jimmy Smith and Cheech Marin played the parts in a 1994 TV movie which I never saw.

I enjoyed seeing the reruns in the 1960s. And recently, I bought 10 episodes of the series for $1.

Much like The Lone Ranger and Tonto, the two were considered outlaws who actually were on the side of the law, the poor and the downtrodden.

All the episodes were filmed in color so the series was widely seen for years.

If there is criticism it would center on the character of Pancho, a good-natured friend and companion to Cisco. But who was protrayed as bumbling, inept at times, and often the butt of jokes. Although Tonto obviously did not talk much, he seemed nearly a genius compared to Pancho.

On the other hand, Cisco was the lady's man -- as Duncan Renaldo was in his early movie days -- handsome, intelligent, resourceful, principled, etc.

I never saw the program as anything other than another version of The Long Ranger.

Others may see it differently.

What do you think?

 

[Mark_Giardina]

You have to take into account that “The Cisco Kid” was filmed back in the 1950s when there was no such thing as political correctness. It is highly doubtful such a program could air today without some group or individuals objecting.


<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>

 

[KMRichards]

> It is highly doubtful such a program
> could air today without some group or individuals objecting.

Here's a surprise for you, Mark. America One airs reruns of The Cisco Kid Monday afternoons at 2:30pm ET:

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.americaone.com/schedule/Sept_MF_2.htm>http://www.americaone.com/schedule/Sept_MF_2.htm</a><P ID="signature">______________


</P>

 

[Mark_Giardina]

> > It is highly doubtful such a program
> > could air today without some group or individuals
> objecting.
>
> Here's a surprise for you, Mark. America One airs reruns of
> The Cisco Kid Monday afternoons at 2:30pm ET:
>
> http://www.americaone.com/schedule/Sept_MF_2.htm
>

The cable access channel in my town also airs the Cisco Kid. I am not familiar with America One however since our local cable company doesn't carry that network.


<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Re: "The Cisco Kid"

"Cisco Kid" was one of the very first filmed television programs (if not the very first) shot in color.

According to an urban legend, producer Frederick Ziv made the decision to film the program in color after reading a 1949 magazine article about the CBS and RCA color-TV systems then being developed. Ziv probably believed that the FCC would shortly approve one system or the other as the nation's color-TV standard.

Ziv, according to this story, wanted to be ready with color programming. He also believed that once production of the series ended, he would be able to sell reruns of the show to local stations. He thought that by the time the series' production ended, color-TV would be "well on it's way", and that by having the show in color, it would improve the chances of it's reruns being distributed to stations in the years to come.

I do recall that in the late 1970's, a company named Rhodes Productions got the rights to distriubute reruns of "Cisco Kid" and got the show sold to lots of stations around the country, because it had been filmed in color. This may have been the first time the show was actually broadcast in color in many cities and the first time most people had the chance to see the program in color.

 

[desertv]

Re: "The Cisco Kid"

> "Cisco Kid" was one of the very first filmed television
> programs (if not the very first) shot in color.
>
> According to an urban legend, producer Frederick Ziv made
> the decision to film the program in color after reading a
> 1949 magazine article about the CBS and RCA color-TV systems
> then being developed. Ziv probably believed that the FCC
> would shortly approve one system or the other as the
> nation's color-TV standard.
>
> Ziv, according to this story, wanted to be ready with color
> programming. He also believed that once production of the
> series ended, he would be able to sell reruns of the show to
> local stations. He thought that by the time the series'
> production ended, color-TV would be "well on it's way", and
> that by having the show in color, it would improve the
> chances of it's reruns being distributed to stations in the
> years to come.
>
> I do recall that in the late 1970's, a company named Rhodes
> Productions got the rights to distriubute reruns of "Cisco
> Kid" and got the show sold to lots of stations around the
> country, because it had been filmed in color. This may have
> been the first time the show was actually broadcast in color
> in many cities and the first time most people had the chance
> to see the program in color.
>
Disney used to run "Zorro" reruns until recently...Guy Williams was Hispanic

 

[Phantom]

Frederick Ziv, color and "Sea Hunt"

> "Cisco Kid" was one of the very first filmed television
> programs (if not the very first) shot in color.

Ziv was obviously farsighted in his decision to film all the episodes of "The Cisco Kid" in color.

Some of the episodes of kid/adventure series, like "The Adventures of Superman", were filmed in color.

But all "The Cisco Kid" episodes are in color. So, as Joseph mentioned, when color television developed years later (the series was filmed from 1950-55), the show had great appeal because of its color content. Some other black-and-white series were rejected because management thought they looked outdated.

Joseph, do you have any problem with the way Pancho was depicted in the series? Obviously, in the 1950s, few if any objected.

Now, I am thinking -- something rare for me. Would it have been possible to film the underwater sequences in Sea Hunt in color? That might have been something to see, but I am not familar with the technology and cameras at the time.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Re: Frederick Ziv, color and "Sea Hunt"

I was asked:

> Joseph, do you have any problem with the way Pancho was
> depicted in the series? Obviously, in the 1950s, few if any
> objected.

I'm not a big fan of westerns. I only saw a couple of episodes of "Cisco Kid" when the reruns re-entered syndication in the late 1970's, but did not see enough of the show to pass judgment on the Pancho character. Frankly, I only watched those couple of episodes to see what filmed TV entertainment was like back then.

But of what little I remember of the show, I suspect much of the controversy might be over Pancho's "stereotypical" Spanish/Hispanic/Mexican accent. It was very similar to the Frito Bandido's accent in a number of now-notorious commercials from the late 1960's/early 1970's.