Adventures of Robin Hood Television Show was a popular show in the 1950’s. Robin Hood ran for four seasons. The show starred Richard Greene and lead to other shows coming from England. The show had a number of items produced related to the show. One of the items produced was the Marx Robin Hood Playset. The playset contained four character figures based on the people in the show. Playset Magazine in issue number 89 an article on this playset.
Our very good friend Floyd Wilson is a fan of Robin Hood and especially of the television show. He was looked forward to this article but found himself disappointed on the information on the show. Floyd shares with us what he found wrong and what he discovered.
Adventures of Robin Hood Television Show Floyd’s Comments
At the Chicago show I purchased a copy of the most current issue of Playset Magazine_ (No. 89 Sept/Oct 2016). The magazine featuring an article “The Adventures of Robin Hood”, specifically related to the Marx sets. On page 13 of the magazine it says, “Patricia Driscoll played Maid Marian for 78 episodes. She was replaced in 1957 by Bernadette O’Farrell”.
I am very familiar with this series as I watched it as a child. I did further research looking at the DVD’s and checking IMDB.com. Bernadette O’Farrell played Maid Marian, in 48 episodes, from the shows inception in 1955 through the second season (her last episode aired 24 June 1957) She was replaced by Patricia Driscoll (appearing in 37 episodes) in the third season (her first episode aired 30 September 1957).
In the top center of page 14, there is a picture of the Marx 60mm Richard Greene Adventures of Robin Hood character figures. Below the picture it is says, “(L-R) Little John, Robin Hood, Patricia Driscoll’s Maid Marian”. It is interesting that since the Marx figures were licensed and made in 1956. How did Marx know that “Patricia Driscoll” would replace “Bernadette O’Farrell” in 1957 ?
On the centerfold is a picture of the Marx set with the character figures. identified with an actor or actress. Under Maid Marian the magazine has her identified as Bernadette O’Farrell.
Adventures of Robin Hood Television Show Little John
The same pages identify Little John as “Rufus Cruikshank” In the series “The Adventures of Robin Hood”, beginning in 1955, Little John was played by Archie Duncan He play the character for 106 episodes.
Archie Duncan was injured filming one of the episode. Archie protected some children from a run-away horse. He was awarded the Queen’s Award for Bravery. Archie was replaced, temporarily by “Rufus Cruikshank” for 12 episodes.
Unless the ‘Licensing Agreement’ that Marx obtained is discovered, we will probably never know whom the characters figures were actually made resemble. The physical likeness of the Marx characters to Richard Greene, Alexander Gauge & Alan Wheatley are quite apparent. In my opinion the same is true of Archie Duncan as Little John.
From these photos it appears, to me, that the Marx character figure of Little John was based upon Archie Duncan. The hair style and even his costume matchArchie Duncan’s appearance in his first episode. (“Dead or Alive” Airing 10 Oct. 1955).
Adventures of Robin Hood Television Show Additional Comments
Floyd’s thoughts are very valid. The playset would have been shown at the New York Toy Fair which is held in February. Marx would have had prototypes of the playset on display in their showrooms. The set might had been complete as it was sold. It could have had representations. (When the Zorro playset was first shown it had Shako hat Mexicans from the Alamo. The presidio hats Mexicans were added later.) Since the Robin Hood Richard Greene playset was offered at the 1956 Toy Fair the reference photos would have been from the previous year of the show.
I am sure we will see corrections in the next issue of Playset magazine.
Very interesting observation and corrections. Well done work on it.
Actually, 5 character figures. Robin, Marian, Little John, Friar Tuck and the Sheriff.
http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/BillyHillRN/media/Medieval/Marx%20Richard%20Greene%20characters_zpsei8sevtj.jpg.html?sort=3&o=129
Interesting bit of trivia. The beloved children’s show host, Sandy Becker, was the announcer on some of the US release episodes. Those of you who grew up in the New York Metropolitan area in the 60s will remember him fondly, as do I.
Yes there are 5 different character figure in the playsets. The other three character figures were were credit correctly in the article. I always like the Sheriff of Nottingham pose with the mace in his hands.
mace? Which company made that one? Have you got any pics to share?
http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/BillyHillRN/media/Medieval/Merrie%20Men%20091115%203_zpseq7xnq3b.jpg.html?sort=3&o=103
Sandy Becker – OMG!!! What memories! Remember “Hambone”?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Becker
Yes indeed Andy. Hambone was on his evening show. Do you remember the morning show with the puppet “Geeba-geeba”?
Geeba-geeba is alive on the net!!
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=sandy+becker+geeba-geeba&view=detail&mid=16461AED465CF54A021016461AED465CF54A0210&FORM=VIRE
A great program, we used to watch it on Saturday mornings in the 1960’s when it was in reruns. I think Disney filmed a Robin Hood movie or series with different actors.
The Disney live action Robin Hood movie was with Richard Todd. Archie Duncan who played Little John was in the movie as a character Red Gill.
I too watched the “Adventures of Robin Hood” when I was a lad. I do have three episodes of that show on DVD, they still hold up well. As far as
Robin Hood figures, I know Marx, Tim-Mee, Britain’s, Lido, and Dulcop made them. Does anyone know of any other manufacturers that did?
Larry in this forum plenty many other brands Robin Hood has been posted.
This main page link(bellow) of past posting has a lot of then.
Hope you can open the link fine if not just type (robin hood ) in search top corner window and all about Robin Hood figures will be showed. I bet you will find many interesting figures.
http://www.stadsstuff.com/?s=ROBIN+HOOD
http://www.stadsstuff.com/?p=6757
Best
Erwin
Larry here
or just type robin hood in stadstuff search
http://www.stadsstuff.com/?s=ROBIN+HOOD
I put the rare Lone Star set up not long ago.
Australia toys made a rare copied from marx robin hood set of 54mm scale figures,some of the poses are varied and nice…resently I saw it in ebay..
Dude, where’s the pictures? Did they have pouches with their tights?
Did anyone ever notice that all the indigenous critters in Australia will either kill you or they have pouches?
Think about it, they have at least 10 different venomous snakes, at least two venomous spiders, spiders big enough to eat birds, fresh and salt water crocs. , they have great whites off the coast and their beaches get loaded with those jelly fish that kill you, plus those Hunter spiders that are absolutely huge.
The Australian figures I believe Erwin is talking about are from RL. They were a premium maker. They copied the Marx 54mm Robin Hood figures. They however for some reason copied the Dom 54mm Indian maiden to be Maid Marian. We will not have photos for a bit as the main computer is in the shop. It had some malware get around the anti virus, I hope to have it next week, I am using a back up computer for the moment,
Yes admin.Thank you x the name.They also mix and copied other marx adding some details.
I will pass ebay sale links later ,but im not sure if pictures of those in sale show all.
I will dig my premium out late x better photos..
Yes they also have many rares animals too.-Interesting continent.,
Yet they too produced some plastic figures original,others copied,most imported .They also have one of more expensive mailing shipping!! 🙂 🙂
The releaser of the Australian robin hood figures set base in Marx minus one pose was (AP)but apparently some other copied or distributed them from NZ according to one collector I know.
In PW(plastic warrior) magazine from UK are post as been made in others colors very matching with Marx vintage colors release.Versus these lots ON sale by this seller that list them as NZ not Australian.(look link bellow)
As correct mentioned by Paul the figure choose for the Maid Marion is from DOM-Germany Indian pose that was not recognized and posted as “unknown” by PW when they did few works on Australian premiums figures sets. So BIG thanks to Admi as I did not catch it at all in my memories .
I will post one link from eBay seller ,from it you can google rest of figures of set and others, most same as MARX of course.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Four-New-Zealand-Cereal-Plastic-54mm-Robin-Hood-Figures-Lot-3-/272419897631?hash=item3f6d7dc11f:g:ZRkAAOSwPCVX9ZuO
I believe “TALTTOYS”!? is listed as the NZ maker and seller of these colorful version…
Equal time for the platypus and the Tasmanian devil.