Introduction

The Gray Ghost is an American historical television series which aired in syndication from 10 October 1957 to 03 July 1958.

The show is based upon the true story of Major John Singleton Mosby, a Virginia officer in the Confederate Army, whose cunning and stealth earned him the nickname “Gray Ghost”.

Outline

The Gray Ghost stars Tod Andrews as Major Mosby, Phil Chambers as Sergeant Myles Magruder, and Sherwood Price in five episodes as General J.E.B. Stuart, also known for his cavalry skills. Recurring characters on the programme were Donald Foster as Braddock, Jean Willes as Ansonia, Ralph Clanton as a general, Dick Jones as Ned Underwood, Otto Aldis as Mueller and John Banner as Major Heros von Borcke.

Gray Ghost was cancelled after one season of thirty-nine half-hour episodes. High production costs may have contributed to the programme being too expensive to continue.

Cast

• Tod Andrews … Major John Singleton Mosby, 39 episodes, 1957-1958.
• Phil Chambers … Sergeant Myles Magruder, 38 episodes, 1957-1958.
• Sherwood Price … General Jeb Stuart, 7 episodes, 1957-1958.
• Jean Willes … Ansonia, 2 episodes, 1957.
• Dickie Jones … Ned Underwood, 2 episodes, 1957.
• Ralph Clanton … General, 2 episodes, 1957.
• Donald Foster … Braddock, 2 episodes, 1957-1958.

Production

The series was created by Lindsley Parsons Productions; the producer was Russell Hayden. William Paul Dunlap wrote the theme song. Virgil Carrington Jones, an expert on Mosby, was historical consultant for some episodes.

There are also two popular misconceptions about the series. The first is that it aired on the CBS network; it never did. The second is that the network and the sponsor did not wish to be affiliated with a show about Confederate soldiers. Syndicated shows, by definition, have no network sponsors. In New York City, The Gray Ghost ran not on WCBS-TV (Channel 2) but on WPIX (Channel 11), an independent station. It ran Thursdays from 8:30-9:00 pm. The series was distributed “in association with CBS Television film series”. Such closing credits gave some the wrong impression that the programme had aired on CBS.

Trivia

• Ray Bailey adapted the series into a comic strip.

The Gray Ghost Series

• Episode 01: Mosby’s Rangers.
• Episode 02: The Humanitarian.
• Episode 03: The Missing Colonel.
• Episode 04: Point of Honour.
• Episode 05: Charity.
• Episode 06: An Eye for an Eye.
• Episode 07: Horses for Stuart.
• Episode 08: The Brothers.
• Episode 09: Jimmy.
• Episode 10: Conscript.

• Episode 11: Rebel Christmas.
• Episode 12: The Rescue.
• Episode 13: Angel of Loudoun.
• Episode 14: Sealed Orders.
• Episode 15: The Escape.
• Episode 16: A Problem of Command.
• Episode 17: Reconnaissance Mission.
• Episode 18: Greenback Raid.
• Episode 19: Judith.
• Episode 20: Russell of ‘The Times’.

• Episode 21: The Trial.
• Episode 22: The Long Way Home.
• Episode 23: The Rivals.
• Episode 24: Ulysses S. Grant.
• Episode 25: The Deserter.
• Episode 26: Resurrection.
• Episode 27: Father and Son.
• Episode 28: Taps for a Hero.
• Episode 29: Renegade Rangers.
• Episode 30: The Bribe.

• Episode 31: The Master Spy.
• Episode 32: Manhunt.
• Episode 33: The Hero.
• Episode 34: Contraband.
• Episode 35: Secret and Urgent.
• Episode 36: Epidemic.
• Episode 37: The Picnic.
• Episode 38: Strange Bedfellows.
• Episode 39: The Gallant Foe.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Hollingsworth Morse … (11 episodes, 1957-1958).
  • Harmon Jones … (2 episodes, 1957).
  • Frank McDonald … (1 episode, 1957).
• Producer(s):
  • Lindsley Parsons … producer (37 episodes, 1957-1958).
• Writer(s):
  • Dwight V. Babcock … (writer) (1 episode, 1958).
  • Don Clark … (writer) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Virginia M. Cooke … (written by) (1 episode, 1957).
  • William R. Cox … (writer) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Jack DeWitt … (teleplay) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Jack DeWitt … (writer) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Jack DeWitt … (written by) (1 episode, 1958).
  • Warren Douglas … (writer) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Howard J. Green … (writer) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Howard J. Green … (written by) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Virgil Carrington Jones … (book) (31 episodes, 1957-1958).
  • Virgil Carrington Jones … (book) (3 episodes, 1957-1958).
  • Virgil Carrington Jones … (book) (2 episodes, 1957).
  • Virgil Carrington Jones … (book) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Jan Leman … (writer) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Arthur E. Orloff … (written by) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Frank Phares … (writer) (1 episode, 1957).
  • Ted Thomas … (writer) (1 episode, 1957).
  • James West … (writer) (1 episode, 1957).
• Music:
  • Paul Dunlap … (unknown episodes).
• Cinematography:
  • Ellis W. Carter … (12 episodes, 1957-1958).
  • Carl Berger … (1 episode, 1957).
• Editor(s):
  • Holbrook N. Todd … (4 episodes, 1957).
  • Maurice Wright … (1 episode, 1957).
• Production:
  • Lindsley Parsons Picture Corporation.
  • CBS Films.
• Distributor(s):
• Release Date: 10 October 1957 to 09 July 1958.
• Rating: Unknown.
• Running Time: 30 minutes (per episode).
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)