ZORRO - BACK TO GOOD WESTERNS - WHERE THE WICKED TAKE FLIGHT!

ZORRO

~ OUT OF THE NIGHT WHEN THE FULL MOON IS BRIGHT ~

This 1957 version of the Zorro tv show was a 30 min. adventure actionseries on ABC.  Don Diego del la Vega dons his mask & cape to become "Zorro", the defender of the weak and downtrodden from the corrupt government officials in 1820s California.

Zorro, which is Spanish for "fox",is the story of a masked rider who battles the unjust rulers of the pueblo of Los Angeles during the days of Spanish rule.

His real identity is that of Don Diego de la Vega, the son of a wealthy landowner.

When young Don Diego (Guy Williams) returns home to California from Spain, he found his people being terrorized by the Commandant of the Fortress de Los Angeles (Britt Lomond). To right the wrongs, Don Diego pretended to be a lazy playboy while secretly he donned a mask and a cape and became - the legend that we now know as Zorro!

Zorro was created in 1919 by writer Johnston McCulley. The first Zorro story,The Curse of Capistrano, appeared that year inAll-Star Weekly, which becameArgosymagazine.

More than 65 Zorro books & short stories followed, with about 500 million readers around the world following the masked avenger's exploits in 26 different languages - before McCulley's death on November 22, 1958 at age 75.

With such reader interest, it was inevitable that the Zorro story be made into a film. There have been many filmed versions, beginning with the famous Douglas Fairbanks Sr.'s portrayal of Zorro in the 1920 silent productionThe Mark of Zorro. Also, Tyrone Power scored a huge hit with a 1940 remake of that film, and several other Zorro films & serials were also produced over the years.

It was reported that Guy Williams was a superb swordsman & was rumored that this skill was a deciding factor in his getting the lead role. The frequent swordplay in the series was a big draw to younger viewers, yet the amount of violence was kept at a very low level - much unlike what we see in Westerns today in the movies or in our everyday program viewing.

Records show that - Henry Calvin passed on in 1975 of cancer, Gene Sheldon in 1982, Guy Williams passed on1989 of a brain aneurysm & George Lewis in 1995 of a stroke.

Main Cast:

Guy Williams -  Don Diego de la Vega , Zorro 

Henry Calvin - Sergeant Demetrio Lopez Garcia 

George J. Lewis - Don Alejandro De La Vega 

Gene Sheldon - Bernardo

Zorro Music By:

"George Bruns"

Lyrics By: "Norman Foster"

Title Theme "Zorro"

Out of the night,
When the full moon is bright,
Comes the horseman known as Zorro.
This bold renegade,
Carves a "Z" with his blade,
A "Z" that stands for Zorro.

Zorro, Zorro, the fox so cunning and free,
Zorro, Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z.

He is polite,

But the wicked take flight
When they catch the sight of Zorro.
He’s friend of the weak,
And the poor and the meek,
This very unique señor Zorro.

Zorro, Zorro, the fox so cunning and free,
Zorro, Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z.

Zorro, Zorro, Zorro, Zorro, Zorro.

THE MASKED ADVENGER

ZORRO - OLD TV INTRO

The information on the shows I review are compiled through various tv, cable programming news & related info resources. I have taken an interest in reviewing network shows that not only do I enjoy week to week, but that hold an intent & purpose to help change the world that we live in for the good. It is all about being the change I want to see in the world - today!