Mackenzie's Raiders

Mackenzie's Raiders is an American Western television series starring Richard Carlson that was broadcast in syndication and produced in 1958–1959. The series is narrated by Art Gilmore, and was produced by Ziv Television Programs.

Synopsis
The basis for the program was Mackenzie's Raid, a book by Russell P. Reeder. It told about a 32-hour raid by Mackenzie and 550 cavalrymen to destroy a Mexican town that harbored kidnappers, rustlers, and arsonists.

Set in the 1870s, Mackenzie's Raiders depicted activities of the Fourth Cavalry around the Rio Grande and the Mexican border. Experiences of Union Army Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie formed the basis for episodes.

Mackenzie, with orders from President Grant, operated out of Fort Clark, in Texas, "to rid the Southwest of Mexican marauders and renegade Indians, pursuing them across the Rio Grande if necessary." If Mckenzie were to be caught in a foreign country, the United States would deny knowledge of his mission.

Cast

 * Richard Carlson as Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie (39 episodes)
 * Kenneth Alton as Raider (11 episodes)
 * Morris Ankrum as Raider (12 episodes)
 * Charles Boaz as Corporal Dixon (11 episodes)
 * Jim Bridges as Private Lewis (11 episodes)
 * Louis Jean Heydt as Raider (11 episodes)
 * Brett King as Raider (11 episodes)

Guest stars

 * John Archer
 * Jim Bannon
 * Jeanne Bates
 * Rand Brooks (multiple appearances)
 * Harry Carey, Jr.
 * Iron Eyes Cody
 * Walter Coy
 * Ted de Corsia
 * John Doucette
 * Jack Elam
 * Jack Ging (multiple appearances)
 * Steve Gravers
 * Virginia Gregg
 * Robert Griffin
 * Brett Halsey (as Lt. Summers)
 * Robert Karnes
 * DeForest Kelley
 * Ray Kellogg
 * Gail Kobe
 * Bethel Leslie (as Lucinda Cabot)
 * Forrest Lewis
 * Judy Lewis
 * Steve London
 * Herbert Lytton
 * Walter Maslow
 * Robert McQueeney
 * Dennis Moore (multiple appearances)
 * Burt Mustin (as Mr. Devin)
 * Anna Navarro
 * Leonard Nimoy
 * Vic Perrin
 * Glenn Strange
 * Joe Turkel
 * John Vivyan
 * H. M. Wynant

Critical response
John P. Shanley, writing in The New York Times, complimented the show's "realistic settings and good photography" and added, "It was a better-than-average adventure show."

Production notes
Prior to Mackenzie's Raiders, Carlson had previously starred in another Ziv Productions series, I Led Three Lives.

The series was produced by Lou Breslow and Elliott Lewis. Carlson also served as a writer and director. Jim Thompson was credited with writing four episodes of the show.

Location shots were filmed along the Santa Ana River in California, an area that resembles that of the Rio Grande.

The series is currently being shown on the over the air channel ThisTV.

DVD release
On October 8, 2013, Timeless Media Group released Mackenzie's Raiders- The TV Series on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.