# Tales of the Vikings

Tales of the Vikings is an American first-run syndicated television series, first telecast on September 8, 1959 and ran through June 2, 1960. The series was produced by Kirk Douglas' production company, Brynaprod.

## Plot

Set in tenth century Scandinavia, the series presented the seafaring exploits of Viking chief Firebeard and his two sons, Leif and Finn.

## Characters

* Stefan Schnabel as Firebeard, Viking chieftain
* Jerome Courtland as Leif Ericson, Firebeard's younger son
* Walter Barnes as Finn, Firebeard's elder son
* Haldar, Viking crewman - Buddy Baer
Guest stars for the thirty-nine episode run included: Christopher Lee, Patrick McGoohan, Robert Alda, and Edmund Purdom.

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
| 1 | "Pedigree" | Unknown | Unknown | September 8, 1959 (1959-09-08) |
| 2 | "The Black Stone" | Unknown | Unknown | September 15, 1959 (1959-09-15) |
| 3 | "The Ransom" | Unknown | Unknown | September 22, 1959 (1959-09-22) |
| 4 | "Victory Saga" | Unknown | Unknown | September 29, 1959 (1959-09-29) |
| 5 | "Journey to Bretland" | Unknown | Unknown | October 6, 1959 (1959-10-06) |
| 6 | "Banished Woman" | Unknown | Unknown | October 13, 1959 (1959-10-13) |
| 7 | "The Witch" | Unknown | Unknown | October 20, 1959 (1959-10-20) |
| 8 | "Shipwreck" | Unknown | Unknown | October 27, 1959 (1959-10-27) |
| 9 | "Treasure of Erin" | Unknown | Unknown | November 3, 1959 (1959-11-03) |
| 10 | "Return of the Viking" | Unknown | Unknown | November 10, 1959 (1959-11-10) |
| 11 | "Saracen Gold" | Unknown | Unknown | November 17, 1959 (1959-11-17) |
| 12 | "Return of Aud" | Unknown | Unknown | November 24, 1959 (1959-11-24) |
| 13 | "Doom at the All-Thing" | Unknown | Unknown | December 1, 1959 (1959-12-01) |
| 14 | "House Divided" | Unknown | Unknown | December 8, 1959 (1959-12-08) |
| 15 | "The Weapon" | Unknown | Unknown | December 15, 1959 (1959-12-15) |
| 16 | "The Oathbreaker" | Unknown | Unknown | December 22, 1959 (1959-12-22) |
| 17 | "The Bread of Life" | Unknown | Unknown | December 29, 1959 (1959-12-29) |
| 18 | "The Treasure" | Unknown | Unknown | January 5, 1960 (1960-01-05) |
| 19 | "Port of Thieves" | Unknown | Unknown | January 12, 1960 (1960-01-12) |
| 20 | "Cold Steel" | Unknown | Unknown | January 19, 1960 (1960-01-19) |
| 21 | "The Bowman" | Unknown | Unknown | January 26, 1960 (1960-01-26) |
| 22 | "The Dragon" | Unknown | Unknown | February 2, 1960 (1960-02-02) |
| 23 | "The Thing" | Unknown | Unknown | February 9, 1960 (1960-02-09) |
| 24 | "The Madness" | Unknown | Unknown | February 16, 1960 (1960-02-16) |
| 25 | "Blood Sacrifice" | Unknown | Unknown | February 23, 1960 (1960-02-23) |
| 26 | "A Marriage of State" | Unknown | Unknown | March 3, 1960 (1960-03-03) |
| 27 | "Days of Blood" | Unknown | Unknown | March 10, 1960 (1960-03-10) |

## Production

In 1949 Douglas founded his own company, Bryna Productions, named after his mother. Tales of the Vikings was the company's first venture into television. The series, like the Douglas' 1958 film The Vikings, was shot in Europe and used footage, sets, props, and costumes from the film. It was filmed in black and white, and distributed by United Artists Television. Since Tales of the Vikings aired in syndication, air dates varied from one TV station to another during the 1959-1960 season. It also aired on British television, and in 1962 in Finland.
Courtland has his hair and beard dyed blond for the series. Ryan O'Neal got his start on Tales of the Viking. His parents, who were living abroad at the time, got the teenager a job as a stuntman, under veteran John Sullivan, learning fights, falls, and duels. The theme song was written by Bert Grund with lyrics by Sid Morse.