Sky Bandits (Tumbleweed Theater)

**"Sky Bandits"** is a season one episode of The Nashville Network series *Tumbleweed Theater*.

## Episode Overview

While Ranger Doug is away on a "hands across the boarder" exchange trip to Canada, Sergent Dudley fills in and presents the 1940 film *Sky Bandits*, the last installment of Monogram Pictures' *Renfrew of The Royal Mounted* series.

## Segment Overview

### Segment One

("Corral" stage; daytime) Too Slim welcomes viewers to this week's episode of *Tumbleweed Theater*, where they'll be showing the final *Renfrew* film, *Sky Bandits*. He then explains that Ranger Doug has gone to Canada this week as part of an exchange program to compare "The Mountie Way" against "The Cowboy Way", and Sergent Dudley has come back to the show to take his place. Woody Paul asks Sgt. Dudley to join him and Slim in a song that "sort of" relates to the film, and they perform Bob Nolan's *Song of The Bandit*.

### Segment Two

("Corral" stage; nighttime) Woody asks Dudley about Nell (the Sergent's girlfriend whom he mentioned in his previous appearance) and if she and Dudley are still together. He responds that they are indeed still in a relationship, and he would like to dedicate the next song to her. After *Lonely Yukon Stars*, Woody says that he and Slim won't be able to join Dudley for the film, as they have to tend to some portions of fence on the ranch. Sergent Dudley then explains that he brought some friends with him from up North to join him.

### Segment Three

(Triple X Ranch bunkhouse interior) After Sergent Dudley gives a brief history of actor James Newill and the *Renfrew* film series, he introduces the two guests which he has brought with him: Pierre Le Pelt (a French-Canadian trapper) and Baron Crash von Beethoven The Fifth (a stunt pilot). Following his introduction, the almost lifeless-looking Baron begins to repeat "icing up", prompting Pierre to ask Dudley what the Baron means by that. Dudley tells Pierre that the Baron was in a plane crash high in the Rocky Mountains over ten years ago, and with a heavy snowfall, it took Dudley a whole week to reach the site of the wreak. The Baron was the only survivor, and ever since that day, the only thing he's said has been "icing up". Sergent Dudley then tells the audience that he'll talk more with his guests later, and *Sky Bandits* begins.

### Segment Four

(Triple X Ranch bunkhouse interior) Pierre tells Sergent Dudley that he wanted to be a pilot, but couldn't because he had bad eyes, to which Dudley responds that the Baron was known for his excellent eyes. The Baron lifts up his aviator goggles to reveal wide, unblinking blue eyes.

### Segment Five

(Triple X Ranch bunkhouse interior) Dudley asks Pierre what brings him to the states. Pierre points to the TV and says he's seeking "these important messages", cutting to a commercial break.

### Segment Six

(Triple X Ranch bunkhouse interior) As the Barron makes a whining noise (mimicking the sound of his plane making a sharp dive), Pierre tells Sergent Dudley that he might have a way to help the Barron: hypnosis. Using a rabbit pelt instead of the stereotypical watch, Pierre puts the Barron in a trance that makes him relive the crash from ten years ago. When Pierre tells the Barron that he's alive, the pilot snaps out of it and becomes jovial and responsive. Dudley welcomes the Barron, telling him that he's just in time to catch the conclusion of *Sky Bandits*.

### Segment Seven

(Triple X Ranch bunkhouse interior) With *Sky Bandits* now over, The Barron says that he can't wait to learn about this new world he's come back to. Pierre suggests that they celebrate with a party when they get back to Canada, and Dudley says that perhaps Nell will fix them a big cake with lots of icing. The mention of the word "icing" sends the Barron back into his catatonic state, and he begins to shout "icing up" again.

## Gallery

Too Slim welcomes viewers to *Tumbleweed Theater* (Segment 1)Sergent Dudley stands in for Ranger Doug (Segment 1)Woody Paul at the mic (Segment 1)Performing *Song of The Bandit* (Segment 1)Woody asks Sergent Dudley about Nell (Segment 2)Slim, Dudley, and Woody on the corral stage at night (Segment 2)Sergent Dudley gives a history of the *Renfrew* series inside the Triple X bunkhouse (Segment 3)Sergent Dudley and his two guests, gathered around the television (Segment 3)Pierre Le Pelt, a French-Canadian trapper and friend of the RCMP (Segment 3)Famous stunt-pilot Baron Crash von Beethoven The Fifth (Segment 3)The Barron was known for his keen eyesight (Segment 4)
## Credits

**Riders In The Sky**

* Ranger Doug (Douglas B. Green) - Sergent Dudley
* Too Slim (Fred LaBour) - Himself/Pierre Le Pelt
* Woody Paul (Paul Chrisman) - Himself/Baron Crash von Beethoven The Fifth

**Producers**

* Steve Arwood
* Ned Ramage

**Art Director**

* Randy Hale

**Associate Producer**

* Sandy Siegrist

**Studio Director**

* Jim Sowards

**Location Director**

* Jim Yockery

**Writers**

* Fred LaBour
* Douglas B. Green
* Steve Arwood
* Sandy Siegrist

**Camera**

* Joe Adair
* Rob Bonus
* Don Lewis

**Audio**

* Bob Ullrich

**Tape**

* Frank Betts

**Make-Up**

* Joyce Fox

**Lighting Director**

* Jeff Bornstein

**Lighting Assistant**

* Leon Grimes

**Floor Manager**

* James Bass

**Video**

* Larry Bearden

**Video Tape Editing**

* J. Angus Campbell

* Patt Witt

**Prop Master**

* Robert New

**Film Director**

* Russ McCown

**Film Coordinator**

* Packy Smith

**Production Facility**

* WSMV, Nashville

**Post-Production Facility**

* Motion Picture Labs (Memphis, TN)

**Audio Facility**

* Broken Door

**Recording Engineer**

* Richard Achor

**Special Thanks**

* Longhorn World Championship Rodeo Ranch

**Announcer**

* Chuck Morgan

## Trivia

* First recorded performance of *Lonely Yukon Stars*. The song would not be featured on a Riders In The Sky album until *The Cowboy Way* in 1987.
* *Sky Bandits* was the first complete episode of *Tumbleweed Theater* to be posted online.

## Links

* Internet Archive upload of *Tumbleweed Theater: Sky Bandits*