The Adventures of Spin and Marty (1955) User Reviews

I loved this show

[carflo · 7/10 · 6 December 2003]

Every day when I got out of school, I would race home as fast as possible to get my homework done so that I could sit down watch The Mickey Mouse Club and the serial that ran every day: Spin and Marty.

I loved the show. It was about a summer camp for boys that was a ranch. They had horses and swimming and mysteries and Marty, my first real crush. I don't think I would ever want to see any episodes again. Like Nancy Drew books and Hostess Twinkies, some things belong to the magic of the past.

Summer On The Triple R

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 10 May 2008]

This was one of the best products from the Disney studio back when I was a kid. I'm sure I was one of millions of kids who would love to have spent the summer at the Triple R ranch learning to be a cowboy. That was the life.

Spin and Marty were two kids from the opposite side of the tracks so to speak. Spin Evans (I don't recall his real first name) was a kid who saved his money from working just to go to the Triple R and get out of the big city. He'd been going there a few years when Marty arrived.

Marty Markham was a rich kid being raised by a grandmother and a butler, I kid you not. Grandma who was Verna Felton thought he was in serious danger of becoming spoiled and she was probably right. Still and all she sent him to the Triple R with her butler Perkins played by J. Pat O'Malley in a very funny role, borrowed liberally from Charles Laughton in Ruggles of Red Gap.

When Marty arrives at the Triple R, he proclaims to one and all that it's only a 'dirty old farm'. That of course doesn't near and endear him to the rest of the kids, especially Spin to whom it means so much to go. Still Tim Considine as Spin and David Stollery as Marty eventually arrived at something resembling a truce though the rivalry continued for the few seasons that Disney broadcast the episodes on his Mickey Mouse Club.

Lending a real western feel to the show were sagebrush regulars Harry Carey, Jr. as Bill Burnett the counselor at the camp and the owner of the Triple R, Mr. Logan played by Roy Barcroft.

Barcroft appeared in a dozens of B westerns mostly as a villain which I got to see later. But to me he was always the gruff, but kindly Mr. Logan who ran this wonderful place for boys.

Also in the cast was stuntman Lenny Geer who played ranch hand Ollie and really the first one on the Triple R to befriend Marty and see through his act.

Shows like this are a treasure from my childhood. How I wish I could have spent a summer on the Triple R.

Spin & Marty : Season 1 on DVD !

[ZeydeZinka · 9/10 · 9 December 2005]

I was delighted to find ..at long last...that Disney has put out the first season of Spin & Marty on DVD ! What a treat to see this again after so many years.I was a kid when it first aired on the Mickey Mouse Club and I have seen a few reruns over the years, but I enjoyed seeing all the episodes in one long viewing. Leonard Maltin does an introduction to the series. Then we get to see each episode in glorious black and white...each one proceeded by the Mickey Mouse Club logo. Each installment runs about 10 minutes and the total running time is just over 4 hours. There are some nice extras too. We get to see Tim Considine and David Stollery visit the ranch where they filmed the show. Now I'm hoping they bring out the old Hardy Boys on DVD.

The First Season Was Great

[aimless-46 · 3 July 2006]

"The Adventures of Spin and Marty" title refers to the first season (1955-56) of the show; the second and third seasons were given a modified title. When originally broadcast the total running time of 275 minutes was broken into 25 episodes and shown as part of the first year "Mickey Mouse Club". The show was broadcast Monday-Friday from 5Pm-6PM. The serials were structured in a mild cliffhanger format with a teaser at the end enticing viewers to watch the next episode for a resolution. When they were shown a few years ago on "Vault Disney" the episodes were paired up to provide a 22-23 minute running time.

If you grew up with the original MMC you already know that serials like this were the most anticipated part of the show and that "Spin and Marty" was by far the most popular. The reason for their popularity was no mystery, they were the only kid's shows in those days that featured kids instead of puppets or animation.

If you were not around for the "Spin and Marty" phenomenon, think of it as a 1950's version of "The Saddle Club", both featured kids getting to spend all their time with horses. But instead of girls hanging out at the Pine Hollow stables, here it's boys living in bunk houses at "The Triple R", a dude ranch summer camp. And who wouldn't like spending an entire summer at a ranch, riding horses far away from parental supervision?

The first season's story was adapted from the novel "Marty Markham" by Lawrence Watkin. The show went rapidly downhill after the first season so it is no great tragedy that only season one is out on DVD. Mostly this was because the writers were never able to duplicate the charm of the first season's premise. But the show also fell victim to the Kevin Corcoran curse. Corcoran was a terminally precocious little actor that Disney tried to make a star by inserting him into this popular show at the start of the second season. Corcoran was an unbearably bad actor and the damage was compounded by Disney's insistence on manipulative showcasing of his terminal cuteness; an especially bad fit for a show whose first season appeal had been its naturalness and the understated performances of the cast.

Like "Saddle Club's" first season, it revolves around a new kid who has difficulty fitting in at the ranch. Marty Markham (David Stollery) is an overprotected orphaned rich kid who arrives in his grandmother's chauffeured limousine with his own butler (Perkins-J. Pat O'Malley-who is detailed to help the ranch's cook) and immediately manages to offend all the boys by calling the Triple-R Ranch "a smelly old farm".

A rivalry soon develops with Spin Evans (Tim Considine), a popular boy who has to work all year to pay the attendance costs. Marty is afraid of horses but lies about being a polo player. Considine and Stollery are both convincing although Stollery has the more difficult part. The supporting cast of boys have appropriate nicknames; the lazy "Ambitious", the freckled "Speckle" and the chunky "Russell the Muscle".

Special effects are a bit weak (like the woodchuck chase scene where you have to accept that a ball of fur pulled though the field on a string is a woodchuck) and the campfire scenes are obvious day for night shooting.

Harry Carey Jr. and Roy Barcroft provide sympathetic and concerned authority figures but my favorite is insightful horse trainer Ollie (Leonard Geer) who always seemed to have about nine days worth of stubble and repeatedly said: "Well I'll be a blue-nosed gopher".

Predictably Marty learns to love horses and to get along with the other boys. He breaks his arm but Perkins is able to keep the news from his grandmother so that he is not sent home early. There are all the great summer camp elements from bears to ghost stories.

The two-disc DVD set has a photo gallery, interviews, and a little feature called "The Return to the Triple-R"; which includes the adult Considine and Stollery visiting the ranch where most of the show was filmed.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

A most joyful walk down my childhood memory lane

[docmarquis777 · 10/10 · 5 September 2007]

With only the fondest of memories do I recall the days of The Mickey Mouse Club. It was a quieter, gentler time which I dearly miss. And what better way to celebrate such a time than with the youthful innocence and vigor of young boys at a summer camp known as The Triple R. Before the DVD's came out I could only vaguely remember bits and pieces of this series. However, now that the DVD's came out last year I have once again been enraptured by the memories of such a wonderful time in my life.

In this modern, fast paced, tech-no life that has been thrust upon us all, it's comforting to know that the "Good Old Days" of youth and innocence have not been forgotten, thanks to The Spin and Marty DVD's.

I have more than 1,200 movies, television series, documentaries, etc. in my personal collection and Spin and Marty is on my top shelf because it is a Top Rated series. I only hope that they release the other two series that came about because of spin and Marty; The Further Adventures of Spin and Marty, and, The New Adventures of Spin and Marty. If and when they do, I will be amongst the first in line to buy them.

One of my favorite characters was "Al" played by Brand Stirling. Does anyone know what became of him or where he is nowadays? It was because of him and other characters that I learned how to ride a horse and to break them and teach them their gaits. Thanks guys! Thanks for the memories and let me know if the other two series come out. "Way out there at the Triple R...Yippie ya, yippee yo!"

Spoiled Rich kid comes to the triple R summer ranch for boys

[jaybabb · 10/10 · 27 June 2007]

When this first aired on the Mickey mouse club in 1955, I was not even born yet. In fact, it wasn't till recently that I saw this serial in it's entirety on DVD. Wow, what a good show this was! Spread out over 25 11 minute segments on the original Mickey Mouse club in 1955, now we can see this all in one sitting! Spioled rich kid Marty Markum(David Stollery)arrives at the ranch-and he is trouble right from the start. He calls the triple R ranch a "dirty old farm". When Spin Evans(Tim Considine)Puts a frog in his bed-Marty is mad-he does not like the joke-and he wants to knock Spin's block off. Well, the Ranch's Counseler Gives Marty a chance to do just that in a boxing match. Mr. Logan-who heads the ranch, isn't crazy about the idea-but goes along with it.

Marty has a chip on his shoulder the size of the national debt-and it is hoped that boxing match would knock that chip off his shoulder-but Marty puts up a very good fight-better than anyone expected. You need to see this to see who wins.

In time Marty begins to get along with others. He makes friends with "Skyrocket" the horse he's been given for the summer. He must however face himself first. He lies about being a polo player. Before this, he tells Mr. Burnett-The Ranch's Counseler(Harry Carey, Jr.)that he has never been on a horse before. As Mr. Burnett points out "For a kid who's never been on a horse-you sure picked your self a hobby" He is forced to reveal the truth, he tries to runaway.

But Marty Returns to the ranch in style-riding "Skyrocket". He becomes a pretty good rider. He makes friends with "Ambitus" "Al" and Freddie" But when he decides to go on a secret ride, "Skyrocket" encounter a snake Knocking Marty off-breaking his arm. The horse then tramples on the snake-saving Marty's life.

The serial culminates with the rodeo between Tripple R and Northfork-this is perhaps the most fun part of this show. There is some comical moments-Besides the frog incident, There's a scene where Ambitus, Freddie and Marty Fixed Marty's Jeans! Then there's The Ghost trick that Marty & Ambitus played on Spin & 2 others.

This show has everything, there's the fun of watching kids riding horses and wrestling calves(and occasionally each other)It has drama and comedy. Great actors-and great script-all contribute to this show. It takes 4 1/2 hours to unfold on two discs. It's the kind of storytelling that we don't see much of any more. There's a sense of wonderment and joy watching this. I highly recommend it!

The Dream of Belonging

[poetcomic1 · 8/10 · 24 January 2021]

Walt Disney used to come down alone to sit on the ranch set and chat with Harry Carey Jr. Everybody remembers the Davey Crockett craze and the coonskin hats but Disney told Carey that they got MUCH more mail for Spin and Marty and it was mostly little boys who longed to go to the Ranch that summer. I myself as a little boy would make my mom put on my official Triple R ranch t shirt on as I watched the show. As I sit and watch this, now in my sixties I STILL feel the lost dream of male belonging that has been crushed and misshapen and parodied to death.

horse crazy

[vironpride · 10/10 · 15 May 2021]

Having a little time before I have to leave the house, I thought I'd look up reviews of the old Disney "Spin and Marty" series. I loved anything with horses in it, and S & M was a favorite. Sailor and (I think) Sky Rocket were Spin and Marty's horses at the ranch, but I forget which one belonged to who! The catchy music just popped into my mind: "Way out there on the Triple R, yippee-yay, yippy o, Got on a horse but he don't go far, yippy-yay, yippy-o. He called our ranch a dirty old farm, then got on a horse and he busted his arm--yippy-yay, yippy-i, yippy -o!" Series had catchy tunes in those days. If you love horses and good old clean entertainment, you can't go wrong here!

"Who's Spin, a Dog?", Clem Ryan, our Dad.

[redryan64 · 7/10 · 7 July 2014]

BRINGING THIS SERIALIZED to television as a segment of the MICKEY MOUSE CLUB'S daily output. The non-cliffhanger serial had one overview introduction and 25 episodes; which meant that it was on our TV screens for 5 whole weeks.

THE PRODUCTION FEATURED young 'stars' Tim Considine*(Spin) and David Stollery (Marty) and a team of youthful supporting players. Added to this, we had an ample supply of veteran actors such as: Roy Barcroft, Harry Carey, Jr., J.Pat O'Malley and even 3 Stooges' foil, Emil Sitka!

IT WAS CONTINUING dramas like these that gave a variety and balance to Walt Disney's MICKEY MOUSE CLUB and provided relief to the boy viewers to an otherwise seemingly endless parade of song and dance presentations (yuch!!).

DURING ITS THREE seasons on ABC, The MICKEY Show always featured similar such serialized series within a series. Some of the others that we recall are two SPIN & MARTY Sequels, CORKY AND WHITE SHADOW (freaturing Mouseketeer, Darlene Gillespie and Buddy Ebsen), THE BOYS OF THE WESTERN SEA (an English-dubbed import) and MOOCHIE & THE DEAD COW (We made that one up. Sorry, Uncle Walt!)

CONCERNING THE MAKEUP of this series, it was a natural for the boys and girls seemed to like it too. As the central element of the story is the meshing of two personalities from different backgrounds. Spin, the blue collar kid, natural athlete, born leader and extroverted good guy meets up with Marty, a classic "poor little rich kid", pampered and sheltered, snobbish and a "regular kid wannabee."

HOW THEY LEARN from each other is that crux of this series. This important life lesson is presented tastefully and without appearing to be too preachy or educational. Most importantly, this is accomplished without resorting to any "Class Struggle" or any other Marxist principles.

ALAS, IF WE could only do it this way today!

NOTE: * In addition to his later portrayal of eldest brother, Mike, on MY THREE SONS, Tim Considine had what was perhaps his most visible screen role as the soldier slapped by George C.Scott in PATTON (20th Century-Fox, 1969).

Fun And Nostalgic

[johnstonjames · 8/10 · 27 March 2012]

the original 1950's 'MMC' is one of my favorite nostalgia pieces. not only did it epitomize a lot of what Disney was in the 50's, it epitomized 50's television in general.

i can't honestly say that there is anything remarkable about the 'Spin and Marty' serial on 'MMC', aside from it's phenomenal success at the time, but it is entertaining and probably a little better made and produced than a lot of serious critics would like to think. not that it's the BBC or PBS or anything, but it was better than a lot of those homey, cozy sitcoms like a 'Father Knows Best' or 'Leave it to Beaver'. it's not that those shows weren't also quintessential 50's television history, it's just that i only like nostalgia when it's good.

are Spin and Marty boy's adventures any good? well, apart from the scary, creepy cow hand with the bush wacked eyebrows, yeah i guess. the show actually manages to portray kids, especially boys, with a certain amount of realism. we've seen it all before in young boys. the rivalry, the out of control teasing and hazing, and even the overly sensitive ones defensively hiding their child like emotions. i'd have to say from what i know about boys and having been a young boy at one time, that a lot of this is convincing enough. certainly more believable than the characterizations in the 'Annette' serial and more believable in this opening season than the boys adventures became in later seasons.

actually i was kind of surprised when i viewed this, at how a lot of this first season avoided clichés and contrivances.

'Spin and Marty' is real retro television fun, and should be of real interest to any serious Disney buff. i enjoyed it and thought it was cute. except for the creepy dude with the bushy uni-brow. he was kind of disturbing.

Takes me back in time...

[bubbao1 · 12 February 2006]

I just recently purchased the DVD set and have watched the first DVD. Like all the others on this post, I, too, would race home to watch this show. Yeah a little corny by today's standards, I guess, but the innocence and clean cut type stories are refreshing.

My grandsons (4 & 5 1/2) sat and watched part of the DVD with me. I think it was hard to get them interested because it was in black and white....I kept telling them, "look at the horsies" -- and they thought it was a bit boring....a sign of the times, I guess. But, I will not give up!

I had a crush on Spin....he was a cutie. And then when "Annette" came into the picture, I was really glued to the TV set! I hope they bring that series to us on DVD....does anyone know if it is available?

gee, it's swell!

[Goon-2 · 28 October 1999]

I grew up on "The Mickey Mouse Club" repeats as a child, yet I have absolutely no recollection of watching this corny, but entertaining "serial" that played within them, and have only now "discvered" it through watching reruns again.

Listed as a "western,"which is a genre I don't usually like, this is actually a sort of charming little show about two friends who meet at a western-themed summer camp named, surprise surprise, Spin Evans(who would name their child SPIN?!), a fun-loving country boy and Marty Markham, a spoiled rich kid who takes his butler to camp with him and demands of everybody. At first Spin and Marty are enemies(very entertaining), but slowly their hatred dwindles and soon they are the best of pals, getting into lots of adventures at their camp with Mr. Perkins(Marty's butler), the camp counselor and their other friends Ambitious(ugh), Moochie(Kevin Corcoron, of just about every Disney project at the time) and gettting some girl friends like Annette and Darlene(the Mousketeers, who act...just like they do in the Mickey Mouse club.) The plots are usually simple(Moochie gets lost in the desert, Spin and Marty enter horse races, etc), but it is in a nice and relaxing way, and the acting, by Tim Considine(later to go onto "My Three Sons") and David Stollery is actually pretty good, considering. It's one of those dated little shows that would never sell with the wild, Pokemon obsessed kids of today, but it's kind of fun to watch and look back upon the olden days, when all entertainment was that simple and relaxed and "feel good." This is certainly a fun and feel good show alright. Swell.

I agree with carflo

[tomosmamito · 25 May 2005]

Spin and Marty are better as very fond memories like Nancy Drew books and circus peanuts. I, too, ran home to watch the Mickey Mouse Club every afternoon and Spin and Marty were my favorites. Spin, was the first male I found "easy on the eyes". My cousin also had a crush on Marty, but when she discovered that Marty was a red-head, abandoned him. I think there may be a lot of women who discovered boys watching Spin and Marty. It was so much fun to follow the adventures of the two boys, a breed that the oldest daughter of three girls found to be from a different planet, but oh so interesting... But, like my opening line, it is better as a memory than as the real thing. Nancy Drew mysteries are not half as mysterious. Circus peanuts are sickeningly sweet. Spin and Marty shows are corny. But Spin is still a dream boat.