Tuesday's Treasures

I think my favourite show as a child was an American show called "F Troop".  It was based on a number of very funny characters all thrown together at Fort Courage.  The Captain was a very likable young man from a very military family who had accidentally become a hero and as a result was promoted to captain.  He was likable but clearly not a military person.  He was pursued by Jane - a Calamity Jane/Annie Get your Gun type character. He was very attracted to Jane, but could never quite make the commitment to marry her!!  She continued to try.  His Sargent and Corporal secretly owned the hotel in the town attached to the fort.  It was against military law for them to do so, so had to keep this as a secret from the Captain.  Seemed to be the worst kept secret in town - but Captain Parmenter never found out.  The Indians - who were totally against any violence and spent their lives in fear of offending anyone and therefore, causing some sort of military attack  - supplied the alcohol to the hotel.  There was a survivor from the Alamo - who constantly told stories of the good old days.  There was a bugle player called Dobbs - who couldn't play the bugle at all.  He would break down and cry if anyone offended him.  Finally there was Vanderbuilt - an incredibly short sighted private who seemed to always draw guard duty.

As a child I loved it.  The four of us - my three brothers and I - would sit and watch it every evening.  It was on ABC at 6.00pm.  We weren't allowed to turn TV on before 6.00pm as we had our jobs to do around the farm.

In recent years I've seen some re-runs on Channel 9 and I still enjoyed the show.  There are still episodes that I remember so well - could almost quote them from beginning to end!!

Thanks, Melody, for reminding me of those times.  There were some other shows that were nearly as good - but nothing was ever quite as good as F Troop.  I'm singing the theme song as I write this.