Challenge of the Yukon is an American radio adventure series that
began on Detroit's WXYZ and is an example of a Northern genre story.
The series was first heard on January 3, 1939. The title changed from
Challenge of the Yukon to Sergeant Preston of the Yukon in September
1950, and remained under that name through the end of the series and
into a television adaptation.Following the success of The Lone Ranger
and The Green Hornet on Detroit's WXYZ (now WXYT), the station owner,
George W. Trendle, asked for a similar adventure show with a dog as
the hero. According to WXYZ staffer Dick Osgood, in his history of the
station, Trendle insisted that it not be "a dog like Lassie because...
this must be an action story. It had to be a working dog."[citation
needed] Writer Tom Dougall, who had been influenced by the poems of
Robert W. Service, naturally chose a Husky. The dog was originally
called Mogo, but after criticism by Trendle, Dougall re-christened the
canine King. Dougall likewise created Sgt. Preston and the
French-Canadian guide. Fran Striker, who also wrote for The Lone
Ranger, contributed show scripts.Following the success of The Lone
Ranger and The Green Hornet on Detroit's WXYZ (now WXYT), the station
owner, George W. Trendle, asked for a similar adventure show with a
dog as the hero. According to WXYZ staffer Dick Osgood, in his history
of the station, Trendle insisted that it not be "a dog like Lassie
because... this must be an action story. It had to be a working
dog."[citation needed] Writer Tom Dougall, who had been influenced by
the poems of Robert W. Service, naturally chose a Husky. The dog was
originally called Mogo, but after criticism by Trendle, Dougall
re-christened the canine King. Dougall likewise created Sgt. Preston
and the French-Canadian guide. Fran Striker, who also wrote for The
Lone Ranger, contributed show scripts.However, Trendle's criticism of
Dougall may have had another reason behind it. Shortly before the two
Trendle series aired (Lone Ranger and Challenge of the Yukon), popular
author Zane Grey had a book in circulation (The Lone Star Ranger)
about a Texas Ranger like the Lone Ranger and a comic book series in
circulation (King of the Royal Mounted) about the adventures of Sgt.
King, a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman like Sgt. Preston. From 1922
a series of novels by Laurie York Erskine featuring Renfrew of the
Royal Mounted warranted enough popularity to begin a radio series of
the same title in 1936 and a film series beginning in 1937; the latter
featuring a canine sidekick.Challenge of the Yukon began as a
15-minute serial, airing locally from 1938 until May 28, 1947. Shortly
thereafter, the program acquired a sponsor, Quaker Oats, and the
series, in a half-hour format, moved to the networks. The program
aired on ABC from June 12, 1947, to December 30, 1949. It was then
heard on The Mutual Broadcasting System from January 2, 1950, through
the final broadcast on June 9, 1955. In September 1950, when the show
moved to three broadcasts a week, the title was changed to Sergeant
Preston of the Yukon. Challenge of the Yukon Top Movies & Young Movies