The Adventures of Champion is an American children’s Western series that aired from September 23rd, 1955 to March 3rd, 1956 for 26 episodes on CBS.  In the United Kingdom, the series was re-broadcast under the title Champion the Wonder Horse.

The series starred Barry Curtis as 12-year-old Ricky North, who lived on his uncle’s ranch in the American Southwest.  Ricky’s uncle, Sandy North, was played by Jim Bannon.  Ricky’s companions were a wild stallion, Champion, and a German Shepherd, Rebel, played by Blaze.  The television program used characters similar to those in the 1949-50 radio serial, The Adventures of Champion.  The radio serial told of young Ricky West (rather than Ricky North), who was raised on a ranch by his adoptive Uncle Smoky.  Ricky was often accompanied by his German Shepherd, Rebel.

Beginning in 1950, The Gene Autry Show, a western/cowboy television series, aired for 91 episodes on CBS.  The Adventures of Champion was a prime time spinoff for the 1955-1956 season.  In real life, the Wonder Horse, Champion, was owned by Gene Autry who, over many years, owned a succession of celebrity horses bearing the same name.  The horse starring in The Adventures of Champion was known as Television Champion, or TV Champ, for short.  He was distinguished by his chestnut coat, blond mane and tail, four white stockings and broad white facial blaze.  TV Champ made frequent appearances with Autry in films and television during the 1950s.