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.
[3] 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.
The program was an adventure series about Sergeant Frank Preston of the North-West Mounted Police and his lead sled dog, Yukon King, as they fought evildoers in the Northern wilderness during the Gold Rush of the 1890s.
Preston, according to radio historian Jim Harmon, first joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to capture his father's killer, and when he was successful, he was promoted to sergeant.
Preston worked under the command of Inspector Conrad, and in the early years was often assisted by a French-Canadian guide named Pierre.
Preston's side-kick and ally (and arguably the true star of the show), was the brave Alaskan husky, Yukon King.
Yukon King had a keen instinct for sensing criminals, and was equally valuable dealing with wild animals, once saving a small child from a wolverine.
In the radio version, King's barks were usually provided by animal imitators, usually sound effects artist Dewey Cole, and later, actor Ted Johnstone.
On television, Yukon King was still a vital element, though the dog was now played by an Alaskan Malamute trained by Beverly Allen.
Typical plots involved the pair helping injured trappers, tracking down smugglers, or saving cabin dwellers from wolverines.
Some plot lines were re-used from the radio show, and stories original to the series were generally built upon the same themes.
[7] Timeless Media Group released a 2-disc best-of set featuring 10 episodes from the series on DVD in Region 1 on November 21, 2006.
[9][10][11] After filming concluded, the dog, named King, went to live with the family of the president of Jack Wrather Productions after retirement.
The Dell comic book covers were paintings portraying drama or action, featuring Yukon King and Sergeant Preston in exciting scenes.