Cannonball TV Series 1958 Full Episode Part 1

A full episode of the 1958 TV series known as "CANNONBALL". There were 39 episodes in this series about two truckers, Mike Malone and Jerry Austin. This episode is in two parts, part two includes "Small Cargo".
Cannonball was created by Robert Maxwell, one of the producers of The Adventures of Superman and the man responsible for Lassie. The New York Times reported on July 8th, 1958 that the series would be produced by Normandie Productions, Ltd. (the Canadian arm of Television Programs of America) with production set to begin in Toronto on July 14th [1]. Television Programs of America was responsible for filmed programs like Private Secretary, Fury, Halls of Ivy and Last of the Mohicans, among others.
In September of 1958, Television Programs of America and Normandie Productions were sold to the Independent Television Corporation [2].
On December 3rd, a full-page advertisement in The New York Times for Independent Television Corporation called Cannonball a "stirring human-interest series about truckers on the highway to high adventure" [3]. It was one of four shows the company had in production for "national sale" (the others were The Four Just Men, The Adventures of Tom Swift and Interpol Calling).
Paul Birch and William Campbell starred in Cannonball as Mike Malone, nicknamed Cannonball, and Jerry Austin, truckers working for C & A Transport who spent their days driving a big rig across Canada and the United States. Howard Milsom played Harry Butler, their dispatcher. Rounding out the cast were Beth Lockerbie, Beth Morris and Steve Barringer as Mike's wife Mary and his children Ginny and Butch.
The series premiered in Canada on Monday, October 6th, 1958, broadcast by CBC. Because it was syndicated locally in the United States there was no nation-wide premiere date. But it appears the show wasn't seen until 1959. Cannonball premiered in Los Angeles, for example, on Monday, May 18th, 1959 airing on KHJ from 8:30-9PM. In New York City, the series was seen on Fridays from 7:30-8PM beginning October 16th, 1959. And it aired on WGN-TV in Chicago from 8:30-9PM (7:30-8PM local time) starting on October 30th, 1959.
A total of 39 episodes of Cannonball were produced. In addition to Canada and the United States, the series was also seen in the United Kingdom. I'm afraid I don't know who sang the theme song.
Works Cited:
1 Shepard, Richard F. "Networks Widen Recording Use." New York Times. 8 Jul. 1958: 55.
2 "12 TV Shows Sold in $13,500,000 Deal." New York Times. 16 Sep. 1958: 55.
3 [Advertisement]. New York Times. 3 Dec. 1958: 74.

[@thisbushnell2012]

After 65 years, I was beginning to think I had imagined this series. Thanks for making it available.

[@PhilipCBooth]

I loved watching this as a kid can't remember the year too young

[@allan1951]

I agree, I thought I had dreamed it. lol

[@ludogayko2512]

I'm 65 adelaide..I remember

[@zootzyzanta1414]

0:53 Listen to that engine scream! I could listen to it all day

[@barbarafox437]

I lived this show as a kid. Good show. Nice to know that we can still get these show. Good, clean shows.

[@DJK-cq2uy]

Is this Canadian?

[@smooches1368]

Years after the last time I saw it, original broadcasts on network TV, I could still sing the theme song, "Barrelin' down the highway, wheelin' right along, hear the tires hummin', hummin out a song..." You can see trucker Jerry Austin (William Campbell) as a flightcrew member in 1954's "The High and Mighty".

[@derekfreeman9177]

MAN I LOVED THIS PICTURE!!!😮 GOD BLESS U ALL FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO GET TO SEE THIS GREAT PICTURE WHICH CAME OUT IN1958 & NOW IT'S 2023. WHAT A STRETCH IN TIME. ALSO LOVED THE AUTHENTIC SOUND OF THE TRUCK! I WOULD RUN IN THE HOUSE & JUMP IN FRONT OF THE T.V. AFTER SCRAPPING WITH MY BELOVED SISTER R. I. P., BETWEEN MY FATHER DRIVING A TRACTOR TRAILER HIS SELF I TURNED TO LOVE TRUCKS. HAD SO MANY TOY TRUCKS, BUDDY L, TONKA , LYNTLE, ETC.THATS WHAT STARTED ME TRUCKING.😊 OLE. CANNONBALL!!!!! A GREAT PICTURE. EVEN HAD A CANNONBALL TOY TRUCK!!! KEEP ON TRUCKING. ALSO AS I GREW UP I DROVE AN INTERNATIONAL EAGLE & A FRIEGHTLINER BOTH C.O.E.. LIFE IS GOOD GOD BLESS US ALL😂❤😎💯🐕‍🦺

[@morganjatkwicz9171]

My dad used to drive a Jimmie cabover with a v-12 gas. A beast of a truck.

[@nickromanovsky8973]

Thanks for posting this my father used to work for GM in Toronto he was a diesel mechanic one of his jobs was to look after the truck for this series.

[@robpineault5354]

The cannonball truck was sold after the show to Stone cartage toronto. It was used by them to haul steel fo Gardiner expressway construction. It later was left in there yard to rot away in the 60s.

[@MyDen01]

Hi Nick, I used to love Cannonball as a small child and one Christmas Dinky Supertoys in England brought out a model of a GMC truck in Maclean Trucking Company livery. My brother and I had one each and we always called it the Cannonball lorry. I never knew until recently that Maclean was a real company. I don't know if they sold them in Canada as well. However, I have a question to ask you. The Cannonball tv series was shown in England in black and white. Being as your father worked for GM and looked after that truck, do you happen to know what colour the tractor unit cab was. I always wanted to find out. Thanks Denis. ( truck driver )

[@robpineault5354]

@@MyDen01 cannonball truck was dark green. It ran out of toronto canada where it was filmed at Kingsway transport company whose colors were dark green.

[@robpineault5354]

Cannonball truck was green @@MyDen01

[@smooches1368]

definately cool.

[@cdc19845]

Watched this show when I was 7. Trucks are cool.

[@JamesLeaveyConnections]

Loved this series when I was a boy. Also thought Route 66 and Highway Patrol were good too. Thank God these have been saved by fans on KZbin.

[@axiomist1076]

You can get Route 66 from Amazon. I have the first year. It's in wide screen, but the other two are in TV size. I used to watch it as a teen and back then I thought nothing special of the stories, but watching it again a few years ago, I was shocked to find they were written so well, by Stirling Silyphant. Each episode is like watching a good movie. Watching those you realize how bad TV has gotten. We grew up with Twilight Zone, Outer Limits and One Step Beyond , Route 66 and Ozzie and Harriet (with Ricky Nelson singing after each episode). Now it's all garbage. I stopped watching TV many years ago. It's a waste of time.

[@samwst56]

YouTub is the best!

[@marybranicki3354]

Axiomist...........Sooooooo well said.... TV 👎🏻 and God Bless KZbin for these wonderful shows 👍

[@jimst.george669]

Great show! I remember when I was about 7 or 8 years old. My father was a trucker.

[@fbtool]

I loved this show as a kid of 10yrs old. Great to be able to watch it again, Thanks!

[@bobchristopher5842]

I watched this show as a kid. Was fascinated by trucks my whole life The GMC trucks from this time was given the moniker of "cannonball". The General Motors diesels had a sound like no other. General Motors later changed the name to Detroit Diesel. They sounded great to a truck freak like myself. Oil burning pulling. MAMA JAMAS.

[@robpineault5354]

i think it had a 653 dd in it

[@royjenkins9681]

Thank you, it brought back my childhood.

[@lotusgroup123]

Like many of you, I watched it as a three year old boy in the U.K. when it was first broadcast, and remember the theme tune and opening credits vividly. And like one or two others, I now drive my own “rig” for a living.

[@hudentdw2]

My Dad RIP and I used to watch this show in the late 50's when I was only like 6 years old a very fun short-lived show.

[@wessleymcgrath9768]

Watched this as a kid in the 60s in Australia. My dad was an interstate truck driver at the time.

[@johnfry9010]

This show was my inspiration to become a truck driver .

[@stephensmith1034]

Man - am I really that old? I was a little kid but I sure remember this show.

[@rhythmtwo]

It’s very possible we are that old. I also remember Man with a Camera. Starring Charles Bronson.

[@aharonemanuel4010]

@@rhythmtwo 😆😂🤣🤦🏾

[@esthernorville2849]

Yes in feed used yo watch it with my dad. 😭men he would off surely enjoy it. Miss you Dad. R.I.P.

[@colinp2238]

I used to watch Cannonball as a kid, I was 3 in 1958 so it must be some of my earliest memories. I was always interested in trucks and learnt to drive in my first year of army servive at the age of 17. It was in a Bedfor 3 toc cargo truck that was class HGV3 back then. I used to annoy the staff-sergeant instructor by singing the theme music to this when driving.

[@axiomist1076]

Ha, ha, ha ! That's really funny ! I'm laughing, imagining the guy getting all bent out of shape while you sing. =)

[@dalegillett8171]

Just came upon it. Do remember, forgot about this. My dad worked at Gateway Transportation as a truck spotter. Never got to drive semi.

[@brenthill3241]

I remember this series when I was very young. I am constantly amazed at the most obscure things I can locate online. Thank you also to every one who has contributed information.

[@user-mk7qq8rz1m]

I was born And grew up in Portland Oregon in 1952 Till present time. I never ran across this program cannonball. A couple years ago I got a VPN Which set up the location to Canada And I ran across cannonball because of it. I am really enjoying these now at 72 years old Most TV shows Made in the late 50s Or shall we say you chuckle at them because they are so out of date but this one here is the same cops and robbers and adding that screaming Detroit Diesel to it I'm right there So thanks. There was a show that I watched back when I was about 6 years old that was called the Worley birds It was about 2 helicopter Guys in a small Helicopter And their adventures I wish somebody would get a hold of that old TV series and replay it like you are doing with this very much

[@Riogi]

Never heard of this show before. I like it!

[@Desmond4956]

I was two years old when this show was on the air! But who cold ever forget that theme song?? GREAT! Thanks for posting!

[@tyrssen1]

Wow -- a memory from back in the day. TY!

[@windymoore4009]

This show was great. Always watched it when it came on TV. Love the theme. Learned to sing it when I was 10 years old and have never forgotten it. When I'm out driving and see a big rig, I start singing the song. Haha! Thanks so much for bringing back wonderful memories.

[@johnbockelie3899]

" Movin on" 50's Canadian style. Never heard of this show, and I'm 61 now. William Campbell would go on into movies, and play in original Star Trek 2 times, and an episode of Deep Space Nine later on. R.I.P. William Campbell.

[@rafaelramirez1507]

What a treat for a young classic shows newcomer ... thank you so much for posting 😊 ... how I would of loved for my Grandparents and parents to watch this classic together with me 😞 ... but nonetheless I am watching not only for my enjoyment, but in loving memory to them 🌟

[@krank8385]

just as good now as it was in 1958, good memories

[@gernster100]

loved this show as a kid

[@martindavies8326]

I was 7 years old in 1958 when I started watching Cannonball, and at that early age I decided I would be a lorry driver when I grow up, and told my Dad, and sure enough when I was old enough I did pass my class one HGV, my Dad nicknamed me Cannonball and bought me a Yorkie bar, 😂🤣my driving career lasted 40 years, I’ve probably covered 3 million miles in that time, the lorries have gone from crash gear boxes and no power steering to fully automatic and one finger steering it’s so easy to drive trucks now, O boy where’s all those years gone, I’m retired now but still love driving and riding my motorbike, and some times I miss driving the big rigs, but I’m too old now for them long hours in the saddle.😂🇬🇧

[@county23]

Just stumbled into this series and dang! I didnt start trucking until the late 70's but learned on equipment like what in the show

[@bl3313]

I grew up in suburban Detroit in the 1960s. We easily got TV from Windsor. I remember this show. Also Tugboat Annie and Chez Hélène.

[@eagleman8440]

Cannonball was shot in Toronto.The truck was donated by gm.The trailer was donated from fruehauff Canada.There was just a cab donated too for studio inside shots.There home terminal was Kingsway transport co on north queen at Queensway in etobicoke Toronto ont.I worked there. William Campbell had a hard time backing in the docks.Some location shots were pickin chicken restaurant on lakeshore at parklawn and Christi bread company at parklawn blvd. The truck was one of torontos first rentals and was sold at the end of the show to stone cartage marigold ave Toronto.

[@gdmurphey]

+eagle man ---- c1.staticflickr.com/1/402/18190015213_3487c1c5af_b.jpg

[@katehooley9275]

eagle man

[@thomasjordan3449]

eagle man who

[@robertdbakerbaker1832]

Regrettably Cannonball was only a one season wonder. However the concept of two individuals different in nature but basically busy bodies traveling about, trying to make a living, would be the basis for Route 66 and Movin On

[@philp9868]

What was the fleet color for Stone Cartage, and would anyone know what became of the truck ? ..

[@randywiggins1248]

Another great show I never heard of. I love You tube. Thanks for posting.

[@sharonjohnson1702]

I love utube too

[@andyharman3022]

Wow, I never even heard of the Cannonball TV series, but I'm liking the vintage GMC truck with the unmistakable Detroit Diesel 6-71 sound.

[@stevechapman3992]

Omg just see this remember watching it when I was a boy loved it brought back memories of when I was a child I drive a truck and have been for 43years... 😂

[@MSASteelerPSG]

Kind of a forerunner to the 1970's show, "Movin' On."

[@janehill9764]

used to watch this show in 1959 when i was six. loved it. i still remember the theme song...

[@poitrenaud]

Thanks! I loved this show! It was filmed on both sides of the border. Some in Buffalo; but mostly in and around Toronto. The two Actors, Paul Birch and William Campbell are Americans. The show was great. They often filmed in actual houses, and warehouses and rea diners. Not too many sets. Real authentic Canadian character actors and actresses-Love this show

[@edwardmartinez199]

Paul Anthony I was born in 58 never seen this show but I like it now that I see it.

[@glynnevans1851]

@@edwardmartinez199 Hi Edward, I first saw this in the mid 60 s and thought it was fabulous then and even more now ' luvly memories of my parents and a Fab time to grow up then too.Also liked Bat man n Robin n Tarzan with Ron Ely. My kind regards sir ' Glynn n Greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 👍🤝

[@robpineault5354]

The actors lived in a house at 40 Stanley ave off royal york rd. They used Christies bread factory at parklawn and lakeshore too

[@chichi0669]

I watched this show in Spanish in Venezuela in the early 60s as a kid. Nice to have some episodes available online.

[@edwardmartinez199]

Vance Perry yes that's how I came to find it.

[@LuisHGomez]

I remember this show in spanish “ Le dicen Dinamita se llama Mike Malone “ 😁

[@robertmutis4410]

This show was considered high drama when we got our first tv set - black & white of course - in the mid-fifties.

[@jhserres]

Gr8! thanks much 4 posting these episodes...was just about 4 or 5 when I watched them for the 1st time....brought so many memories....The entire family would sit and watch this series back in late 50's early sixties..Outstanding

[@michaeltownshend4503]

I used to watch this when I was a kid. What surprised me most is the date. I was 5

[@Bigmay1000]

That's a real truck....beautiful...I love it....and it's sounds the same today

[@martinhowe3679]

cannot beat a screaming jimmy great memories

[@DavetheMechanic90210]

Thanks for posting this. I had been looking off and on for this series for awhile. I watched it as a kid and spent most of my working career as a truck driver. Never forgot this series. It was my favorite. Thanks so much again.

[@timedog5418]

I remember watching this with my dad, I was ten years old.

[@edilmanorville3028]

I was born in the Rep of Panama and we used to watch this movies @ Sunday nights . Channel 8 in the Pacific (Army Base) And channel 10 Atlantic side . ( Cocosolo, Margarita,Colon city, forth Gulik ,Forth Davis )etc . I'm sooo glad I found it. In the the early 66. Also others like 77 sunset strip, Twilight zone. Ironside (Raymond Burr).one step beyond to know the end

[@bboomer1948]

@ 13:00, a Zippo comes in very handy. Watched this show, back in '58, or so, as a youngster, when it was shown on LA television. The show always interested me. Very good entertainment , at that time.

[@richardmcleod5967]

This show was also popular in the States. I saw it in Alabama in the late 1950's.

[@williamkennedy5492]

I use to watch this as a 7 year old now at 70 i wonder what has happened to America ?

[@Richard_K1630]

Donald Trump and the Q-kooks.

[@booklover6753]

@@Richard_K1630 You got that right.

[@jesseburns6191]

Man oh man! I remember this series from way back when. When I was a kid back in 1958. Just an 8 year old! I went to this sight just in search of the theme song. How surprised and pleased I was to see that the episode was uploaded. Thank You!

[@beatlejim64]

Watched this as a kid!

[@BCRification]

Thanks for posting this.I had only heard about this show,thanks to you I can actually watch it!

[@kippymcintosh]

I watched this when it was first on in the late 50s. Loved it!

[@ricklangley3438]

I can still remember the opening titles from when I was about five years old when it was shown on tv in the UK.

[@user-cp4bz5we3b]

I was about 10 when I first watched this I'm 72 now.memories memories

[@detroitjack0325]

I remember watching Cannonball on CKLW-TV Channel 9 in Windsor, Ontario. At that time we lived outside Detroit in suburban Royal Oak. Windsor is on the opposite side of the Detroit River, Detroit on the other opposite.

[@byronthornhill1689]

Good episode

[@fossie32]

Used to love this, thank you!

[@albertmusco]

What memories !!! Toronto all those years ago .

[@MrRobster1234]

"Cannonball" was a generic nickname for the series of GMC and Chevrolet "Cab Over Engine" trucks which had round hoods.

[@wooderdsaunders6801]

Never knew it. Thanks

[@welshlad2]

lol theres a blast from the past used to watch this as a kid great memories

[@markmhi]

Loved this when i was maybe 8 years old, never realised it was Canadian, seem'd so cool and American, in grey old England

[@rickyarger1169]

I kinda remember the show as a kid when I was growing up in Michigan...got my truck driving blood started...now I is a truck driver

[@danielkennedy1524]

Great memories! Supercool. Good wholesome adventure!

[@freightdawg6762]

Fantastic thx

[@eagleman8440]

I worked at the kinsway transport terminal in toronto canada where this show was shot. The old tiimers told me william campbell had a hard time backing the truck up into the docks.

[@ericpleasant7225]

Shows have been filmed in Canada for more years than people think.

[@jeffking4176]

Never seen this show before. Very cool.

[@hj179]

I see many comments referring to watching this series as a child. Keep remembering. All the best to you all! 👍👍👍

[@MikeMuk1]

I'm a Brit and I remember watching this series on ITV many moons ago. The truck that the guys drive is a GMC 800J [I think] and it's beautiful. Bedford Trucks, GMC's UK subsidiary manufactured a similar looking vehicle which was used by the armed forces for years. Nowadays it seems vehicles have lost their individuality... ...all trucks are cubic and all cars are wedge shaped!

[@robpineault5354]

gmc 960 truck

[@bulldogbarks55]

They showed "Cannonball" on Rochester, NY TV. I loved the show. I can never see Paul Birch or William Campbell in any other role they did (and there were many) without thinking of "Cannonball." Who'd think that a low-budget made-for-syndication Canadian TV show would have that much influence on a then-12-year-old American boy?

[@stonemaze9925]

Great stuff....The good guys win!

[@MrLuckytrucker21]

the ford c series tilt cab, hard to imagine back then that it would be built until the early 90s.

[@CEOkiller]

+don edward Brand new back then...

[@williamg2552]

The truck used in this series is a GMC.

[@MrLuckytrucker21]

wasn't talking about the jimmy, but the ford tilt that was in this episode!

[@johnfellows2867]

Ford UK had the D Series in the 60's - 70's which looked very much like these.

[@jimdandy9671]

As a kid in Michigan just across the border from Canada, we watched this show on the CBC, Cannonball was a favorite of me & my crew. We changed the theme song a bit... "Rolling down the Highway, doing 44, someone let a big one so I headed for the door Cannonball" As I recall we all thought that was really funny stuff.

[@robpineault5354]

cannonball was filmed in toronto canada

[@klumog1]

I used to watch this when I was stationed in Japan. I didn't care too much for it at he time. I guess because it was in Japanese and I couldn't tell what it was about, but now I like it!

[@axiomist1076]

Used to watch these in Spanish in Cuba as a kid, about 11 years old. The young guy who rides with Mike had an MGA, which he uses in one of the episodes. I loved it. William Campbell played Caryl Chessman later in a TV movie. He was the guy who died in the gas chamber in San Quentin, after spending 11 years in death row while he appealed.

[@2wagondragon]

Thanks for uploading this. I've seen this episode elsewhere on the web, but this is much better quality. I have an episode on my channel as well. It's titled Small Cargo.

[@taroman7100]

I could win a million cause I knew every word of the theme. William Campbell played Tralane in Star Trek's Squire of Gothos.

[@fekinel]

and he was a klingon commander in 'the trouble with tribbles'..

[@deniswilson8152]

@@fekinel he reprised his Klingon role on deep space 9 also

[@taroman7100]

That’s right. I knew the theme too.

[@poitrenaud]

Truck was built at the Cleveland Truck Plant, GMC, 1958

[@jerseyoldschool]

Thank goodness for KZbin. Probably the best show I never heard of before now. Wish more episodes were uploaded. Thanks for posting. Was curious if the show ever aired in New York City. It premiered on Thurdsay, October 16, 1959 at 7:30pm WNEW Channel 5 and it was the "Runaway Truck" episode.

[@jerseyoldschool]

jerseyoldschool Slight correction: the premiere was on Friday, 10/16/59.

[@robpineault5354]

Cannonball was filmed in Toronto Canada . The gm truck was donated to the show by GM Canada. The truck was sold after the show to Stone cartage Toronto.

[@kelvintorrence5994]

that old cannonball s dirty detroit is a sceaming,good olod show

[@kevinmayle4870]

Was that the sound of a 2 stroke in the opening shot after the theme song was done? Sure sounded like one of the high reviving 2 strokes they had back then!

[@fanghicheck]

kind of like THE HIGHWAY PATROL ?

[@billgueltig6136]

This series was still being rerun from syndication as recently as 1963-64 TV season

[@timpriddy349]

Screamin' jimmy......

[@wallochdm1]

Have not seen this show since I was a little kid. Pretty hokey, but also retro cool. I agree it sounds like a 6 cylinder Detroit. I currently drive for a company that still uses 4 cylinder Detroits for local work.

[@DavidB45Mustard]

Yes he was Trelane & later Klingon Captain Koloth on the Trouble with Tribbles episode. Good actor, I have seen him pop up in several television episodes while watching various vintage shows.

[@BBINGHAM032352]

I was about 8 or 9 years old when I used to watch this TV show. Other TV shows that I recall from the time were Jungle Jim , Jet Jackson and 77 Bengal Lancers. There was only one TV station in Edmonton,Alberta,Canada at that time.

[@mikedrown2721]

I remember this show I was born in 1946🇨🇦

[@markdraper3469]

I remember seeing this show on my grandparents Hoffman TV...Not back & white...black & green..

[@ronaldpokatiloff5704]

There are two good truck computer sims. UK, USA. looks like real scenery.

[@raven4592]

I was born in 1954 and I remember loving this program and especially the great title song,does anyone know if this was repeated because I find it hard to believe I remember it when I was only 4/5 years of age possible I suppose,thanks

[@michaeljack6277]

Watched this on CKLW Windsor in the early 60s.

[@samwst56]

"Hamburger and 2 coffees--make it 50 cents." hahah

[@cvcoco]

Never heard of this series before. Its a Canadian show? I like it and love COEs! Im looking for one.

[@nickmad887]

love it

[@michaelkeane1644]

As a young bloke it was the first time i had seen an MGA sports coupe at the time my Father drove a 1953 Chev .The MGA was doing a 100 mph or close to it they showed the speedo on the screen .A lady was driving it I would love to see that show again

[@eagleman8440]

this diner is still in use on hwy 9 in Ontario Canada.

[@suzannetessier5666]

+eagle man Where on hwy 69?

[@eagleman8440]

hwy 9 between hwy 50 and airport rd

[@williamtilton1652]

imagine open roads with no traffic,only on tv

[@hobbeekid]

Jeez, the trucks people had to drive back then were truly archaic....