I REMEMBER FURY!

 

From 1955 to 1960, NBC televised a western titled: "Fury." My parents didn't get a T.V. until 1956, but once they did, I HAD to watch every episode of the story about the wild stallion that only one boy could tame and ride. I dreamt of being that boy. 

Fury was an equine actor. He was thought to be the most popular horse in the country during the 1950s. He held the title role on the popular Saturday morning television series which was also broadcast around the world. Additionally, he starred in several movies: "Black Beauty," "Brave Stallion," "Gyspy Colt," "Wild is the Wind," "The Return of Wildfire," and "Giant" with Elizabeth Taylor.

He won several Patsy Awards. The Patsy Award was created in 1939 by the Hollywood office of the American Human Society. It was created to honor a horse that was killed on set while filming a movie. It stands for "Picture Animal Top Star of the Year." 

Fury was born in 1943 in Missouri. The Saddlebred Stallion was named Highland Dale. He died in 1972, at the age of 29 in California and is buried there. He worked only four months of the year. He earned his owner/trainer Ralph McCutcheon $500,000 in the eight years he performed. He was paid $1,500 for each Fury episode. By the time Highland Dale retired, he ranked second only to Lassie in net earnings by an animal actor.