Everglades!

For most of my life the phrase "Lincoln Vale of the Everglades" would pop in and out anytime I heard of the everglades. I knew it was from a TV show, but nothing else. I couldn't remember the show or anything about it. I was born in 1958 and would have been very young when this aired, but it has always been burned in my memory.

I can only imagine that my dad was a big fan of the show. I do remember "Flipper" and "Sea Hunt" and watching them with my dad. I have visuals in my mind of these shows and can even remember the stars. Not so with "The Everglades", but if I ever get a chance to see it again.....

I'll be singing "Lincoln Vale of The Everglades" for another 50 years!

I too would love to see episodes of this show. I can still hear the lyrics of the theme song (as remembered by someone who was 6 years old when the show originally aired):

In the Everglades there's a way of life,

There's a way of peace without stress or strife,

There's a fellow there to protect the rights,

Lincoln Vail of the Everglades,

The man on patrol in the Everglades.

One wouldn't think there would be very much crime in the everglades but there was. Lincoln Vail was a game warden or a sheriff or police officer (I can't recall which) assigned to Florida's everglades and patrolled the swampy wilderness in his high powered airboat chasing bad guys and rescuing folks. This early 60's show didn't last long but as a kid I thought that airboat of Vails was the greatest thing around. I'd love to be able to see the episodes of this action series again. I still remember the shows theme song that proclaimed "Lincoln Vail of the Everglades, The man on patrol in the Everglades"

"In the Everglades there's a way of life, There's a way of peace without stress or strife, There's a natural danger and a man to face, Lincoln Vail of the Everglades."

This theme song was to the tune of "Everglades," a Kingston Trio song of the period, and totally unrelated in its story:

He was born and raised around Jacksonville. A nice young man, not the kind to kill. But a jealous fight and a flashing blade sent him on the run to the Everglades. Runnin' like a dog through the Everglades.

Now, the posse went in and they came back out. They said he'll die and there ain't no doubt. It's an eye for an eye so the debt is paid. He won't last long in the Everglades. A man can't live in the Everglades.

Chorus: Where a man can hide and never be found and have no fear of the baying hounds. But he better keep moving and don't stand still. If the 'skeeters don't get then the 'gaters will. Running like a dog through the Everglades. (Last time - Skipping like a frog through the slimy bog. Running through the trees from the Everlys.)

Now, the years went by and his girl was wed. His family gave him up for dead. But now and then the natives would say they'd seen him running through the Everglades.

Now, he never heard the news on the radio. He was deep in the 'glades so he'll never know. His running and hiding didn't make much sense for the jury had ruled it was self-defense. Running like a dog through the Everglades.

Chorus

At a time when many of the older television series are returning for a new generation to view, This one should be included. "Everglades" was a straight forward crime drama show, set in the everglades of Florida. Constable Lincoln Vail was the man charged with protecting life in the everglades. Constable Vail patrolled his beat in an airboat, which was often the star of the show. Other television shows (Flipper, Gentle Ben) later came along with similar action themes, but "Everglades" was the original, and in my opinion, the best. It featured the best theme song on television at the time, and to this day, I find myself occasionally humming or singing the song.