The Red Hand Gang

I remember the final episode of the kidnapped boy stories. Lil" Bill and the kidnapped boy are being held hostage on a boat. They're tied up below deck in their underwear. They are subsequently rescued and the kidnapped boy is carried off in a blanket by his parents.

It's truly a pity that the powers that be have not seen fit to put it out on DVD.

The only wee criticism I have is that either Bill or the kidnapped boy weren't gagged. I guess that was not done for the seek of dialog.

I also recall the first episode of that arc. They first spot a picture of the kidnapped boy in the paper. Then they see him in the window. Not terribly professional kidnappers.

This series was what I was brought up on. I watched every episode. It was on in the mornings in the UK. Made me want to have a Chopper bike just like one of the kids in the show. I thought the little kid on his skateboard was ultra-cute. I remember the kidnapping episode, one with baseball cards, one where they were trapped in a basement with one of those dumb-waiter things, lots of chopper biking, that one at a marina, and I think there was one with a horse or stables. All in all, good clean child-friendly fun. Great for a 6 year old like I was. Wouldn't mind seeing it again. Can anyone let me know of any place that I can get hold of a copy to watch?

I loved watching 'The Red Hand Gang'! The three series were shown several times during the late 1970s and early 1980s. One involved a chimpanzee, the second the kidnapping of a rich boy and the third the capture of a famous footballer as part of a plan to steal jewellery. I enjoyed the children's adventures more each time I watched them.

The 'Gang' consisted of four boys - Frankie (the leader), J.R., Little Bill (Frankie's younger brother) and Doc - and one girl, Joanne. All the children were highly observant, imaginative and capable of taking the initiative. These skills were invaluable in their pursuit and outwitting of the crooks - and, usually, very successful. One such comical episode during the third series was when they kept disturbing one of the crooks in his hotel room by sending up services he didn't want, including Doc dressed as a singing telegraph boy!

The series was quite 'Enid Blyton-ish' in its form of a club of children discovering mysteries, outwitting the crooks and everyone receiving his or her just deserves at the end. This was one of the reasons it appealed to me. Also, it was cleverly written in that each episode ended with a cliff-hanger, making young viewers want to watch on. There was also the catchy theme music, with the children jumping in on trampolines (presumably!) and its montage of their adventures.

Simply but effectively made, 'The Red Hand Gang' deserves to be repeated - or, at least, remade and updated - so that it can be enjoyed by today's children.

I remember this series as the best kids adventure series ever. I loved the kidnapping episode and remember the kids rescuing that poor kid from the boat. For all those kids out there who haven't seen this, it's almost a crime, you don't know what you're missing...and maybe it's better that way. Once seen, never forgotten.

God, How I loved this show as a kid! It was so cool but wasn't on very long. James Bond III was the most popular and I have seen him in other 70's shows as well. If you Brits love 70's kid shows may I recommend: "Infinity Factory" with it's disco theme song and titles teaching young people ages 10-14 the wonders of math! "Zoom" was hot too and I have a copy of the Best of Zoom from the 1970's! "High Feather" about some kids at a summer cap right before Reagan was elected president, "Vegatable Soup" with it's "soulful" approach to things in life (Loved the kids on skateboards traveling in time)! Wished children television shows were this fun again (and away with Ipods and cell phones!)