THE SONS OF HERCULES

"The Sons Of Hercules" was a non-hosted fantasy sword-and-sandal movie series that aired in the USA originally from 1964. From Wkipedia: "The Sons of Hercules" was a syndicated Embassy Pictures television show that aired in the United States in the 1960s. The series repackaged 13 Italian sword-and-sandal films by giving them a standardized theme song for the opening and closing titles, as well as a standard introductory narration attempting to relate the lead character in each film to the Greek demigod Hercules. These films however were not all originally made as "Hercules" films in Italy. Although two of them did originally feature Hercules (and not his sons), four of the films were originally Maciste movies in Italy, and the others were just isolated gladiator or mythological hero movies not released theatrically in the US. The films were also offered in a package of 26 one-hour episodes, breaking each film into two parts, which allowed them to be shown in a weekly one-hour time slot. The series was first screened in Los Angeles' KHJ-TV Channel 9 on 28 June 1964, screening "Mole Men vs the Son of Hercules". Other stations followed in January 1965: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's WRCV-TV, Channel 3 Jackson, Tennessee's WSM-TV, Channel 4 Fresno, California's KMJ-TV, Channel 24 Fort Worth, Texas' KTVT, Channel 11 and in January 1966: Cincinnati Ohio's WKRC-TV Channel 12 The 13 movies were: Devil of the Desert Against the Son of Hercules Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules Medusa Against the Son of Hercules Messalina Against the Son of Hercules Mole Men vs the Son of Hercules Son of Hercules in the Land of Darkness Son of Hercules in the Land of Fire Terror of Rome Against the Son of Hercules The Beast of Babylon Against the Son of Hercules Triumph of the Son of Hercules Tyrant of Lydia Against the Son of Hercules Ulysses Against the Son of Hercules Venus Against the Son of Hercules "The Mighty Sons of Hercules" was released on record as a promo 45rpm EP. It was performed by The Herculons on the Hercules Records label, "A Division of Embassy Pictures Corp". Side A included "The Mighty Sons of Hercules" (2:00) and "Sons of Hercules" (the show's closing theme, 1:45), while Side B featured an instrumental version of "The Mighty Sons of Hercules" credited to Vinnie Rogers (1:45), as well as an untimed "Instrumental & Vocal" version of the same. The Might Sons of Hercules Theme Song: The mighty Sons of Hercules Once thundered through the years These men of steel could never feel The curse of a coward's fears The Mighty Sons of Hercules Were men as men should be They burned with dreams And turned their dreams Into history! A hundred giants, brave and bold They ruled the world in days of old! The Mighty Sons of Hercules Were men as men should be They took the world And shook the world - The Sons of Hercules! In 1965, Milton Bradley released "The Sons of Hercules" board game. Based on a syndicated television show from the 1960s. The show itself was a repacking of a number of Italian sword-and-sandal epics, most of which had nothing to do with Hercules. There are six events shown on the game board, but they have noting to do with the mechanics. Players roll two dice and by using the number on each die, or the sum, try to cover one of the six spaces on the board. The player that covers the last spot receives an award ring. Players can also challenge an opponent for their rings. First player with four award rings wins. Below is the opening for the series:

LINKS