EVERGLADES (1961-1962) FORGOTTEN TELEVISION

EVERGLADES aka Lincoln Vail of the Everglades (1961-1962) – This short-lived syndicated series stood out from other law-enforcement programs of its era by not being set in either a big city or the American West. Constable Lincoln Vail of the Everglades County Patrol policed the Florida Everglades in his airboat, giving this series its signature visual appeal.   

Even here in 2025 the shots of the airboat speeding along through Vail’s turf really catch the eye. In the starring role was Ron Hayes, stuntman and devoted conservationist in real life. The unique situations and challenges of law enforcement in an area like the Everglades have ensured this program’s lasting cult legacy, but sadly the expensive series lasted just 39 half-hour episodes.

Lincoln Vail was part wildlife ranger, part liaison with the Seminole Tribe and part traditional cop. The up-and-coming Burt Reynolds, former Florida State Seminoles football star, appeared in 3 episodes of Everglades.   

STANDOUT EPISODES:

THE ESCAPE – This first episode nicely establishes Lincoln Vail’s wilderness skills, toughness, police savvy and compassion. Reuben Sales (John Doucette) escapes prison and Vail is convinced he is headed for his remote home in the swamps because his father has just died, leaving no adult supervision for Reuben’s daughter. 

GREED OF THE GLADES – A fugitive armed robber flees into the Everglades where the wounded felon holds a married couple hostage in their isolated home. When the criminal dies of his wounds, the married couple (Burt Reynolds and Jan Shepard) ponder keeping his stolen loot by hiding it from Constable Vail.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER – Lincoln Vail begins to suspect photographer Fred Reynolds (Douglas Dick) of involvement with drug smuggling when his expeditions to photograph the Everglades coincide with activity by unidentified helicopters and unauthorized seaplanes.

CLAY ISLAND MURDER – Vail’s official visit to the mansion of a large landowner to make him pay back taxes or forfeit his property turns into a murder investigation when he finds the landowner has been killed. Lynn Bari, Johnny Seven and Steve Brodie guest star.

THE RUNNING TARGET – Constable Vail and a few colleagues get involved in shootouts and more while trying to intercept and arrest a deported mob boss who is trying to slip back into the U.S. by way of the Everglades, accompanied by several of his thugs. Douglas Kennedy guest stars.

FIGHT AT BOCA CHICO – Dawn Wells, future star of Gilligan’s Island, plays a young lady who courageously guides Lincoln Vail to the remote home of her neighbor who has been seriously injured. Her story turns out to be a lie and Vail is caught between two feuding Everglades families who are used to acting as a law unto themselves. 

THE EXPERTS – A series of Everglades County businesses are robbed by professional safecrackers and Vail’s superiors are under pressure. The constable winds up outdoing a pair of insurance investigators at detective work when they show up to horn in on the criminal investigation. Norman Alden and Warren J. Kemmerling guest star.

THE BRAND – Lincoln Vail’s pursuit of a burglar deep into the Everglades leads to him uncovering an illegal gambling operation which has been impoverishing the locals and forcing them to commit robberies to pay their gambling debts to the gangsters. Tomi Thurston and Hugh Sanders guest star.

FORCE TEN – A hurricane strands our hero and several other figures at an Everglades hotel. Tensions rise among the characters, one of whom is a murderer who escaped from a mental institution. Jody Fair and Paul Lambert are among the guest cast.

YOUNG OSCEOLA – A Seminole boxer nicknamed Young Osceola (Chris Robinson) is on the rise and is under pressure from organized crime to throw a fight. Vail tries to get the boxer to testify against the gangsters and protect the young man’s loved ones. Lili Kardell also appears.

FRIDAY’S CHILDREN – A unique “floating school” which a clever young woman uses to teach the Everglades children who would normally get no education falls victim to a pair of escaped convicts, one of whom is played by Burt Reynolds. Lincoln Vail must save the children and recapture the criminals.

FINAL HOURS – A man deemed unfit to raise his daughter absconds into the Everglades with the child. Lincoln Vail must find the pair very soon because it turns out a dog that bit the girl before she was abducted has rabies. Marcy Lazar guest stars.

RIVER OF NO RETURN – Vail arrests a male and female pair of criminal partners for beating and robbing a Seminole girl. He must help the victim stay strong about identifying the perpetrators when the man tries witness intimidation. Elisa Loti and Michael Ebert guest star.

PRICE OF EVIL – Lincoln Vail and his immediate superiors are trying to shut down a drug smuggling operation in the Everglades but are hampered by a high-placed law enforcement figure being bribed by the criminals. Roger Carmel and Ray Teal appear.

THE FOUR DAY WEEKEND – A quality whodunit story. Vail must postpone a planned 4-day trip to the Bahamas when a shady but non-violent local is accused of murder. He investigates to find the real killer and deal with the additional dead body that turns up. Carol Ohmart guest stars.

THE LONG WALK – When Vail’s airboat breaks down shortly after he corrals a fugitive that he pursued into the Everglades he must get the dangerous man back to civilization the hard way. Meanwhile, the fugitive’s brother is searching the Everglades for Lincoln and the fugitive. 

HAVOC AT HARMONY HOUSE – An investigation into a shady man at an Everglades fishing lodge leads Lincoln Vail to the haul of his career. It turns out there is a nearby establishment specializing in harboring high-priced fugitives for pay. Dan White and Regina Gleason guest star. 

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