My Friend Flicka Title Bar

Bucking Bronco
Contact Us Button
Links
Go to Facebook

Meet the McLaughlin Family

McLaughlin Family autographed
The McLaughlins: Ken with Flicka, mother Nell, and father Rob
(Photo autographed by Gene Evans)

 

Young Ken McLaughlin lives on the Goose Bar Ranch with his parents, Rob and Nell.  Their ranch hand Gus Broeberg lives on the ranch as well.  The Goose Bar Ranch is in the beautiful ranchlands of southern Wyoming, and it is right at the beginning of the Twentieth Century.  Ranch life back in those days was still filled with hard work, strife and danger.  My Friend Flicka is the story of the McLaughlin family’s struggle to make a living on their Goose Bar Ranch.  Father Rob runs the ranch by capturing, breaking and training wild horses.  One roundup, he let his son pick out his very own horse from several wild mustangs.  The boy settled on a beautiful sorrel filly with large white face markings.  Ken patiently worked with the horse and eventually gained her complete confidence, taming her.  After that, she wouldn’t let anyone but Ken ride her.  He named this horse Flicka—Swedish for “little girl.”  The idea for the name came at the suggestion of Gus Broeberg, the family’s Swedish-American ranch hand.
 

McLaughlinFamily


The McLaughlins become intertwined into many interesting situations with their neighbors, with many intriguing strangers, and with the unpredictability of nature.  Then, of course, there are the infernal “bad guys” who seem to have a habit of showing up at the worst times!  It seems like there are always some people who want to get by the easy way—at the expense of others.  In some episodes, the McLaughlins would visit their local town, Coolee Springs, but often trouble would find them right at home on the Goose Bar Ranch.    

Nell and Rob
Anita Louise and Gene Evans

Well, Ken’s wonderful and brave horse Flicka gets him out of a lot of scrapes during the series—and he helps her out of many as well.  Throughout all of the different episodes of My Friend Flicka, Ken, his family, and Flicka get in and out of a lot of exciting adventures together.   Rob McLaughlin is of Scottish ancestry and is a former Army officer.  Perhaps these facets are what make him a pretty authoritative father.  Some think that he’s a little too stern on Ken at times, but back in those days children—especially boys—had to be taught to develop a lot of self-discipline and strength (both physical strength and inner strength) in order to survive the hard life in store for them as an adult.

The McLaughlins
Anita, Gene and Johnny take a break in costume during filming

 

McLaughlin Family Album

The McLaughlin Family
Ken, Nell, Rob and Gus on the front porch of the ranch house

 

Gus and Rob
Gus and Rob in the living room, discussing some ranch issues

 

Ken McLaughlin
Ken having lunch at the kitchen table

 

Rob and Nell
Rob and Nell talk about a situation on the ranch

 

Nell
Nell welcomes Rob and Ken back from a ride

 

Ken with Flicka
Ken smiles after reading his letter from President Teddy Roosevelt to Flicka

 

Nell with Ken
Nell gives some advice to Ken

 

Ken with Flicka
Ken with his best friend in the world

 

Ken with Flicka
Another photograph of Ken with Flicka

 

Ken with Gus
Ken with ranch hand Gus Broeberg

 

 

Gus and Rob
Gus and Rob at the horse corral

 

Ken and Hildy
Ken and Hildy watch Flicka romp

 

Flicka
Flicka wearing her silver saddle at the corral

 


Another photograph of Flicka by the ranch’s corral

 

Ken with Flicka
This photograph doesn’t even need a caption, does it?

 


Ken catches a ride with father Rob

 


Ken, Gus, Nell and Rob at the corral

 


Rob and Gus in the ranch barn

 


Ken talks to his dad and Gus

 


Ken with Flicka

 

The main street in Coulee Springs
The main street in Coulee Springs

 

Gus and Ken
Gus and Ken talk in town as Ken leads Flicka

 

Gus and Ken talk in Coulee Springs
Gus and Ken talk in Coulee Springs

 

Family Album

Double Horsehoes

 

Intro | Home | The McLaughlins | Cast & Crew | Johnny Washbrook | Gene Evans | Anita Louise
Frank Ferguson | Flicka | Flicka's Trainer | Goldie | Stunts | Filming Locations
Johnny's Personal Appearances | Episodes | Tack Room | Site Creator | Contact Us | Links
All Rights Reserved | MyFriendFlicka.com © 2009 | Autumn Web Design