The star of Call of the Forest, Ken Curtis, began his career as a singer, performing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (as Frank Sinatra's replacement!) and later as one of the Sons of the Pioneers. He took up acting in the mid-1940s as a singing cowboy and even produced two sci-fi hits in 1959 (The Killer Shrews and The Giant Gila Monster). He is best remembered today for his 250-episode tenure as Festus in the popular "Gunsmoke" TV series (1955-1975). Co-star Robert Lowery portrayed the Caped Crusader in the 1949 Batman and Robin serial, and later starred as Big Tim Champion on the TV series, "Circus Boy" (1956-1957). Chief Thundercloud was also a revered screen hero, having starred as Tonto in the 1938 Lone Ranger serial.