Adapting various American-based folk tales and stories of bravery, the series ran from 1985–1987 on Showtime, as well as the Disney Channel. The series was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. It was succeeded by a four-part anthology series, titled Nightmare Classics.
Young Phoebe Mosey (Jamie Lee Curtis) defies expectations and proves herself to become "Little Miss Sure Shot" Annie Oakley, the legendary sharpshooter and "Wild West" icon.
Raised by coyotes, Pecos Bill (Steve Guttenberg) grows up to be the cowboy who puts the "wild" in the Wild West. His daring adventure to save the state of Texas from drought proves that acts of selflessness and bravery are never forgotten.
Clementine (Shelley Duvall) is the sole woman in her mining camp who cares for everyone around her until her selfish father (Ed Asner) learns a valuable lesson.
Johnny Appleseed (Martin Short) travels across the land with a cooking pot on his head and pockets filled with apple seeds and shows that there’s nothing wrong with being different.
The famed Spanish explorer (Michael York) goes on his famous quest to discover the legendary "Fountain of Youth", which is botched by the actions of Lucy the Pirate (Sally Kellerman). With a little help and guidance from the "Mysterious Stranger" (Dr. Ruth Westheimer; Dr. Ruth), the two learn that eternal youth is not all it's cracked up to be.
Former slave John Henry (Danny Glover) stands up to his boss (Barry Corbin) and his new steam drill. Vowing not to be replaced by a machine, Henry challenges the drill to a one-on-one competition.
Junior high teacher Mr. Wallace (Michael McKean) gives bored delinquent Ben Parker (Adam Carl) a magical book, which takes him back in time to the open 1820s American frontier, where Davy Crockett (Mac Davis) earns a reputation for bravery and courage, proving that anything is possible.
Several episodes were issued on VHS by CBS/Fox Video in the 1980s. Lyrick Studios made it a nine video series on VHS in 1998. Koch Entertainment issued the entire series on DVD in 2005. The episodes were available as separate DVDs or together as a nine-disc box set. The complete series was issued again, this time in a three-DVD set, by E1 Entertainment in 2009.
