# The Old "Zorro" Disney Series Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 7, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073 "2011-05-07T16:34:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/1 "2011-05-07T16:34:21Z")
Haven’t seen it in a long time, but I always wondered why: -Zorro was always after the town judge (magistrado)-was the guy totally corrupt? -Zorro was also after the local army company-in particular, Sergeant Garcia-why? Anybody know if “Zorro” will be coming out of the “Disney Vault” anytime soon? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/2 "2011-05-07T16:54:43Z")
IIRC, the magistrado was plotting to take over California and make himself king (Think Prince John in Robin Hood) . Zorro had it out for the cruel and corrupt commandante (the Sheriff of Notingham’s counterpart) but wasn’t all that ill-disposed toward the rather benign Sergeant Garcia (think Sgt. Shultz). ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/3 "2011-05-07T17:05:58Z")
Hey, I was looking for a present for my little nieces, thanks for the tip **ralph124c**. Is it available in DVD? Blue Ray? (as a boxed set I mean) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/4 "2011-05-07T17:09:28Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Anybody know if “Zorro” will be coming out of the “Disney Vault” anytime soon? > **[Amazon.com: Walt Disney Treasures: Zorro: Season 1 : Guy Williams, Henry Calvin,...](https://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Treasures-Zorro-Season/dp/B0029R81BC)** > > Product Description Out of the night, when the full moon is bright, comes the horseman known as Zorro. Debuting October 10, 1957, Walt Disney's thrilling series about the masked avenger was so successful, it made Zorro a household name... The link properties got edited. Anyway- Amazon has it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/5 "2011-05-07T17:29:47Z")
Sgt. Garcia was comic relief. He was not intended to be a real villain. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/6 "2011-05-07T18:04:10Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > -Zorro was also after the local army company-in particular, Sergeant Garcia-why ? The local army company had a series of corrupt leaders. Sgt Garcia was a good and honourable man, who often was upset at the things he was ordered to do. He liked and respected Zorro, and was glad whenever Zorro evaded capture. Don Diego and Garcia were friends. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/7 "2011-05-08T02:12:47Z")
We have a low-budget independent TV station here. The listings keep saying it shows Zorro at 6:00, but every time I check, it’s showing Little House on the Prairie. Not quite the same nostalgia factor. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/8 "2011-05-08T03:16:12Z")
I feel sad when I think about how Guy Williams died. He’d been living alone in Buenos Aires for some time, and apparently was dead for at least a week before his body was found. I knew him better as John Robinson of _Lost in Space_. I was eleven when it was on and at the time thought it was the best show in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Tess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@Tess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/9 "2011-05-10T02:53:27Z")
Does anyone remember the episodes that explained the secret passage in the family home? Diego’s grandfather built it to escape possible Indian attacks. Diego says, “Even my father doesn’t know about it!” What a sucky way to find out you’re not the favorite kid. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/10 "2011-05-10T03:42:48Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Haven’t seen it in a long time, but I always wondered why: > -Zorro was always after the town judge (magistrado)-was the guy totally corrupt? > -Zorro was also after the local army company-in particular, Sergeant Garcia-why? > Anybody know if “Zorro” will be coming out of the “Disney Vault” anytime soon? The magistrate in question was referred to as an alcalde from what I can remember. An alcalde is kind of like a mayor with both judicial and administrative powers. Of course an alcalde is an elected official so I don’t know why the town put up with him. As for why Zorro was always after the army. Well, they were acting as agents of the evil alcalde who was always up to no good and picking on the peasants. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-old-zorro-disney-series-questions/581073/11 "2011-05-12T12:35:30Z")
The first season(s) were devoted to Zorro trying to thwart the plans of the evil guy, but I thought he was the captain (head of the local army) rather than a mayor or magistrate? Los Angeles seemed to be simply a military post, and he had control of the army and thus the town. Occasional other figures appeared in one or more episodes, who were under the captain’s control. In the Disney version, Sgt Garcia was played for comedy. Zorro might cut his belt so his pants fell down, but didn’t hurt him. In some of the other Zorro versions, the character is more evil, so I assume he’s a character in the original book. See: [Is there a historical basis for Zorro? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1814/is-there-a-historical-basis-for-zorro)