Career
He is best remembered as the fourth cinema Red Ryder from 1949 to 1950. He was cast twice on another Autry series, Annie Oakley, with Gail Davis. Late in 1956, Autry proposed a Flying A Productions television version of Red Ryder with Bannon in the starring role, but the project never materialized.
In 1957, Bannon portrayed Sheriff Tynes on the syndicated Casey Jones, with Alan Hale, Junior.
He was further cast in the episode "Attack" of Richard Carlson"s syndicated Mackenzie"s Raiders, set at Fort Clark, Texas, and in the 1958 segment "A Very Deadly Game" of National Broadcasting Company"s western series, Jefferson Drum, starring Jeff Richards as a western newspaperman. That same year he was cast as Nate in the episode "Mission Pringle" of the National Broadcasting Company children"s western series, Buckskin and as Warden Lane in the episode "A Fish Story" of the National Broadcasting Company children"s western series, Fury.
Bannon appeared in three episodes of American Broadcasting Company"s The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Jim Bannon"s autobiography is entitled The Son That Rose in the West.