Following the end of the Red Ryder series, Bannon appeared in films of varying genres before transitioning to Western roles on television. He had a starring role in Flying A Productions' 1955 series The Adventures of Champion, which lasted for one season and 26 episodes, and he then filmed two guest appearances on another Flying A show, Annie Oakley, the next year. Meanwhile, he and fellow Red Ryder actor Allan "Rocky" Lane shot separate pilots for a proposed television series in 1951 and 1955, respectively, but both failed to sell. Bannon relocated to Chicago in 1955 to film one season of soap opera Hawkins Falls, Population 6200.