CLASSIC WESTERNS GUIDE PART ONE
Here
you will find details of classic western shows
from the Golden Age of TV.
PART ONE - ACTION IN THE AFTERNOON TO THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP.
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ACTION IN THE AFTERNOON
CBS / x30m-e / 1953-54 (First Episode Broadcast: Monday 2 February 1953 / 4.30pm)
Western drama series. This was a daily and live show set in the 1890's in the Montana town of Huberle (pronounced Hubber-Lee), most of the Action centred around the do-gooding (and often singing) cowboy Jack Valentine and the sheriff Ace Bancroft, also playing an integral part was newspaper woman Kate. An interesting fact is that the name of the town was coined by joining together the names of two of CBS's key personnel Hubbell Robinson Jr and Harry Ommerle.
With:- BARRY CASSELL as Ace Bancroft / JACK VALENTINE as Jack Valentine / HARRIS FORREST as Ozzie Matthews / JOHN ZACHERLEY as The Coroner / MARY ELAINE WATTS as Kate / BLAKE RITTER as The Narrator / CHRIS KEEGAN / THE TOMMY FERGUSON TRIO / SAM KRESSEN / CREIGHTON STEWART
THE ADVENTURES OF CHAMPION
Syndicated-Flying A. / 29x25m-e / 1955-56 30 Septmeber 55 - 3 February 56
Creator: Gene Autry / Producers: Gene Autry, Eric Jenson, Louis Gray / Theme sung by Frankie Laine
Western adventure series. In the 1880's Wild West twelve year old Ricky North adopts Champion, a wild stallion. Ricky lived on a ranch with his Uncle Sandy and also had a German Shepherd dog called Rebel. Champion was Gene Autry's own horse.
With:- BARRY CURTIS as Ricky North
JIM BANNON as Sandy North / FRANCIS McDONALD as Will Calhoun / EWING MITCHELL as Sheriff Powers
THE ADVENTURES OF JIM BOWIE
ABC/Louis Edelman / 78x30m-e / 1956-58 7 September 56 - 29 August 58 Fridays 8.00pm black and white
Book: Tempered Blade by Monte Barrett
Western drama series. Stories of famed frontiersman, especially after the time of the Louisiana Purchase.
With:- SCOTT FORBES as Jim Bowie / ROBERT CORNTHWAITE as John James Audubon / PETER HANSON as Rezin Bowie
THE ADVENTURES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN
Barrett/Quintet / 39x30m-e / 1955
Western drama series. Elderly Judge Roy Bean plies his trade in the days of the old west. Made in color.
With:- EDGAR BUCHANAN as Judge Roy Bean / JACK BEAUTEL
THE ADVENTURES OF KIT CARSON
Universal / 104x30m-e / 1952-54 black and white
Western drama series. In the days of the old west Kit Carson plies his trade as a scout.
With:- BILL WILLIAMS as Kit Carson / DON DIAMOND as El Toro / HANK PETERSON as Sierra Jack
THE ADVENTURES OF RIN TIN TIN
ABC/Screen Gems/ Herbert B. Leonard Prod. / 165x25m-e / 1954-59
Producer: Herbert Leonard, Fred Briskin
Western adventure series. Stories of German Shepherd dog Rin Tin Tin and his orphan master Rusty, the pair were taken under the wing of the Fighting Blue Devils of the 101st Cavalry during the days of the old west. Rin Tin Tin had previously featured in a long running series of films.
With:- LEE AAKER as Rusty / JAMES L. BROWN as Lt Rip Masters / JOE SAWYER as Sgt Aloysius 'Biff' O'Hara / JOHN HOYT as Col Barker / RAND BROOKS as Corp Randy Boone
THE ADVENTURES OF WILD BILL HICKOK
Syndicated / 113x30m-e / 1951-58
Western drama series. The adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, a marshal in the days of the Old West. Bill had a fat partner called Jingles and a horse called Buckshot. Only very loosely based on the real Wild Bill. The duo also starred in a radio version throughout most of the 1950's.
With:- GUY MADISON as Marshal James Butler Hickok / ANDY DEVINE as Jingles
ANNIE OAKLEY
Syndicated/Flying A. Prod. / 81x30m-e / 1953-57 black and white
Western drama series. Expoits of deadshot Annie Oakley in the town of Diablo during the days of the old west. There was a real life Annie Oakley (she died in 1926 after spending years working with Buffalo Bill and the like).
With:- GAIL DAVIS as Annie Oakley / BRAD JOHNSON as Deputy Sheriff Lofty Craig / JIMMY HAWKINS as Tagg Oakley
NBC-Ziv-United Artists / 108x30m-e / 1958-61 (8 September 58 - 21 September 61) black and white
Producers: Andy White, Frank Pitman
Western drama series. Exploits of lawman Bat Masterson in the days of the Old West. Based on a real character (though it's unlikely he was anything like he was portrayed here). In the series Bat wore a Derby hat and carried a gold topped cane as did, apparently the real Bat.
With:- GENE BARRY as Bat Masterson
THE BIG VALLEY
ABC/Four Star / 112x60m-e / 1965-69
Creators: Al Bezzarides, Louis F. Edelman / Theme Music: Lalo Schifrin / Producers: Louis F. Edelman, Arnold Laven, Arthur Gardener, Jules Levy
Western drama series. Stories of the ranch owning Barkley family in the Old West.
With:- BARBARA STANWYCK as Victoria Barkley / RICHARD LONG as Jarrod Barkley / PETER BRECK as Nick Barkley / LEE MAJORS as Heath Barkley / CHARLES BRILES as Eugene Barkley / LINDA EVANS as Audra Barkley / NAPOLEON WHITING as Silas
NBC / 430x60m-e / 1959-73
Creator/Executive Producer: David Dorhort / Theme Music: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Western drama series. Ben Cartwright and his sons Little Joe, 'Hoss' and Adam run their Ponderosa ranch in Virginia City, Nevada during the civil war years.
With:- LORNE GREENE as Ben Cartwright / MICHAEL LANDON as Little Joe Cartwright / DAN BLOCKER as Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright / PERNELL ROBERTS as Adam Cartwright / VICTOR SEN YUNG as Hop Sing / DAVID CANARY as Candy / RAY TEAL as Sheriff Ray Coffee / LOU FRIZZEL as Dusty Rhodes / MITCH VOGEL as Jamie Hunter / BING RUSSELL as Deputy Clem
BOOTS AND SADDLES
Californian National Prod. / 39x30m-e / 1957-59
Producer: George Cahan, Robert Stillman
Western drama series. In the 1870's the Fifth Cavalry come into regular conflict with marauding Indians as well as the odd outlaw.
With:- JACK PICARD as Capt Shank Adams / PATRICK McVEY as Lt Col Hays / DAVID WILLOCK as Lt Bunning / GARDNER McKAY as Lt Kelly / JOHN ALDERSON as Sgt Bullock / MICHAEL HINN as Luke Cummings
NBC/Goodson-Todman / 48x30m-e / 1965-66
Creator: Larry Cohen / Producers: Andrew J. Fenady, Cecil Baker / Theme Music: A. Alch, Dominic Frontiere
Western drama series. In the 1880's, after being wrongly accused of being a coward, Captain Jason McCord determines to clear his name.
With:- CHUCK CONNORS as Jason McCord / JOHN CARRADINE as Joshua McCord
BRAVE EAGLE
CBS / x30m-e / 1955-56 (28 September - 6 June 56)
Western drama series. Stories of an Indian tribe led by the young Brave Eagle, other characters included his 'main squeeze' Morning Star and his foster son Keena.
With:- KEITH LARSEN as Brave Eagle / KEENA NOMKEENA as Keena / KIM WINONA as Morning Star / BERT WHEELER as Smoky Joe
BROKEN ARROW
ABC/TCF / 72x30m-e / 1956-57 black and white
Western drama series. Stories of an Indian agent working with the Apaches in an attempt to bring peace. Based on the film of the same name.
With:- MICHAEL ANSARA as Cochise / JOHN LUPTON
ABC / 68x60m-e / 1958-62 black and white
Executive Producer: William T. Orr
Western drama series. Former Confederate Army Captain Bronco Lane wanders the old west having adventures. The character of Bronco was first seen in the show Cheyenne.
With:- TY HARDIN as Bronco Lane
BUFFALO BILL JR
Flying A / 40x30m-e / 1955 black and white
Producer: Gene Autry
Western adventure series. Stories of a young Buffalo Bill.
With:- DICK JONES as Buffalo Bill Jr / NANCY GILBERT
ABC/Warner / 107x60m-e / 1956-63 black and white
Executive Producer: William T. Orr / Theme Music: William Lara / Producers: Roy Huggins, Arthur Silver
Western drama series. Half breed Cheyenne Bodie wanders the west in the 1870's.
With:- CLINT WALKER as Cheyenne Bodie / TY HARDIN as Bronco Layne / L. Q. JONES as Smitty
THE COWBOYS
ABC/Warner / 13x30m-e / 1974
Western comedy drama series. A septet of young boys team up with a widow to run her farm. Based on the film of the same name.
With:- MOSES GUNN / DIANA DOUGLAS / JIM DAVIS
CUSTER
ABC / 17x60m-e / 1967 6 Sep - 27 Dec
Theme Music: Elmer Bernstein / Producers: Frank Glicksman, Robert Jacks
Western action adventure series. Exploits of young Colonel Custer.
Colonel Custer................................. WAYNE MAUNDER
California Joe................................... SLIM PICKENS
Sgt Bustard..................................... PETER PALMER
General Terry.................................. ROBERT F. SIMON
Miles Keogh................................... GRANT WOODS
THE DAKOTAS
ABC/Warner / 19x60m-e / 1962 black and white
Western drama series. A quartet of do-gooders fight crime after the end of the Civil War.
With:- LARRY WARD / JACK ELAM / CHAD EVERETT / MIKE GREENE
NBC/Arcola/Fesspar/ Fox / 165x60m-e / 1964-70
Executive Producers: Aaron Spelling, Aaron Rosenberg / Theme Music: The Imperials
Western drama series. Exploits of Kentucky frontiersman Daniel Boone.
With:- FESS PARKER as Daniel Boone / ALBERT SALMI as Yodkin / ED AMES as Mingo / PATRICIA BLAIR as Rebeca Boone
DAVY CROCKETT
ABC/Walt Disney / 5x52m-e / 1954-55 black and white
Creator/Executive Producer: Walt Disney / Music: George Bruns / Producer: Bill Walsh
Western drama serial. The life of the King of the Wild Frontier himself who led the famous stand at the Alamo. The episodes were quickly re-edited and given a cinema release.
Davy Crockett................................. FESS PARKER
Georgie Russell.............................. BUDDY EBSEN
DUNDEE AND THE CULHANE
CBS / 13x60m-e / 1967
Producer: Sam Rolfe
Western drama series. Cases of a lawyer in the old west who travelled with a minder.
With:- JOHN MILLS / SEAN GARRISON
EMPIRE
NBC/Columbia / 26x60m-e / 1962
Creator: Frank Nugent / Producer: William Sackheim / Music: Johnny Green
Drama series. Stories of the Garret ranch based in New Mexico, following the demise of the show there was a brief follow up called Redigo(x30m-e).
With:- RICHARD EGAN / ANNE SEYMOUR / TERRY MOORE / RYAN O'NEAL
THE GALLENT MEN
Warner / 26x60m-e / 1962 black and white
Wartime drama series. Exploits of a group of correspondents based in Italy during World War II.
With:- ROBERT McQUEENEY / WILLIAM REYNOLDS
THE GENE AUTRY SHOW
Flying A / 85x30m-e / 1950-53 black and white
Western drama series. Stories of the owner of the Melody Ranch, also known as Gene Autry's Melody Ranch.
With:- GENE AUTRY / PAT BUTTRAM / GAIL DAVIS
THE GRAY GHOST
Syndicated - Lindsay Parsons / 39x30m-e / 1957 black and white
Book: Gray Ghosts and Rebel Raiders by Virgil Carrington Jones
Western drama series. Daring exploits of derring do by Major John Singleton Mosby during the Civil War, Mosby was part of the 43rd battalion of the 1st Virginia Calvalry and specialized in one man raids on the union forces, his nickname gave the show its title.
With:- TOD ANDREWS as Major John Singleton Mosby / PHIL ANDREWS as Lt St Clair
GUNSLINGER
CBS / x60m-e / 1961 (First Episode: Thursday 9 February / 9.00pm)
Theme sung by Frankie Laine
Western drama series. At the end of the Civil War undercover agent Cord tackles various cases for Captain Zachary Wingate who was based at Fort Scott in New Mexico.
With:- TONY YOUNG as Cord / PRESTON FOSTER as Captain Zachary Wingate / CHARLES GRAY as Pico McGuire
CBS/Filmaster Prod/ Arness & Co. / 233x30m-e 402x60m-e / 1955-75
Creator: Charles Marquis Warren / Executive Producers: Robert Stabler, Charles Marquis Warren, John Mantley, Philip Leacock
Western drama series. Cases of frontier lawman Marshall Matt Dillon in Dodge City, Kansas during the 1870's. Started on radio and is also known as Gun Law and Matt Dillon, John Wayne was originally offered the role of Matt Dillon but declined.
With:- JAMES ARNESS as Marshall Matt Dillon / AMANDA BLAKE as Kitty Russell / MILBURN STONE as 'Doc' Galen Adams / DENNIS WEAVER as Deputy Chester Goode / KEN CURTIS as Dep Festus Hagen / BURT REYNOLDS as Quint Asper / GLENN STRANGE as Sam
THE GUNS OF WILL SONNETT
ABC/Spelling-Thomas /
50x30m-e /
1967-68
Western drama series. A young lad and his grandfather travel the west searching for the lads gunslinger father.
With:- WALTER BRENNAN / DACK RAMBO
CBS/Filmaster / 226x30m-e / 1957-63 black and white (First Episode: 14 September 1957)
Creator: Herb Mendow, Sam Rolfe / Theme Music: Johnny Western, Richard Boone, Sam Rolfe / Sung by Johnny Western / Producers: Frank Pierson, Don Ingalls, Robert Sparks, Julian Claman,
Western drama series.Gun For Hire Paladin (a man of refinement who dressed in black and had white chess knights on his gun holsters) plies his trade out of the Hotel Carlton in San Francisco. Paladin's calling card featured the white chess knight known as a Paladin, it also proclaimed 'Have Gun, Will Travel...Wire Paladin, San Francisco'. Hey Boy who brought Paladin the messages detailing his 'clients' wishes was replaced for a season by Hey Girl but only because actor Tam Tong was appearing in The Garlund Touch.
With:- RICHARD BOONE as Paladin / KAM TONG as Hey Boy / LISA LU as Hey Girl
NBC/Universal/ Mark VII Ltd / 10x90/120m-e / 1972-74 (8 October 72 - 25 August 74 / Sundays 8.30pm)
Creator/Executive Producer: Jack Webb / Music: Fred Steiner, Lee Holdridge
Western crime drama series. Deputy Hec Ramsey (a former gunfighter), working in the town of New Prospect, Oklahoma in 1901, tries to use the latest forensic techniques to crack crimes. Hec worked under the very young Sheriff Oliver B. Stamp. Shown as part of the Mystery Movie rotating segment.
Hec Ramsey........................... RICHARD BOONE
Sheriff Oliver B. Stamp............. RICHARD LENZ
Doc Amos B. Coogan.............. HARRY MORGAN
Arne Tornquist ....................... DENNIS RUCKER
HONDO
ABC-Batjac-Fenady-MGM / 17x60m-e / 1967 (8 September - 29 December / Fridays 8.30pm)
Western drama series. Stories of Cavalry scout Hondo Lane who operated during the time of the Indian wars in the Arizona Territory, Hondo had once lived with Apaches and sometime sought advice from Chief Vittorio (Hondo had been married to his daughter but she was killed by the army), Hondo also had a dog called Sam. There was a John Wayne fil featuyring the same character that appeared in 1953 (also called Hondo) and the character was created by Louis L'Amour.
with:- RALPH TAEGER as Hondo Lane / NOAH BEERY JR as Buffalo Baker / KATHIE BROWNE as Angie Downe / MICHAEL PATE as Chief Vittoro / WILLIAM BRYANT as Colonel Crook / BUDDY FOSTER as Johnny Dow
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
NBC/MGM/Mantley / 1x124m-e 2x150m-e 4x50m-e / 1976/79
Producers: John G. Stephens, Jeffrey Hayden Albert S. Ruddy / Executive Producer: John Mantley
Western drama serial. The pioneering Macahan family move out west to Wyoming to start their own ranch. Based on the 1963 film of the same name.
Zeb Macahan........................... JAMES ARNESS
Kate Macahan......................... EVE MARIE SAINT
Luke Macahan......................... BRUCE BOXLEITNER
Laura Macahan........................ KATHRYN HOLCOMB
Molly Culhane.......................... FIONNULA FLANAGAN
IRON HORSE
ABC/Screen Gems / 47x60m-e / 1966-68
Creators: Stephen Kandel, James Goldstone / Executive Producer: Charles Marquis Warren
Western drama series. Ben Calhoun builds the Buffalo Pass, Scalplock and Defiance railroad across the old west during the 1870's. Originated as a TV Movie called Scalplock.
Ben Calhoun........................... DALE ROBERTSON
Dave Tarrant........................... GARY COLLINS
Nils Torvald............................. ROGER TORREY
Barnabus Rogers..................... BOB RANDOM
Julie Parsons........................... ELLEN McRAE
LANCER
Fox / 51x60m-e / 1968-71
Creator: Sam Peeples / Theme Music: Jerome Moross / Producers: Sam Wanamaker, Alan A. Armer
Western drama series. In 1870's California, Murdoch Lancer and his sons Johnny and Scott are determined to keep their ranch out of the hands of land barons.
Old Murdoch Lancer................ ANDREW DUGGAN
Scott Lancer........................... WAYNE MAUNDER
Johnny Madrid Lancer.............. JAMES STACY
Jelly Hoskins.......................... PAUL BRINEGAR
Teresa O'Brien........................ ELIZABETH BAUR
NBC/Revue Prod. / 124x30m-e / 1959-63
Producers: John Champion, Richard Lewis, Robert Pirosh / Theme Music: Cyril Mockridge
Western drama series. In 1880's Wyoming, following the death of their father, two young brothers carry on the running of the family ranch.
Slim Sherman.......................... JOHN SMITH
Jess Harper............................. ROBERT FULLER
Jonesy.................................... HOAGY CARMICHAEL
Andy Sherman......................... BOBBY CRAWFORD JR
Mort Corey.............................. STUART RANDALL
Mike Williams......................... DENNIS HOLMES
Daisy Cooper.......................... SPRING BYINGTON
Gandy..................................... DON DURANT
LAREDO
NBC/Universal / 56x60m-e / 1966-67
Western drama series. Stories of a trio of Texas Rangers.
With:- NEVILLE BRAND / WILLIAM SMITH / PETER BROWN / PHIL CAREY
THE LAW OF THE PLAINSMAN
NBC/Four Star/ Cardiff / 30x30m-e / 1959 black and white
Western drama series. Stories of a Marshall in 1880's New Mexico who just happens to be an apache.
With:- MICHAEL ANSARA
LAWMAN
ABC / x30m-e / 1958-62 First Episode: Sunday 5 October 1958
Western drama series. Stories of Laramie Marshal Dan Troop, specialist in catching bad guys, Troop had a deputy called Johnny McKay. Troop's favored watering hole was the Birdcage Saloon run by Lily Merrill.
With:- JOHN RUSSELL as Marshal Dan Troop / PETER BROWN as Deputy Johnn McKay / BEK NELSON as Dru Lemp (1958-59) / PEGGY CASTLE as Lily Merrill (1959-62) / DAN SHERIDAN as Jake (1961-62)
THE LEGEND OF JESSE JAMES
TCF / 26x30m-e / 1965 black and white
Creator: Samuel A. Peeples / Producer: David Weisbart
Western drama series. Stories from the life and times of outlaw Jesse James.
With:- CHRIS JONES / ALLEN CASE / ANN DORAN
THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP
ABC/Wyatt Earp Ent/ Desilu / 226x30m-e / 1955-61 black and white
Creator: Frederick Hazlitt Brennan / Theme Music: The Ken Darby Singers / Producers: Louis F. Edelman, Robert Sisk, Roy Roland
Western drama series. Stories from the life of the famed Marshall as he sets about cleaning up various towns including Dodge City and Tombstone, Arizona.
With:- HUGH O'BRIEN as Wyatt Earp / DENVER PYLE as Ben Thompson / MASON ALAN DIEHART III as Bat Masterson / GLORIA TALBOT as Abbie Crandall / DON HAGGERTY as Marsh Murdock / LLOYD CORRIGAN as Ned Buntine / DOUGLAS FOWLEY as Doc Fabique / PAUL BRINEGAR as Jim 'Dog' Kelly / RALPH SANDFORD as Jim 'Dog' Kelly (2) / DOUGLAS FOWLEY as Doc Holliday / DIRK LONDON as Morgan Earp / JOHN ANDERSON as Virgil Earp / TREVOR BARDETTE as Old Man Clanton / LASH LARUE as Sheriff Johnny Behan
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