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

BAT MASTERSON

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

BONANZA

 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

BRANDED

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

 

BRONCO

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

CHEYENNE

 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

DANIEL BOONE

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

GUNSMOKE

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

HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL

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

HEC RAMSEY

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

 

LARAMIE

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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