TV Westerns

[Jilly_in_VA]

Most nights at 7 pm we watch an episode or two of "Gunsmoke" which always was, and remains to this day, my favorite western, radio or TV. I wasn't allowed to listen to it on the radio ('too violent'), but my brothers and I would sneak when our parents were out and we had a babysitter. I never knew William Conrad was a short fat dude until he got his own show, but whatever. Anyway, in recent years it's been interesting to me to note that the show tackled a number of social issues including domestic abuse (both spousal and child), racial prejudice--Matt Dillon almost always took the side of the Native Americans--and an occasional dip into addiction, both alcohol and gambling. And while I like Matt, my favorite character on the show always was, and remains to this day, Doc Adams. I was always curious about him, his background, and how he ended up in Dodge. Very few clues, although in one show he encounters a man he treated years ago in Libby Prison during the Civil War. (And for a show that takes place in the 1870s, there are darn few references to the Civil War, which is kind of odd.) I am also fond of Miss Kitty, and there's a lot abut her background. But it was never quite the same after Chester left.

As a young teen, I liked "Cheyenne", but now I can't stand it. Just unreal. I still love "Have Gun, Will Travel", but it's pretty politically incorrect these days ("Hey Girl"? Really? And it was "Hey Boy" on the radio, which is worse.) Richard Boone, however...what can I say?
And in my college days, there were a bunch of us who used to meet every day at 5 pm to watch reruns of "Maverick" because it was funny, but we knew it was anything but real. I don't think it's even funny now. Never liked "Bonanza" or "The Big Valley". "Sugarfoot"? "Petticoat Junction"? Spare me.

Anyone else? (Especially "Gunsmoke" fans)

[Binkie The Clown]

1. Lone Ranger. Cisco Kid. nt

[Beausoleil]

2. We are addicted to Wagon Train

Lots of socially-relevant stories for the time and a lot of guest stars. It's really two series: four seasons with Ward Bond as wagonmaster and four with John McIntire.

We are also fond of Laramie and lately we've been watching Tales of Wells Fargo. We catch Death Valley Days on Saturday mornings, too.

Bronco (which was a spinoff of Cheyenne) is fun if you can catch it anywhere.

Sometimes Big Valley, but it's pretty boring. The wife doesn't care for Gunsmoke but I used to watch it as a kid. We don't watch Have Gun, Will Travel, but I'll catch Wanted: Dead or Alive or the Rifleman on occasion.

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. Wells Fargo

is pretty good. We might catch it once in awhile. No Rifleman for me because I never liked Chuck Connors, and I refuse to watch Wagon Train because I know way too much about Ward Bond. Which is too bad because it was a fairly decent show. It's him I can't stand.

[Beausoleil]

6. Bond passed away in season 4

John Mcintire was in seasons 5-8. I think Robert Fuller came on for 6-8. We liked him from Laramie.

[Kali]

15. somewhere deep in a box of papers

was a contract or something related to one episode of Wagon Train that was based on a family member. need to find it and watch the show.

[Sneederbunk]

3. The Rifleman, Rawhide.

[in2herbs]

5. I'm hooked on Tales of Wells Fargo. Dale Robertson was good on that show but

not impressive in movies. Also Wanted Dead or Alive with Steve McQueen. High Chaparral, for the time period, seems to have been pretty progressive because the star was married to a Spanish woman who was independent and pretty much ran the politics of the house. The two male stars on Laramie(John Smith and Robert Fuller) were pretty progressive in their treatment of women and others. These shows are all on weekday mornings where I live.

I find it amusing when some of the stars and co-stars of these shows appear in other westerns. For instance, Julie London appeared in a few western episodes with Robert Fuller and in later years they both co-starred on Emergency, also on weekday mornings where I live.

[Jilly_in_VA]

7. Nearly everyone

was in early episodes of Gunsmoke. In fact, playing "spot the actor" is one of our favorite games. Charles Bronson was in several early episodes.

[Beausoleil]

10. Bronson is in several episodes of Laramie

As is James Coburn. Saw Warren Oates in at least one.

Hoagie Carmichael was in the first two seasons of Laramie, so it's always fun to watch when he gets to sing or play piano.

[Jilly_in_VA]

14. Dan Blocker

showed up in a couple of episodes of Gunsmoke. So did Sammy Davis Jr. and (surprising me!) Theodore Bikel.

[Jilly_in_VA]

8. Lawman

It had a really stupid theme, but it's a quite good show.

[Harker]

9. I've been watching "Wanted: Dead or Alive"

on library DVDs over the last week, one every day or so.

They're pretty corny, but it's fun to see so many familiar faces in small roles. Michael Landon as a bad guy before "Bonanza", etc., and the writing isn't way too far behind SF at the time.

Steve McQueen, naturally, showed considerable charisma.

[Beausoleil]

11. Sometimes TV westerns were extremely prophetic

Robert Culp was in a series called Trackdown....

[IcyPeas]

12. I never watched westerns...... except

I did like watching Pete Duel

[elleng]

13. Hopalong Cassidy!!!