Popular Western Shows from the 1950S and 1960S
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Popular Western Shows From the 1950s and 1960s 1 History of the Western Genre Western themed programs were broadcast on radio and on tv throughout the 30’s, 40’s 50’s and 60’s. As the popularity rose, Westerns taught honesty, focused on values, and inspired integrity. With Westerns present in our households, many of us would tune in to listen to or watch our favorite series to follow what our hero’s had to face next. We developed a relationship with our favorite characters and followed them season after season on our favorite programs. We also looked forward to receiving the anticipated preview for the next episode. When Westerns were at their peak, there were about 30 westerns on tv in 1959. Let's take a look at some of our favorites. 2 Gunsmoke ● Ran from September 10,1955 to March 31, 1975 with 20 seasons. ● James Arness starred as Matt Dillon, Milburn Stone as Doc Galen Adams, and Amanda Blake as Kitty Russel. ● There was a radio series that lasted until 1961. ● Marshal Matt Dillon is in charge of Dodge City, a town in the wild west where people often have no respect for the law. He had to manage the problems of frontier life: cattle rustling, gunfights, brawls, standover tactics, and land fraud. 3 4 Bonanza ● Bonanza ran from September 12, 1959 - January 16, 1973 airing a total of 14 seasons. ● The show takes place in the 1860’s and is centered around the wealthy Cartwright family who lives near Virginia City, Nevada, which borders Lake Tahoe. ● It stars Lomé Greene, Pernell Roberts, Michael Landon, and Dan Blocker. 5 6 The High Chaparral ● This western series aired from September 10,1967- March 12,1971. ● The show is about "Big John" Cannon (Leif Erickson), a rancher living in the Arizona Territory in the 1870s. He manages the ranch, called The High Chaparral, with his brother Buck and son Billy Blue. ● The creator of Bonanza also created this western series. The chaparral landscape seen on the show is not a backdrop, it was actually filmed in Old Tucson near Saguaro National Park. 7 8 Death Valley Days ● This program aired from March 1, 1952 to April 24, 1970 with 18 seasons. ● It starred Stanley Andrew, Robert Taylor, and Ronald Reagan. ● This western was based on the stories about legends of Death Valley, California. ● It was one of the longest running Western series where it originated on the radio in the 1930s. ● It was sponsored by "20 Mule Team" Borax, which was a product mined in Death Valley. 9 10 The Lone Ranger ● This program aired from September 15, 1949- June 6, 1957 for 5 seasons. ● This TV show starred Clayton Moore, and Jay Silverheels. ● The show is about the fictional story of the "lone" survivor of a group of Texas Rangers. ● He disguises himself with a black mask and travels with Tonto throughout Texas and the American West to assist those in need of help. 11 12 The Wild Wild West ● This program aired September 17, 1965 - April 11, 1969. ● It took place during the time period of 1869–1877. ● This series was about the Secret Service agents James West and Artemus Gordon as they solved crimes and protected the President (Ulysses S. Grant). ● People enjoyed this program and it received high ratings but it was cancelled near the end of its fourth season. 13 14 Maverick ● This show aired on TV from September 22, 1957 to April 22, 1962 and starred James Garner, Jack Kelly, Roger Moore, and Robert Colbert. ● The Maverick brothers were poker players from Texas who traveled the American Old West. ● They traveled by horseback and stagecoach, and on Mississippi riverboats. ● The were constantly getting into trouble which usually involved money, and women. 15 16 Cheyenne ● The show aired from September 20, 1955 to December 17, 1962. ● It was the first hour-long Western, and was the first hour-long dramatic series of any kind, with characters who were familiar to the audience from the previous season. ● The show starred Clint Walker, as Cheyenne Bodie, who was focused on maintaining justice across the land after the Civil War. 17 18 Wagon Train ● This western aired September 18, 1957 to May 2, 1965. ● The show starred Ward Bond, and Robert Horton. ● The program was about the adventures of a wagon train as it traveled from St. Joseph Missouri across the plains and Rocky Mountains to California. ● It focused on the trials and tribulations of the characters involved in the travels. ● The film Wagon Master inspired the TV program. 19 20 The Rifleman ● The show was on TV from September 30, 1958 to April 8, 1963. ● It starred Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. ● It took place in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. ● It was one of the first prime time series on US television to show a single parent raising a child. 21 22 Citations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_westerns_on_television https://doyouremember.com/59524/20-best-classic-tv-western-seri es-50s-60s 23.