Author Topic: Old TV Westerns (Read 1212 times)

Spirithawk · « **on:** July 22, 2011, 02:43:30 PM »

The post Older Than Dirt got me to thinking about the old tv westerns I grew up watching. Thought it might be fun to see how many of them we can list as I'm sure I've forgotten a few. Here's the ones I remember and enjoyed;

Lone Ranger, Daniel Boone, Davey Crocket, Cheyenne, Bat Masterson, Wyat Earp, Rawhide, Wagon Train, The Rebel, Bounty Hunter, Gunsmoke with Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode.... "Comin' Mr Dillon!", Palladin.....Have Gun Will Travel, Gene Autry, Roy Rodgers & Dale Evans, The Cisco Kid, Hopalong Cassidy, The Rifle Man, Branded, F Troop, Rin Tin Tin, Red Rider, Sky King, Wanted Dead or Alive, Annie Oakly, Wild Bill Hickock, The Range Rider, Death Valley Days, Laredo

Lets see if you can think of any I missed.

us920669 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2011, 02:50:16 PM »

Bonanza, but that's a little later. The old Warner Bros lineup had Sugerfoot, Colt 45, Lawman, and I had another one a minute ago but now I forgot. There was also The Wild Wild West, but that's more recent. Does Sky King count?

Sourdough · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2011, 03:17:47 PM »

Sky King was modern day at the time, but that was in the early 50s, that's old. So was Roy Rogers, remember Pat Brady drove a Jeep. Sky King was my favorite TV show, I even named my son Skyler after Sky King. I liked the first Song Bird. Can't remember the model number, but it was built by Cessna for the Army Air Corps to train bomber pilots. Those planes were called the Bamboo Bombers.

us: I sat down and listed a few I knew the Spirithawk missed, then you got most of them. I also remember Yancy Darringer, Fury, The Adventures of Champion, Kit Carson, Buffalo Bill Jr., Brave Eagle, The Deputy, Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicians, Jufge Roy Bean, Shotgun Slade, Night Rider, Rango, Pistols and Petticoats, and The Virginian. Then the Charector Heck Ramsey staring Richard Boone.

Then there was other modern ones for the time out west like Stony Burke, Sheriff of Cochise County,

us920669 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2011, 04:26:23 PM »

There was also Maverick. Wasn't somebody a Canadian Mountie?

MSP Ret · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2011, 05:02:16 PM »

Gunsmoke was and is my favorite, after my childhood favorite of Hopalong Cassidy. How about Have Gun will Travel? (Richard Boone as Paladin)....<><....

tallyho · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2011, 05:40:14 PM »

Sourdough said: Sky King was my favorite TV show, I even named my son Skyler after Sky King. I liked the first Song Bird. Can't remember the model number, but it was built by Cessna for the Army Air Corps to train bomber pilots. Those planes were called the Bamboo Bombers.

"Warm up the Songbird Penny!"

Here's what I found about the Songbird at wikipedia:

At the beginning of the television series, Sky flew a Cessna T-50 twin-engine "Bamboo Bomber." The plane, a World War II surplus UC-78B, was owned by legendary Hollywood pilot Paul Mantz[2] and flown by employees of his Paul Mantz Aerial Services for filming of the flying sequences.[3] At least two other T-50s are known to have been used for on-ground and in-the-cockpit scenes. The best-known Songbird was a twin-engine Cessna 310B. The airplane used was the second production 310B (N5348A), which was provided by Cessna at no cost to the producers and piloted by Cessna's national sales manager for the 310, Bill Fergusson. Fergusson got the job after the motion picture pilot already selected was deemed unqualified to land the airplane at some of the off-airport sites required. Some months after a library of stock footage had been compiled, additional sequences were filmed using a different airplane.^[4] The original 310B was eventually destroyed in a 1962 crash at Delano, California, that killed its owner-pilot.^[5] Cockpit sequences were filmed using the static test fuselage, also provided by Cessna.^[6]

My favorite westerns were, The Rebel, Have Gun will Travel, and Gunsmoke. However, Sky King was also one of my favorites, and I never knew then, I'd grow up and become a pilot!

Cheers
Kerry

powderman · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2011, 06:56:46 PM »

All those were great shows. That was back when hollyweird was still hollywood and they actually had writers that could write. No cursing or sex, and definitely no gays like they are pushing today. POWDERMAN.

sidewinder319 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2011, 07:01:08 PM »

The Monroes, Hondo lane. 26 Men [ Arizona Rangers].

GeneRector · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2011, 09:09:01 PM »

Gosh, it sure brings back a lot of memories! Those were some good shows! For a few years westerns were #1, then they became fewer and far between TV shows. Most portrayed a sense of right vs wrong which was a good thing. The show about a Canadian Mountie may have been Sargent Preston of The Yukon, if memory serves me correctly. Always, Gene

Mikey · « **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2011, 02:19:11 AM »

Gene: you are correct about Sargeant Preston of The Yukon, but who remembers Vint Bonner as The Restless Gun? Yes, I am dirt (no, actually, as old as dirt) but I am surprised that nobody has asked about The Restless Gun - and without checking the internet (which is cheatin', ya'll) who played Vint Bonner?

Shu · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2011, 02:32:13 AM »

The Rifleman starring Chuck Connors.
The Wild Wild West.

Foggy · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2011, 02:34:49 AM »

Ciscio Kid and Tales of the Texas Rangers were my favorites with Lawman a close 2nd. Texas rangers would flash back and forth fron old west to modern times(50's). and Last but not least Wanted Dead or Alive Ole Josh and his Mares Leg

magooch · « **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2011, 04:03:13 AM »

Did anyone mention Lash Larue?

Sourdough · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2011, 04:57:43 AM »

Mikey: Now that you mention it, I vagely remember The restless Gun. I can only remember the title, not the show.

Tallyho: Thanks for refreshing my memory on the T-50 Bobcat. The T-50 was a tail dragger, and I liked it. When they switched to the newer tricycle gear plane I did not like it as much. I did not know anything about planes back then, I just thought the tail dragger was cool. I went to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB a few years back. There they have a T-50 hanging from the ceiling on display.

When I was 11 or 12 I wanted a gun like Josh Randall carried. I got one for Christmas that year. Came with a Holster, that allowed the barrel to swing forward. The action was held in place by a swivel, and it would fire from that position. Or you could lift it and it came loose for drawing to shoot. Fired plastic bullets, and my brothers found out they would sting when they hit your bare skin.

Pot-Bellied Stallion · « **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2011, 05:05:13 AM »

"Stories of the Century" with a really young Jim Davis (Papa Ewing on "Dallas"), "Tales of Wells Fargo" with Dale Robertson, "Johnny Ringo" with Don Durant, "Gunslinger" (I don't remember the actor, but the theme song was sung by Frankie Lane), "Wild Bill Hickok" with Guy Madison and Andy Devine, "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" with Hugh O'Brian, "Annie Oakley" with Gail Davis, "Bronco Lane" with Ty Hardin, "Sugarfoot" with Will Hutchins, "Hotel de Paree", with a young Earl Holliman as Sundance.

There are a few more that I know I have left out, but my old brain is tired from all this rememberin'. I just remember that I watched the all and loved them all - couldn't get enough.

Thanks for starting this thread and forcing me to think about those good old times.

Pot-Bellied Stallion · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2011, 05:06:10 AM »

I just thought about "Rawhide" after I posted.

BUGEYE · « **Reply #16 on:** July 23, 2011, 05:12:51 AM »

Quote from: powderman on July 22, 2011, 06:56:46 PM

All those were great shows. That was back when hollyweird was still hollywood and they actually had writers that could write. No cursing or sex, and definitely no gays like they are pushing today. POWDERMAN.

that's why my wife and I quit going to movies and don't watch any modern sit-coms.
Roy Rogers was my childhood hero.

powderman · « **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2011, 05:14:48 AM »

My all time favorite was gunsmoke. I liked it better with Festus than Chester. Had a big crush on Miss Kitty. Dennis Weaver turned out to be a big anti gunner in later life.
HEH. I remember Paladin killing a bg several hundred yds away with a shot from the hip, on horseback, with his derringer. Heck of a shot. POWDERMAN.

us920669 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2011, 08:40:17 AM »

A few years ago I helped a guy sell a cap gun collection. I kinda caught the bug - wish I had kept a few - but I bought a great book called Television Cowboys, Gunfighters and Cap Pistols. I could cheat and really fill up the page, but just a few more:
Judge Roy Bean, starring Edgar Buchanan
Laredo, with Philip Carey, who was in 77th Bengal Lancers, a show I really liked, and Peter Brown, who was in Lawman
The Deputy, starring Henry Fonda
Zorro, with Guy Williams
The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca, with Robert Loggia. Disney ran this along with The Swamp Fox (Leslie Nielsen) and Texas John Slaughter (Tom Tryon). Do a search on Elfego Baca - an amazing true story.

There must be over 100 entries in the book, some I can't recall, and it was only the ones who got their own cap guns. How about The Westerner, starring Brian Keith. One of the shortest runs ever, just 13 episodes in 1960. Keith was a drifter who helped out those in distress, usually in a very violent manner - no wonder, since the show was directed by Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch).

jedman · « **Reply #19 on:** July 23, 2011, 02:53:33 PM »

How about The Guns of Will Sonnet , with Walter Brennan

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #20 on:** July 23, 2011, 03:49:33 PM »

Anyone remember The Dakotas with Jack Elem ...he wasn't the main chara. but my favorite..there were four marshals in the Dakotas as I remember it..

us920669 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 23, 2011, 04:05:44 PM »

I don't remember the last two and they're not in the book so they never had cap guns named after them.

chefjeff · « **Reply #22 on:** July 23, 2011, 04:26:28 PM »

A little bit past the era most remember on this thread, but how about HIGH CHAPPARAL ? Blue boy,Buck,Manolito,John Cannon and his wifey,Victoria.My fav as a kid.Also,almost a western------Dan'l Boone with Fess Parker.And Check out the "Trinity" movies,they are hilarious.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 23, 2011, 04:34:45 PM »

Anyone remember Cimmaron Strip? And my favorite was How the West Was Won with James Arness.

chefjeff · « **Reply #24 on:** July 23, 2011, 05:01:14 PM »

Uh," How the west was Won" had a star studded cast,but dogged if I remember James Arness in it. I know it had several parts though,so maybe I missed it.

us920669 · « **Reply #25 on:** July 23, 2011, 05:37:10 PM »

West did star James Arness, also Eve Marie Saint, Bruce Boxleitner and many others, including top-name guest stars. It started as a 1976 TV movie called The Macahans and ABC ran the series from '78 to '80. It was produced by the same guy who did Gunsmoke. Top cap gun maker Nichols offered a one and two gun rig and a branded rubber knife and sheath.

High Chaparral ('67 to '71) rated a top-break Redondo revolver in nickel or blue with a toy badge and a very nice suede two gun rig with a pair of cap guns by Hubley, a very good maker. There was also a comic book and a Daisy Model 966 lever action pop gun.

I don't know if anyone cares about all this so I am going to run a separate thread and if you want me to look up your favorite show let me know on that.

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #26 on:** July 23, 2011, 09:56:22 PM »

I always liked the "Virginian" with James Drury & Doug McClure. Liked Maverick, too. That's Maverick with 1 'ick'!

Forestclimber · « **Reply #27 on:** July 24, 2011, 03:36:36 AM »

Rin Tin Tin

Forestclimber · « **Reply #28 on:** July 24, 2011, 03:38:21 AM »

Cisco Kid

Pot-Bellied Stallion · « **Reply #29 on:** July 24, 2011, 04:12:59 AM »

I can't remember the name of the show, but there was one where a white ex-soldier and a black ex-slave teamed up to right the wrong in the old west. Both were gunfighters. And who could forget "The Rebel", Johnny Yuma?

James Arness played Zeb Macahan, an old mountain man and Bruce Boxleitner's uncle, in "How The West Was Won".

Bottom line is, there were some great old western tv shows. I have started watching "Cheyenne" on Netflix instant download along with "Cimmaron Strip".