TV westerns were a Big Deal when I was a little kid. (In fact, it's my understanding that some people raised cattle for TV westerns.) I'm sure there was at least one western on every channel every night of the week and we watched a lot of them. Not so many of the ABC series, partly because we lived in Antenna Town and it was a trick to get two networks, much less all three. The ABC shows seemed more shallow, too. The best westerns were on CBS.
And Saturday was Jackpot Night, when the serious shows came on -- "Have Gun Will Travel" and "Gunsmoke." We also liked "Wanted: Dead or Alive." That show had a good-looking young star and he carried a sawed-off rifle in a holster. I hadn't seen any of those shows in 50 years, but in the last week I bought the whole series, for less than $20. Ninety-four half-hour episodes, starring Steve McQueen and guest-starring dozens of soon-to-be-great actors and actresses. Hey, that's Michael Landon (as a rotter) and Nick Adams (as his rotter brother). Warren Oates (as a rotter). That annoying nun married her acting teacher, Sydney Pollack. Dobie Gillis's father is a sheriff.
One thing that is immediately obvious with this program is that, at 27, Steve McQueen had great presence. His character, bounty hunter Josh Randall, is a well-grounded, honorable man. The episodes we've watched so far have been complex stories. The shows take up much more of the half-hour than modern programming. No filler, either. I especially admire the way the programs end. There is no recap, telling you the point of the story you've just watched. No clues or pronouncements as to the future of the people whose story you just watched.
It's really good to be a grown-up, watching TV westerns! And, like this reviewer (who has watched the whole set and I've only seen part of Season One), I recommend "Wanted: Dead or Alive."
And Saturday was Jackpot Night, when the serious shows came on -- "Have Gun Will Travel" and "Gunsmoke." We also liked "Wanted: Dead or Alive." That show had a good-looking young star and he carried a sawed-off rifle in a holster. I hadn't seen any of those shows in 50 years, but in the last week I bought the whole series, for less than $20. Ninety-four half-hour episodes, starring Steve McQueen and guest-starring dozens of soon-to-be-great actors and actresses. Hey, that's Michael Landon (as a rotter) and Nick Adams (as his rotter brother). Warren Oates (as a rotter). That annoying nun married her acting teacher, Sydney Pollack. Dobie Gillis's father is a sheriff.
One thing that is immediately obvious with this program is that, at 27, Steve McQueen had great presence. His character, bounty hunter Josh Randall, is a well-grounded, honorable man. The episodes we've watched so far have been complex stories. The shows take up much more of the half-hour than modern programming. No filler, either. I especially admire the way the programs end. There is no recap, telling you the point of the story you've just watched. No clues or pronouncements as to the future of the people whose story you just watched.
It's really good to be a grown-up, watching TV westerns! And, like this reviewer (who has watched the whole set and I've only seen part of Season One), I recommend "Wanted: Dead or Alive."