Rawhide had the best theme song followed closely by Bonanza. For the best show I went with "Gun it Mike", aka Gunsmoke.
Best Classic Television Western Series
- Thread starter the nail at the foul line
- Start date
“How the west was won” actually aired as a regular tv series in 1978 and 1979 . I was a fan !
Yeah, but it started as a great miniseries but became an ok TV show.
Just finished watching “primeval “ on Netflix. Pretty good. Bet the Mormons won’t be happy about it though.
Gunsmoke (pre color episodes)
Rawhide/Death Valley Days
Wagon Train
Maverick
Rawhide/Death Valley Days
Wagon Train
Maverick
Same people, James Garner acting and Roy Huggins producing and writing. Too bad Garner had the falling out with Warner Bros., It wasn’t the same without him.
I was always partial to Wild Wild West.
Tried to watch Guns Smoke and Bonanza but did not like them. Maverick and The Rifleman were my favorites. Watched some Rawhide as well.
Before that was The Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers which I watched a lot.
Before that was The Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers which I watched a lot.
Yeah dope show, Mike had his gun and won the West. I’m a fan of Have Gun will Travel and Bonanza.
Cal is gonna lose tonight since you didn’t include that.
Yeah Buzz would fit right in with the Stooges. Haha
Tales of Wells Fargo is up there with the best of them. The horse that Dale Robertson rode was bought in Lexington. For years the show was in black and white and you could just tell that the horse was beautiful and then your thoughts were confirmed when the show went to color. One of the most beautiful horses in any western show.
I was about the same age. Didn't know about it until I ran across reruns on cable recently. I was quite surprised.
This would be my pick. It's not a classic style of western, more of a science fiction western. Loved it!
I read that was actually the intent behind the Rockford Files, i.e. to put Garner again in the Brett Maverick persona in a different type of show (by that time Westerns were out of favor). Garner handicapped the original series almost from the beginning by not being present. The fans wanted the character Brett Maverick, but due to contract disputes or other issues (????) Garner only appeared in about half the episodes during the first 3 seasons and then quit altogether.
Loved Gunsmoke the best. Arness was absolutely the star, but so many great characters like Dennis Weaver and Ken Curtis.
Bonanza - Loved it until Dan Blocker died. At the end, it was just pathetic television.
Wanted: Dead or Alive - McQueen made a good bounty hunter.
Wild, Wild West - Robert Conrad was James Bond Before James Bond. Very cool show that was ahead of its time.
Rawhide - Great character actors, but the stories got a little "meh" sometimes.
THE Rifleman - Conners could wrap up any situation, no matter how dire in around 20 minutes time by shooting from his hip with his Winchester. Pretty sure I couldn't have hit the side of a barn like that.
Wagon Train - Liked it, but the stories were either hit or miss.
One thing I love about watching these shows now vs when I was a kid was seeing so many of the young actors who would go on to be famous. A few weeks ago, I saw Dennis Hopper on THE Rifleman. He looked like he was 14.
Bonanza - Loved it until Dan Blocker died. At the end, it was just pathetic television.
Wanted: Dead or Alive - McQueen made a good bounty hunter.
Wild, Wild West - Robert Conrad was James Bond Before James Bond. Very cool show that was ahead of its time.
Rawhide - Great character actors, but the stories got a little "meh" sometimes.
THE Rifleman - Conners could wrap up any situation, no matter how dire in around 20 minutes time by shooting from his hip with his Winchester. Pretty sure I couldn't have hit the side of a barn like that.
Wagon Train - Liked it, but the stories were either hit or miss.
One thing I love about watching these shows now vs when I was a kid was seeing so many of the young actors who would go on to be famous. A few weeks ago, I saw Dennis Hopper on THE Rifleman. He looked like he was 14.
Last edited:
WildcatfaninOhio
All-American
I'm another who really liked Wild Wild West. Jim West and Artemus Gordon were too cool.
Not really a "classic", but a more recent (late 90s) one that I enjoyed, was The Magnificent Seven. It had a short run as a summer replacement series. But I really liked the cast.
The Magnificent Seven
Not really a "classic", but a more recent (late 90s) one that I enjoyed, was The Magnificent Seven. It had a short run as a summer replacement series. But I really liked the cast.
The Magnificent Seven
the Cubs were playing the Cards and Chuck asked Stan Musial for some batting tips. Chuck said Stan spent an hour working with him. Chuck decided he couldn't hit well enough so maybe he should try acting.
Too bad my dad doesn’t do message boards. He literally just sits around all day watching old westerns. His DVR is half gunsmoke. He also loves Death Valley days. I think the TV in his man cave only gets sports channels and the western channel
I picked Bonanza for my favorite. Good memories watching with my grandmother. I really like the early Gunsmokes, especially the 30 min episodes. Not a fan of the later years.
As someone else mentioned Cheyenne is really good. Also like Rawhide, Death Valley Days. I also like the Gene Autry and Roy Rogers shows even though each episode is the same basically.
As someone else mentioned Cheyenne is really good. Also like Rawhide, Death Valley Days. I also like the Gene Autry and Roy Rogers shows even though each episode is the same basically.
John Wayne Introducing Gunsmoke
The story goes that Wayne turned down Gunsmoke and recommended Arness. Arness was signed to Wayne's company, Batjac I believe, and had done a few movies together.
Bonus points to anyone who can name what movie the name Batjac came from that Wayne starred in.
The story goes that Wayne turned down Gunsmoke and recommended Arness. Arness was signed to Wayne's company, Batjac I believe, and had done a few movies together.
Bonus points to anyone who can name what movie the name Batjac came from that Wayne starred in.
Similar threads
