Recommendations wanted for a vintage half hour western (1 Viewer)

[Randy Korstick]

I didn't watch the first six seasons of Gunsmoke as it was a little before my time. When I started watching it was an hour long show. By that time, I was into Wagon Train, Rawhide and Bonanza. I do have the first seven seasons on DVD. I've never watched any of them so perhaps I'll give the first six seasons a chance to see if that half hour format is more to my liking.

I like the whole series but the 1st 6 seasons were by far the best. I'm pretty sure you will like them and if so you are in for a treat with 233 half hour episodes.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I wanted to mention that I started Zorro last night, and ended up watching the first two episodes - loved it, and don't know why I let it sit on the shelf so long. So I think I'll probably be bouncing back and forth between Zorro and Have Gun to begin with, but I'm going to make sure to keep this thread going so that I can take advantage of all of the great recommendations whenever I have an extra slot to fit something into.

 

[GMBurns]

Josh, definitely keep returning to this thread because you know the old saying, "A bad vintage half hour western is better than a good ________ (fill in the blank) any day".

Enjoy Zorro, HGWT, and whatever else you venture into.

 

[morasp]

Whispering Smith was a short lived 26 episode western starring Audie Murphy that's worth checking out.

 

[Gary OS]

Whispering Smith was a short lived 26 episode western starring Audie Murphy that's worth checking out.

That was a nice western. Definitely recommended if you look for other similar series after Zorro & HGWT.

Gary “Whispering Smith often flies under most people’s radar” O.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Four episodes into Zorro, and I'm loving it.

My set of Have Gun arrived damaged from Amazon, so it'll be a few more days before the replacement shows up.

 

[Gary OS]

Four episodes into Zorro, and I'm loving it.

My set of Have Gun arrived damaged from Amazon, so it'll be a few more days before the replacement shows up.

Sorry to hear about the HGWT set. Hopefully Amazon gets the replacement set to you undamaged. On the other hand it’s great to hear you are enjoying Zorro!

Gary “Guy Williams was made for that role” O.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Thanks Gary!

I probably could have salvaged HGWT but it’s got 35 discs in there and the hub was broken - I didn’t really want 35 floaters in my collection! But the replacement has shipped and is due tomorrow or Saturday so I’ll be on my way soon.

And you’re right - Guy Williams is fantastic as Zorro.

 

[LouA]

I'm late to the game .
My own favorites?:
Have Gun Will Travel,
Gunsmoke ,
Wagon Train ,
Bonanza,
The 5 Davy Crockett episodes from "Disneyland" Tv show,
Yancy Derringer,
Cheyenne,
The Texan,
Restless Gun,
You can't go wrong with any of these.
I own all of them plus many more on DVD - in fact just about every season of every TV western released on DVD so far !

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Thanks Gary!

I probably could have salvaged HGWT but it’s got 35 discs in there and the hub was broken - I didn’t really want 35 floaters in my collection! But the replacement has shipped and is due tomorrow or Saturday so I’ll be on my way soon.

And you’re right - Guy Williams is fantastic as Zorro.

I envy you your Zorro set, Josh...I waited too long and missed my chance to pick up the now OOP and very expensive Walt Disney Treasure season 1 and 2 sets. I was not a fan of the Disney Zorro growing up (preferring Tyrone Power in The Mark of Zorro) but I'm sure I'd very much enjoy it now.

Good to hear that a replacement HG - WT set is on its way to you. Floaters seem to be a particular problem with those multi-hub complete series sets.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I only have Zorro S1. I’m gonna have to pay through the nose for S2...and since it’s the only Disney Treasures set that I’m missing, I will. I’ll be really annoyed with myself for doing it, but that won’t stop me

 

[Richard V]

Has anyone mentioned The Westerner? Members have gone crazy for this western in other threads.

 

[Tom.W]

Has anyone mentioned The Westerner? Members have gone crazy for this western in other threads.

I like The Westerner as well as these that were syndicated as part of a package in the 80's: Johnny Ringo, Black Saddle, and Law of the Plainsman. All had strong lead actors. I'd pick up any of these in heartbeat.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Looks like I’ve got the next decade mapped out...

 

[Gary OS]

Looks like I’ve got the next decade mapped out...

Josh, there's no doubt in my mind that the half-hour western genre offers more quality programming than any other (with only sitcoms possibly topping it). The 50's and 60's were the great era for those shows. There really are enough quality western series to watch for a lifetime. And that's not even expanding to hour-long shows.

Gary "if you ever want to go that route, Rawhide is the undisputed champion in my book" O.

 

[Robert Crawford]

The hour long western series that I liked more than others were "Rawhide" and "Wagon Train". I liked Bonanza too, but more so when Pernell Roberts was on the show.

 

[BobO'Link]

Yeah... once Roberts left Bonanza it just wasn't the same. It wasn't necessarily "bad" but just felt like it was missing something. I'd put it at #3 on my hour length Westerns list, following #1 Rawhide and #2 Maverick.

In the half hour vein... don't forget Death Valley Days. Brian mentioned it in passing early in the thread. It's a very high quality anthology western. There are only 5 of the seasons out right now (S1-3 and S13 & S14). Those later years are when Ronald Regan was the host. Hamilton Books (a overstock/closeout mail order business with a web presence) currently has 4 seasons available, one of which is the harder to find S1. S1, S2, & S13 are $7.95 each (+ shipping). I highly recommend them and use them often. They package well and have excellent CS.

 

[Gary OS]

Other favorites for me would include, but not be limited to:
Fury
Jim Bowie
Tombstone Territory
Stoney Burke
Yancy Derringer
The Dakotas
Restless Gun
Whispering Smith
Trackdown
Gray Ghost (sadly no official releases for those last two)

Gary “really thankful for my westerns library” O.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Party at Gary’s house!!

 

[Doug Wallen]

Josh, thanks for this thread as I have now finally picked up the Have Gun - Will Travel Complete Series set today from WalMart. Have watched the first three episodes and am enjoying it immensely. Thanks again for the gentle prodding. I have been on the fence about this one for almost a year.