The "The TV Genre Known As The 'Western'" Story

One of my favorite Westerns on TV.

It was an ordinary day.  Watching an episode of The Lone Ranger that I found on an old DVD I had recorded a few years ago.  The Lone Ranger was a Western that aired from 1949 to 1957 and was one of my favorite Westerns as a child.  Actually, it is still a favorite of mine and I find a few episodes from time to time on TV and record them when I can.  It stared Clayton Moore as The Lone Ranger and Jay Silverheels as Tonto.  At one time it was one of many Westerns that filled the tube with action that any red-blooded American young boy would have loved.  But it was not the first.  That honor went to a TV show that aired on June 24, 1949 when the black and white Hopalong Cassidy show began its run after 66 movies on the big screen.  

Hopalong Cassidy played by William Boyd.

Hopalong Cassidy was a hero in novels written by Clarence E. Mulford in the early 1900s that eventually found their way to the big screen and then to the small screen much to the enjoyment of many young boys.  The original Hopalong Cassidy had a wooden leg, thus the name Hopalong, while the TV character earned his nickname from a gunshot-induced limp rather than the wooden leg.  One of the biggest departures from most other cowboy heroes was the fact that Hopalong wore an all black outfit.  William Boyd took on the role on the TV screen and he was one cool cowboy.  52 of the original 66 movies were edited to TV episode length with the first episode, "Sunset Trail" airing June 24, 1949.  My dad even enjoyed watching Hopalong Cassidy with me on our little table-top black and white TV.  

Another favorite of mine from 1950-1956.

Eventually the other movies were edited for TV as well as new episodes which included his sidekick Red Connors.  William Boyd eventually retired after 20 years of playing Hopalong Cassidy.  Boyd's production crew then went to work on another Western which you may remember when I tell you it was called Gunsmoke.  The biggest difference between Hopalong Cassidy and Gunsmoke was the fact that the latter was geared more for adults rather than children.  As TV entered the 1960s, the Western began to lose it audiences as "space shows" began to replace "horse shows".  For me, some of my other favorites, to go along with Hopalong Casidy and The Lone Ranger, during the 50s and early 60s were: have "Have Gun Will Travel" (1957-1963), "Wild Bill Hickok" (1951-1958), "The Cisco Kid" (1950-1956), "Roy Rogers" (1951-1957), "Wagon Train" (1957-1965), "Gunsmoke" (1955-1975), "The Rifleman" (1958-1963), and finally "Bonanza" (1959-1973).  

Looked great in color on Sunday Night.

There were many other Westerns that you may remember if you are in your twilight years as I am, but I believe I listed most of my favorites.  I will mention that my Aunt Doris and Uncle Paul were one of the first in our family to buy a color TV in the early 1960s and would invite my family to visit with them every Sunday evening to watch Bonanza.  What a thrill that was even though by then I was in High School.  I often wonder how many young boys would watch TV Westerns if they were to make a comeback.  I suspect I will never know the answer in my lifetime.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - The following are a few more favorites.