There were, seemingly, a zillion Westerns on television in the 50's & 60's. Seemed to be at least one or two per night.
Anyway, The Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp was billed as one of the first adult Westerns, along with Gunsmoke, which outlasted Earp by 14 years. The dramatizations of Earp's career exploits lasted for 6 seasons (1955-61). Hugh O'Brian was cast in the title role.
As we learn through the course of the series, Earp's appointment as Marshal of Tombstone was the apex of a career progression that began in Kansas. In this sample episode, Earp meets General Robert E. Lee......
In memory of Hugh O'Brian, who passed away last week.
Rating: A.
You wouldn't believe it an "adult western" with that horrid theme song, but the show definitely kicked butt in its final season as it pretty much became a serial culminating in the OK Corral fight.
ReplyDeleteSo what was wrong with the Ken Darby Singers doing their impersonation of the Sons of the Pioneers? An instrumental theme would've made more sense, true, but back in those days.....!
ReplyDeleteBelatedly:
ReplyDeleteKen Darby and the King's Men (as they were known on radio for years) weren't imitating anybody.
Their sound was distinctive enough that they were in constant demand for TV for most of the '50s: in addition to Wyatt Earp, they also did the themes for Jim Bowie and The Californians for the same producers (Music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Harold Adamson; MeTV+ runs them back to back on Saturday nights).
Check out their classic rendition of "The Hut-Sut Song" on YouTube.
I'll do that.
ReplyDelete