A year after the TV version of the series had launched to great success, CBS Radio introduced Have Gun, Will Travel to listeners. Some episodes were adapted from the TV show, which was co-created by Herb Meadow and Sam Rolfe.
Radio veteran John Dehner (Gunsmoke, Frontier Gentleman) stepped into Richard Boone's boots as Paladin, the gentleman gunfighter whom you might say was an Old West variant on the private detective.
In this offering, Paladin comes to the aid of a Native American couple whose land is being threatened. Other voices include Barney Phillips (ex-Dragnet) and Joseph Kearns (Dennis The Menace).
Yes, the theme song is the same as the TV show. Then again, that shouldn't have been a surprise.
Rating: A.
I find it odd that the radio show came AFTER the TV debut of HGWT. Most people were tuning out of traditional radio shows by the late 50s, preferring to listen to music and/or news/and or sports.
ReplyDeleteThe four seasons ran concurrently with seasons 2-5 of the TV show, and yes, it was the last of a dying breed.
ReplyDelete