5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Guns Of Will Sonnett

July 21, 2008 – 9:32 pm

The 1950’s and 60’s were the golden age of television westerns on American TV. From the famous to the unknown, many actors started their careers playing bit parts and lead roles on television westerns. In 1967, an actor near the end of his career came back to television when The Guns of Will Sonnett appeared on television. Walter Brennan was one of the most credited actors in Hollywood movie history when he signed on to play the title role of Will Sonnett in a series about a grandfather who searches for his son with the help of his grandson. Here are some things you may not have known about The Guns of Will Sonnett.

1. The TV series that Walter Brennan had starred in for two seasons prior to The Guns of Will Sonnett for CBS Television had been seen as a failure and cancelled, it was called The Tycoon.

2. In The Guns of Will Sonnett, the grandson Jeff was played by Dack Rambo. Rambo also later appeared in three different episodes of one of the most popular TV westerns ever, Gunsmoke. He would continue to appear in more television series and some movies before dieing of AIDS in 1994.

3. The Guns of Will Sonnett was the first television show produced by the duo of Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas. Spelling would go on to produce such non-Western fare as The Mod Squad, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Dynasty, Beverly Hills 90210, and more.

4. In one 1967 episode titled “A Son For A Son”, the role of Tom Murdock was played by now legendary Hollywood actor Jack Nicholson.

5. Unlike many television series that feature the main plot line of a search for a character, in The Guns of Will Sonnett they actually resolve the quest by the end of the series.

Though short lived, lasting only two television seasons, The Guns of Will Sonnett is well remembered in the hearts of television western fans. The series focused on the bonding of the grandfather and grandson and the relationship they have. Though rarely a lead actor, few actors are more synonymous with the western genre of film and television than Walter Brennan and he truly shines in his role here. The Guns of Will Sonnett goes down as one of the better TV westerns of all time.

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5 Things You Didn’t Know About Dennis Weaver

May 24, 2008 – 2:06 am

5 things you didn’t know about Dennis Weaver

Dennis Weaver was one of television’s best known faces. Having starred in popular series like Gunsmoke, McCloud, and Lonesome Dome: The Series, he truly has made his mark on the world of television. Here are some things you may not have known about Dennis Weaver.

-Dennis Weaver starred in Steven Spielberg’s film debut, 1971’s “Duel”.

-Dennis Weaver appeared in five different episodes of the series “Dragnet” in 1954 and 1955, each time playing a different character.

-Dennis Weaver was a vegetarian from 1958 up until he passed away in 2006.

-In 2004, at the age of 79, Dennis Weaver led a group of vehicles powered by alternative fuel across the entire United States as a way to raise awareness about America’s dependence on foreign oil.

-Dennis Weaver was inducted into the Western Performers Hall-of-Fame at the National Cowboy & Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1981.

With many movie and television credits on his resume, Dennis Weaver will go down as one of TV’s favorite faces. He will especially be remembered for the wide variety of western and outdoors roles he played. Dennis Weaver was truly one of our treasured actors.

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A Local Look At Dan Blocker, Bonanza’s Hoss

May 1, 2008 – 11:40 pm

Here is a great article from a local paper in Georgia that not only looks at one of the most loved actors in television western history, but Dan Blocker’s entire family tree. See how the family traveled and the decisions that were made that lead Blocker to the Ponderosa. A great look at the family history of an American classic.

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The Career Of Dennis Weaver

May 1, 2008 – 2:04 am

Known by many as Chester Goode from his time on the longest running series in US television history, Gunsmoke, Dennis Weaver lead a full life and had an incredible television career. From his film debut in 1952 through his last television role in 2005, Dennis Weaver left his mark on the Hollywood landscape.

He broke into film in 1952, after a brief stage career in New York and some time spent at The Actor’s Studio, through his friendship with fellow actor Shelly Winters. Three years later he got his first signature role as Chester Goode in the incredibly popular Gunsmoke. Weaver’s Goode proved to be one of the more popular characters on the show, but he left Gunsmoke in 1964 to star in his own series “Kentucky Jones”. “Kentucky Jones” didn’t last long and Weaver moved on to continue acting in both movies and television.

After a few years of guest starring on others’ shows and doing movies, Weaver landed a second series of his own. He starred from 1970 to 1977 in the television drama “McCloud”. “McCloud” left him plenty of time to continue off and on in movies as it was a limited production series, only filming 45 episodes in eight years. During this time, one of the movies Weaver starred in was a made for television movie titled “Duel”. “Duel” was Steven Spielberg’s first film.

Following “McCloud”, Weaver went back to his guest starring roles and occasional movies as well, this time throwing in a couple of mini-series roles too. He would appear regularly in three more series, though shortlived. From 1983-1984 he was Rear Admiral Thomas Mallory in “Emerald Point N.A.S.”, in 1987 he was given a starring role in the series “Buck James” that lasted just one season, and then from 1994-1995 he was Buffalo Bill Cody in “Lonesome Dove: The Series”. Weaver died in 2006 at the age of 81 but kept acting right up to near the end, getting credits in such varied shows as “The Simpsons” and “Touched By An Angel”, along with a number television movies.

Some of the notable television shows featuring Dennis Weaver:

Dragnet
The Lone Ranger
Gunsmoke
Kentucky Jones
Dr. Kildare
Combat!
Gentle Ben
Judd For The Defense
The Name of the Game
That Girl
The Virginian
The Flip Wilson Show
McCloud
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
Police Story
Emerald Point, N.A.S.
Magnum P.I.
Buck James
Lonesome Dove: The Series
The Beast
Family Law
The Simpsons
Touched By An Angel
Wildfire

Dennis Weaver made his mark on the acting industry with his performance as the popular Chester Goode in “Gunsmoke”, but he left his mark by being an incredibly talented and versatile actor.

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5 Things You Didn’t Know About Michael Landon

April 24, 2008 – 8:19 pm

Michael Landon is one of the most famous television stars of all times. He endeared himself to many people around the world primarily on the strength of his roles as Little Joe on Bonanza and then as Charles Ingalls on Little House On The Prairie. Both have gone down as well loved family friendly television shows that many people continue to love to this day. But here are five things you may not have known about Michael Landon.

Michael Landon appeared on Bonanza for 14 seasons, Little House On The Prairie for 8 seasons, and then Highway to Heaven for 6 seasons. Highly unusual that with 28 seasons of popular TV shows under his belt he never won an Emmy Award.

Michael Landon was 25 years old when he contributed his first script to Bonanza, six years later at the age of 31 he would direct an episode of the long running western.

Melissa Gilbert (who played Laura Ingalls on Little House On The Prairie) named her son Michael after Michael Landon.

Michael Landon’s given name at birth was: Eugene Maurice Orowitz

Michael Landon had nine children during his three marriages.

Michael Landon will forever be remembered as one of the most loved performers in the world of television. His family friendly roles, writing, and television series’ continue to make him one of the best remembered Hollywood personalities.

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5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Rifleman

April 20, 2008 – 7:09 pm

5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Rifleman

The Rifleman is one of the most well known and loved TV westerns of all time. The story of an honorable man doing the right thing is well known in westerns, whether television or movies, but The Rifleman did a masterful job executing it. Here are some thing you may not have known about The Rifleman.

It was stated in the series that the lead character Lucas McCain, played by Chuck Connors, did not own a handgun, hence the title of the show.

Chuck Connors’ headstone is inscribed with the words “The Rifleman”.

Chuck Connors, the lead actor of The Rifleman, is one of 12 people ever to have played in the NBA (Boston Celtics) and also Major League Baseball (Dodgers, Cubs). Connors was also drafted by the Chicago Bears football team of the NFL but did not play professional football.

Michael Landon, who would go on to star in both Bonanza and Little House On The Prairie, guest starred twice on The Rifleman.

Legendary director Sam Peckinpah was the creator and original writer, as well as sometime director, or The Rifleman.

The Rifleman will continue to bring joy to audiences of the future based mainly on its strong sens of right and wrong.

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5 Things You Didn’t Know About “Gunsmoke”

April 14, 2008 – 4:58 am

5 Things You Didn’t Know About “Gunsmoke”

Gunsmoke, one of the most popular television shows of all time, is widely known to many television fans, both fans of westerns and those who are not. But, here are some things about Gunsmoke you may not know.

The role of TV’s Marshall Matt Dillon was played by James Arness for 20 years, before he was cast and the show was moved from radio to TV a number of other actors auditioned for or were offered the part including: William Conrad (who played Marshall Dillon the radio version), Raymond Burr (later TV’s Perry Mason), Denver Pyle (most famous as Uncle Jesse on The Dukes of Hazzard), and even John Wayne (who turned it down).

Movie star Burt Reynolds played one of Marshall Matt Dillon’s deputies for four seasons.

When the show was aired in the United Kingdom it was titled “Gun Law”.

From 1955 to 1961, Gunsmoke was aired in half hour episodes. It was ranked TV’s #1 show from 1957 to 1961 and then in 1962 moved to an hour long format, it never returned to its #1 ranking again.

Gunsmoke was slated to be cancelled in 1967 but received a late reprieve and was moved to a different time slot, another show was cancelled instead. That other show? Gilligan’s Island.

Enjoy watching Gunsmoke and all of the other classic television westerns, whether on DVD, VHS, or television.

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The Career Of Barbara Stanwyck

April 2, 2008 – 4:32 am

Long before Barbara Stanwyck walked proudly through the scenes of The Big Valley as matriarch of the Barkley family Victoria Barkley, she had built a film career that most female actors would be envious of. In fact, though she is still widely known as the matriarch of the Barkley family, Victoria Barkley, she is ranked as the American Film Institutes’ 11th Greatest Female Star of All Time.

Barbara Stanwyck was born Ruby Stevens in 1907 and made her film debut in 1927. She received four Academy Award nominations and won three Emmy Awards during her a career that lasted until 1986. Stanwyck caught the eye of early directors and producers who became big believers in her acting ability. She was also widely known as one of the nicest actresses in all of Hollywood.

Some of Barbara Stanwyck’s most notable films include:
Annie Oakley
Stella Dallas
Union Pacific
Golden Boy
The Lady Eve
Meet John Doe
Double Indemnity
Titanic
Cattle Queen Of Montana (costarring Ronald Reagan)

But, it was The Big Valley which ran from 1965 to 1969 that put Miss Stanwyck in the hearts of TV Western fans for life. Her role as Victoria Barkley cast her as the female version of Lorne Greene’s Ben Cartwright on Bonanza, another western of that era. She excelled greatly at playing the proud female lead in a show set in such a manly world. Though the show itself only lasted five years, it is remembered fondly and she was eventually inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame.

Barbara Stanwyck finished her career with an Emmy winning role in the TV mini series The Thorn Birds followed by playing the matriarch on the 1980s Dynasty spin-off The Colbys for one season before settling into retirement. Miss Stanwyck passed away on January 20th, 1990 due to congestive heart disease.

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The Career Of Dan Blocker

March 23, 2008 – 4:23 pm

Dan Blocker was a unique and respected member of the acting community. Known mainly as Hoss from Bonanza, many who knew him said that there were a number of similarities between Dan Blocker the man and Hoss Cartwright the character. Let’s have a look at the career of Dan Blocker. Blocker’s death in 1972 prevented him from staying with Bonanza for it’s entire run as the series lasted one more year ending in 1973. Hoss was much beloved on the show and many say the episodes without him did not have as much “heart” as those episodes where he was present. Blocker played Hoss Cartwright in 389 episodes of Bonanza, quite an achievement.While known of course for the role of Hoss Cartwright, Blocker has a TV western pedigree that few others can match. A look at some of the TV westerns that he is credited with appearing in:

Cheyenne
Sheriff of Cochise
Tales of Wells Fargo
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
Colt .45
Zane Grey Theater
Wagon Train
Sugarfoot
Have Gun, Will Travel
Jefferson Drum
Gunsmoke
Zorro
Cimarron City
Maverick
The Rifleman
The Restless Gun
The Rebel
Troubleshooters
and of course… Bonanza

When you appear in 19 different TV western series, it would be hard to say you hadn’t made your mark on the genre.

Keep in mind that this is also just looking at Dan Blocker’s acting career… he was also at different times a teacher and rodeo performer.

Dan Blocker, one of the greats.

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Welcome To TVsWildWest.com!

March 23, 2008 – 2:45 am

Hello and welcome back to the newly relaunched version of TVsWildWest.com!

Stick with us as we repopulate the site with all the information you ever needed to know about the old westerns (and some new ones too) that graced our TV.

Thanks for stopping by.

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