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.

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.

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.

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.

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.