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Pony Express (TV series)

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Pony Express
GenreWestern
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes35
Production
Producers
  • Tom McKnight
  • Robert Stillman
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time25 mins.
Production companyCalifornia National Productions
Original release
NetworkSyndication
ReleaseOctober 7, 1959 (1959-10-07)[1] –
May 31, 1960 (1960-05-31)

Pony Express is an American Western television series about the adventures of an agent in the 1860s of the Central Overland Express Company, better known as the Pony Express.[2] The half-hour program starring Grant Sullivan and Don Dorrell was created by California National Productions.[2] Pony Express ran for thirty-five episodes in syndication from the fall of October 1959 until May 1960. In its final days, the series just managed to coincide with the centennial of the Pony Express (April 3, 1860).[3]

Overview

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The series featured two recurring roles: Grant Sullivan as Brett Clark, a roving investigator for the company, and Don Dorrell as Donovan, a young Pony Express rider. The majority of the weekly episodes involved Clark and Donovan solving various Pony Express mysteries.[4]

Production

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Pony Express was filmed at Iverson Movie Ranch in Chatsworth in Los Angeles County, California.[5] It was one of several western-themed television shows produced by CNP, such as Boots and Saddles (1957–1958).[6] CNP created the series for the 100th anniversary of the actual Pony Express.[3]

The Pony Express pilot, the first Western television pilot shot in color,[1] was shot in February 1957 with James Best in the lead. This version did not sell (although Best was included in a TV Guide photo feature on upcoming TV westerns in June of that year) but was later aired, slightly re-edited, as an episode of the syndicated series.

Guest stars

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Episodes

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No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Story Of Julesberg"Lewis R. FosterStory by :
Teleplay by : Sam Peckinpah
 ()
2"The Killer"James NielsenStory by : Tony Barrett
Teleplay by : Jack Laird
 ()
3"The Replacement"Jean YabroughStory by :
Teleplay by : John Meredyth Lucas
 ()
4"The Last Mile"Frank AdreonStory by :
Teleplay by : Joe Stone and Paul King
 ()
5"Payoff"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
6"Wrong Rope"Jean YabroughStory by :
Teleplay by : Budd Lesser
 ()
7"The Deadly Sniper"Jean YabroughStory by :
Teleplay by : Lee Berg and Harry Clork
 ()
8"Justice For Jenny"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
9"The Treaty"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
10"Message From New Orleans"Frank McDonaldStory by :
Teleplay by : William R. Cox and Harry Clork
 ()
11"The Good Samaritan"Jean YabroughStory by :
Teleplay by : Rudy Makoul and Joel Rogosin
 ()
12"The Peace Offering"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
13"The Wrong Man"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
14"The Reluctant Bride"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
15"Lady's Choice"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
16"Token Payment"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by : Budd Lesser
 ()
17"We Ourselves"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
18"Showdown At Thirty Mile Ridge"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
19"Bandido"Frank McDonaldStory by :
Teleplay by : Joe Stone and Paul King
 ()
20"Princess Of Crazy Creek"Frank McDonaldStory by :
Teleplay by : Joe Stone and Paul King
 ()
21"The Theft"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
22"Duel At Devil's Canyon"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
23"Vendetta"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
24"Mail For A Male"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
25"The Breadwinner"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
26"The Golden Circle"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
27"The Station Keeper's Bride"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
28"The Pendant"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
29"Special Delivery"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
30"The Wedding Of Big Zack"Frank McDonaldStory by :
Teleplay by : Raphael Hayes
 ()
31"The Renegade"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
32"Trial By Fury"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
33"Reclaim"TBDStory by :
Teleplay by :
 ()
34"Ghost Of Caribou Ridge"Frank McDonaldStory by :
Teleplay by : Joe Stone and Paul King
 ()
35"The Search"Frank McDonaldStory by :
Teleplay by : John Meredyth Lucas
 ()

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Do You Remember... "Pony Express"".
  2. ^ a b Jackson, Ronald; Abbot, Doug (April 23, 2008). 50 Years of The Television Western. AuthorHouse. p. 181. ISBN 978-1434359254.
  3. ^ a b Erikson, Hal (November 5, 2001). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years 1947-1987. McFarland & Company. p. 181. ISBN 978-0786411986.
  4. ^ Marill, Alvin H. (2011). Television Westerns: Six Decades of Sagebrush Sheriffs, Scalawags and Sidewinders. Scarecrow Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-8108-8132-7.
  5. ^ Aaker, Everett (2017-05-16). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 404. ISBN 978-1-4766-2856-1.
  6. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. New York: Penguin Books. p. 112. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
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