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The Texan (TV series)

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The Texan
GenreWestern
Written by
  • Curtis Kenyon
  • Harry Kronman
  • Edmund Morris
Directed by
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes78 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerJerry Stagg
Running time30 mins.
Production companyDesilu Productions
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseSeptember 29, 1958 (1958-09-29) –
September 19, 1960 (1960-09-19)

The Texan is a Western television series starring film and television actor Rory Calhoun, which aired on the CBS television network from 1958 to 1960.[1][2][3]

Calhoun as Bill Longley (circa 1960)

Synopsis

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Rory Calhoun plays gunman Bill Longley, "The Texan," who travels across Texas from town to town in the wake of the Civil War. His reputation as a gunfighter precedes him and often brings trouble wherever he ends up next.

Episodes

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Series overview

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedRankAverage viewership
(in millions)
First airedLast aired
137September 29, 1958 (1958-09-29)June 15, 1959 (1959-06-15)15[4][5]12.4
241September 14, 1959 (1959-09-14)September 5, 1960 (1960-09-05)Not in top 30TBA

Season 1 (1958–59)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Texan in Town"
"Law of the Gun"
Erle C. KentonHarry KronmanSeptember 29, 1958 (1958-09-29)
22"The Man with the Solid Gold Star"Hollingsworth MorseRobert Hardy AndrewsOctober 6, 1958 (1958-10-06)
Featuring Thomas Gomez and Robert Burton.
33"The Troubled Town"Hollingsworth MorseSamuel A. PeeplesOctober 13, 1958 (1958-10-13)
44"The First Notch"Hollingsworth MorseHerbert Little, Jr. & David VictorOctober 20, 1958 (1958-10-20)
55"The Edge of the Cliff"Allen H. MinerPaul FranklinOctober 27, 1958 (1958-10-27)
Featuring Mike Connors.
66"Jail for the Innocents"Erle C. KentonStory by : Harry Landers
Teleplay by : Jack Roberts & Laszlo Vadnay
November 3, 1958 (1958-11-03)
Featuring Vaughn Taylor.
77"A Tree for Planting"Robert FloreyHarry KronmanNovember 10, 1958 (1958-11-10)
88"The Hemp Tree"Erle C. KentonPaul FranklinNovember 17, 1958 (1958-11-17)
99"The Widow of Paradise"Robert B. SinclairPhil Shuken & John L. GreeneNovember 24, 1958 (1958-11-24)
Featuring Russell Thorson.
1010"Desert Passage"Erle C. KentonMartin Berkeley & Clarke E. ReynoldsDecember 1, 1958 (1958-12-01)
Featuring R.G. Armstrong.
1111"No Tears for the Dead"Erle C. KentonHarry KronmanDecember 8, 1958 (1958-12-08)
1212"The Easterner"Erle C. KentonJack Roberts & Tom MonroeDecember 15, 1958 (1958-12-15)
Featuring Fay Spain and Jack Elam.
1313"A Time of the Year"Robert FloreyHarry KronmanDecember 22, 1958 (1958-12-22)
Featuring George Macready.
1414"The Lord Will Provide"Erle C. KentonPhil Shuken & John L. GreeneDecember 29, 1958 (1958-12-29)
1515"The Duchess of Denver"Erle C. KentonJoseph LandonJanuary 5, 1959 (1959-01-05)
Featuring Dolores Donlon and Gerald Mohr.
1616"A Quart of Law"Robert GordonHarry KronmanJanuary 12, 1959 (1959-01-12)
Featuring Edgar Stehli.
1717"Outpost"Erle C. KentonMartin Berkeley & Clark ReynoldsJanuary 19, 1959 (1959-01-19)
Featuring Les Tremayne and Patrick McVey.
1818"The Peddler"Robert GordonLaszlo VadnayJanuary 26, 1959 (1959-01-26)
Featuring Lou Jacobi.
1919"Return to Friendly"Erle C. KentonHarry KronmanFebruary 2, 1959 (1959-02-02)
2020"The Man Behind the Star"Alvin GanzerMartin Berkeley & Clark ReynoldsFebruary 9, 1959 (1959-02-09)
2121"The Ringer"Erle C. KentonGeorge F. SlavinFebruary 16, 1959 (1959-02-16)
2222"The Eyes of Captain Wylie"UnknownUnknownFebruary 23, 1959 (1959-02-23)
Featuring Chill Wills.
2323"The Marshal of Yellow Jacket"Robert GordonStory by : Louis L'Amour
Teleplay by : Harry Kronman
March 2, 1959 (1959-03-02)
2424"No Love Wasted"Robert FloreyHarry KronmanMarch 9, 1959 (1959-03-09)
Featuring Lon Chaney Jr.
2525"A Race for Life"Erle C. KentonBarney SlaterMarch 16, 1959 (1959-03-16)
Featuring Frank Ferguson and Ralph Moody.
2626"Letter of the Law"George ArchainbaudStory by : Irving Wallace
Teleplay by : Irving Wallace & Jack Roberts
March 23, 1959 (1959-03-23)
2727"Private Account"Robert GordonHarry KronmanApril 6, 1959 (1959-04-06)
Featuring Jesse White and Karen Sharpe.
2828"Caballero"Robert GordonBarney SlaterApril 13, 1959 (1959-04-13)
2929"Blood Money"Leslie GoodwinsDean RiesnerApril 20, 1959 (1959-04-20)
3030"No Place to Stop"Erle C. KentonLouis L'AmourApril 27, 1959 (1959-04-27)
3131"Reunion"Robert GordonHarry KronmanMay 4, 1959 (1959-05-04)
3232"Badlands"Leslie GoodwinsMartin Berkeley & Clark ReynoldsMay 11, 1959 (1959-05-11)
3333"South of the Border"Joe ParkerDon MartinMay 18, 1959 (1959-05-18)
3434"The Smiling Loser"Robert GordonJerry D. LewisMay 25, 1959 (1959-05-25)
Featuring Eddie Quillan and Harry Lauter.
3535"The Sheriff of Boot Hill"Erle C. KentonSid HarrisJune 1, 1959 (1959-06-01)
Featuring Reed Hadley and Denver Pyle.
3636"The Gunfighter"Erle C. KentonStory by : Joel Kane & Lee Karson
Teleplay by : Donald S. Sanford
June 8, 1959 (1959-06-08)
3737"The Man Hater"Robert GordonDavid EvansJune 15, 1959 (1959-06-15)

Season 2 (1959–60)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
381"No Way Out"Erle C. KentonBarney SlaterSeptember 14, 1959 (1959-09-14)
Featuring Joe Turkel.
392"Image of Guilt"Erle C. KentonJohn R. Roberts & Joe ConwaySeptember 21, 1959 (1959-09-21)
Featuring Chris Alcaide and Don Haggerty.
403"Cattle Drive"Edward LudwigGerald Drayson AdamsSeptember 28, 1959 (1959-09-28)
Featuring Claude Akins and Whitney Blake.
414"The Dishonest Posse"Robert FloreyMartin BerkeleyOctober 5, 1959 (1959-10-05)
425"Blue Norther"Robert FloreyPaul Leslie PeilOctober 12, 1959 (1959-10-12)
436"Traildust"Edward LudwigJohn L. Greene & Phillip ShukenOctober 19, 1959 (1959-10-19)
447"The Telegraph Story"Edward LudwigEdmund MorrisOctober 26, 1959 (1959-10-26)
458"Stampede"Erle C. KentonSamuel A. PeeplesNovember 2, 1959 (1959-11-02)
469"Showdown at Abilene"Erle C. KentonSamuel A. PeeplesNovember 9, 1959 (1959-11-09)
Part 2. Featuring BarBara Luna, Roy Barcroft and Charles Horvath.
4710"The Reluctant Bridegroom"UnknownUnknownNovember 16, 1959 (1959-11-16)
Part 3. Featuring Ralph Moody.
4811"Trouble on the Trail"Erle C. KentonSamuel A. PeeplesNovember 23, 1959 (1959-11-23)
4912"Cowards Don't Die"Edward LudwigHarry KronmanNovember 30, 1959 (1959-11-30)
5013"Border Incident"Edward LudwigGerald Drayson AdamsDecember 7, 1959 (1959-12-07)
5114"Dangerous Ground"Edward LudwigHarry KronmanDecember 14, 1959 (1959-12-14)
Part 1. Featuring Alan Hale Jr. and Kipp Hamilton.
5215"End of Track"Edward LudwigHarry KronmanDecember 21, 1959 (1959-12-21)
Part 2.
5316"Rough Track to Payday"UnknownUnknownDecember 28, 1959 (1959-12-28)
5417"Friend of the Family"Edward LudwigHarry KronmanJanuary 4, 1960 (1960-01-04)
Featuring John Dehner and James Coburn.
5518"The Taming of Rio Nada"Edward LudwigSamuel A. PeeplesJanuary 11, 1960 (1960-01-11)
Part 1. Featuring Barbara Stuart.
5619"Sixgun Street"Erle C. KentonSamuel A. PeeplesJanuary 18, 1960 (1960-01-18)
Part 2.
5720"The Terrified Town"Erle C. KentonSamuel A. PeeplesJanuary 25, 1960 (1960-01-25)
Part 3.
5821"Thirty Hours to Kill"Robert FloreyStory by : Paul Gangelin & John R. Roberts
Teleplay by : John R. Roberts
February 1, 1960 (1960-02-01)
Featuring Mort Mills and Katherine Squire. Actor Morris Ankrum is credited as the sheriff but actor Stacy Keach Sr. (uncredited) actually appears as the character.
5922"Quarantine"Edward LudwigMilton RaisonFebruary 8, 1960 (1960-02-08)
6023"Buried Treasure"Edward LudwigMilton RaisonFebruary 15, 1960 (1960-02-15)
Part 2. Featuring Alan Hale Jr.
6124"Captive Crew"Erle C. KentonStory by : Milton M. Raison
Teleplay by : Erle C. Kenton
February 22, 1960 (1960-02-22)
Part 3. Featuring Kipp Hamilton, Michael Pate and Mike Mazurki.
6225"Showdown"Erle C. KentonHarry KronmanFebruary 29, 1960 (1960-02-29)
6326"Borrowed Time"Harry HarrisHarry HarrisMarch 7, 1960 (1960-03-07)
6427"The Governor's Lady"Edward LudwigHarry KronmanMarch 14, 1960 (1960-03-14)
Featuring Lita Baron and Myron Healey.
6528"Town Divided"Edward LudwigRobert Leslie BellemMarch 21, 1960 (1960-03-21)
6629"The Guilty and the Innocent"Jerry A. BaerwitzStory by : Jerry Baerwitz
Teleplay by : John Grey
March 28, 1960 (1960-03-28)
6730"Presentation Gun"Jerry A. BaerwitzRobert Leslie BellemApril 4, 1960 (1960-04-04)
6831"Ruthless Woman"Harry HarrisStory by : Buckley Angell
Teleplay by : Victor Orsatti & Buckley Angell
April 11, 1960 (1960-04-11)
6932"The Nomad"Jerry A. BaerwitzRory CalhounApril 18, 1960 (1960-04-18)
7033"Killer's Road"Edward LudwigBen Lewis & Edward LudwigApril 25, 1960 (1960-04-25)
7134"Lady Tenderfoot"Harry HarrisErle C. KentonMay 9, 1960 (1960-05-09)
7235"The Invisible Noose"Edward LudwigJack RobertsMay 16, 1960 (1960-05-16)
Featuring Charles Maxwell and Bill Erwin.
7336"The Mountain Man"Louis KingKathleen Hite, James Gunn, & Christopher KnopfMay 23, 1960 (1960-05-23)
Featuring Peter Palmer, Ben Wright and Harry Shannon. Rory Calhoun does not appear in this episode; this was a pilot episode for a series starring Palmer, but was not picked up.
7437"Johnny Tuvo"Edward LudwigFrank ChaseMay 30, 1960 (1960-05-30)
7538"The Accuser"Erle C. KentonStory by : Frank Moss
Teleplay by : Erle C. Kenton
June 6, 1960 (1960-06-06)
7639"Mission to Monterrey"Erle C. KentonErle C. Kenton & Will GouldJune 13, 1960 (1960-06-13)
Featuring Eduardo Noriega.
7740"Badman"Erle C. KentonErle C. KentonJune 20, 1960 (1960-06-20)
Featuring Celia Lovsky.
7841"24 Hours to Live"Robert FloreyStory by : George Callahan & Crane Wilbur
Teleplay by : George Callahan
September 5, 1960 (1960-09-05)
Featuring Paul Birch and Wendell Holmes.

Production

[edit]

Operating on a budget of $40,000 per episode, two episodes per week were filmed on stage 11 at Desilu.[6][7] Location shooting was completed at Pearl Flats.[6][7]

Release

[edit]

Broadcast

[edit]

The original broadcast of The Texan aired 8:00–8:30 Monday evenings from September 1958 to September 1960 on CBS. ABC aired reruns of the program during its weekday lineup from October 1960 to March 1962, and then as part of its Saturday morning lineup from February to May 1962.[1]

Home media

[edit]

Timeless Media Group released 70 episodes of the series on DVD.[8]

Reception

[edit]

The show was #15 in the 1958-59 season with an average viewership of 12.4 million, but it failed to rank in the top 30 the following season.[4][5]

Media information

[edit]

Like many of the television Westerns of the 1950s, The Texan was adapted to a comic by Dan Spiegle in 1960.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 1369. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  2. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. New York: Penguin Books. p. 825. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Aaker, Everett (1997). Television Western Players of the Fifties: A Biographical Encyclopedia of All Regular Cast Members in Western Series, 1949–1959. McFarland. pp. 308–309. ISBN 9780786402847 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b "TV Ratings". ClassicTVHits.com. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  5. ^ a b West, Richard (1987). Television Westerns: Major and Minor Series, 1946-1978. McFarland & Company. p. 127. ISBN 9780899502526.
  6. ^ a b Aaker, Everett (2017-05-16). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-4766-2856-1.
  7. ^ a b Magers, Boyd. "Do You Remember... "The Texan"". www.westernclippings.com. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  8. ^ "The Texan DVD news: Announcement for the Texan - the Best of | TVShowsOnDVD.com". Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
  9. ^ "Dan Spiegle".
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