Dusty's Trail!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

silentbri · 10-28-2003, 04:25 PM

Look what I found on Ebay today!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3358724933

I never even knew this existed! I had always been curious about Dusty's Trail (a Bob Denver show very similar to Gilligan's Island, only set in the old west), and now here's a MOVIE??? I never would have thought of looking for it under the name "The Wackiest Wagon Train In The West".

Happy

JWood201 · 10-29-2003, 02:32 PM

Yeah, I think that movie is three episodes strung together. Can't be sure, though. I've been looking for that (but don't worry, I won't bid against ya - I'm so broke. lol). I used to love Dusty's Trail when it was on TV Land for a short time a while ago. Hehe.

silentbri · 10-29-2003, 08:18 PM

Thisi s what i get for not DEMANDING that my wife let me get a Satelite Dish. I miss so much good stuff on TV Land!

Feel free to bid against me, btw... I kinda want to see just how far my appreciation of all thing Gilligan can go. Sure I love it $2.99 worth, but will I still love it if the bid gets up to $10???

Zoneboy · 10-30-2003, 03:06 AM

Dusty's Trail, was in fact an old west version of Gilligan's Island although the producers never admitted it. The series, ran in syndication only in 1973 and there were 26 episodes. The cast included: Bob Denver as Dusty (Gilligan) Forrest Tucker as Callahan the wagonmaster (Skipper) Ivor Francis (father of Genie Francis) as Carson Brookhaven (Mr.Howell) Lynn Wood as Mrs. Brookhaven (Lovey) Jeannine Riley as Lulu (Ginger) Lori Saunders as Betsy (Maryann) & Bill Cort as Andy(The Professor) The series, has been blasted as one of the stupidest ever by some critics but I recall watching it originally at age 9 and as a kid, I found it to be humorous. The tape on Ebay is indeed 3 episodes strung together. World Harvest Television on satellite G-4 transponder 15 was airing this show uncut about a year or 2 ago. I'll e-mail them and find out if theres any plans to bring it back.

ficlopri · 11-10-2003, 01:56 PM

I bought the videotape 4 years ago at a store in Cheektowaga, NY as a doublesold item along with Rescue From Gilligan's Island. The DT I saw on tape had no laugh track, did DT have a laugh track when it was originally aired?

antman67 · 06-01-2015, 06:34 PM

You can watch Dusty's Trail on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...27s+Trail+1973

or buy it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Dustys-Trail-A...dp/B00062IZEK/

It was a short lived series by the same people who gave us Gilligan's island, Produced by Sherwood Schwartz brother Elroy Schwartz. It's the same show just out west. I think they even used some of the same scripts,they used the same extras, and the laugh track is even the same i think?

It's not as good by Gilligan standards but Bob Denver had a very natural charm and appeal. The skipper role of wagon master f-troop actor Forrest Tucker. The others, a rich man and his wife, a saloon girl, a school teacher and a very smart farmer make up the rest of a wagon train that is lost from the rest of the party and wanders thru the west looking for California.

This is a pitiful knockoff and a BIG come down from Gilligan's Island. It just makes you wishing Gilligan was not cancelled after season 3 ALL the more. You can't duplicate the same formula. The original Gilligan's Island is and will always be the BEST. The Gilligan's cast had pure chemistry.

Dusty's Trail? The acting (besides Bob Denver's) is pretty bad, the chemistry between Bob Denver and Alan Hale was way better.
Each character is like a replica of the Gilligan's Island characters, when Ginger I mean "Lulu" would use her charms on Gilligan uh, "Dusty" to get what she needed. And that's not the only similarities. There's an educated man, 2 millionaires, and a farmer's daughter. It would have been better to make a new Gilligan's Island show in 1973 instead of wait till 1978 for movie. By 1978 Gilligan, Skipper, and the professor got way too old almost over night? The Howells looks pretty much the same (acceptable) Ginger was M.I.A. so ALL EXCEPT for Maryann who appears she never aged?

JediJones · 01-28-2021, 12:34 AM

I read Schwartz tried to get Gilligan's relaunched on the air in the early '70s but no network would do it. I think that frustration is what led to Dusty's Trails as well as to him agreeing to let Filmation do the cartoon series. I'm a little confused though on why Gilligan's couldn't have been relaunched in syndication instead of with a network. Not sure if the rights or the budget would've prevented it. But obviously later on in the '80s shows were able to migrate to syndication after being cancelled by networks.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 01-28-2021, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JediJones

I read Schwartz tried to get Gilligan's relaunched on the air in the early '70s but no network would do it. I think that frustration is what led to Dusty's Trails as well as to him agreeing to let Filmation do the cartoon series. I'm a little confused though on why Gilligan's couldn't have been relaunched in syndication instead of with a network. Not sure if the rights or the budget would've prevented it. But obviously later on in the '80s shows were able to migrate to syndication after being cancelled by networks.

Link to Sherwood trying to relaunch GI in the early 70s??

That would be amazing if true!

SitcomsHeydayfan · 01-28-2021, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silentbri

Look what I found on Ebay today!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3358724933

I never even knew this existed! I had always been curious about Dusty's Trail (a Bob Denver show very similar to Gilligan's Island, only set in the old west), and now here's a MOVIE??? I never would have thought of looking for it under the name "The Wackiest Wagon Train In The West".

Happy

There's nothing there.

You have a screenshot?

Zoneboy · 01-28-2021, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

There's nothing there.

Well that post is nearly 18 years old.

JediJones · 01-28-2021, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

Link to Sherwood trying to relaunch GI in the early 70s??

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ne...es_of_Gilligan

Duster76 · 01-29-2021, 12:06 AM

This show was such a blatant ripoff of Gilligan's Island that it may have offended fans of the original series. There wasn't even an attempt to hide the fact nor was there any attempt to differentiate it from GI other than placing it in the old west. They should have abandoned any pretense and just hired Alan Hale to play the wagonmaster.

JediJones · 01-29-2021, 06:48 PM

Imagine if they had brought back the whole cast (except probably Tina). It would probably get a lot more attention as a cult show now.

JediJones · 01-29-2021, 08:32 PM

It seems like first-run sitcoms in syndication were an extremely rare occurrence in the '70s. The Muppet Show was probably the closest thing to one at that time, which was more of a variety show. Some other shows went to syndication after being cancelled by the networks, like Lassie and Hee-Haw and some were imported like SCTV. None of those were sitcoms though. Dusty's Trail seems to be a rare beast as an original sitcom produced in the U.S. for syndication at that time.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 01-29-2021, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Well that post is nearly 18 years old.

Wow! I assume Silentbri is long gone?

I'm quite sure most posters from the early 2000s are gone since the internet has changed a lot since then.

10-28-2003, 04:25 PM	#1
silentbri Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 20, 2000 Location: Lynnwood, WA, in the good ol' US of A Posts: 399	Dusty's Trail!!! Look what I found on Ebay today!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3358724933 I never even knew this existed! I had always been curious about Dusty's Trail (a Bob Denver show very similar to Gilligan's Island, only set in the old west), and now here's a MOVIE??? I never would have thought of looking for it under the name "The Wackiest Wagon Train In The West". Happy
	__________________ Desperately hoping I make it past the 5th season of my life.

10-30-2003, 03:06 AM	#4
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,380	Dusty's Trail, was in fact an old west version of Gilligan's Island although the producers never admitted it. The series, ran in syndication only in 1973 and there were 26 episodes. The cast included: Bob Denver as Dusty (Gilligan) Forrest Tucker as Callahan the wagonmaster (Skipper) Ivor Francis (father of Genie Francis) as Carson Brookhaven (Mr.Howell) Lynn Wood as Mrs. Brookhaven (Lovey) Jeannine Riley as Lulu (Ginger) Lori Saunders as Betsy (Maryann) & Bill Cort as Andy(The Professor) The series, has been blasted as one of the stupidest ever by some critics but I recall watching it originally at age 9 and as a kid, I found it to be humorous. The tape on Ebay is indeed 3 episodes strung together. World Harvest Television on satellite G-4 transponder 15 was airing this show uncut about a year or 2 ago. I'll e-mail them and find out if theres any plans to bring it back.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

06-01-2015, 06:34 PM	#6
antman67 The Fonz Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 17, 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 560	Dusty's Trail vs Gilligan's Island You can watch Dusty's Trail on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...27s+Trail+1973 or buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Dustys-Trail-A...dp/B00062IZEK/ It was a short lived series by the same people who gave us Gilligan's island, Produced by Sherwood Schwartz brother Elroy Schwartz. It's the same show just out west. I think they even used some of the same scripts,they used the same extras, and the laugh track is even the same i think? It's not as good by Gilligan standards but Bob Denver had a very natural charm and appeal. The skipper role of wagon master f-troop actor Forrest Tucker. The others, a rich man and his wife, a saloon girl, a school teacher and a very smart farmer make up the rest of a wagon train that is lost from the rest of the party and wanders thru the west looking for California. This is a pitiful knockoff and a BIG come down from Gilligan's Island. It just makes you wishing Gilligan was not cancelled after season 3 ALL the more. You can't duplicate the same formula. The original Gilligan's Island is and will always be the BEST. The Gilligan's cast had pure chemistry. Dusty's Trail? The acting (besides Bob Denver's) is pretty bad, the chemistry between Bob Denver and Alan Hale was way better. Each character is like a replica of the Gilligan's Island characters, when Ginger I mean "Lulu" would use her charms on Gilligan uh, "Dusty" to get what she needed. And that's not the only similarities. There's an educated man, 2 millionaires, and a farmer's daughter. It would have been better to make a new Gilligan's Island show in 1973 instead of wait till 1978 for movie. By 1978 Gilligan, Skipper, and the professor got way too old almost over night? The Howells looks pretty much the same (acceptable) Ginger was M.I.A. so ALL EXCEPT for Maryann who appears she never aged?
	__________________ http://thefonz.webs.com Last edited by antman67; 06-02-2015 at 07:28 AM.

10-29-2003, 02:32 PM	#2
JWood201 TV Nerd Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 25, 2001 Posts: 798	Yeah, I think that movie is three episodes strung together. Can't be sure, though. I've been looking for that (but don't worry, I won't bid against ya - I'm so broke. lol). I used to love Dusty's Trail when it was on TV Land for a short time a while ago. Hehe.

10-29-2003, 08:18 PM	#3
silentbri Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 20, 2000 Location: Lynnwood, WA, in the good ol' US of A Posts: 399	Thisi s what i get for not DEMANDING that my wife let me get a Satelite Dish. I miss so much good stuff on TV Land! Feel free to bid against me, btw... I kinda want to see just how far my appreciation of all thing Gilligan can go. Sure I love it $2.99 worth, but will I still love it if the bid gets up to $10???

11-10-2003, 01:56 PM	#5
ficlopri Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 27, 2001 Location: Methuen, Ma.USA Posts: 659	I bought the videotape 4 years ago at a store in Cheektowaga, NY as a doublesold item along with Rescue From Gilligan's Island. The DT I saw on tape had no laugh track, did DT have a laugh track when it was originally aired?

01-28-2021, 12:34 AM	#7
JediJones Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 25, 2014 Location: East PA Posts: 36	I read Schwartz tried to get Gilligan's relaunched on the air in the early '70s but no network would do it. I think that frustration is what led to Dusty's Trails as well as to him agreeing to let Filmation do the cartoon series. I'm a little confused though on why Gilligan's couldn't have been relaunched in syndication instead of with a network. Not sure if the rights or the budget would've prevented it. But obviously later on in the '80s shows were able to migrate to syndication after being cancelled by networks.

01-29-2021, 12:06 AM	#12
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,652	This show was such a blatant ripoff of Gilligan's Island that it may have offended fans of the original series. There wasn't even an attempt to hide the fact nor was there any attempt to differentiate it from GI other than placing it in the old west. They should have abandoned any pretense and just hired Alan Hale to play the wagonmaster.

01-29-2021, 06:48 PM	#13
JediJones Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 25, 2014 Location: East PA Posts: 36	Imagine if they had brought back the whole cast (except probably Tina). It would probably get a lot more attention as a cult show now.

01-29-2021, 08:32 PM	#14
JediJones Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 25, 2014 Location: East PA Posts: 36	It seems like first-run sitcoms in syndication were an extremely rare occurrence in the '70s. The Muppet Show was probably the closest thing to one at that time, which was more of a variety show. Some other shows went to syndication after being cancelled by the networks, like Lassie and Hee-Haw and some were imported like SCTV. None of those were sitcoms though. Dusty's Trail seems to be a rare beast as an original sitcom produced in the U.S. for syndication at that time.