Western TV Trivia

[tv star collector]

Roy Rogers' real name was Leonard Slye. He was originally from Cincinatti. Roy
was 39 years old when THE ROY ROGERS SHOW debuted (1951). He and Dale
were married in 1947. Trigger, his horse, was purchased in 1938 for $2500--a
bargain, considering what he was worth to Rogers over the next 20 years. Roy performed most of his own stunts on the show.

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP was written by Arthur Lake, who had
lived with Earp in the last four years of his life. Lake served as "technical adviser" to the show. Star Hugh O'Brian was the same size as Earp, 6', 180 lbs.

WAGON TRAIN was based on the 1950 movie "Wagonmaster," which starred Ward Bond. When filming on the series began, Bond was already a veteran of
over 200 cowboy movies.

NBC wanted established stars for BONANZA but the show's creator, David
Dortort, insisted that TV could make its own stars. Of the four leading men,
all but Michael Landon were virtual unknowns. Pernell Roberts was a New
York stage actor. Lorne Greene, who had once been the Canadian Broadcast-
ing Company's main announcer, was selected after Dortort saw him on a
WAGON TRAIN episode. Dan Blocker, a former Texas school teacher, had
worked once with Dortort on an episode of the western RESTLESS GUN.

[tv star collector]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

Roy Rogers' real name was Leonard Slye. He was originally from Cincinatti. Roy
was 39 years old when THE ROY ROGERS SHOW debuted (1951). He and Dale
were married in 1947. Trigger, his horse, was purchased in 1938 for $2500--a
bargain, considering what he was worth to Rogers over the next 20 years. Roy performed most of his own stunts on the show.

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP was written by Arthur Lake, who had
lived with Earp in the last four years of his life. Lake served as "technical adviser" to the show. Star Hugh O'Brian was the same size as Earp, 6', 180 lbs.

WAGON TRAIN was based on the 1950 movie "Wagonmaster," which starred Ward Bond. When filming on the series began, Bond was already a veteran of
over 200 cowboy movies.

NBC wanted established stars for BONANZA but the show's creator, David
Dortort, insisted that TV could make its own stars. Of the four leading men,
all but Michael Landon were virtual unknowns. Pernell Roberts was a New
York stage actor. Lorne Greene, who had once been the Canadian Broadcast-
ing Company's main announcer, was selected after Dortort saw him on a
WAGON TRAIN episode. Dan Blocker, a former Texas school teacher, had
worked once with Dortort on an episode of the western RESTLESS GUN.

(Source: TV trivia expert John Javna)

[lilhave]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

Roy Rogers' real name was Leonard Slye. He was originally from Cincinatti. Roy
was 39 years old when THE ROY ROGERS SHOW debuted (1951). He and Dale
were married in 1947. Trigger, his horse, was purchased in 1938 for $2500--a
bargain, considering what he was worth to Rogers over the next 20 years. Roy performed most of his own stunts on the show.

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP was written by Arthur Lake, who had
lived with Earp in the last four years of his life. Lake served as "technical adviser" to the show. Star Hugh O'Brian was the same size as Earp, 6', 180 lbs.

WAGON TRAIN was based on the 1950 movie "Wagonmaster," which starred Ward Bond. When filming on the series began, Bond was already a veteran of
over 200 cowboy movies.

NBC wanted established stars for BONANZA but the show's creator, David
Dortort, insisted that TV could make its own stars. Of the four leading men,
all but Michael Landon were virtual unknowns. Pernell Roberts was a New
York stage actor. Lorne Greene, who had once been the Canadian Broadcast-
ing Company's main announcer, was selected after Dortort saw him on a
WAGON TRAIN episode. Dan Blocker, a former Texas school teacher, had
worked once with Dortort on an episode of the western RESTLESS GUN.

Rogers, or Slye. originally began as a singer with the Sons of the Pioneers, replacing lead singer Bob Nolan at one point. In his first movie role he played a bad guy and was knocked down by the lead, Gene Autry. The rest is history as Autry wanted more money, left the studio and Rogers became "king of the Cowboys. I thought Autry was a better singer.

At the time John Wayne's best drinking buddy was Ward Bond and it was Wayne who recommended Bond as the lead for Wagon Train. Til then, Ward, a great character actor was never considered a lead. I must have 150 of wagon train's. Great show. Years later when Gunsmoke went to Tv and the suits didn't think Conrad looked the part of Matt Dillon and offered the role to Wayne, Wayne turned them down and recommended his new drinking buddy, James Arness, who at the time only did the "thing", for the lead. 20 years later____.

Harvey

[toebig]

What was the only western series on RADIO that was a TV series before becoming a radio series?

The answer will be in the next reply to this post.

Toebig

[toebig]

Don't peek now.


Toebig









Have Gun Will Travel.