The History of Western Cowboy Films Part 1

Westerns have been around since the early 1900. Almost all of the early cowboy movies were B movies or low budget. These cowboy films reached their high point in 1959. The time period was usually based between 1865 through the early 1900s. The usual plots were based on the good versus the bad, native Americans deemed as savages losing their homeland against their will, bank robberies, settlers getting swindled out of their savings and land or a push to through the wilderness. Many westerns based on historic events such as the Alamo or character like the James Gang. Rich beautiful scene filled the back ground of these shows such as horses, creeks, rivers, and mountainous background. Other characteristics included cowboys, guns, spurs, saloons, banks trains, outlaws, cattle, petticoats, gunfights, stagecoaches, great theme music accompanied with singing cowboys and cowgirls. The hero was often the law or a lone good hearted cowboy with a fast gun. A few of the early cowboys later had really great finacial security due to the public infatuation with cowboys.

The first westerns films were silent movies. The Great Train Robbery staring Justice D Barnes directed by Edwin S Porter and aired December 1903. This movie featured a robbery, posse, death and a final fight scene in the woods. The first silent western superstar was William S Hart. He starred in such movies as White Oak and Hell's Hinges.

Phantom Bullet          The Last Drop of Water      The Code of  The West
Black Cyclone           The Devil Horse                   Manhattan Cowboy
Custers Last Fight     Fight It Out                          Warned In Advance

According to wikapedia Stagecoach featuring Claire Trevor and John Wayne was the first western with sound. Stagecoach debuted in 1939.  This film was about a stagecoach travel across Apache country. There was a classic chase seen, a prostitute,  and an escaped outlaw.

John Wayne was cast in over 35 westerns. Fans referred to him as the "Duke." Wayne had an unforgettable cocky swagger and a lazy no nonsense way of delivering his lines. He gave the term Pilgrim new meaning. Because of the toughness and braveness of the characters the Duke portrayed, the term a "John Wayne Attitude" was coined. My favorite John Wayne westerns are The Sons of Kate Elder, The Shootist and The Man That Shot Liberty Valance.

Along with sound came the singing cowboys  and well orchestrated theme songs. Parade of The West featured Ken Maynard, the first actor to sing in a western. John Wayne later starred as Sandy Saunders a singing cowboy in the Riders of Destiny. Although Wayne was a brilliant actor; He was no singer. Smith Bellows did the actual singing. Due to request from fans to sing at events Wayne later refused to take any more singing roles.  Wayne s refusal  opened the door for others. The most famous and prosperous singing cowboy was Gene Autry.
Gene Autry was called the "Singing Cowboy."  Autry starred in over 18 movies  His name and face was franchised.  This actor turned business man later owned 10 radio stations, a cattle ranch and a baseball team(The Las Angele's Angels).  Autry also had a TV show( The Gene Autry Show) which ran between 1950-1956 airing 91 episodes.
Roy Roger(Leonard Franklin Slye) was second only to Gene Autry. Roy Rogers was a successful cowboy singer and actor.  He appeared in over 100 movies. Most of us remember Rogers for his tv show "The Roy Rogers Show" featuring his wife Dale Evans. The theme song "Happy Trails" was written by Dale Evans.
Dorothy Page starred in "The Singing Cowgirl," Water Rustlers and Ride em Cowgirl. She was considered at one time one of America's most beautiful women. Unfortunately there were few roles for leading ladies in westerns.
Other Singing  Cowboys   
Tex Ritter        Ken Curtis      Kirby Grant      Micheal Martin Murphy    Monte Hale
Eddie Dean     Bob Steele     William Boyd    Sons of Pioneers

Tex Ritter        Ken Curtis      Kirby Grant      Micheal Martin Murphy    Monte Hale
Eddie Dean     Bob Steele     William Boyd    Sons of Pioneers

The first tv western Hopalong Cassidy was created by Clearance E Mulford and starred William Boyd debuted in 1949. The Hopalong character often wore black and rode a horse named Topper. Although this character often wore black, he was a do gooder when called upon by citizens.
The Lone Ranger(Clayton Moore) was an early and long running radio and TV series. In 1933 the first long ranger show aired on radio. The TV show debuted on TV in 1949 and ran through 1957. This show aired over 2,956 radio episodes. The story was based on a Texas cowboy that wore a black mask. His horses' name was Silver. Tonto was an Indian side kick played by John Todd, Roland Parker and Jay Silver Heels. Tonto often referred to the Lone Ranger as "Kemo Sabe" which means trusty scout/faithful friend. This masked man usually arrived in town caught the bad guys and brought them to justice with Tontos help. His name was never revealed. Towns people didn't trust him right away because of the mask. At the end of ever episode some one would ask, " Who was that masked man?" Finally. There would be an image with the Ranger on his horse shouting , "Hi yo Silver" and they'd ride off. Both the Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy had a popular comic book series.

Gunsmoke created by Norman McDoonnell and John Meston aired on radio from 1952-1961 the TV version. For many Gunsmoke was the Legend of Legends when it comes . This was on TV Westerns of the best tv westerns/tv shows of any kind ran for 20 years. Between 1955 and 1975 this show aired over 635 episode. Gunsmoke was base on a US Marshall in Dodge City taking on outlaws saloon fights and settling disputes with ranch hands and farmers with the help of his sidekick Festus. Dodge City had grumpy town doctor. Miss Kitty was the most popular salon gal of all times and the marshal's main squeeze.

Howard Mc Near/Doc
William Conrad/ Matt Dillion
Gorgia/ Elis Kitty
Parley Baer/ Chester

James Arness Matt Dillion
Amanda Blake Miss Kitty
Dennis Weaver Chester
Ken Curtis Festus
Burt Reynolds Blacksmith
Buck Taylor & Roger Ewing as deputies

Big Valley ran from 1965-1969. Barbara Stanwyck starred as Victoria Barkley. Her character was stern and tough while she ran a ranch with her beautiful daughter Andrea played by Linda Evans along with her three sons Heath(Lee Majors), Jarrad (Richard Long), and Nick(Peter Breck). Barbara Stanwyck and Amanda Blake were the most famous of TV westerns during the sixties.

The Wild Wild West wasn't the typical western. This was the sex appeal era in westerns. Women loved the way those tight pants fit Robert Conrad. It was about two government agents Jim West(Robert Conrad) and Artemuss Gorden(Ross Martin) arriving in town on a luxury train leaving with pretty ladies at the end. West and Gorden captured villains and disrupted their even plans. They also usually protected president Ulysses S Grant. West was like a modern day agent with all types of gadgets in his shoes and clothes used for his escapes. Gorden was a master of disguise. Their number one nemesis was doctor Loveless (Micheal Dunn) a dwarf genius and inventive villain that always got away. Most viewers were blown away by the TV introduction.
TV westerns soared in the 1940's and 1950's. The peak year for westerns was 1959. Viewers interest declined. Fewer cowboy shows were made. Some adversary groups insisted these films were too violent. Mounting pressure from parents and these groups led three major networks to end any airing of new western series. In 1973 Bonanza had it's final run and Gunsmoke in 1975.

High Chaparral              Big Valley                    Riffleman           The Cisco Kid
Kit Carson                     Wild Bill Hickok            Annie Oakley     The Life /Wyatt Earp
Cheyenne                     Bronco                         Maverick            Have Gun Will Travel
Wagon Train                 Colt 45                        The Texan          Rawhide
The Dakotas                 Branded                      Wagon Train      Daniel Boone