early westerns on TV

[merrylander]

I can see the actor who played the lead in The Virginia, but CRS has kicked in as far as his name goes.

I still think Hollywood did a dis-service in glorifying the wild west (and I think that I probably read every novel Louis L'Amore wrote.)

[Charles]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Yeah but in reality Miss Kitty was a pox ridden whore and most gunslingers were undisciplined adolecents. Kinda takes the glamour off does it not?

I don't think Matt's gonna take too kindly to what you've said about his squezze.

And while those old white hat cowboy shows were as fake as a three dollar bill (ever see a horse turd on the streets of Dodge), they were a lesson in morality. The hero was always slow to anger, wise beyond his years, and when forced to go to the gun, and you knew he would, good always triumphed over evil.

Compare that with today's culture of rap music and the absolute garbage that comes from Hollywood.

I'll take the grim determination of a Gary Cooper over a Rambo with an M60 any day.

Chas

[d-ray657]

I remember that when I was growing up, even pro rassling was a morality play. Clearly defined good guys and bad guys, and the cheaters never prospered. I took my son to the pro wrestling for his birthday several years ago and even the audience was r-rated. No good guys or bad guys, just a battle of who has the worst case of 'roid rage on that particular day.

Regards,

D-Ray

[Charles]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

I remember that when I was growing up, even pro rassling was a morality play. Clearly defined good guys and bad guys, and the cheaters never prospered. I took my son to the pro wrestling for his birthday several years ago and even the audience was r-rated. No good guys or bad guys, just a battle of who has the worst case of 'roid rage on that particular day.

Regards,

D-Ray

Don't know if Hollyweird is a reflection of society, or a cause of the discontent. Probably a little of the two.

I've got an idea...let's outlaw teevees!!!

Chas

[westgate]

my new favorite old western-

wagon train with ward bond, robert horton (still alive), used to watch it back in the day, i was 5. first season started 1957, is finally on dvd.

cisco kid.
alias smith and jones

these and others can be seen currently on retro-tv.

[westgate]

Originally Posted by merrylander

I can see the actor who played the lead in The Virginia, but CRS has kicked in as far as his name goes.

I still think Hollywood did a dis-service in glorifying the wild west (and I think that I probably read every novel Louis L'Amore wrote.)

iirc, james drury

[merrylander]

He did the TV series, just Bing'd it and in the movie it was Joel MacRae.

[Combwork]

Originally Posted by merrylander

I can see the actor who played the lead in The Virginia, but CRS has kicked in as far as his name goes.

I still think Hollywood did a dis-service in glorifying the wild west (and I think that I probably read every novel Louis L'Amore wrote.)

A whole generation of children over here were not only brought up on the stuff (ABC saturday morning cinema complete with radioactive badge) they believed it was real. To us (for whom the chances of actually going to the USA were about the same as going to the moon) Arizona, Texas, all those kind of places were what America really was. The bad guys ride into town, the good guys take them on. Street warfare in open spaces.

The steam engines were what fascinated me. Were they all fake, or did any Westerns use real early 20th century engines; firing them up and hoping they'd stay in one piece just long enough to get the shot?

[westgate]

Originally Posted by westgate

my new favorite old western-

wagon train with ward bond, robert horton (still alive), used to watch it back in the day, i was 5. first season started 1957, is finally on dvd.

cisco kid.
alias smith and jones

these and others can be seen currently on retro-tv.

jeez, speaking of wagon train, it just came on at noon here in vt, on retro tv, and there is no audio. bummer.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Combwork

A whole generation of children over here were not only brought up on the stuff (ABC saturday morning cinema complete with radioactive badge) they believed it was real. To us (for whom the chances of actually going to the USA were about the same as going to the moon) Arizona, Texas, all those kind of places were what America really was. The bad guys ride into town, the good guys take them on. Street warfare in open spaces.

The steam engines were what fascinated me. Were they all fake, or did any Westerns use real early 20th century engines; firing them up and hoping they'd stay in one piece just long enough to get the shot?

The steam locomotives were about the only things that weren't fake. Several of them still around, and places where you can ride them on the old narrow gauge tracks.

This one comes to mind.

http://www.durangotrain.com/

If you're ever out that way, Mesa Verde is also worth a stop. But if you see a plywood sign on which someone has spray painted "Indian Casino" with an arrow pointing down in the woods, I think I'd just keep going.

We did.

Chas