Rawhide

Rawhide

1959 - United States

Based on George Dutfield's 1866 diary, Rawhide told the tale of a team of cowboys on a cattle drive from San Antonio, Texas, to Sedalia, Kansas, during the same period. 

The drovers were led by Gil Favor (Eric Fleming) but the series is probably best remembered these days for the character Rowdy Yates, a part played by up and coming mega-star Clint Eastwood. (It was this role that brought Eastwood to the attention of spaghetti western director Sergio Leone). Other characters included Wishbone (Paul Brinegar), Mushy (James Murdock), and Pete Nolan (country singer Sheb Wooley, who had a 1958 hit with 'Purple People Eater'). 

In the fall of 1965 Yates took over as trail boss and organised his own team of drovers - but it was a short lived drive for the new boss as the series was cancelled in January 1966. 

The stirring Rawhide theme tune was written by eleven-time Academy Award nominee Ned Washington and twenty-two time Academy Award nominee (4 wins) Dmitri Tiomkin and sung over the opening credits by Frankie Laine.

Published on January 24th, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Bat Masterson

Based on the real-life exploits of William Bartholomew Masterson, a Dodge City lawman who preferred to use his wits instead of his fists and his cane instead of his Colt.

Also tagged Western

The Four Just Men

Based on a novel by Edgar Wallace, The Four Just Men was one of the first series that mixed an all-star cast, crime-fighting adventure and exotic locations.

Also released in 1959

Branded

An innocent man is branded a coward in this classic US Western series

Also tagged Western

Bonanza

Running for 14 years on it's native NBC network, Bonanza was set on the vast Ponderosa timber and cattle ranch in Nevada in the 1860's. The show was notable for being the first TV Western to be shot in colour.

Also released in 1959

The Adventures of Brigadier Wllington Bull

Sitcom following the adventures of a retired Army Brigadier, Garnet Wellington-Bull, a widowed career soldier who, now retired, is trying to come to terms with life on civvy street but not finding it very easy.

Also released in 1959

The Cisco Kid

The Cisco Kid was nominated in 1953 for an Emmy Award for children's programming. By 1955 it was the most popular filmed television series among American children.

Also tagged Western

The Big Valley

Set in California's San Joaquin Valley, The Big Valley was what the series 'Dallas' may have looked like if it had been set in the 1870s.

Also tagged Western