CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - TV Western series  

Zane Grey Theatre (1956-61)    Frontier Justice (Summer 1958, 59, 61)
Trackdown (1957-59)   Wanted Dead or Alive (1958-61)  The Rifleman (1958-63)
Black Saddle (1959-60)   Johnny Ringo (1958-61)  Law of The Plainsman (1959-60)
The Westerner (1960)   Stagecoach West (1960-61)  The Big Valley (1965-69)

Brian Keith series
   Crusader (1955-56)  -  The Westerner (1960)  -  Family Affair (1966-71)
The Little People (1972-73) / The Brian Keith Show (1973-74)   
The Westerner (1960)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Sal Crisanti
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
-------------
THE WESTERNER
-------------
Four Star-Winchester Production
for
NBC (Fridays 8:30 pm EST)
Executive Producer Hal Hudson  
Created and Produced by Sam Peckinpah
Associate Producers Jack Gariss & Richard V. Heermance  
Production Supervisor: Jack Sontag
Production Manager: Norman Powell (also Barry Crane?)

US Western series 1960 pilot + 13 episodes x 30 min bw
starring
Brian Keith
as  Dave Blasingame
with
John Dehner as Burgundy Smith (recurring)

Premise:
Laconic cowboy Dave Blasingame wanders the Wild West with his faithful
dog Brown and the occasional companionship of pal Burgundy Smith.

Directors include:
Sam Peckinpah, Ted Post, Bernard L. Kowalski, Don McDougall  
André De Toth, Bruce Geller, Tom Gries, Elliot Silverstein  
*
Writers included:
Sam Peckinpah, Bruce Geller, Tom Gries, Cyril Hume
#
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS:
ROBERT WHITE, MIKE SALAMUNOVICH, WILLIAM CALIHAN
#
DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY:
FRANK G. CARSON, LUCIAN BALLARD, HOWARD SCHWARTZ
Film Editing by Bernard W. Burton and Lester Orlebeck  
#
MUSIC SUPERVISION/ Original Music: HERSCHEL BURKE GILBERT
MUSIC SCORED BY: RUDY SCHRAGER
Musical Director: Rudy Schrager/ Josep Mullendore
#
STUNTS:
BOYD'RED'MORGAN, PAUL STADER, TOM STEELE, FRED KRONE

Executive Art Director: Bill Ross
Art Director: Jan Van Tamelen
Costumes: Robert B. Harris

################ The Westerner ###############
################### pilot ##################
##############################################

Zane Grey Theatre (1956-61)   3.24 [--]  TROUBLE AT TRES CRUCES (pilot for "The Westerner")
26Mar59 on CBS
FOUR STAR-ZANE GREY PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE FRANK BAUER
PRODUCED BY HAL HUDSON
DIRECTED AND WRITTEN BY SAM PECKINPAH
Written and Directed by Sam Peckinpah
EDITORIAL SUPERVISOR BERNARD BURTON
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY GEORGE DISKANT
Starring
Brian Keith as Dave Blassingame
Guest Cast:
Neville Brand
Ted DeCorsia
Frank Silvera
Michael Pate
Rita Lynn
Elsa Cardenas
Brad Johnson
Synopsis 1:
Dave Blassingame ihnerits his famous 95 Winchester from his uncle who asked for Dave's help, but died before Dave could help. 
Brian was here the lonely, quiet and strong cowboy that we feel his past is heavy to carry on and that we'll find too in
"Deadly Companions" with Maureen O'Hara, also directed by Sam Peckinpah.
Synopsis 2:
DAVE BLASSINGAME RECEIVES A LETTER FROM HIS UNCLE, ADAM BROWN, WHO OPERATES A RANCH NEAR THE TOWN OF TRES CRUCES. WHEN HE ARRIVES,
DAVE IS INFORMED BY ONE OF PEASANTS THAT HIS UNCLE HAS BEEN MURDERED BY A LOCAL TYRANT WHO STOLE THE DEED TO HIS UNCLE'S RANCH. [SC]


################ The Westerner ###############
############## season fall 1960 ##############
##############################################
    NBC Fridays 8:30pm Eastern

1.01 [--] The Westerner: JEFF [verified -SC]
30-Sep-1960 NBC Fri
Written by Robert Heverly and Sam Peckinpah / Directed by Sam Peckinpah
Director of Photography: Lucien Ballard, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Cast:
Geoffrey Toone ........ Danny Lipp
Charles Horvath ....... Crow
Michael Green ......... Waggoner
Warren Oates .......... Drunk
Wayne Tucker .......... Asquint
William Sharon ........ Orchard
Marie Selland ......... Glorie
With:
Diana Millay .......... Jeff
Synopsis:
Dave Blassingame has traveled 300 miles to kill a man named Danny Lipp. Lipp is the owner of a run-down border town saloon. When Dave
arrives he meets a saloon girl named Jeff, who he remembers when he was a young boy. Dave confronts Lipp and his cohorts and beats Danny
in a bloody fist fight. Dave wants to take Jeff back with him, but she refuses and decides to stay with the saloon owner. [SC]

1.02 [--] The Westerner: SCHOOLDAYS [verified -SC]
07-Oct-1960 NBC Fri
Written by Sam Peckinpah and Robert Heverly / Directed by Andre De Toth
Director of Photography: George Diskant, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Cast:
R.G. Armstrong ........ Shell Davidson
Maggie Mahoney ........ Eleanor Larson
With:
John Anderson ......... Lath Ritchie
*
Richard Rust .......... Deputy Tyson
William Tracy ......... Doug Ritchie
Bill Quinn ............ Ted Manning
Bill Mims ............. Roy Huff
Dub Taylor ............ Walt Smith
James Anderson ........ Frank Ritchie
Frank Hagney .......... Al
Synopsis:
Frank Ritchie murders school teacher Eleanor Larson. Dave Blassingame arrives and shoots Ritchie, seriously wounding him. He manages to
escape, but Dave catches up with him at his brothers shack. He dies and his two brothers, Lath and Doug, try to blame the murder on Dave. [SC]

1.03 [--] The Westerner: BROWN [verified -SC]
21-Oct-1960 NBC Fri
Written by Bruce Geller / Directed By Sam Peckinpah
Director of Photography: Ed Cronjager, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Cast:
Harry Swoger .......... Tom Lacette
Conlan Carter.......... Meed
Henry A. Gobble ....... Digger
Victor Izay ........... The Bartender
Chris Carter .......... Chris
Janan Hart ............ Jan
Fred Ingram, Rudy Dolan, Michael T. Mikler, Jimmy Lee Cook ........ Band Members
And Introducing:
John Dehner ........... Burgundy Smith (recurring)
Synopsis:
Dave loses his dog to a fast talker.

1.04 [--] The Westerner: MRS. KENNEDY [verified-SC]
28-Oct-1960 NBC Friday
Written by John Dunkel and Sam Peckinpah / Story by John Dunkel
Directed by Bernard Kowalski
Director of Photography: Arch Dalzell, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Cast:
Jean Allison .......... Margie Lee Kennedy
Wendell Holmes ........ Henry Hadley
With:
Paul Richards ......... Marsh Kennedy
Synopsis:
Henry Hadley has found his fortune. He arrives at his Neice and Nephew's small ranch. He informs them that he hired
Dave Blassingame to work for them as a ranch hand. Marsh Kennedy wants Dave to leave. Margie Lee Kennedy is attracted
to Dave, and Marsh is attracted to the doubled-eagle gold coins in his Uncle Hadley's saddle bags. [SC]

1.05 [--] The Westerner: DOS PINOS [verified -SC]
04-Nov-1960 NBC Friday
Written by E. Jack Neuman / Directed by Donald McDougall
Director of Photography: George Diskant, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Cast:
Malcolm Atterbury ..... Andy
Michael T. Mikler ..... Cassidy
Warren Tufts .......... Gator
Manuel Serrano ........ Artco
Red Morgan ............ Red Coons
Marie Selland ......... Jenny Coons
Irene Calvillo ........ Chull
Miki Kato ............. Inez
Marianna Hill ......... Cora
And:
Adam Williams ......... Pauk
With:
Jean Willes ........... Sal
Synopsis:
Dave Blassingame arrives in the small, dusty town of Dos Pinos looking for room and board. All he finds at the local cantina is a
gun-happy trouble maker named Pauk and a wounded deputy named Red Coons. Dave looks for help from the cantina's owner, named Sal. [SC]

1.06 [--] The Westerner: THE COURTING OF LIBBY [verified on film]
11-Nov-60 NBC Fri
Written by Bruce Geller / Directed By Sam Peckinpah
Director of Photography: Lucien Ballard, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
With: John Dehner (as Burgundy Smith)(recurring)
Guest Star:
Joan O'Brien .......... Libby
*
John Apone ............ Mark
Rudy Dolan ............ John
Barney Brown .......... Barber
Henry Gobble .......... Luke
Jimmy Lee Cook ........ Matt
Marie Selland ......... The Customer

1.07 [--] The Westerner: TREASURE (a.k.a. "Gold") [verified -SC]
18-Nov-1960 NBC Fri
Written by Cyril Hume / Directed by Ted Post
Director of Photography: Howard Schwartz, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Cast:
Malcolm Atterbury ..... Marshal Frank Dollar
Arthur Hunnicut ....... Old Man (Old Prospector)
Victor Izay ........... Euastace
Henry A. Gobble ....... Digger
Leonard P. Geer ....... Jubal
Michale Morgan ....... Jose
Synopsis:
Dave Blassingame and his dog Brown take shelter during a desert dust storm. Dave accidently finds a pouch containing
Gold coins buried in some rocks where he took shelter. An old prospector shows up realizing that Dave found the Gold
coins and has a plan to releave him of the Gold. [SC]

1.08 [--] The Westerner: THE OLD MAN [verified-SC]
25-Nov-1960 NBC Fri
Written by Sam Peckinpah and Jack Curtis / Directed by Andre de Toth
Director of Photography: Guy Roe, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Star:
Sam Jaffe ............. Old Man McKean
*
Robert Wilke .......... Murdo
Dee Pollock ........... Billy
Michael Forest ........ Troy
Frank Ferguson ........ Stuart
Michael Mickler ....... Reno
Jimmy Lee Cook ........ Tover
Marrie Selland ........ Addie
Earl Hodgins .......... Saul
Ryan Hayes ........... Ike
Synopsis:
Old Man McKean, the owner of the Agua Verde Ranch, is dieing. His kinfolk are coming so they can get a piece of the ranch.
Somewhere on the trail, Murdo McKean and Troy McKean steal Dave Blassingame's horse and rifle. Later, Dave arrives at the
Agua Vwedw Ranch determined to get his horse and rifle back. [SC]

1.09 [--] The Westerner: GHOST OF A CHANCE [verified on film]
02-Dec-1960 NBC Fri
Written by Milton S. Gelman / Directed by Bruce Geller
Director of Photography: Carl Guthrie, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Star:
Katy Jurado ........... Carlotta
Special Guest Star:
Joseph Wiseman ........ Serafin
*
Pepe Callahan ......... Juan
Julio Alejos Corona ... Mio
Roberto Contreras ..... Pedro
Irene Calvillo ........ Woman in Bar

1.10 [--] The Westerner: LINE CAMP [verified -SC]
09-Dec-1960 NBC Fri
Written and Directed by Tom Gries
Director of Photography: Lucien Ballard, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Star:
Robert Culp ........... Sham Prescott
*
Karl Swenson .......... Potts
Slim Pickens .......... Hudson
Hari Rhodes ........... Mr. Jones
Hank Patterson ........ Sample
Jimmy Lee Cook ........ Munday
Synopsis:
Dave Blassingame and his dog Brown find a dead cowhand on the trail. Dave takes the body to a nearby cattle line camp.
Dave accepts a job as a cow puncher and meets a former friend named Sham Prescott. Some days later Dave, Prescott and
the other cowhands get drunk. Prescott provokes Dave into a gunfight and is killed. [SC]

1.11 [--] The Westerner: GOING HOME [verified -SC]
16-Dec-1960 NBC
Written by Jack Curtis / Directed by Elliott Silverstein
Director of Photography: Ed Cronjager, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Cast:
Virginia Gregg ........ Sabetha
Jack Kruschen ......... Rigdon
John Brinkley ......... Bick
Michael T. Mikler ..... Muncie
Rudy Dolan ............ Sliger
Jimmy Lee Cook ........ Max
With:
Mary Murphy ........... Suzy
Synopsis:
While on the trail, on his way back from Sonora, Dave Blassingame encounters two women pushing a cart with a mortally wounded man inside,
and a bounty hunter named Rigdon and his men seeking the two-thousand dollar reward for the wounded man named Little Bick. [SC]

1.12 [--] The Westerner: HAND ON THE GUN [verified -SC]
23-Dec-1960 NBC Fri
Written by Bruce Geller / Directed by Sam Peckinpah
Director of Photography: Frank G. Carson, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
Guest Stars:
Michael Ansara ........ Oresquote
Ben Cooper ............ Cal
*
John Pickard .......... Meno
Wayne Tucker .......... Ned
Hank Gobble ........... Digger
Synopsis:
Dave and his Mexican friend Oresquote are rounding-up wild horses, when a young fast-draw artist named Cal
arrives in their camp and provokes a gunfight bewteen Dave and another wrangler. [SC]

1.13 [--] The Westerner: THE PAINTING [verified -SC] (final episode)
30-Dec-1960 NBC Fri
Written by Bruce Geller / Directed by Sam Peckinpah
Director of Photography: Arch Dalzell, A.S.C.
Starring: Brian Keith (as Dave Blasingame)
With: John Dehner (as Burgundy Smith)(recurring)
Guest Cast:
Madlyn Rhue ......... Carla, "The Contessa"
Paul Sorensen ....... Walker
Tom Steele .......... Top
Hank Gobble ......... Digger
Waddie Waddle ....... Cobb
Charles La Rocca .... Card Player
Synopsis:
Dave Blassingame is fired as a ranch hand and is hired to find and return an indiscreet painting of a Spanish Contessa
named Carla. Dave's friend, Burgundy Smith tries to con Dave out of the painting that is worth a large sum of money. [SC]

############### The Westerner ###############
################# the end ##################
##############################################

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