Calling Marshall Dillon

Mr. Dillon! Mr. Dillon!  Boy does that bring back a few memories.  I realize that some of you (especially age 50 and under) may not be old enough to know the significance of those words.  But for many of us, it brings to mind a limping cowboy named Chester looking for the Marshall because someone had gone or was about to go afoul of the law.  It could be a fist-fight at the Long-Branch Saloon or something more serious.  Now, if that rings a bell, then much of this post will be familiar.  If you’re too young to remember Gunsmoke, with Marshall Dillon and Chester or Festus, please stay and visit with us anyway as we recall the glory days of TV westerns.  It will give you something to discuss with your folks the next time you are having a friendly disagreement over the decline of western civilization, particularly as it relates to prime-time television.

For most of my life, I have been a cowboy junkie.  Over the years, I have wandered off the ranch many times to explore and enjoy different genres, but I always find myself drawn back to the traditional American western TV show.  I also like many of the movies (mostly the original versions) such as The Magnificent Seven, 3:10 to Yuma, North to Alaska, and one of my favorites, Open Range.  But, I like the TV shows best.  That is probably because I grew up on Rawhide, Wagon Train, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Big Valley, Sugarfoot, Cheyenne and Maverick.  I don’t subscribe to any premium channels, but if I could subscribe to Encore Westerns without the others, I’d sign up tomorrow.

These programs were a huge part of my childhood even to the point of influencing the way my friends and I played or entertained ourselves.  Obviously, we didn’t have video games and usually had TV reception for only a couple of area stations, so we spent a lot of time outside playing Cowboys.  This usually consisted of creating a storyline such as a bank robbery or train robbery, followed by a chase and finally by a shootout.  If Santa had been good, we might have cool toy six-shooters strapped on our leg.  If not, a finger or stick gun was the next best thing.  There were also times when we played army, but I was more into cowboys.  Probably because I could never make the rapid machine gun noise with my tongue like my cousin could.  It’s hard to play army if you can’t make a noise like a machine gun.

Without a doubt, these Westerns influenced who I am, to at least some degree.  I still remember most of the characters and many of their traits. (They were heroes who we could imitate.  I don’t see too much of that today.)  For example, I remember Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates, sidekick to Gil Favor on Rawhide long before he became Dirty Harry in Hollywood.  When I think of Wagon Train, I think of Ward Bond and John McIntyre leading the wagons filled with families seeking a better life.  Who could forget Charlie Wooster and the chuck-wagon?

Bonanza, another favorite, was the first western that I remember watching in color.  The theme song and map of the Ponderosa are burned into my memory banks.  Ben Cartwright, the patriarch of the Cartwright clan was a man of strength, wisdom and fairness.  I don’t ever recall seeing Ben make a blunder.  I’m sure he did, but he always seemed to rule his family with patience and sound advice.  For some reason, I thought Adam Cartwright was the coolest cowboy on the planet.  Maybe it was the black clothes and the laid-back demeanor.  You know what I mean, the strong silent type.  I just know he was super cool.  And when he left the series, I thought it lost more than it probably did.

Big Valley also had the theme of family, including Heath Barkley, the half-brother played by Lee Majors.  But he became a six million dollar man and left the series.  Or maybe the series just ended.  Barbara Stanwick, as Victoria Barkley, epitomized dignity and strength rolled into one.  The family often fought among themselves, but were always united against any outside opposition.  Years later, I actually saw Peter Breck in a production at UNA.  That was pretty neat.  And, for some odd reason, I still remember Audra Barkley, played by Linda Evans.

Maverick was probably one of the first westerns to consistently interject humor into the plot.  Bret Maverick was a smooth gambler, ladies’ man and all-around good guy (most of the time).  His brother Bart occasionally dropped in for a random episode, but I never really understood why he was on the show.

There were others.  Sugarfoot featured a peaceable Tom Brewster as its main character.  He was a laid-back sarsaparilla drinking cowboy who know how to fight with his fists and use a gun when he was forced to.  Cheyenne was about a cowboy named Cheyenne Bodie who was one tough customer.  Cheyenne was played by Clint Walker.  If I recall correctly, Cheyenne, Maverick and Sugarfoot also featured a similar silhouette backdrop for the opening theme and closing credits.  All three also had lyrical theme songs that I still remember today.  While most TV shows featured limited amounts of western music, (a change from the days of the “singing cowboys”), most had memorable theme songs or instrumental themes.  And Wyatt Earp featured a fearless good guy on the original TV series.  I was disappointed to read later that maybe he was not quite the guy that Hugh O’Brian portrayed him to be on the television series.

Some, for whatever reason, were not quite as appealing to me. My brother was a big fan of The Virginian.   Me, not so much.  My son has actually taking a liking to it, however.  Bat Masterson could be included in this list of just OK westerns.  Other cowboys, such as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Tex Ritter were just a few years before my time.  However, they were westerns and if they were on, I would watch them.

Of course, Gunsmoke was the godfather of TV westerns.  U. S. Marshall Matt Dillon was the embodiment of everything we would expect from a Marshall.  He was strong, fair, level-headed and all business.  As a kid, I never understood the relationship with Miss Kitty, but that’s neither here nor there.  His friendships with her, Doc Adams, Chester, Festus and Quint Asper (a blacksmith, played by a young Burt Reynolds) always resulted in me being glued to the television to see how justice would prevail.  It always did, it was only a question of who would survive.  I read later that John Wayne turned down the role as Matt Dillon, but recommended James Arness for the job.  His life was never the same.  And speaking of John Wayne, he is without question my favorite cowboy.  But today, I’m dealing with the TV westerns so I’ll leave the Duke for another day.

I was sold out to the westerns and for a while, many years back, sported a cowboy hat, white of course.  I also dabbled in western or cowboy music, even penning a couple of songs that were pretty bad.  They are in a folder somewhere and long after I’m gone, my kids may see them and agree that they were as bad as I suspected.

Yes, I know the TV westerns were probably not an accurate portrayal of the old west, and no doubt in today’s environment, many would never see the light of day.  I get that.  But those were simpler days and the line between right and wrong was usually bold and clear.  Good guys were good guys and bad guys were bad guys.  I liked that.  It made things easier.  And I didn’t mind the writers taking artistic license.  I also didn’t mind the fact that the shows didn’t address all the social ills of the day.  They made for good television and that was enough.  They also taught some proper values along the way.  I didn’t have to read on social media about the failings, political persuasions or personal lives of the stars.  I wish that was the case today.  It was simple.  And as I get older, I like simple.  There is a time and place for most things.  The old westerns knew that and embraced it.  And I embraced them.

I know those days are past.  I know in some ways they were never what they appeared.  But I’m thankful that they have been retained and restored for my viewing enjoyment.  It reminds me that I do have a few anchors and constants.  It reminds me of who I am and where I came from.  It reminds me that sometimes right is right and wrong is wrong.  Maybe you don’t agree.  That’s OK.  Maybe when our paths cross, we can share a sarsaparilla and discuss it like a couple of old cowboys.

I close by sharing the words that Roy Roger used to say. “Until we meet again, may the good Lord take a liking to you.”

Happy trails.