Tales of Wells Fargo is an American Western television series starring Dale Robertson that ran from 1957 to 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until its final season, when it expanded to an hour and switched from black-and-white to color.[1][2]
Tales of Wells Fargo
Dale Robertson as James "Jim" Whitcomb Hardie, 1958
Set in the 1870s and 1880s, the series starred Oklahoma native Dale Robertson as Wells Fargo special agent Jim Hardie, noted at the time as "the left-handed gun". The character was fictional, but the series' development was influenced by the biography of Wells Fargo detective Fred J. Dodge. Agent Hardie was shown working cases in many areas of the Old West, occasionally interacting with legendary outlaws such as Jesse James and Belle Starr, as well as with other American historical figures. Hardie's own history was rarely discussed, but one episode gave a detailed backstory, portraying him as a Louisiana-born drifter who almost became an outlaw before finding his true mission in life.[citation needed]
In the final season, when episodes were longer, Hardie was given a base of operations, in a town called Gloribee, and four regular supporting characters were added. Hardie usually rode a chestnut gelding with a white blaze on his face and four white stockings. The horse actually belonged to Dale Robertson, and was named "Jubilee". In at least one episode, Jubilee came when Hardie whistled and called his name.[citation needed]
For its first two years, the series was in the top 10 of the Nielsen Ratings. During the 1957–58 season, it was ranked number three,[6] and during the 1958–59 season, it was ranked number seven.[7]
Merchandise
The television series also spawned a number of publications for young readers, including the hardcover book Danger at Dry Creek (Golden Press, 1959), and a series of Dell Comics and Little Golden Books. One of the artists who created this comic-book adaptation was Russ Heath.[8]
References
^Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 1003. ISBN978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
^McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. New York: Penguin Books. p. 901. ISBN0-14-02-4916-8. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
^Lentz, Harris (1996). Western and Frontier Film and Television Credits 1903-1995: Section I. Actors and actresses. Section II. Directors, producers, and writers. McFarland. p. 56 – via Google Books.
^"Tales of Wells Fargo: The Branding Iron". Video Detective.
^Lambert, David (September 9, 2011). . TV Shows On DVD. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
tales, wells, fargo, american, western, television, series, starring, dale, robertson, that, from, 1957, 1962, produced, revue, productions, series, aired, half, hour, format, until, final, season, when, expanded, hour, switched, from, black, white, color, dal. Tales of Wells Fargo is an American Western television series starring Dale Robertson that ran from 1957 to 1962 on NBC Produced by Revue Productions the series aired in a half hour format until its final season when it expanded to an hour and switched from black and white to color 1 2 Tales of Wells FargoDale Robertson as James Jim Whitcomb Hardie 1958GenreWesternCreated byJames BrooksFrank GruberGene ReynoldsDirected byEarl BellamyWilliam F ClaxtonLewis R FosterJerry HopperLeslie H MartinsonGene ReynoldsSidney SalkowR G SpringsteenGeorge WaggnerWilliam WitneyStarringDale RobertsonWilliam DemarestVirginia ChristineJack GingTheme music composerMort GreeneHarry WarrenStanley WilsonComposersPaul DunlapMichael GreeneMelvyn LenardMorton StevensHarry SukmanJohn WilliamsCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishNo of seasons6No of episodes201 list of episodes ProductionProducersNat HoltEarle LyonRunning time30 minutes 1957 1961 60 minutes 1961 1962 Production companiesOverland ProductionsRevue StudiosDistributorMCA TVReleaseOriginal networkNBCPicture formatBlack and white 1957 1961 Color 1961 1962 Audio formatMonauralOriginal releaseMarch 18 1957 1957 03 18 June 2 1962 1962 06 02 Dale Robertson in 1957 Dale Robertson in 1959 Dale Robertson in 1959 Suzanne Lloyd Jack Ging and Howard Keel in 1961 Dale Robertson in 1962 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cast 2 1 Lead 2 2 Recurring 2 3 Notable guest stars 3 Episodes 4 Release 4 1 Broadcast 4 2 Home media 5 Ratings 6 Merchandise 7 References 8 External linksSynopsis EditSet in the 1870s and 1880s the series starred Oklahoma native Dale Robertson as Wells Fargo special agent Jim Hardie noted at the time as the left handed gun The character was fictional but the series development was influenced by the biography of Wells Fargo detective Fred J Dodge Agent Hardie was shown working cases in many areas of the Old West occasionally interacting with legendary outlaws such as Jesse James and Belle Starr as well as with other American historical figures Hardie s own history was rarely discussed but one episode gave a detailed backstory portraying him as a Louisiana born drifter who almost became an outlaw before finding his true mission in life citation needed In the final season when episodes were longer Hardie was given a base of operations in a town called Gloribee and four regular supporting characters were added Hardie usually rode a chestnut gelding with a white blaze on his face and four white stockings The horse actually belonged to Dale Robertson and was named Jubilee In at least one episode Jubilee came when Hardie whistled and called his name citation needed Cast EditLead Edit Dale Robertson as Jim Hardie Wells Fargo agentRecurring Edit Jack Ging as Beau McCloud William Demarest as Jeb Gaine 1961 1962 Virginia Christine as Ovie 1961 1962 Lory Patrick as Tina 1961 1962 Mary Jayne Saunders as Mary G 1961 1962 Notable guest stars Edit Nick Adams Stanley Adams Claude Akins five times once as John L Sullivan Rico Alaniz Eddie Albert Chris Alcaide Fred Aldrich Morris Ankrum Roscoe Ates Roy Barcroft Trevor Bardette Rayford Barnes Baynes Barron 3 Hugh Beaumont as Jesse James John Beradino three times Lyle Bettger as John Wesley Hardin Dan Blocker Nesdon Booth Lane Bradford Stewart Bradley Steve Brodie Charles Bronson as Butch Cassidy Johnny Mack Brown Edgar Buchanan Walter Burke Terry Burnham 4 King Calder Harry Carey Jr Robert Carricart Stephen Chase John Cliff James Coburn Fred Coby Chuck Connors twice once as Sam Bass Bill Coontz Ben Cooper Jeanne Cooper as Belle Starr Ellen Corby Walter Coy Royal Dano as Cole Younger Cesare Danova as Tiburcio Vasquez Jim Davis John Dehner Francis De Sales Richard Devon Brad Dexter John Doucette Buddy Ebsen Bill Erwin Frank Ferguson Paul Fix three times once as Philip Sheridan Ron Foster Byron Foulger Beverly Garland as Pearl Hart Anthony George Sam Gilman Bruce Gordon Leo Gordon Tom Greenway Dabbs Greer Herman Hack Chick Hannan Ron Hayes Myron Healey Anne Helm as Nellie Bly Kelo Henderson as Ike Clanton Tom Hennesy Robert Buzz Henry Ed Hinton Harry Holcombe Rex Holman Rodolfo Hoyos Jr Clegg Hoyt Richard Jaeckel Brad Johnson I Stanford Jolley Dean Jones Bobby Jordan as Bob Ford Robert Karnes DeForest Kelley Ray Kellogg Don Kennedy Douglas Kennedy George Keymas Wright King Jess Kirkpatrick Fred Krone Jack Lambert Martin Landau as Doc Holliday Michael Landon three times twice as a Wells Fargo rider John Lasell Wesley Lau Tom Laughlin Norman Leavitt Tina Louise Barbara Luna Herbert Lytton Barton MacLane Donna Martell Carole Mathews Ken Mayer Ann McCrea Lin McCarthy Frank McGrath Steve McQueen as Bill Longley Tyler McVey Joyce Meadows Don Megowan as Ben Thompson Jan Merlin Robert Middleton four times John Milford James Millhollin Ewing Mitchell George Mitchell Gerald Mohr Alan Napier Anna Navarro Ed Nelson Jack Nicholson Leonard Nimoy Jimmy Noel Simon Oakland Warren Oates J Pat O Malley Gregg Palmer Dennis Patrick Wynn Pearce John M Picard Phillip Pine as Kid Curry Edward Platt as Tom Bell Joe Ploski Sydney Pollack Gilman Rankin Addison Richards as Lew Wallace Paul Richards as Johnny Ringo Jason Robards Sr Willard Sage Robert Sampson George Sawaya Frank J Scannell Vito Scotti George Selk Richard Shannon Alex Sharp Dan Sheridan Warren Stevens as Clay Allison Boyd Stockman Guy Stockwell Barbara Stuart Olive Sturgess Grant Sullivan William Tannen Vaughn Taylor Guy Teague Ray Teal Russell Thorson Lee Van Cleef Robert Vaughn as Billy the Kid Gregory Walcott Dawn Wells Adam West Peter Whitney Robert J Wilke Guinn Williams Dan DuryeaEpisodes EditMain article List of Tales of Wells Fargo episodes SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedRun TimeColorFirst airedLast aired114March 18 1957 1957 03 18 July 8 1957 1957 07 08 30 minblack amp white238September 9 1957 1957 09 09 May 26 1958 1958 05 26 30 minblack amp white339September 8 1958 1958 09 08 June 15 1959 1959 06 15 30 minblack amp white437September 7 1959 1959 09 07 May 30 1960 1960 05 30 30 minblack amp white539September 5 1960 1960 09 05 July 10 1961 1961 07 10 30 minblack amp white634September 30 1961 1961 09 30 June 2 1962 1962 06 02 60 mincolorRelease EditBroadcast Edit The pilot for Tales of Wells Fargo originally premiered as an episode of the anthology series Schlitz Playhouse of Stars In the 1960 61 season Wells Fargo was scheduled opposite ABC s detective series Surfside 6 and CBS s new sitcom Bringing Up Buddy starring Frank Aletter Wells Fargo and Surfside 6 survived another year but Bringing Up Buddy was cancelled Wells Fargo was the lead in that year to a new NBC Western Klondike starring Ralph Taeger and James Coburn but that series set in the Klondike Gold Rush town of Skagway Alaska survived only 17 episodes Home media Edit Timeless Media Group released the first two seasons on DVD in Region 1 5 DVD name Ep Release dateThe Complete First and Second Seasons 52 October 25 2011Ratings EditFor its first two years the series was in the top 10 of the Nielsen Ratings During the 1957 58 season it was ranked number three 6 and during the 1958 59 season it was ranked number seven 7 Merchandise EditThe television series also spawned a number of publications for young readers including the hardcover book Danger at Dry Creek Golden Press 1959 and a series of Dell Comics and Little Golden Books One of the artists who created this comic book adaptation was Russ Heath 8 References Edit Brooks Tim Marsh Earle F 2007 The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 Present New York Ballantine Books p 1003 ISBN 978 0 345 49773 4 Retrieved May 28 2021 McNeil Alex 1996 Total Television the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present New York Penguin Books p 901 ISBN 0 14 02 4916 8 Retrieved May 28 2021 Lentz Harris 1996 Western and Frontier Film and Television Credits 1903 1995 Section I Actors and actresses Section II Directors producers and writers McFarland p 56 via Google Books Tales of Wells Fargo The Branding Iron Video Detective Lambert David September 9 2011 Tales of Wells Fargo The Complete 1st and 2nd Seasons 6 DVD Tin TV Shows On DVD Archived from the original on September 3 2017 Retrieved July 6 2017 TV Ratings 1957 1958 classictvhits com TV Ratings 1958 1959 classictvhits com Russ Heath lambiek net External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tales of Wells Fargo Tales of Wells Fargo at IMDb Tales of Wells Fargo at epguides com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tales of Wells Fargo amp oldid 1129979990, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
