The Legend of
Jesse James |
 |
| ABC Network |
| 1965 - 1966 |
| Drama |
| 30 Minutes |
Christopher Jones starred in this sugar-sweet
retelling of the story of the outlaw Jesse James
(1847-1882) which depicted him more as a Robin
Hood than a vicious killer.
Others hanging out with Jesse included:
- Allen Case as Frank James, Jesse's
older brother
- John Millard as Cole Younger
- Tim McIntire as Bob Younger
- Ann Doran as Mrs. James, Jesse and
Frank's mother
Unlike most outlaws who stole for the sake of
self-profit, Jesse redistributed his stolen loot
to those who had been victimized by the local
railroad barons and other crooked businessman.
The James Brothers even helped a widow pay off a
bank loan.
When Jesse wasn't handing out money, he came
to the aide of others in need, like the time the
James brothers stopped a bunch of rowdy cowboys
from harassing the folks in a frontier town.
Despite his good intentions, the law was the
law and Jesse and his followers were constantly
sought by Marshal Sam Corbett (Robert Wilke) for
his crimes. Once Jesse and Frank James
joined forces with Marshal Sam Corbett to
stop an ex-guerilla leader from blowing up a
town.
The James brothers group became such a bother that the US
army offered Jesse and his gang an amnesty if
they'd stop robbing the railroad.
Jesse and Frank
James
Listen to Theme Song
Theme Song Lyrics
Jesse James, Jesse James.
He was cursed with a quick and restless gun.
Jesse James!
And he played the game that no man ever won.
Jesse James!
But his killin' turned him cold, he grew bitter,
he grew bold
And he fought the world with a gold and hungry
gun.
Gold and hungry gun,
Gold and hungry gun,
Blasting flame, a lasting shame,
On the man with a hungry gun.
Jesse James, Jesse James.
Memorabilia
TRIVIA NOTE: On April 3, 1882, Jesse
James was shot in the back by Robert Ford, an
alleged friend and former gang member who sought
the reward for killing the outlaw. Consequently,
Ford was tried and convicted for murder, but
pardoned by the Governor.
On the episode 'The Cave" (02/07/1966) the
series depicts Jesse as being afraid water as he
tries to escape a posse by swimming through an
underground stream.
The Missouri backdrop for the series was filmed
at the Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth in Los
Angeles County, California
The Jesse James character (Christopher Pettiet)
rode for the Pony Express on the western THE
YOUNG RIDERS/ABC/1989-92.
Obituaries: Allan Case: 08/25/1986; Richard H.
Cutting: 03/07/1972; John Milford: 08/14/2000; Ann
Doran: 09/19/2000; Robert J. Wilke: 03/28/1989;
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