| Wagon Train |
 |
| NBC/ABC Network |
| 1957 - 1965 |
| Drama |
| 60/90 Minutes |
The story of the people who traveled west by
wagon train from St. Joseph, Missouri to
California in the days following the Civil War.
These hopeful pioneers faced all sorts of
trials and tribulations along the trail,
including rough terrain, hostile Indians,
bandits, torrential rain, blinding blizzards and
dwindling supplies. But through it all, the
wagon train always arrived at it destination
with the help of a hardy wagon train crew.
The employees of the wagon train were:
- Ward Bond as Wagonmaster Major Seth Adams who shouted his signature
catchphrase "Wagoooons HO!"
- John McIntire as Wagonmaster Christopher Hale (who
replaced Major Seth Adams)
- Terry Wilson as Bill Hawks, assistant Wagonmaster
- Robert Horton as Flint McCullough, frontier scout who
rode ahead of the wagon train scouting the frontier for hazards
and possible places the wagon train could stay for the night. When
Flint left the services of the wagon train, he was replaced by
Duke Shannon and Cooper Smith.
- Scott (Denny) Miller as Duke Shannon, frontier scout
- Robert Fuller as Cooper Smith, frontier scout
- Frank McGrath as Charlie Wooster, the trail cook
- Michael Burns as Barnaby West, a tagalong 13-year-old
orphan heading west who was found along the trail.
Seth Adams and
Flint McCullogh
Smith, Hale, Hawks, West and Wooster
Listen to Opening Theme
Theme Song Lyrics
"Roll On Wagon Train"
Music by Sammy Fain,
and lyrics by Jack Brooks,
Roll along Wagon Train.
Rollin over prairie where there ain’t no grass,
Rollin over mountain where there ain’t no pass.
Sittin on a board eye in the weather,
Prayin to the Lord we stay together
Side by side on the Wagon Train.
Wagon Train, roll along.
Pickin up a passenger in every town,
Wonderin if he’s ever gonna shoot you down.
Lookin for a pal, ain’t it a pity,
Lookin for a gal, needn’t be pretty
If she’ll ride on the Wagon Train.
Wagons ho!
Gotta keep em on the run.
Time to go! And follow the sun.
Roll along Wagon Train.
Never had a cabin near a general store,
Only had a wagon and a forty four.
Sittin on a board. Eyein the weather
Prayin' to the Lord we stay together
Memorabilia
TRIVIA NOTE: The 284 episode series
was inspired by John Ford's western feature film
Wagon Master (1950) starring Ben Johnson,
Harry Carey Jr., and Ward Bond.
During the seventh season, the show ran for 90
minutes. Except for the seventh season (which
expanded to 90 minutes during the 1963-64 season the
entire show's run was filmed in black and white.
The show was
filmed on location in California's San Fernando
Valley.
Most titles for each episode used the words
"The" and "Story" such as "The Stagecoach
Story," "The Conchita Vasquez Story, " or "The
St Nicholas Story." Ernest Borgnine
appeared in the first episode, "The Willie Moran
Story." There were exceptions to the
formula, including "A Man Called Horse, "The
Hide Hunters," "Those Who Stay Behind," "Little
Girl Lost," and "Wagon Train Mutiny."
Some episodes focused on the wagon train
employees, including "The Major Adam Story,"
"The Flint McCullogh Story, "The Odyssey of
Flint McCullogh," "The Christopher Hale Story,"
"Charlie Wooster, Wagonmaster," "Alias Bill
Hawks," and "The Barnaby West Story."
There were three "Wagon Train" themes: the first
(no lyrics) was written by Henri Rene and Bob
Russell, The second theme "Roll Along Wagon
Train" written by Sammy Fain and Jack Brooks and
sung by Johnny O'Neill aired during the second
season; and the final version aired (during the
third season) introduced. "Wagons Ho!" written
and conducted by Jerome Moross. This version
would remain for the rest of the series.
When the episodes featuring Ward Bond were
syndicated as MAJOR ADAMS
– TRAILMASTER in 1963,
the old theme song was replaced with a "Trailmaster"
theme song written and conducted by Stanley
Wilson.
For more programs that featured wagon train
travel check out these links:
Dusty's Trail, The Oregon Trial and
The
Travels of Jaimie McPheeters.
Obituaries: Ward Bond: 11/05/1950; Frank McGrath:
05/13/1967; Terry Wilson: 03/30/1999; John McIntire:
01/30/1991;
External Links
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