| The Westerner |
 |
| NBC Network |
| 1960 |
| Drama |
| 30 Minutes |
Set in the 1890s, Brian Keith starred as Dave
Blassingame, a cowboy roaming the Mexican border
who helped people in distress. Along for
the ride, are his faithful dog, Brown (so
named because he's a brown dog) and Burgundy Smith (John Dehner), who occasionally
shared the trail with Dave. Dave once called him
a "no good, low down, cheatin' rattlesnake."
Dave was raised by his Uncle Adam Brown (Ted
DeCorsia) on a homestead near Tres Cruces. Dave
dreams of owning his own ranch but for now all
he can do is work as a ranch hand as he drifts
from place to place.
When he's not drunk, or getting in a fight,
he finds time to stand up for the those in need.
Dave uses his fists to defense, but he does
carry a 405 Winchester repeating rifle equipped
with a
telescopic sight that he uses for hunting, and if needed,
for protection.
TRIVIA NOTE: Directed
by Sam Peckinpah, the series pilot aired on THE
ZANE GREY THEATRE (episode "Trouble at Tres
Cruces 03/26/1959). In 1963, the producers of
the original series revised the original format
with a new pilot (that failed) called "The
Losers" starring Lee Marvin as Dave Blassingame
and Keenan Wynn as Burgundy Smith.
In the original pilot, Dave's rifle was referred
to as a 95 Winchester which he inherited after
he finds his Uncle murdered. Later in the
series, the rifle is called a 405 Winchester.
Obituaries: Brian Keith: 06/24/1997; John Dehner:
02/04/1992;
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