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Black Saddle

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Black Saddle
Peter Breck as Clay Culhane and Anna-Lisa as Nora Travers (1959)
GenreWestern
Created by
  • Hal Hudson
  • John McGreevey
Starring
Theme music composer
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes44
Production
Executive producerHal Hudson
Producers
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time24 mins.
Original release
Network
ReleaseJanuary 10, 1959 (1959-01-10) –
May 6, 1960 (1960-05-06)

Black Saddle is an American Western television series starring Peter Breck that aired 44 episodes from January 10, 1959, to May 6, 1960. The first season of 20 episodes aired on NBC from January 1959-September 1959. ABC picked up the second season in the 1959-1960 season with 24 new episodes produced. The half-hour program was produced by Dick Powell's Four Star Television, and the original backdoor pilot was an episode of CBS's Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, with Chris Alcaide originally portraying the principal character, Clay Culhane, in an episode entitled "A Threat of Violence." [1]

Synopsis

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Clay Culhane is a gunfighter who becomes a lawyer after his brothers are killed in a shootout. He carries his law books as he rides across the New Mexico Territory in the years following the Civil War, ready to help people who need help with the law. U. S. Marshal Gib Scott follows Culhane, dubious of Culhane's turning away from gunfighting.[2] Nora Travers owns the town's hotel, and Kelly is the bartender at the saloon.[3]

Russell Johnson as Marshal Gib Scott

Cast

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Main cast

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Guest cast

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Some of the Black Saddle guest stars include Warren Oates,[5] Chris Alcaide (who portrayed Clay Culhane in the original pilot), Fred Aldrich, John Anderson, Parley Baer, Raymond Bailey, Russ Bender, Paul Birch (in the role of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant in the episode "Mr. Simpson"), Lane Bradford, Paul Burke, Archie Butler, James Coburn, Dennis Cross, John Dehner, Frank Dekova, Alan Dexter, Buddy Ebsen, Hampton Fancher, Scott Forbes in Episode "Client: Steele"), James Franciscus, Jack Ging, Dabbs Greer, Robert Griffin, Clu Gulager, Robert Harland, Stacy Harris, Brett King, Jess Kirkpatrick, Robert Knapp, John Marley, Ken Mayer, Ann McCrea, Patrick McVey, James Parnell, Vic Perrin, Sam Reese, Stafford Repp, Bing Russell, Richard Rust, Simon Scott, Richard Shannon, Robert F. Simon, Quentin Sondergaard and Patrick Macnee.

Episodes

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Season 1 (1959)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Client: Travers"John EnglishJohn McGreeveyJanuary 10, 1959 (1959-01-10)
22"Client: Meade"Roger KayJohn McGreeveyJanuary 17, 1959 (1959-01-17)
33"Client: McQueen"John EnglishRobert Yale LibottJanuary 24, 1959 (1959-01-24)
44"Client: Dawes"Roger KayJohn McGreeveyJanuary 31, 1959 (1959-01-31)
55"Client: Starkey"John EnglishRobert Yale LibottFebruary 7, 1959 (1959-02-07)
66"Client: Tagger"John EnglishFrederick Louis FoxFebruary 14, 1959 (1959-02-14)
77"Client: Robinson"John FloreaJack JacobsFebruary 21, 1959 (1959-02-21)
88"Client: Martinez"Francis D. LyonJohn Tucker BattleMarch 7, 1959 (1959-03-07)
99"Client: Northrup"David Lowell RichJohn McGreeveyMarch 14, 1959 (1959-03-14)
1010"Client: Steele"Francis D. LyonRod PetersonMarch 21, 1959 (1959-03-21)
1111"Client: Mowery"David Lowell RichFrederick Louis FoxMarch 28, 1959 (1959-03-28)
1212"Client: Braun"David Lowell RichJohn McGreeveyApril 4, 1959 (1959-04-04)
1313"Client: Banks"John EnglishAntony EllisApril 11, 1959 (1959-04-11)
1414"Client: Jessup"John EnglishStuart JeromeApril 18, 1959 (1959-04-18)
1515"Client: Frome"John EnglishFrederick Louis FoxApril 25, 1959 (1959-04-25)
1616"Client: Nelson"Boris SagalJohn McGreeveyMay 2, 1959 (1959-05-02)
1717"Client: Neal Adams"William D. FarallaKen KolbMay 9, 1959 (1959-05-09)
1818"Client: Brand"Gerd OswaldJoe Stone & Paul KingMay 16, 1959 (1959-05-16)
1919"Client: Reynolds"David Lowell RichJohn McGreeveyMay 23, 1959 (1959-05-23)
2020"Client: Vardon"William D. FarallaFrederick Louis FoxMay 30, 1959 (1959-05-30)

Season 2 (1959–60)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
211"The Freebooters"William D. FarallaJohn McGreeveyOctober 2, 1959 (1959-10-02)
222"The Saddle"David Lowell RichJohn McGreeveyOctober 9, 1959 (1959-10-09)
233"The Long Rider"David Lowell RichAntony EllisOctober 16, 1959 (1959-10-16)
244"The Hotel"James SheldonAntony EllisOctober 23, 1959 (1959-10-23)
255"Client: Peter Warren"David Lowell RichDonn MullallyOctober 30, 1959 (1959-10-30)
266"The Freight Line"David Lowell RichAntony EllisNovember 6, 1959 (1959-11-06)
277"Murdock"David Lowell RichFred FriebergerNovember 13, 1959 (1959-11-13)
288"Apache Killer"William D. FarallaJoe Stone & Paul KingNovember 20, 1959 (1959-11-20)
299"Four from Stillwater"David Lowell RichGeorge & Gertrude FassNovember 27, 1959 (1959-11-27)
3010"The Deal"David Lowell RichWilliam Link & Richard LevinsonDecember 4, 1959 (1959-12-04)
3111"Change of Venue"William D. FarallaJohn McGreeveyDecember 11, 1959 (1959-12-11)
3212"Blood Money"Frank BaurJohn McGreeveyDecember 18, 1959 (1959-12-18)
3313"The Killer"William F. ClaxtonAntony EllisJanuary 1, 1960 (1960-01-01)
3414"Letter of Death"David Lowell RichFrederick Louis FoxJanuary 8, 1960 (1960-01-08)
3515"Mr. Simpson"David Lowell RichAntony EllisJanuary 22, 1960 (1960-01-22)
3616"Means to an End"Frank BaurJohn McGreeveyJanuary 29, 1960 (1960-01-29)
3717"The Indian Tree"David Lowell RichJohn McGreevey & Antony EllisFebruary 19, 1960 (1960-02-19)
3818"The Apprentice"David Lowell RichJohn McGreeveyMarch 11, 1960 (1960-03-11)
3919"Burden of Guilt"Elliott SilversteinJohn McGreeveyMarch 18, 1960 (1960-03-18)
4020"The Cabin"David Lowell RichAntony EllisApril 1, 1960 (1960-04-01)
4121"The Return"David Lowell RichJohn McGreeveyApril 8, 1960 (1960-04-08)
4222"A Case of Slow"David Lowell RichAntony EllisApril 15, 1960 (1960-04-15)
4323"The Penalty"William D. FarallaJohn FalvoApril 22, 1960 (1960-04-22)
4424"End of the Line"William F. ClaxtonRichard FielderMay 6, 1960 (1960-05-06)

Production

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Originally entitled War Gun, but changed just prior to filming (presumably due to the similarity to Warner Brothers' Lawman[6]), the series was created by executive producers Hal Hudson and John McGreevey.[7] Antony Ellis was the producer.[4] On NBC the show was broadcast on Saturdays from 9 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. When it was moved to ABC it was shown on Fridays from 10:30 to 11 p.m. E. T.[2]

The pilot for the series was "Threat to Violence", the May 23, 1958, episode of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre. Chris Alcaide portrayed Culhane in it, with Johnson and Anna Lisa in the roles that they had in the series.[7] The change of stars occurred because the program's sponsor thought Alacaide "had become too familiar as a villain".[1]

Filming

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The NBC episodes were filmed at Fox Movie Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains,[6][8] while ABC's were shot at the Republic studio lot in Studio City.[9]

Theme

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Although the Black Saddle TV series lasted less than two full seasons, its original theme tune—written by Jerry Goldsmith under the name of his then-brother-in-law, J. Michael Hennagin, because Goldsmith himself was still under contract to CBS[10][11]—lives on. Several cover versions of the tune have been recorded,[12][11][13] many of which have since become available on YouTube.[14] Moreover, from February 1967 until at least the fall of 1992, the theme was frequently featured in the programs of marching bands and bugle corps.[15]

Syndication as The Westerners

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For syndicated reruns, Black Saddle was combined withLaw of the Plainsman, Johnny Ringo, and The Westerner, under the umbrella title, The Westerners,[7] with new hosting sequences by Keenan Wynn.[16]

Critical response

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A review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Variety said that the script "did not stand up with the better westerns" and indicated that the pace of the episode should have been faster.[17] The review called the characterizations of the sheriff and the villain "hard to swallow".[17] Lisa was praised, primarily for her beauty, while Breck was said to be "okay in a flat sort of way", and the "Supporting cast was competent."[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b Aaker, Everett (2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 54. ISBN 9781476662503. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  3. ^ Terrace, Vincent (January 10, 2014). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-7864-8641-0. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 101. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  5. ^ Compo, Susan A. (April 17, 2009). Warren Oates: A Wild Life. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-3918-0. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Giving 'Law Gun ' New Tag to Avoid 'Lawman' Conflict". The Hollywood Reporter. December 2, 1958. p. 8. ProQuest 2338270459. New telefilm series, 'Law Gun,' just signed by NBC for a mid-season January start, goes into immediate production tomorrow at Four Star's Fox Western studios with Peter Breck and Russell Johnson in stellar roles. According to executive producer Hal Hudson, title of the series will definitely be changed, presumably since it's too similar to Warner's 'Lawman.'
  7. ^ a b c Erickson, Hal (29 September 2009). Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series About Judges, Lawyers and the Courtroom, 1948-2008. McFarland. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-0-7864-3828-0. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  8. ^ Newton, Dwight (December 19, 1958). "Day and Night: Westerns, Westerns, Westerns". The San Francisco Examiner. Sec. III, pg. 7. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "Hal Hudson Sets Up Shop on Republic Lot". The Hollywood Repoprter. May 31, 1965. p. 7. ProQuest 2338330903. Hal Hudsod, executive v-p of Zane Grey Prods., has moved the company to Republic to ready production of the telefilm series in which Zane Grey is partnered with Four Star. Hudson will again produce 'Zane Grey Theatre' which goes into its fourth year and will resume as exec producer of 'Black Saddle' which enters its second season.
  10. ^ Burlingame, Jon (1996). TV's Biggest Hits : The Story of Television Themes from "Dragnet" to "Friends". New York: Schirmer Books. pp. 83–84. ISBN 0028703243. "Goldsmith had scored to radio western 'Frontier Gentleman,' for producer Antony Ellis. When Ellis moved into television with 'Black Saddle,' starring Peter Breck as a gunfighter-turned-lawyer, he asked Goldsmith to write the theme. Because the composer was still under contract to CBS at the time, he penned it under a pseudonym (that of his then brother-in-law, J. Michael Hennagin) and never received screen credit for his fast rhythmically exciting theme for guitars, brass and percussion. Arthur Morton (b. 1908), who several years later became Goldsmith's regular orchestrator, wrote a library of Coplandesque music for the series."
  11. ^ a b "J. Michael Hennagin credits". Discogs. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  12. ^ Harris, Steve (1988). Film, Television, and Stage Music on Phonograph Records : A Discography. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 281. ISBN 0-89950-251-2.
  13. ^ "Golden Buffalo Marching Band, University Of Colorado; 1975". Internet Archive. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  14. ^ evanlewis1836 (July 10, 2019). "BLACK SADDLE - Bud Wattles & His Orchestra". YouTube. Retrieved November 8, 2023. See also:
  15. ^ "Remington Jr. Corps Reorganized". The Standard-Star. February 24, 1967. p.4 . Retrieved November 8, 2023. See also:
  16. ^ "New...In Syndication! 5 Great Stars...125 Action Half Hours! Keenan Wynn presents The Westerners (originally seen as: Black Saddle / Johnny Ringo / The Law of the Plainsman / The Westerner)". Broadcasting. May 31, 1965. pp. 12–13. ProQuest 1014491186. Now being filmed in Hollywood! 125 different Keenan Wynn wrap-arounds are being produced and carefully integrated into each of THE WESTERNERS episodes ... giving this series A FIRST RUN LOOK! [...] Fall '65 start! For stripping, once-a-week, or as a back-to-back hour (with special Keenan Wynn bridges). [...] starring Brian Keith as Dave Blasingame, Michael Ansara as Sam Buchart, Peter Breck as Clay Culhane, Don Durant as Johnny Ringo.
  17. ^ a b c "Black Saddle". Variety. January 14, 1959. p. 39. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
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