Find Your Favorites and Download Your Movies

In the world of entertainment, downloading your movie and TV shows gives you much more versatility because you can set your own schedule to watch whatever you have been dying to see. With computers and flat screen televisions coming down in price over the years, many people now have the ability to spend their leisure screen watching time on their own schedule and don't even have to leave the comfort of their home.

Take a look at the advantages.

1) You will spend less money by downloading your movies or TV shows that you want to keep than if you rent them or buy them from a store. This is why Blockbuster and Netflix are offering online rental packages. A new movie DVD is usually $30-$40 to purchase and you can download to own new releases from $10-$20.

2) You don't need to store your movie anywhere unless you decide to burn it to DVD for a hard copy. Storing 200 Movie DVDs takes some space, while, a movie saved to your hard drive takes up around 600-700MB.

3) You save time. You don't have to go to a store to look for something they don't have or wait in a line while you could be home leisurely picking what you want and then download it. You don'have to go out to watch a new movie and spend $30-$50 for two. It will take time to download your movie but you can be somewhere else while its working. Note: you will want to have a fast Internet connection and make sure your movie supplier has a fast transfer rate.

4) You have versatility and choices galore. You can choose your movies, TV shows, and videos from a selection of thousands from many of these sites and, at the same time, you can choose if you want to own, rent, or watch "streaming" video instanteously. Depending on your needs, you can set the movies up for other devices of your choice, such as an IPOD player.

This can all be done at YOUR convenience and on YOUR schedule. With todays television quality, computer inputs and other devices, you can watch new and old movie and television shows in your own home theater. Soon the days of renting DVDs at the video stores will be over because it doesn't compare to being curled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn watching the latest Harry Potter movie.

There are many televisions out there with different sizes and capabilities. Samsung, Sharp, and Panasonic make some of the best.

A Samsung 22" LCD HDTV and a Panasonic 50" Plasma television from WalMart.

Great Movies

The phrase "great movies" is used often and has probably lost its punch. In reality, a "great movie" is in the eye of the movie beholder. One person is blown away by Sir Laurence Olivier in Hamlet while another person thinks that "Dumb and Dumber" is the greatest movie ever made. We all have our favorites for this category. I have chosen seven that I think will appeal to most people, and, for the most part, are not well known to the general public.

1) The Owl and the Pussycat (1970)

This 1970 romantic comedy is an absolute howl. This is early Barbra Streisand and George Segal playing the leads, Doris and Felix, with Robert Klein in a supporting role. She is an actress/model/prostitute living with an aspiring writer in New York City. He is trying to write the "Great American Novel" while she is trying to add to her movie career beyond the film "Cycle Sluts" that she has on her resume. They have living in different worlds and when they are thrown together by circumstances they start to become curious about each other. The more they discover and understand, the closer they get. The conversations Felix has about Doris's pay for play past are absolutely hilarious. "My God Doris, you're a sexual Disneyland." Buck Henry was one of the writers and Herbert Ross directs.

2) The Cockleshell Heroes (1955)

This 1955 war story actually recounts an actual raid by British Royal Marines on German ships in the port of Bordeaux in Occupied France during World War II. This action film stars Jose Ferrer, who also directs, and Trevor Howard. Also look for Anthony Newley in a supporting role. This movie is an excellent example of a great low budget film. It begins with a group of Marines being trained for a virtual "suicide mission" which entails being transported by submarine in the vicinity of Bordeaux harbor where they continue their mission in kayaks. Upon entering the harbor, they are tasked with trying to put all their limpet mines on enemy ships and then, somehow, make their escape. The first part of the film which has Trevor Howard trying to train this interesting group is actually quite humorous. Of course, later it becomes more suspenseful as the kayakers set off on the actual mission.

3) The Mummy (1932)

This horror classic is well known to some but I think it is overlooked by many because of its age. This is probably the first film I can remember that scared the living "you know what" out of me right at the beginning. If you haven't seen this film, I double dog dare you to watch it at night with the lights off. Boris Karloff, of course, plays the lead, Im-ho-tep, and Zita Johann co-stars as his 3700 year old love interest, Princess Anck-es-en-Amon. In this Karl Freund film, a British expedition discovers the tomb of Im-ho-tep and now the screaming begins. I won't go into anymore detail so that those folks who have not experienced this film can have the full monty.

4) The Warriors (1979)

One of my favorites, this is basically the Warriors against the rest of the gang world in New York City. The major gangs in the New York area send representatives to a meeting in the Bronx, where, Cyrus, the leader of the biggest gang speaks to them about joining together so they can virtually rule the city. The representatives from the Warriors leave their home territory, Coney Island, and make the trip to the Bronx to hear Cyrus make his pitch. Cyrus is assassinated at the event and the Warriors are accused by members of a rival gang of the murder. It is now a matter of survival for these 9 Warriors, led by Swan (Michael Beck), and a race to cross enemy territory as all the other gangs are looking for them. James Remar (Ajax) plays an uncomfortable second fiddle to Swan and tries to contend for leading this small band to safety. Along the way, Swan picks up Mercy (Deborah Van Valkenburgh) who helps when he is separated for a while from the others. Walter Hill directs this campy cult classic. Ya gotta love the gang names and their unique dress. From the Gramercy Riffs to the Lizzies (a Lesbian outfit), the Warriors are in deep doo-doo.

5) The King of Hearts (Le Roi de Coeur) (1966)

Another cult classic, this hilarious comedy stars Alan Bates as Scottish Private Charles Plumpick who is sent into a small French town to defuse a booby trap left by the retreating Germans near the end of WW I. He gets chased by some remaining Germans and inadvertantly takes refuge in the local insane asylum. These folks, who have been waiting for the "King of Hearts", now have their King. After the Germans leave, Private Plumpick leaves the asylum to find the bomb and he accidentally leaves the door to the asylum open (I hate when that happens). His new followers take over the town and start creating a comical celebration for the King's coronation while he is desperately trying to find the bomb and defuse it before it goes off. As this farce goes on, the question being begged is "Who is really insane?". With mainly a French cast, Genevieve Bujold is the most recognizable member of the supporting cast in this true gem which is directed by Philippe de Broca.

6) Bullitt (1968)

This is a well known movie to some but I want to make sure everybody has seen it at least once. This movie is vintage Steve McQueen as San Francisco Detective Frank Bullitt and he is supported by a tremendous cast, including Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset, Don Gordon, Robert Duvall, Simon Oakland, Norman Fell, and Georg Stanford Brown. A Mafia informant, in seclusion and protected by Bullitt's men, is found and assassinated. Bullitt goes on a rampage to locate the internal leak and find the perpetrators. The one thing everyone remembers about this movie is the chase scene between Bullitt's souped up 1968 Mustang GT Fastback and a 1968 Charger. This chase still probably ranks at #1 when compared to other car chases. You can't beat a chase between two machines like this going up and down the streets of San Francisco (I'm sure it's a guy thing). You literally feel like you need to check and see if your seat belt is tight. Directed by Peter Yates, this movie is a great, tight, fast paced, production.

7) Dressed to Kill (1980)

This suspense thriller has Michael Caine as Dr. Robert Elliott in a much different role than most of his career. Angie Dickinson co-stars and supporting cast members are Nancy Allen and Dennis Franz. This dark, edgy, sexy, psychological murder mystery, directed by Brian de Palma, was ahead of its time, as it touches on the subject of transgender people. This is one of those movies where the suspense builds and you are on the edge of your seat as your mind races to try to put the pieces together for this clever puzzle. Good Luck!

TV SHOWS OF THE FUTURE

These are my predictions of Television shows that may air in the not too distant future. Alway looking to break new ground, I think these shows may be exactly what TV execs will promote.



1) LONG DISTANCE

Every week our moderator talks "live" to real dead people to solve past mysteries, crimes, and incidents involving these people. On this weeks program we will try to reach "Jack the Ripper" to find his true identity. Be sure to tune in, along with the British Royal Family, as we try to finally end the controversy over his identity. We are sponsored this week by Benihana.

2) AXE MY EX

Each week a different man, woman, or anything in between targets their former marriage partner for assassination. They get to choose their preferred method of execution. This week Elsa, Gwen, and Annie decide their bigamist ex-husband should be buried alive under a dump truck load of bull manure. They state that this is for all the "BS" they had to endure during their marriages to this man. This weeks program is sponsored by the city of Pamplona, Spain.

3) GOVERNMENT CHEATERS

We receive letters and emails from across the country nominating a local, state, or U.S. officeholder for surveillance, confrontation, and impeachment. We pick one out and dispatch a film crew to catch this person in the act. This week we air an episode where we go after a Western U.S. Senator and impeach him for an earmark to a jobs bill which allowed his hometown to build a sexual fantasyland called "Rawhide" in this Senator's hometown. The sponsor for this weeks show is Dream Leather.

4) The 100 Gazillion Dollar Bailout

This weekly gameshow involves Fortune 500 companies competing for the grand prize of a 100 gazillion dollar bailout. Folks at home can also enter the Rocketing Inflation Homegame. As these bailouts are paid out, gigantic inflation increases are registered on the Inflationmeter. A home contestant sends in a number and if it matches the final Inflationmeter reading after the last bailout, the home contestant wins $10 million dollars (worth about fifty cents before taxes in today's money). Our sponsors this week are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

5. MEET THE ALIENS

Every week 2 people are chosen to visit an alien planet to be studied by the inhabitants. Emma Peabody and Stu Mitchell were selected by the ambassador from Alpha Centauri 6, and, after arriving at Area 51, they were transported to that planet. After an enjoyable week with the Centaurions, Emma's only complaint was the moving of something big in her abdomen. Stu, on the other hand, was fine except for a sharp pain when he sat down. He did mention something about a probe that was misplaced by an Alpha Centaurion college students. This show is sponsored by Orbitz.

Classic Comedy TV Shows

Television was in its infancy in the early 1950's and many early programs are almost forgotten now. I Love Lucy and a few others are still in the limelight, but, they are the exception. I have made a list in two parts of some of the best of a group that is often overlooked. Take a look and you may discover a new realm of great entertainment.

1) AMOS'n ANDY (1951-53)

This show originated from the radio version and mainly concerned itself with George "Kingfish" Stevens's (Tim Moore) get rich schemes which usually involved his Brothers of the Mystic Sea Lodge. "Andy" Hogg Brown (Spencer Williams) was usually one of the victims of the Kingfish. Amos Jones (Alvin Childress) did much of the narration each week.

2) LIFE WITH ELIZABETH (1952-55)

This little gem was a low budget show put together by a TV station in Los Angeles. It is in a 3 part interactive format that involves the hilarious situations created by Elizbeth (Betty White) who is married to a perplexed Alvin (Del Moore). The narrator (Jack Narz) is also involved in the interaction. This show is classic Betty White.

3) MY LITTLE MARGIE (1952-55)

Rambunctious, young Margie Albright (Gail Storm) lives with her widowed father, Vern Albright (Charles Farrell) in a New York City penthouse. The show revolves mainly around Margie's adventures which usually includes involving herself in her father's business problems.

4) OUR MISS BROOKS (1952-56)

This wonderful comedy revolves around Connie Brooks (Eve Arden) who teaches English at Madison High. She often is at odds with her principal, Osgood Conklin (Gale Gordon) and also trying to keep one of her students, Walter Denton (Richard Crenna), on the straight and narrow. This was a superb cast with Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, who you might remember as Mr. Mooney from the Lucy Show, and Richard Crenna, who went on to another successful series, The Real McCoys. He also had a successful movie career with films like The Sand Pebbles with Steve McQueen and Summer Rental with John Candy.

5) THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET (1952-66)

Almost a fifties reality show, with father Ozzie Nelson and wife Harriet raising their 2 sons, David and Ricky every week on this long running show. You saw the boys grow up and go through all the typical problems of the different stages of childhood. Ricky Nelson actually grew into a teenage singing sensation on the show and eventually a rock star.

6) MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY (1953-65)

Nightclub entertainer, Danny Williams (Danny Thomas), tries to balance his career and family situations in this long running show. His wife, Kathy Williams (Marjorie Lord), daughter Terry (Sherry Jackson), and son Rusty (Rusty Hamer) round out the cast. The show ran so long, a cute little darling, Linda Williams (Angela Cartwright), was added. Danny Thomas's real-life daughter, Marlo, went on to her own successful series, That Girl.

7) DECEMBER BRIDE (1954-59)

Lily Ruskin (Spring Byington) lives with her daughter and son-in-law, who, along with her friend Hilda Crocker (Verna Felton), are trying to find her a marriage partner. One of the best parts on this show belongs to Harry Morgan as the neighbor Pete Porter. Of course Harry Morgan went on to star in the successful Dragnet and MASH series.

8) FATHER KNOWS BEST (1954-60)

Jim Anderson (Robert Young) heads a family with wife Margaret (Jane Wyatt), older daughter Betty (Elinor Donohue), son Bud (Billy Gray), and youngest child Kathy (Lauren Chapin). Good family entertainment with Jim trying to show he knows best, after consultation with Margaret. This show had been a big hit on radio and made a good transition to television. Elinor Donohue was later seen on the early episodes of the Andy Griffith Show playing Ellie Walker.

9) The Phil Silvers Show (1955-59)

Master SGT. Ernie Bilko (Phil Silvers) runs a motor pool at a small U.S. Army Camp in Kansas but his main efforts are involved in bilking people out of their money with the con games he runs.

10) THE HONEYMOONERS (1955-56)

This Television Classic relates the get rich schemes of Gotham City bus driver Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) who usually involves his friend and upstairs neighbor, Ed Norton (Art Carney). Their wives, Alice Kramden (Audrey Meadows), and Trixie Norton (Joyce Randolph) try to keep the boys straight, but to no avail. One of the great things about this show is that it was done live and practically unrehearsed. The four performers were a good fit and worked well together, which shines through in each episode.

Classic TV Detective Shows

1) Dragnet (1951-59)

Sgt. Joe Friday (Jack Webb), and sidekick Officer Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan) in the second version of this series (1967-70}, work out of various branches of the Los Angeles Police Department. This show set the standard for the police shows that followed and is still recognized as a successful model. The show used real cases and "the names have been changed to protect the innocent." Harry Morgan, you probably remember, played Col. Potter in the MASH series with Alan Alda.

2) Mr. and Mrs. North (1952-54)

Jerry North (Richard Denning) and wife, Nora (Barbra Britton), work out of their Greenwich Village apartment to solve crimes ahead of the police. This is a fun series which has Jerry North, a mystery magazine writer and amateur detective, working with his wife to solve various mysteries. This show is in the same vein as The Thin Man movie and the later tv series.

3) San Francisco Beat (1954-60)

Also shown as The Lineup, Inspector Matt Grebb (Tom Tully) and partner, Det. Lt. Ben Guthrie (Warner Anderson), police the streets of San Francisco.

4) Highway Patrol (1955-59)

Chief Dan Mathews (Broderick Crawford) keeps the highways and rural countryside free of crime on a weekly basis in his Ford police interceptor.

5) "M" Squad (1957-60)

Lt. Frank Ballinger (Lee Marvin) leads an elite Chicago Police unit in its constant fight against crime.

6) Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957-60)

Smooth Private Detective Richard Diamond (David Janssen) is an ex-New York City policeman turned private detective who solves cases in New York before moving to Los Angeles to open his office there. This was a successful series for Janssen before he went on to the even more successful The Fugitive series.

7) The Thin Man (1957-69)

Nick Charles (Peter Lawford) and wife, Nora (Phyllis Kirk), work out of their swanky Park Avenue apartment to solve cases the police are still working on. This series is based on The Thin Man movie (William Powell and Myrna Loy).

8) Hawaiian Eye (1958-63)

Tom Lopaka (Robert Conrad) and Tracy Steele (Anthony Eisley) are private detectives working out of their plush office in the Hawaiian Village Hotel in Honolulu. They are assisted in their weekly adventures by singer/photographer Cricket Blake (Connie Stevens) and taxi driver Poncie Ponce (Kazuo Kim).

9) The Naked City (1958-63)

Lt. Mike Parker (Horace McMahon) and Det. Adam Flint (Paul Burke) work out of the 65th precinct of the New York City Police Department. Nobody's naked here, just good, gritty cop stories.

10) Peter Gunn (1958-61)

"Cool" Los Angeles P.I., Peter Gunn (Craig Stevens), with the help of Lt. Jacoby of the L.A.P.D., solves his client's cases while Henry Mancini's jazz themes play in the background. He spends his leisure time at the jazz club, Mother's, being comforted by his girl, Edie Hart (Lola Albright).

11) 77 Sunset Strip (1958-64)

Stuart Bailey (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.) and Jeff Spencer (Roger Smith) are private detectives with an eye for the ladies working out of their ritzy Sunstrip Strip office next to Dino's Lodge (actually co-owned by Dean Martin) in the Hollywood/Beverly Hills area of Los Angeles. This was a very good show and, with the addition of Ed Byrnes as the real hip "Kookie" that was a valet for Dino's next door, the show was a smash with the teenagers. Always combing his long locks ("Kookie, Kookie, Lend me your comb!"), and talking with the new, hip slang, he became an icon of the times. Three years after the show ended, Roger Smith married Ann Margret (unbelievably, they are still married).

12) The Untouchables (1959-63)

Special Agent Eliot Ness (Robert Stack) an agent in the Treasury Department, leads a team of Federal agents, "Untouchables", which are assigned to enforcing Prohibition in the 1930's. Based in Chicago, they have to contend with the likes of Al capone, Frank Nitti, and various other lowlifes. Of course, this series was based on the real life agent, Eliot Ness, and it achieved even more reality with famous newsman Walter Winchell as the narrator each week.

13) Checkmate (1960-62)

Jed Sills (Doug McClure) and Don Corey (Anthony George) work out of their exclusive detective agency, Checkmate, Inc., in San Francisco. Helping them with their caseload is British criminologist Dr. Carl Hyatt (Sebastian Cabot).

14) Surfside 6 (1960-62)

Swingin' private detectives, Sandy Winfield II (Troy Donahue) and Ken Madison (Van Williams) live and work out of their houseboat in Miami.

15) The Saint (1962-69)

Simon Templar (Roger Moore) better known as "The Saint" is a bit different than all the rest. Based on the literary character by Leslie Charteris, The Saint is a spy, thief, and detective all rolled into one. Driving his sporty Volvo P1800 around London, he steals loot from criminals and then manages to get them arrested by the police without getting caught himself. Inspector Teal (Ivor Dean), who regards The Saint as just another criminal, is always on his tail. This role prepared Moore for his James Bond stint later.

Interesting Civil War Facts

1) WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

In the summer of 1861 the Confederate Army was massing near Manassas Junction in Northern Virginia. The family of Wilmer McLean had been watching the build up warily from their house nearby. One day, in the middle of June, General Beauregard was inspecting his lines near the house when a Federal gun fired and the shell actually dropped down the chimney of the McLean house and exploded in a big pot of stew. Apparently this was a portent of things to come for the McLeans. Surviving the battle, Wilmer moved his family to a more peaceful area in a village to the West of Richmond. All went well until April of 1865. His house, again, was surrounded by the Confederate Army. Wilmer was given the task of finding a place for Generals Lee and Grant to meet. The first choice was dismissed and the Confederate officer asked about a red brick house nearby. Of course, this house was preferred and Wilmer McLean was going to have the privilege of hosting the surrender of Lee's Army to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. He is supposed to have said: "The War began in my front yard and ended in my parlor.".

2) THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

Many foreigners served on both sides during the Civil War. One of the more unusual cases was a man serving with the Army of Northern Virginia who was thought to be German. Nobody could understand a word he said and he kept to himself. During the winter months, he would make a shelter out of leaves and brush. He camped alone and lived like a hermit. He served throughout the war in this manner and not one person knew who he was or ever understood any word that was uttered by him.

3) DEADLY COAL

On November 27, 1864 a crewman on the Union Ship Greyhound, Gen. Benjamin Butler's headquarters ship, is shoveling coal into the boiler and, all of a sudden, there is an explosion and the ship is in flames. This sinking marked the first success of the deadly coal invented by Confederate General Gabriel Rains. The "coal" was actually a bomb that looked very much like a lump of coal. As a direct result, trying to prevent anymore incidents of this type, the Union Navy was required to post guards over all their coal supplies. Its inventor also made land mines for the defence of Richmond. Gabriel Rains and his brother, George, were instrumental in keeping the Confederacy supplied with explosives and gunpowder. Known as the "Bomb Brothers", they made many innovations, and due to their singular genius, kept the South supplied with ammunition, explosives, mines, gunpowder, torpedoes, etc. for the duration of the war.

4) GUESS WHO'S NOT INVITED TO THANKSGIVING DINNER

The Civil War caused many family problems with fathers, brothers, sons, cousins, nephews, and even women aligning with either the North or the South. The famous Southern General J.E.B. Stuart's family was a prime example. Stuart's father-in-law was fellow Virginian, Union General Philip St. George Cooke. Stuart was so incensed about the situation that he renamed his son James Stuart, Jr. from his birth name of Philip St. George Cooke Stuart. Union General George Thomas was a Virginian who became one of the most able generals in the Union Army. Nearly 10,000 people showed up for his funeral in New York five years after the war and not one of them was a family member. As far as they were concerned, he died in 1861.

5) FUTURE FAME

There were many people, both combatants and bystanders, who went on to great fame after the Civil War. There was a 20 year old member of an Arkansas regiment who used the name Henry Stanley (his real name was John Rowlands) that went on after the war to lead an expedition to Africa that discovered Dr. Livingston. His famous line was: "Dr. Livingston, I presume.". Jesse James, brother Frank, Cole Younger, and brother James, were part of Quantrill's Raiders during the Civil War who later gained fame as famous train and bank robbers. A woman boarded a blockade-runner off the North Carolina coast in 1863 to visit her artist son in England. She was Anna Whistler, who became famous in the painting "Whistler's Mother". Union General Abner Doubleday has been reputed to have invented the game of baseball. Among the many people to witness the funeral procession of Abraham Lincoln in New York City was a 6 year old Theodore Roosevelt, future President, and his younger brother, Elliott, future father of Eleanor Roosevelt. Eight year old future President, Woodrow Wilson, witnessed Jefferson Davis ride by in a carriage in Atlanta, Georgia in 1865 on his way to a Federal prison. Another Union General to gain greater fame after the war, was Lew Wallace, who wrote the great book Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

Classic Television Westerns

If you grew up in the early days of television you were inundated with Westerns of all sizes and descriptions. These shows took you from Dodge City to San Francisco and from driving cattle through Texas to keeping the peace in Tombstone. In the 1950's through the early 60's the 3 major networks were producing Westerns of every kind as fast as they could. I remember living in front of the tv on Sunday nights to watch shows like Maverick, Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, or Bonanza. While many of these are deservedly forgotten, a good number are classics now. These classic television Westerns are an unknown area of entertainment today to younger generations. In an effort to open a new source of vicarious diversion, I have compiled a list of 26 shows from this time period which, if you can find them, will give you many hours of enjoyment.


1) THE CISCO KID (1950 -1956)

Cisco (Duncan Renaldo) and Pancho (Leo Carillo) travel the Olde West righting wrongs and corralling the baddies. This format of hero, Cisco, and loveable, funny sidekick, Pancho, is a recurring theme among many of the Westerns of this era.

2) THE GENE AUTRY SHOW (1950-56)

Gene Autry (himself) with his horse, Champion, and Pat Buttram (himself) as the humerous sidekick, travel the Southwest fighting injustice and helping the local townfolk. Gene, one of the singing cowboys, also wrote the theme song "Back in the Saddle Again". Pat Buttram went on to become the notorious Mr. Haney on the show Green Acres.

3) ROY ROGERS (1951-57)

Roy Rogers (himself), his wife Dale Evans (herself), Trigger (Roy's horse), Buttermilk (Dale's horse), Bullet (their dog), their humerous sidekick, Pat Brady (himself) and his jeep, Nellybelle, have more modern Western adventures on their "Double R Ranch". Roy, another singing cowboy (one of the founders of the Sons of the Pioneers), and Dale, a singing cowgirl (doesn't sound very flattering), sing their famous theme song "Happy Trails" which Dale wrote. Roy, the "King of the Cowboys" and Dale, the "Queen of the West" Were married 50 years. When Trigger died Roy had him stuffed. He always said that he wanted Dale to have him stuffed and put astride Trigger again when the time came. I don't believe she followed through on this.

4) ADVENTURES OF WILD BILL HICKOK (1951-58)

U.S. Marshal Bill Hickok (Guy Madison) and his comical sidekick, Jingles P. Jones (Andy Devine) help maintain the peace in their territory.

5) DEATH VALLEY TALES (1952-75)

This show had various "hosts" over the many years it ran and had different stories each week based around the Death Valley area. Robert Taylor hosted the most (77) episodes. Other well known hosts are: Ronald Reagan (before becoming Governor of California), Dale Robertson, and Tom Skeritt. I remember the commercials of this show vividly because the sponsor was "20 Muleteam Borax" which was actually mined in Death valley. The commercials featured an actual 20 muleteam wagon in the dusty desert (a far cry from the Budweiser Clydesdales).

6) HOPALONG CASSIDY (1952-54)

Hopalong (William Boyd), his horse (Topper), and his comical sidekick, Red Chambers (Edgar Buchanan) had their share of adventures in the West. As I recall, Hoppy was unique in that he toted 2 guns and was equally deadly with both of them.

7) ANNIE OAKLEY (1954-56)

Sharpshooter Annie (Gail Davis), and Deputy Sheriff Lofty Craig (Brad Johnson), keep their small town safe for the townfolk. Annies younger brother, Tagg Oakley (Jimmy Hawkins) is also keeping Annie busy when she's not shooting the eyes out of a mosquito at 500 yards.

8) THE ADVENTURES OF RIN TIN TIN (1954-59)

Young Rusty (Lee Aaker), was orphaned due to an Indian raid and was adopted, along with his dog Rin Tin Tin (Flame Jr.), by the U.S.Cavalry at Fort Apache in Arizona. Rusty, Rinny, and his pal, Lt. Rip Masters (James Brown) get in and out of trouble on a weekly basis.

9) CHEYENNE (1955-63)

Cheyenne Bodie (Clint Walker), former frontier scout, roams the West after the Civil War taking various jobs along the way. You may remember Clint from the movie "The Dirty Dozen" (he's the really big guy in the dozen). This show usually alternated with the other Westerns, Sugarfoot and Bronco, on Sunday nights.

10) GUNSMOKE (1955-75)

In this "king of the westerns", Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness), Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), Doc Adams (Milburn Stone) and others keep Dodge City relatively calm and quiet. Matt's main helpers over the years included Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver) 1955-64, Festus Haggan (Ken Curtis) 1959-75. Burt Reynolds as Quint Asper also had a stint from 1962-65. An awful lot of well known actors made their way to Dodge City and Kitty's saloon at one time or another over the series 20 year run (tv's longest running series). Another note, Sam Peckinpah actually directed some episodes during the run. James Arness (Matt Dillon) is the brother of fellow actor Peter Graves (Airplane).

11) LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP (1955-61)

Marshal Wyatt Earp (Hugh O'Brien) and his two "Buntline Special" Colt long barreled pistols keep the order in Dodge City, Kansas and then do the same in Tombstone, Arizona.

12) HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL (1957-63)

Professional gunfighter, Paladin (Richard Boone) portrays a veteran of the Civil War, West Point Graduate, who sells his gun for hire. His business card says "Have Gun, Will Travel" and "Wire Paladin, San Francisco". Working out of the Hotel Carlton, Paladin was as much at home reading Shakespeare, playing chess, speaking Latin, as he was on horseback or using his gun to settle a conflict. This was a first in tv history, a "thinking man's" Western. This show did not have the comical sidekick or ensemble cast, so Richard Boone had to carry the show by himself. He did it very well as the show was a hit the whole time it was on the air. Richard just got tired of doing it. The only recurring character was the hotel employee, Kim "Hey Boy" Chan (Kam Tong). The writing was terrific with Sam Rolfe writing about half of the episodes. Also, Gene Roddenberry (later of Star Trek fame) wrote 24 episodes. The directing was also excellent with veteran Andrew V. McLaglen (also directed 96 Gunsmoke episodes) directing many of the episodes.

13) MAVERICK (1957-62)

Brothers Brett (James Garner) and Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly) are vagabond Gamblers roaming from town to town to ply their trade. Their British cousin, Beauregarde Maverick (Roger Moore) also shows up from time to time. This show was a big hit in its Sunday night timespot and was a big boost to James Garner's career. Always looking for a fast getaway rather than a confrontation the stories were new ground for tv Westerns. Brett and Bart usually did not appear together in each episode but the entertainment was the same every Sunday night.

14) SUGARFOOT (1957-61)

Tom Brewster (Will Hutchins) was taking a correspondence course in law as he wandered through the West. A " sugarfoot" was considered one step below "tenderfoot", so, you can see that Tom was not interested in the typical cowboy vices like drinking, gambling, gunfighting, brawling, etc. and tried to use his wits and his knowledge of the law to handle the situations he found himself in (Good Luck with that!). He did not have a sidekick but Toothy Thompson (Jack Elam) did appear in 9 of the 22 total episodes. A young Kurt Russell also appeared in 9 episodes.

15) TALES OF WELLS FARGO (1957-62)

Wells Fargo Agent Jim Hardie (Dale Robertson) has various cases and incidents to investigate each week.

16) WAGON TRAIN (1957-65)

Major Seth Adams (Ward Bond) leads a wagon train West after the Civil War. He is joined in his effort each week by his scout, Flint McCullough (Robert Horton), Cook, Charlie Wooster (Frank McGrath), and others. In the eight years this show ran, I don't think they ever got to California but the show was a big hit.

17) ZORRO (1957-59)

Don Diego de la Vega (Guy Williams) by day and Zorro by night, this Western Robin Hood fought the Spanish army and others while helping the common folk. Carving his infamous "Z" with his flashing sword on everything in sight, he was constantly being hounded by the bungling, totally incompetent Sgt. Demetrio Lopez Garcia (Henry Calvin) every week. He was foppish dandy Don Diego to everyone who met him but when circumstances demanded he put on his black outfit, including mask, to become the legendary "Zorro" (much like an Olde West Batman).

18) BAT MASTERSON (1958-61)

Bat (Gene Barry), dressed to the hilt with his trade mark derby and cane, enforces the law as he roams the West. Of course, he also is looking for a good card game and female companionship as he roams (I don't know if there were roaming fees involved). This character is loosely patterned after the real William Barclay "Bat" Masterson who was once a deputy with Wyatt Earp. In fact, he just missed out on the "gunfight at the OK corral" when he had visted Wyatt in Tombstone, Arizona and left just before the famous gunfight.

19) BRONCO (1958-62)

Bronco Layne (Ty Hardin), former Confederate officer,meets various historical figures in his weekly adventures traveling around the West. This was one of the shows that rotated on Sunday nights with Sugarfoot and Cheyenne.

20) LAWMAN (1958-62)

Marshal Dan Troop (John Russell) and his Deputy Johnny Mckay (Peter Brown) keep the peace in Laramie, Wyoming. This was a good show and you might remember John Russell from Clint Eastwood's movie Pale Rider as the corrupt lawman, Stockdale. He has a final confrontation with Eastwood that is classic.

21) THE RIFLEMAN (1958-63)

Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors) and his son Mark (Johnny Crawford) overcome various trials and tribulations in trying to peacefully run their ranch in North Fork, New Mexico. They also help Marshal Micah Torrance (Paul Fix) from time to time. The one thing everyone remembers about this show is the rifle that Chuck Conners used. His specially modified Winchester could fire extremely fast and often. Connors, at 6 ft. 5 in. tall, was an imposing site with his rifle in his hand. An interesting side note: Chuck Conners played professional basketball with the Celtics in 1946 and was the first player to shatter a backboard. He left them to play baseball with the Dodgers and Cubs for short stints before stumbling into an acting career.

22) WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE (1958-61)

Josh Randall (Steve McQueen) played a bounty hunter tracking down bad guys from town to town and his weapon of choice was a holstered, sawed off 1892 Winchester 30-40 carbine (his "Mare's Leg"). Steve started his 3 year run on this show one year after The Magnificent Seven was released.

23) YANCY DERRINGER (1958-59)

Yancy (Jock Mahoney), former Confederate soldier, was a gambler/ladies man working out of New Orleans with his sidekick, shotgun wielding Pawnee Indian, Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah (X Brands) [I'm not kidding, that's his name and he is of German descent]. In reality, Yancy was really working undercover for the city in an effort to thwart crime and the criminal element.

24) BONANZA (1959-73)

Widower, Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) tries to peacefully run his 1,000 sq. mile spread, The Ponderosa, and oversee his 3 sons (all by different wives?). Adam Cartwright (Pernell Roberts), Eric "Hoss" Cartwright (Dan Blocker), and Joseph "Little Joe" Cartwright (Michael Landon) help their "Pa" run the ranch and become involved in all sorts of adventures and catastrophes that take place around Virginia City, Nevada around the end of the Civil War. This blockbuster show made a star out of Michael Landon, who later went on to the equally successful series Little House on the Prairie and Highway to Heaven.

25) RAWHIDE (1959-66)

Rowdy Yates (Clint Eastwood) is on a never ending cattle drive run by trail boss Gil Favor (Eric Fleming) and they are fed by their irascible cook, "Wishbone" (Paul Brinegar). This is young Clint Eastwood, who starts this very successful series in 1959 and in 1964 makes his first "Spaghetti Western", A Fistful of Dollars. This show had one of the best theme songs, "Rawhide", sung by Frankie Laine (also sung by Dan Akroyd and John Belushi in the Blues Brothers).

26) THE VIRGINIAN (1962-71)

The Virginian (James Drury) and Trampas (Doug McClure) spent 9 seasons on this mega-western series which was loosely based on the novel by Owen Wister. The Virginian (nobody knows his real name but I bet it was "Tex") is a foreman on the Shiloh Ranch in Medicine Bow, Wyoming Territory in the 1890's. There were many characters involved in this show and it was the first one which had 90 minute episodes each week.

If you're hankerin for some of these, try: TVMAX