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The Road West
Genre Western
Starring Barry Sullivan
Opening themeThe Road West by Leonard Rosenman [1]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes29
Production
Executive producer Norman Macdonnell
Running time60 minutes
Original release
Network NBC
ReleaseSeptember 12, 1966 (1966-09-12) –
May 1, 1967 (1967-05-01)

The Road West is an American Western television series that aired on NBC from September 12, 1966, to May 1, 1967. [2]

Overview

Ben Pride moves with his children Timothy, Midge, and Kip, his new wife Elizabeth, his father Tom, and his brother-in-law Chance from Ohio to Kansas during the 1860s. The show centers around the difficulties the family faces taming the land and homesteading. [3]

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"This Savage Land (Part 1)" Vincent McEveetyUnknownSeptember 12, 1966 (1966-09-12)
2"This Savage Land (Part 2)"Vincent McEveetyUnknownSeptember 19, 1966 (1966-09-19)
3"The Gunfighter" Charles S. DubinUnknownSeptember 26, 1966 (1966-09-26)
4"The Lean Years"UnknownUnknownOctober 3, 1966 (1966-10-03)
After killing a man in self-defense, Corbett becomes hunted and flees to the family home. Guest stars: Elva Miller [4]
5"This Dry and Thirsty Land" Bernard McEveetyUnknownOctober 10, 1966 (1966-10-10)
6"Long Journey to Leavenworth"UnknownUnknownOctober 17, 1966 (1966-10-17)
Ben and his son agree to deliver an outlaw to prison for a fee. Guest stars: Geoffrey Horne, Robert F. Simon, John Pickard, Hal Baylor [5]
7"Ashes and Tallow and One True Love"UnknownUnknownOctober 24, 1966 (1966-10-24)
8"Piece of Tin" Robert TottenUnknownOctober 31, 1966 (1966-10-31)
9"Lone Woman"UnknownUnknownNovember 7, 1966 (1966-11-07)
10"Shaman"UnknownUnknownNovember 14, 1966 (1966-11-14)
11"To Light a Candle" Paul StanleyUnknownNovember 28, 1966 (1966-11-28)
12"Pariah"Paul StanleyUnknownDecember 5, 1966 (1966-12-05)
13"Have You Seen the Aurora Borealis?"UnknownUnknownDecember 12, 1966 (1966-12-12)
14"Power of Fear"UnknownUnknownDecember 26, 1966 (1966-12-26)
15"Reap the Whirlwind"UnknownUnknownJanuary 9, 1967 (1967-01-09)
16"Beyond the Hill"UnknownUnknownJanuary 16, 1967 (1967-01-16)
17"The Predators" Harry HarrisUnknownJanuary 23, 1967 (1967-01-23)
18"A Mighty Hunter Before the Lord"UnknownUnknownJanuary 30, 1967 (1967-01-30)
19"No Sanctuary"UnknownUnknownFebruary 6, 1967 (1967-02-06)
20"The Insider"UnknownUnknownFebruary 13, 1967 (1967-02-13)
21"Road to Glory"UnknownUnknownFebruary 20, 1967 (1967-02-20)
22"Fair Ladies of France"UnknownUnknownFebruary 27, 1967 (1967-02-27)
23"Never Chase a Rainbow"UnknownUnknownMarch 6, 1967 (1967-03-06)
24"Eleven Miles to Eden" Paul HenreidUnknownMarch 13, 1967 (1967-03-13)
25 [6]"Charade of Justice"UnknownUnknownMarch 27, 1967 (1967-03-27)

Ben regrets having a horse-thieving teenager arrested after a judge sentences him to hang.

Guest stars: Tom Tryon as Sheriff Tom Platt, Kurt Russell as teenager Jay Baker and Jay C. Flippen as Judge Platt
26"The Eighty-Seven Dollar Bride"Paul HenreidUnknownApril 3, 1967 (1967-04-03)
27 [7]"A War for the Gravediggers"UnknownUnknownApril 10, 1967 (1967-04-10)

During a trip to buy cattle, Ben and Tim get involved in a political revolution in a small Mexican town.

Guest stars: Michael Ansara as Serafin and Joe De Santis as Octaviano
28 [8]"The Agreement" Charles S. DubinEric Stone and Dean ReisnerApril 24, 1967 (1967-04-24)

After killing a woman's son who tried to commit a robbery, Chance faces the consequences from the boy's mother.

Guest stars: James Gammon as Deputy Bramley, Virginia Gregg as Lavinia Bishop and Barbara Werle as Laura
29 [9]"Elizabeth's Odyssey" Anton Leader Kathleen HiteMay 1, 1967 (1967-05-01)

Elizabeth and Chance come close to losing faith in humanity during a mercy errand, as they embark on a two day journal to Grimmer's farm.

Guest stars: Albert Salmi as Hawes Leggett, Kay Kuter and Svea Grunfeld as Nester and his wife

Production

Executive producer Macdonnell regarded the show's storyline as being identifiable to the viewing audience, with an essential family unit comprising family members "bound to the other by either a true familiar relationship or by an intangible camaraderie". A core idea of the show was to present a realistic portrayal of the real struggles faced by settlers who traveled 'The Road West', with extreme temperatures in each of the summer and winter seasons. [3]

The show's lead actor, Barry Sullivan, was marking his fourth series and described the show as being "a piece of pioneer literature". [3] He had previously expressed that he would never star in a weekly television series again, although he warmed to the show when he began working closely with the cast and crew. [10] Having spent long periods of time driving an old wagon for the show, Sullivan decided to take lessons and spent seven consecutive Saturdays in Antelope Valley, California perfecting the driving technique. [11]

Production moved away from Kansas in 1967, with it reported that the shift in location was always the plan, although happened sooner than anticipated due to the show's future being at risk. Ratings struggled against other shows including Family Affair and The Felony Squad, while Seel's character Tom Pride was killed off to reduce costs. [12]

Filming

Sullivan said in an interview that scripts for the show would be provided several weeks in advance, which allowed time to absorb the scripts in order to perfect their lines and character portrayals. [10]

Reception

The show was highly anticipated by The Atlanta Constitution writer Paul Jones, who predicted that the show would "be the most successful new show of the television season", based on his opinion that there had not been a western show flop for considerable time and of his high rating for producer Norman Macdonnell. [13]

References

  1. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2013). Television Introductions: Narrated TV Program Openings Since 1949. Scarecrow Press. p. 147. ISBN  9780810892507.
  2. ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 100.
  3. ^ a b c "NBC's The Road West offers family-unit adventure". Green Bay Press-Gazette. February 26, 1967. p. 100.
  4. ^ "Elva Miller Appears In Road West Episode". Anderson Herald. May 27, 1967. p. 24.
  5. ^ "Monday October 17 Evening". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 16, 1966. p. 586 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Tom Tryon Has Guest Star Role In 'Road West'". Hartford Courant. March 26, 1967. p. 128.
  7. ^ "Mexican Revolt Provides Action Of 'Road West'". Hartford Courant. April 9, 1967. p. 168.
  8. ^ "Mother Tries To Defy Town On 'Road West'". Hartford Courant. April 23, 1967. p. 158.
  9. ^ "Mercy Errand is Described on 'Road West'". Hartford Courant. April 30, 1967. p. 154.
  10. ^ a b "Was Through with TV - He Changed His Mind". Sioux City Journal. December 4, 1966. p. 42.
  11. ^ "Sullivan Learns To Drive A Wagon". Biddeford Saco Journal. March 25, 1967. p. 10.
  12. ^ "Pride family feels threat of 'ace' Nielson's men". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. January 28, 1967. p. 19.
  13. ^ "No Tired Gun in Road West, A Sure Winner Coming Up". The Atlanta Constitution. August 2, 1966. p. 8.

Further reading

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