One of the enjoyments I having been having lately all the different classic television channels my cable system has added. This came about when the television stations went from analog to digital. They were given extra channels with the change. The television stations have leased these channels to groups that show old television shows. It is fun to watch old shows you grew up. Also another enjoyment of these shows is seeing stars before they were famous. Recently I saw on a Cheyenne Michael Landon playing white who had been raised by the Indians. In a Wanted Dead or Alive episode Martin Landau played evil elephant trainer.
With these channels and DVDs over the old shows you can capture the nostalgia of time when things seem a little more enjoyable.
I’ve got the Western Channel, showing all the old cowboy shows I watched and enjoyed with my family as I grew up in the 1950s —- Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Maverick, Have Gun Will Travel, Rifleman, Wyatt Earp, Wagon Train, Bat Masterson, etc. What surprises me is how bad and implausible many of the storylines seem, now that I’m watching these shows as an adult. I find the Gene Autry movies to be especially awful. Even Bonanza, which was in the 60s, always seemed so interesting back when I was in Junior High School. Now it seems almost unwatchable. About the only show from back then that I find I can still enjoy is “Mr. Ed” (the talking horse).
The Western Channel hasn’t started showing Lone Ranger reruns yet, but I suspect I’m in for a similar disappointment. It has just started daily showings of “Wanted: Dead or Alive”. What surprises me is that my parents were typically sitting with me and my sister when we watched these old cowboy shows in the evening, and they seemed to enjoy them as well. Maybe it was the fact that TV was still new in the 50s.
I have to confess, though, I’m anxiously awaiting Western Channel’s pick-up of Rin Tin Tin, where the dog made the show.
Don
Get ready for disappointment on Rin Tin Tin. The shows are edited first music is change to avoid rights second dialog gets changed and different voices say the new words. I am sure there are other changes as well.
Lone Ranger you will see in the black and whites that it is mostly on stage. The black and white episodes also include the episodes done by John Hart. Clayton Moore end in a contract dispute and was off the show for a year. They brought in John Hart who played in Last of the Mohicans television shows.
It is a mazing how bad the shows were written, the one I can enjoy is Have Gun will Travel, even there are clunkers.
I find the same issue with most John Wayne movies, they were always heavy with the meaningless diologue and he always seemed to have some goofy character in his movies. (Mose, Bull, Jocko) When I was younger they seemed like good movies, now they drive me crazy or should I say make me crazier.
The only thing my Cable company adds on is Fees!!
you are not alone Brian
I’m much younger than many of you ,but still love the old long film versus the piece of trash done recently that only had few better computer/else effect. But the line/production is pathetic, detriment and poor .Very antiamerican done,more peace film that a heroic war film. I still prefer to see Carlton Heston,john Wayne and others that Brad P and most new actors playing antiheroes war characters .
You know, a lot of those old shows are corny by today’s standards, but I still enjoy watching a few reruns here and there. We don’t have cable, just over the air digital and some streaming, so my selections are a little limited, but they bring back memories; sitting on the couch with my Dad watching cowboy shows (he had a weakness for cowboy shows and Victory at Sea) or watching cowboy shows while playing with toy soldiers on the floor in front of the TV. So far, I’ve not been tempted to get out the soldiers, get down on the floor, and play while watching, but if I get my knees fixed this year, I just might try it.
Hi George
I agree many of the shows are corny, but like you they bring memories of time long forgotten.
“The Gray Ghost”Must have had the best dressed Confederates ever!!George A you can find a lot of the old TV shows on Youtube,I’ve wasted many an afternoon there looking for one show and ending up going off on a tangent.