Westernsare stories taking place in the American West, typically set in the later years of the 1800s, bringing to mind tales of cowboys and frontiers. Traditionally, Westerns are often set after the American Civil War, although stories taking place as early as the American Revolution aren’t unheard of either. Having origins in Wild West shows and novels, the Western genre was even part of the silent film era. Eventually, Westerns would also have their big break on television.
Western television shows are heavily associated with the late 1940s and well into the late 1960s. Tales abound of ranchers, villains, frontier towns, and saloon fights. Westerns could be more experimental than audiences may think. Sometimes, Westerns focused on unlikely protagonists as they travel through the Old West. Other times, they may have combined the Western with other genres. While Western series are typically thought of as dramas, there were even a few Western sitcoms. Some of these series would also prove to have a big influence on later pop culture.
10Gunsmoke (1955-1975)
Gunsmokeis a famously long-running Western series, originating as a radio series, that lasted from 1955 to 1975. Set in Dodge City, Kansas, the series revolves around the adventures of Marshal Matt Dillon. Another prominent figure in the series was Miss Kitty, usually portrayed as an employee or partial owner of a local saloon, though at times shehinted at being a madam, especially during the original radio run.
For years, one ofGunsmoke’s biggest claims to fame was that it was the longest-running live-action prime-time American dramatic series. However, the record was officially broken in 2019 byLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit, despite having fewer episodes.Gunsmoke’s episode count had been surpassed the year prior byThe Simpsons. The series is also remembered for its impact on international pop culture. The anime franchiseTrigun, for example, takes place on a planet called “Gunsmoke.”
9Bonanza (1959-1973)
Bonanzais a Western series that lasted from 1959 to 1973, revolving around the Cartwright family and the Ponderosa ranch. The head of the family is Ben Cartwright, originally from New England, who has been married three times, each giving him a son. They are the quiet eldest son, Adam, the peaceful, yet toughest, middle son, “Hoss,” and the hotheaded youngest, “Little Joe.”
The series was considered subversive for a Western of its time, as it was a period drama that gavemore focus to familythan the ranch itself. Interestingly enough, as the series starts out during the Civil War era,Bonanzaactually has an earlier setting than many Western series of the era. While few cowboys on TV Westerns were married, the series also became infamous for how rare it was for the Cartwright men to have lasting relationships, with quite a few unfortunate ladies not surviving the relationship.
8The Lone Ranger (1949-1957)
The Lone Ranger, originating as a radio series, was the eponymous hero of a Western series that lasted from 1949 to 1957. The titular Ranger is a masked hero who saves the day in the Wild West, with his horse Silver and friend Tonto. With a strong moral code, the Lone Ranger uses his skills with silver bullets to disarm his opponents.
Over the years, the “Lone Ranger” name has been a source of confusion for audiences, since the title character famously has Tonto as a companion, when it’s actually a reference to his backstory. Though his origin varies from version to version, the Ranger is generally portrayed as the only survivor of an ambush that killed his fellow Texas Rangers, including his brother. It is at this point, the Ranger is rescued by Tonto, who then coins the “Lone Ranger” nickname.
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7Here Come the Brides (1968-1970)
Here Come the Bridestakes place in a Seattle frontier town, where the constant loneliness is driving the local lumberjacks to leave. To avoid a shutdown, logging boss Jason Bolt agrees to bring 100 eligible women to the area for a year in hopes of matchmaking in a wager, Jason and his brothers, Joshua and Jeremy, risk losing their logging base, Bridal Veil Mountain, if the women leave within the year.
Women are recruited from Massachusetts and are placed under the care of the local saloon owner, Lottie. Agreeing to stay, with one girl, Candy Pruitt, functioning as the de-facto leader of the girls. Loosely based onthe historical Mercer Girls, as well asSeven Brides for Seven Brothers, the series is a romantic comedy as well as a Western. The series featured less violence than to be expected in a Western. In fact, Bruce Lee, during a guest appearance on the series, played one of his few roles in American media thatdid not involve martial arts.
6The Rifleman (1958-1963)
The Riflemanis a Western that lasted from 1958 to 1963. Lucas McCain enters a turkey shooting contest in the hopes of getting land in New Mexico, but throws the contest when his son Mark’s life is threatened by the man who runs the town. After taking down the villain, the town’s judge asks Lucas and Mark to stay, as Lucas starts a new ranch.
As Lucas is a widower,The Riflemanwas one of the first American prime-time series to revolvearound a single parent. Though Lucas was no stranger to violence, thanks to his trademark rifle, a big theme of the series was second chances, with Lucas often giving hard-on-their-luck souls jobs at his ranch. Interestingly, in the original script, Lucas' weapon of choice was going to be a pistol, a more traditional feature of Westerns.
5Have Gun – Will Travel (1957-1963)
Have Gun – Will Travelis a Western series that lasted from 1957 to 1963. A figure known as the “Paladin,” travels the Wild West working as a gunfighter for hire. Sort of an Old West Robin Hood, Paladin charges high fees to those who can afford it, but offers his services for free for those in need. Usually residing at the San Francisco Hotel Carlton, Paladin is something of a gentleman, enjoy things from fine wine to a night at the opera. However, he switches to black traditional Western clothes during a job, almost like an alter-ego.
The name of the series appears on a business card Paladin gives out, complete with a knight chess piece logo. In a reverse of many popular Western shows of the era, instead of being based on a popular radio series, it spawned one, premiering a year after its television counterpart. In popular culture, “The Ballad of Paladin,” which functions as the series' ending theme, is briefly sung in a scene inStand By Me.
4Cheyenne (1955-1962)
Cheyenneis a Western series lasting from 1955 to 1962. The series was notable for being one of the first hour-long Western series, as well as one of the first hour-long dramatic series with recurring characters to last multiple seasons. Cheyenne Bodie is an imposing but gentle cowboy who wanders around the Old West.
Bodie’s name reflects his backstory, in which he was taken in by the Cheyenne, after losing his parents. Effectively a nomadic drifter, Cheyenne gets by through taking on various odd jobs and going on different adventures. Aside from a sidekick “Smitty” who appears in a few early episodes, Cheyenne himself is really the series' only continuing character, although actors often played different characters. The series would later see the spin-offBronco, whose title character was originally intended as a replacement for Cheyenne.
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3The Wild Wild West (1965-1969)
The Wild Wild Westis a Western series that lasted from 1965 to 1969, combining the genre with the spy genre, complete with science fiction elements. Set in the time of President Ulysses S. Grant’s administration, two Secret Service agents, James West and Artemus Gordon, fight villains on behalf of the government while traveling in a private train in the Wild West.
Admittedly,The Wild Wild Westcame out when Westerns were starting to lose popularity, especially in favor of spy stories, with the series even being pitched as “James Bond on horseback.” Over the years, thanks to the series employing fantastic science-fiction elements in the Old West, the series has often been hailed as a pioneering force in the steampunk genre.
2The Big Valley (1965-1969)
The Big Valleyis a Western series that lasted from 1965 to 1969, taking place at the California Barkley Ranch. The series revolves around the wealthy ranch-owning Barkley family, headed by matriarch Victoria Barkley. Making up the family are Victoria’s sons, Jarrod and Nick, her daughter, Audra, and their half-sibling, Heath, who is introduced to the family in the first episode. Though he died years before the start of the series, and never appeared in-person, family patriarch Thomas Barkley still remained a prominent force throughout the series.
The members of the Barkley family were usually painted as morally upright citizens who usually fought for the underdog. Early on in the series, there had been a fourth son, Eugene, who was written out of the series after the actor was drafted. As Victoria was the de facto main character of the series,The Big Valleywas one of the first Western series with a strong female lead.
1Wagon Train (1957-1962)
Wagon Trainis a series that lasted from 1957 to 1962. The series details the titular wagon train and its regulars as they run through the American West. The series was famous for its guest stars, who were usually the focus of each episode, and which included big names like Bette Davis, who played three different characters,silent film starSessue Hayakawa, and future president Ronald Reagan, in one of his final acting roles. In popular culture, the series is arguably best known for being an influence on thescience fiction seriesStar Trek. In fact, an early pitch for the later series described it as “Wagon Train to the Stars.”
