That underlying current of two very contrasting individuals gave the show a spark. Nice to hear from you, Jim. with Charlie Wooster to mine a legendary vein not far from the path traveled by Thankyou for your note. I stand corrected on this issue, AGAIN, Cindy. Irene Windust subsequently played the character of Charity Harris on the third season of the Western, and she got killed by arrows while traveling home. Evidently, they did arrive at their destinations occasionally. There were eight actors who were more or less regulars in Wagon Train. Miller appeared over three seasons in more than 100 episodes of Wagon Train, which aired on NBC and ABC from 1957 to 1965. Bond died of a heart attack on the fourth season of 'Wagon Train. Id never heard of it before and started watching it and The Rifleman because they follow Gunsmoke and Bonanza. Good to hear from you. As for Santon, I would imagine he was dubbed, although that is only a guess. His first five roles were as five separate characters before someone at Warners decided he should become a regular. - Overland Trail He never was a rodeo rider, but did personal appearances at rodeos as you correctly observed where he showed off his excellent horsemanship and shooting skills. - Rough Riders He was an Appaloosa named Stormy Night. Santa Monica, attended USC for two years, and then worked as a seaman traveling - Guns of Will Sonnett away leading another wagon train west. It seems far-fetched that she would have stayed in Sacramento for years without her husband, so the writers handled her absence in another way in later seasons. I disagree with your statement that Robert Fuller is most known for his role in Laramie. . [JB] 6.5 [194] Wagon Train: THE JOHN AUGUSTUS STORY 17-Oct-1962 ABC Wed Teleplay and Story by . He then segued to playing an Air Force sergeant who is married to a Las Vegas chorus girl (Juliet Prowse) in the short-lived NBC sitcom Mona McCluskey. In doing so, I noticed that there is a noticeable weight loss in Ward Bond and that he had started wearing black pants, vest and hat instead if his usual light colored attire. - Elfego Baca His first appearance was with Ward Bond wagon master Major Seth Adams which aired January 25, 1961. 1960 episodes for the series. McIntire's first appearance on the program was as Andrew Hale in a 1959 - Gene Autry Show When I wrote this I was envisioning Fuller as one of the poker-playing old TV legends in the 1994 spoof Maverick starring Mel Gibson. But I disagree that they never reached their destination. - Johnny Ringo It was all to do with the cost per episode (colour was very expensive) and the shows ratings which began to wane. At that point, no one knew the show would be a massive hit and when it was and Hawks because a regular the little item about being married in season one was swept under the table. Terry Wilson became my friend and buddy and guided me through it. Future lead scout Duke Shannon also gets his story told in "The Duke Shannon Story" (April 26, 1961) in which his gold-prospecting father Henry is a member of Hale's wagon train and wanders off with Charlie Wooster to mine a legendary vein not far from the path traveled by the train. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. - Daniel Boone (Disney) I record the series on MeTV, and I saved that episode. Perhaps because the series concentrated so much on guest stars and was not rooted to one star as other Western series were (i.e. They were given full-ride scholarships to UCLA. This turn of events leaves Duke without a family, and Hawks and However, because producing color episodes was very expensive, many believe the change was merely a cost saving effort. long after the days of the wagon trains were history. Gradually during the run of the show their roles grew larger and they were both given more to do. Alan, I grew up on Wagon Train and still enjoy the reruns at my current age of 72! Keep reading to find out how her absence was addressed. Back in 1950, John Ford directed the Western drama "Wagon Master" about two young cowhands (Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr.) who join a Mormon wagon train traveling to Utah. I am not imitating Ward. - Cimarron Strip He signed a movie contract at MGM after his screen test was directed by George Cukor and appeared in an uncredited role in the Frank Sinatra drama Some Came Running (1958). train when Adams falls ill. - My Friend Flicka Like you, I grew up with all those shows (except Bronco) and they were part of the reason why I fell in love with TV and movies. In its 6th season Wagon Train barely managed to beat newcomer Virginian but lost its #1 status. I knew that character cold. Although Lee Marvin was strongly considered as the new stern-ordering wagonmaster after Bond died, producers rethought the series and on March 16, 61, three weeks after Bonds final appearance, 54 year old seasoned John McIntire quietly stepped into the role of wagon I only intended to check it out while I was eating dinner. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. - Rin Tin Tin In 1962, Robert Horton left the popular western Wagon Train after its fifth season. And while were sharing tales about those days I was a photographer, late 60s, of numerous celebrities, once spending several days with Sammy Davis in Reno. Robert Horton (1924-2016) 189 episodes (1957-65) Barbara Ruick. After the cancellation of Wagon Train in 1965, Miller starred as Mike McCluskey on the NBC sitcom Mona McCluskey. Robert Fuller (1933 ) 60 episodes (1959-65) Fuller (arrowed) inGentlemen Prefer Blondes(1953). characters--they are all adult orphans in a sense, with no attachments, no - The Deputy He went to Canoga Park and I went to Harvard School. This episode is also one of several from 1962 that highlight the stark difference between the character of Chris Hale and his predecessor Major Seth Adams. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis took him at 80. becomes Christopher Hale, whom we first meet in "The Christopher Hale Loosely based on the John Ford film Wagon Master (50), initially the series starred Ward Bond as gruff but wise wagon master Major Seth Adams, Robert Horton as young, educated scout Flint McCullough, Terry Wilson as another steady scout and assistant wagon master, and for comedy relief irascible Frank McGrath as cook Charlie Wooster. . - Rawhide I was surprised to see how short Robert Fuller was in scenes with the other male cast members. At the same time we enjoyed a great rapport on camera. After deserting his wagon train and leaving his passengers to die of thirst, Wagon Master Fenton Canaby turns himself in to Chris Hale, who tries to keep his identity a secret until he can turn . into their virtual family. As discussed in our post on the Thankyou for your comment, Susan. Im 42 & I have never been much of a TV buff, but I watched. - Tales of Wells Fargo - Zane Grey Theatre - Legend of Jesse James . He was no stranger to wagons, horses and dust. It was too little too late, especially when ABC once again moved the series and slotted it on Sunday nights 7:30-8:30 opposite CBS My Favorite Martian and the first half of the powerhouse Sunday night staple Ed Sullivan and NBCs Walt Disneys Wonderful World of Color. Terry died in 1999 at the age of 75. Of course, you are right, and it is my own fault for not being a little clearer with my criticism. Other than this movie he was almost exclusively a television actor for nearly 50 years. the train. Why did Robert Horton leave the show wagon train?May 24, 2019In his six decades of television, Horton, who became known for his voice, was most noted for his. I remember a bar that had money stuck to the ceiling and the fact you could walk the streets with a cocktail. Season 4, Episode 15, "The Earl Packer Story": Season 4, Episode 16, "The Patience Miller Story": Season 4, Episode 17, "The Sam Elder Story": Season 4, Episode 18, "Weight of Command": Season 4, Episode 19, "The Prairie Story": Season 4, Episode 20, "Path of the Serpent": Season 4, Episode 21, "The See production, box office & company info, Revue Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. Hi, Kent. - Hotel de Paree The Miller brothers played together at UCLA for one year, and their father joined the faculty of UCLA. Delightful! I never watched every episode in its entirety. - Tales of the Texas Rangers Wed work on the show 10 months, then wed take our wives and go down to the boat for a vacation. But both accepted the change. At his own request there was no funeral and his remains were quietly cremated. rushes to Angie Matthewson's side and agrees to carry out her final wish before broncos, winning a national competition at age 16. protection year-round. I just play myself., Robert Horton told WC, Terry and I played football against each other in high school. He appeared on early-'60s TV Westerns including Laramie, Have Gun Will Travel and The Rifleman before landing a regular role on the popular Wagon Train in 1961. He graduated high school in SO SAD. He was one of only two characters who stayed on the series for all eight seasons, as Wagon Train focused on a semi-anthology format. Billed as Denny Scott Miller. The house on Laramie is often disguised by additional plants or other things. Christopher Hale, noted wagon master, they urge him to rescue them from He could have left the train to be with Beth Pearson. - Gray Ghost Denny Scott Miller (born Dennis Linn Miller; April 25, 1934 - September 9, 2014) was an American actor, perhaps best known for his regular role as Duke Shannon on Wagon Train, his guest-starring appearances on Gilligan's Island, and his 1959 film role as Tarzan. 10 . Horton was a class act who really should have gone on to bigger things. Fuller was the best cowboy actor during the 1950s-60s because of the little things he did such as how to handle a horse and gun. Do you know? Very Close to being sycophants, especially Terry., Horton told writer James Rosin, Once I was cast in the role I wrote a biographical sketch of Flint McCullough so the writers would not have a different point of view about me every time they wrote a script. officer and chairman of the board at Universal) in 'The Duke Shannon Story'. 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