Boots and Saddles
GenreWestern
Created byRobert A. Cinader
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Theme music composerFred Steiner
ComposerFred Steiner
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes39
Production
Producers
  • George Cahan
  • Robert Stillman
EditorIrving Berlin[note 1]
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companyCalifornia National Productions
Original release
NetworkSyndication
ReleaseSeptember 19, 1957 (1957-09-19) –
May 29, 1958 (1958-05-29)

Boots and Saddles is an American Western television series that aired in syndication from 1957 to 1959.[1]

Synopsis

Set in 1870, the series depicts activities of the U.S. Fifth Cavalry, with the title taken from the bugle call that alerted cavalrymen to their horses.[2] The setting is fictional Fort Lowell, near Tucson, Arizona.[3]

The cast includes John Pickard (billed as Jack Pickard) as Captain Shank Adams, Patrick McVey as Lieutenant Colonel Hayes, Gardner McKay as Lieutenant Kelly, David Willock as Lieutenant Binning, John Alderson as Sergeant Bullock, and Mike Hinn as scout Luke Cummings.[1] Johnny Western has a continuing role on the series.[4]

Production

The series was shot in Kanab Canyon in Utah.[5] The series was produced by California National Productions[1] and sold by NBC Film Division.[6]

Robert Cinader created the show, which was produced by California Studios with George Cahan was executive producer. Anthony Ellis was the writer.[7]

The technical advisor was Col. J. S. Peters, Retired, U.S. Cavalry.[citation needed]

Critical response

A review of the first episode of Boots and Saddles in the trade publication Billboard said that the program's action "ought to make the kids happy" while "At the same time it's done intelligently, with a sense of reality that should snare the adults."[7]

Episode list

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
0"Cavalry Patrol (Pilot)"TBATBATBA
Dewey Martin as Lt. Johnny Reardon.
1"The Gatling Gun (aka The Captain's Leave)"William J. Hole Jr.Gene RoddenberrySeptember 19, 1957 (1957-09-19)
2"The Repeater Rifle"James NeilsonRobert A. Cinader & Antony EllisSeptember 26, 1957 (1957-09-26)
3"The Obsession"James NeilsonTony BarrettOctober 3, 1957 (1957-10-03)
4"Private War"UnknownRobert A. CinaderOctober 10, 1957 (1957-10-10)
The fort is split between lingering Confederate and Union Army sympathizers.
5"The Prussian Farmer"UnknownGene RoddenberryOctober 17, 1957 (1957-10-17)
6"The Paymaster"Wiliam J. Hole Jr.Robert A. Cinader & Kathleen HiteOctober 24, 1957 (1957-10-24)
7"Terror at Fort Lowell"Bernard L. KowalskiDon Brinkley & Robert A. CinaderOctober 31, 1957 (1957-10-31)
8"Border Raiders"UnknownRobert A. CinaderNovember 7, 1957 (1957-11-07)
9"The Deserter"UnknownRobert A. CinaderNovember 14, 1957 (1957-11-14)
Trooper Grimes, a troublemaker who Capt. Adams never had any use for, is caught deliberately giving an Apache prisoner bad water. The incident confirms Adams' decision to get rid of Grimes, but Grimes doesn't see it that way.
10"Quiet Day at Fort Lowell"Bernard L. KowalskiRobert A. Cinader & Tony BarrettNovember 21, 1957 (1957-11-21)
11"The Gift"UnknownRobert A. CinaderDecember 5, 1957 (1957-12-05)
12"The Treasure"UnknownRobert A. CinaderDecember 12, 1957 (1957-12-12)
an American Civil War bandit wills his contraband to the U.S. government, but his daughter, Laurie (Rebecca Welles), comes forward to contest her father's will.
13"The Coward"UnknownTony BarrettDecember 19, 1957 (1957-12-19)
A young soldier is accused of running away while under fire by Apaches.
14"The Marquis of Donnybrook"UnknownGene RoddenberryDecember 26, 1957 (1957-12-26)
Merriwether (DeForest Kelley) is a champion prizefighter from the 7th Cavalry.
15"Pound of Flesh"UnknownRobert A. CinaderJanuary 2, 1958 (1958-01-02)
16"The Strange Death of Trooper Jones"UnknownRobert A. Cinader & John HawkinsJanuary 9, 1958 (1958-01-09)
17"The Duel"UnknownRobert A. CinaderJanuary 16, 1958 (1958-01-16)
Lieutenant Kelly is challenged to a duel, lance vs. saber, by an Apache chief.
18"The Last Word"UnknownRobert A. CinaderJanuary 23, 1958 (1958-01-23)
19"The Proud Condemned"UnknownRobert A. Cinader & John HawkinsJanuary 30, 1958 (1958-01-30)
20"Female of the Species (aka The Trooper's Wife)"UnknownRobert A. CinaderFebruary 6, 1958 (1958-02-06)
21"The Dispatch Rider"UnknownRobert A. Cinader & John HawkinsFebruary 13, 1958 (1958-02-13)
22"The Eight-for-Five Men"UnknownRobert A. Cinader & John HawkinsFebruary 20, 1958 (1958-02-20)
23"Late Arrival"UnknownRobert A. CinaderFebruary 27, 1958 (1958-02-27)
24"Rescue of the Strangers"Bernard L. KowalskiGene RoddenberryMarch 6, 1958 (1958-03-06)
25"The Cook"UnknownRobert A. CinaderMarch 13, 1958 (1958-03-13)
26"The Court Martial"UnknownRobert A. CinaderMarch 20, 1958 (1958-03-20)
27"The Lost Patrol"UnknownRobert A. CinaderMarch 27, 1958 (1958-03-27)
28"A Question of Duty"UnknownRobert A. CinaderApril 3, 1958 (1958-04-03)
29"One-Man War"UnknownRobert A. CinaderApril 10, 1958 (1958-04-10)
30"The Indian Scout"UnknownRobert A. CinaderApril 17, 1958 (1958-04-17)
Robert Knapp plays Private Hank Swanson.
31"The Politician"UnknownRobert A. CinaderApril 24, 1958 (1958-04-24)
32"The Recruit"UnknownTony Barrett, story by Barrett and S. S. SchwartzerMay 1, 1958 (1958-05-01)
33"The Superstition"William J. Hole Jr.Don Brinkley & Robert A. CinaderMay 8, 1958 (1958-05-08)
34"Iron John"UnknownRobert A. CinaderMay 15, 1958 (1958-05-15)
35"The Holdout"UnknownRobert A. CinaderMay 22, 1958 (1958-05-22)
36"Weight of Command"William A. Hole Jr.Robert A. Cinader & David LangMay 27, 1958 (1958-05-27)
Diphtheria strikes Fort Lowell.

Adaptations

Ray Bailey [fr] adapted the TV series into a comic strip.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ Not to be confused with the musical composer Irving Berlin

References

  1. ^ a b c McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 112. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. ^ Erickson, Hal (1989). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987'. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 93. ISBN 0-7864-1198-8.
  3. ^ Spencer, Kathleen L. (September 17, 2014). Art and Politics in Have Gun--Will Travel: The 1950s Television Western as Ethical Drama. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-1774-9. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  4. ^ Burlingame, Jon (March 26, 2023). Music for Prime Time: A History of American Television Themes and Scoring. Oxford University Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-19-061830-8. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  5. ^ D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood Came to Town: A History of Moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton: Gibbs Smith. p. 289. ISBN 978-1-4236-0587-4. Wikidata Q123575108.
  6. ^ "KRCA Buys NBC's 'Boots & Saddles'". Billboard. July 29, 1957. p. 14. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Spielman, Bob (September 16, 1957). "Boots and Saddles". Billboard. p. 17. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  8. ^ "Ray Bailey (II)". lambiek.net.

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