The stars at night are big and bright...

The stars at night are big and bright...
The stars at night are big and bright...

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Wire Paladin San Francisco



Encore Westerns is running a classic westerns weekend featuring great old TV series like the original Gunsmoke and one of my personal favorites, Have Gun - Will Travel.

A dark and foreboding tone was set from the show's beginning. Each episode opened with the same dark and ominous music over a close up of Paladin's gun being drawn. This was followed with a stern line from him teasing the upcoming story.

Richard Boone played the hard as nails soldier of fortune, Paladin. A gun for hire with a heart of gold. Yet, he never looked weak while defending the underdog or those done wrong and he made a tidy profit in the process. A classic Paladin Knight.

A dandy living the highlife in San Francisco he had a dual personality that always scoured the newspapers gathered by his Chinese concierge "Hey Boy" looking for cases that might require his unique skills. He delivered his invitation for employment with an unmistakable calling card...

Have Gun, Will Travel
Wire Paladin, San Francisco

You didn't want to stand between Paladin and his money, particularly if you were holding a gun and on the wrong side of right. Altho a soldier of fortune, he still managed to earn his pay and provide justice for the downtrodden at the same time.

He was the classic anti-hero.

This series was a launching ground for many up and coming stars featured in a mix with well known actors. The cast included guests like Strother Martin, Mike Conners, George Kennedy, Ken Curtis, Charles Bronson, Robert Blake, James Best, Jack Albertson, Ben Johnson, June Lockhart, Lon Chaney, Jr, Charles Gray, Harry Dean Stanton, Dyan Cannon, Angie Dickenson, William Conrad and many more.

Later,  Encore Westerns will feature 24 hours of the original Gunsmoke.

Set your DVR to meltdown.

3 comments:

an Donalbane said...

He may have worn a black hat, but he rode a white horse...

an Donalbane said...

The folks rounded up in the cockfighting bust - acquaintances of the former inlaws?

Unknown said...

Loved this show while growing up ( A FAV)
a really neat show.. . .