Now Performing in the Red Skelton Tribute Theater 167 East Wears Valley Road Suite #17 (Shops of Pigeon Forge) Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
The Virginian
The Virginian, later called The Men From Shiloh in its final year, is an American Western television series starring James Drury and Doug McClure, which aired on NBC from 1962 to 1971 for a total of 249 episodes.
The Virginian became television's first 90-minute western series. Immensely successful, it ran for nine seasons—television's third longest running western.
Set around the year 1886, the series revolved around the tough foreman of the Shiloh Ranch, played by James Drury. He and his top hand Trampas, played by Doug McClure, were the only characters to remain with the show for the entire run. The foreman went only by the name The Virginian. The series was set in Medicine Bow, Wyoming, and circled around the foreman's quest to maintain an orderly lifestyle at Shiloh.
The ranch was named after the Battle of Shiloh which took place for two days in Tennessee during the American Civil War. The Virginian's white appaloosa on the show was named Joe D., and Trampas' buckskin horse was named Buck. As the show progressed, Trampas became the more developed of the characters, and it became the role Doug McClure was best known.
In its early years the series had five main characters: Judge Garth, owner of Shiloh, a great cattle ranch in Wyoming; his innocent young daughter Betsy; the Virginian, his heroic foreman; and two likeable ranch hands, Trampas and Steve. The relationships between these five, as they were developed and tested, provided the most affecting and amusing moments.
In season 9, the name of the program was changed to The Men from Shiloh and the look of the series was completely redesigned. Ownership was changed once more, and Colonel Alan MacKenzie p[layed by Stewart Granger, took over.
The final season operated on a 'rotating lead actor' basis of the four stars, with normally just one lead appearing each week. The final episode aired on March 24, 1971, ending the show's 9-season run. The same year of the last episone of the Red Skelton Show.
If you are a fan of the television shows from the 1960's than be sure to Brian Hoffman's Remembering Red, A Tribute to Red Skelton. Click on Show Schedule link to see the dates and show times. It also allows you to make a reservation so you are guaranteed a seat at the show. "Goodnight for now and may God bless"
Below is a partial episode of the Virginian with guest star Pernell Roberts, no copywrite or trademarks violations intended. Purely for your pleasure.
