A short-lived series in the golden days of television westerns,the series "Stagecoach West" was a superior entry that lasted more than one season,and produced 38 episodes,all in black and white. The series originally aired on ABC-TV from October 4, 1960 until June 27, 1961. This series was produced by the same people that brought you "The Rifleman" since it was produced by Four Star Television,the same company that also produced not only "The Rifleman",but was behind a glut of western programs like "Wanted:Dead or Alive", "Johnny Rango", "Law of the Plainsmen", "Zane Grey Theater" and so forth. Characters Luke Perry(Wayne Rogers),and his partner Simon Kane(Robert Bray)operated the Timberland Stage Line from Missouri to San Francisco. Simon's teenage son David "Davey" Kane(Richard Eyer)joins the two as they face stagecoach robbers,hostile Indians,murderers,inclement weather,and less sensational events they occurred. "Stagecoach West" was somewhat similar to NBC's "Wagon Train",since it was the network's answer to NBC's top-rated show.
The series during it's original airing was offered on Tuesday nights for the 1960-1961 season where it was opposite NBC's suspenseful "Thriller",hosted by Boris Karloff and CBS' musical-variety series "The Red Skelton Show". Although the stories were entertaining and well done from some of the great writing and direction that this series had. As for the episodes this series they were first rate within themselves. From the premiere episode "High Lonesome"(Episode 1),to "The Orphans" (Episode 34),"Three Wise Men"(Episode 11),"The Outcasts"(Episode 19), "Root of Evil"(Episode 21),"The Dead Don't Cry"(Episode 30),and the final episode of the series "The Marker"(Episode 38).
Notable guest stars that were on "Stagecoach West" were some of Hollywood's finest from James Best, to Robert Cabal, John Milford, Denver Pyle, Jack Elam, Don Dubbins, Joanna Barnes, Ruta Lee, John Dehner, Philip Carey, I. Stanford Jolley, Dan Haggerty, Ben Cooper, Beverly Garland, Cesar Romero, Virginia Grey, Warren Oates, Jack Lord, Robert Harland, Gigi Perreau, Darren McGavin,and James Coburn. Actor James Best appeared in two episodes of this series(Episodes 1 and 30).
After "Stagecoach West" ended in 1961,actors Wayne Rogers and Robert Bray went on to other television roles. Robert Bray later portrayed forest ranger Corey Stuart on Lassie from 1964 to 1969. Wayne Rogers became popular as "Trapper John" on the television series "M*A*S*H" from 1972 to 1975. Both shows were on CBS. As for child actor Richard Eyer he had starred in a number of films during the 1950's and 1960's including starring opposite Gary Cooper in the 1956 William Wyler flick "Friendly Persuasion". The series was canceled by ABC despite the high quality of the number of Westerns that dominated the television landscape during the 1960's.
