Tombstone Territory

6ft.3in.Pat Conway starring Sherriff Clay Hollister was in charge of keeping thing orderly in the "Town Too Tough To Die". The show originally ran on ABC from October 16, 1957 to October 9, 1959. Richard Eastham played double duty as editor of the Epitaph and as narrator of the show.Tombstone Territory came out of the stable that produced the likes of Bat Masterson and Highway Patrol and a slew of other popular 1950 TV series.Pat Conway handled his role as Clay Hollister quite well as his family are no strangers to the performing arts.(His mother was silent screen star Francis Bushman).Tombstone Territory was never short on shoot-em ups or fistic violence as was the norm for westerns of its day.Has it changed? As a kid in the fifties I had an ear for those catchy tunes that were so prevelant back in those days and "Whistle Me Up A Memory" was one of the best.As with so many other entertaining TV show from yesteryear (and many from ZIV) the only copies available from this show are a few 16mm transfers. What a shame!

This half hour TV Western is set in Tombstone, Arizona some years after thr Earps and Clsntons had done their thing and left the scene. The new sheriff in town is Clay Hollister played by Pat Conway.

The format of the show has the publisher and editor of the Tombstone Epitaph Richard Eastham narrate the story, ripped from the headlines of his paper as it were. The Tombstone Epitaph was a real paper, the accounts we have o the Earp/Clanton feud come from the stories in the Epitaph which had a pro-Earp bias.

Conway was a resolute defender of the law in the three seasons the show ran. As for Tombstone the town did die and like Virginia City in Nevada tje remnants are a tourist site.

Although I was 4 years old when TT debuted; I never viewed it back then. In 2020; it's a great watch; and far far superior to anything crappy TV has to offer today or, Western TV shows of yore.

First, it makes every other Western TV show, seem like the mundane.

Here's the thing about this show: While each episode is a bit less than 25 minutes, it plays like a big screen MGM movie. It's pretty remarkable.

The stories are unique; and the atmosphere remarkably big screen. And the added touch of the Epitaph (Tombstone newspaper) editor narration at the intro; is excellent as well. The great majority of stories are re-enactments of actual history.

We were recording them off of DTV, but the wife (like me), loved the show so much; I just purchased the entire 3 season set year set for $20.00 on Amazon. Best money we ever spent. And that's 110-120 episodes. A steal.

For story development, there are episodes with scenes that are "head scratchers." By this, I am referring to the many times the star (Hollister); allows others to 'get the jump on him'. Usually via bad judgement. But that's so he can be a hero in some other 'totally-like wow-bitchen) way, and get into Donnybrooks so it's not all about his quick draw.

There's one hilarious thing my wife Evelyn & I laugh about nearly every episode. I think a portion of this show was dedicated to housewives. Pat Conway is a good looking guy. But the way he moves when leaving his office, is just plain funny. Not just striking poses, but also, the swaying of his hips around tables, chairs, and hand rails, with arms out to both sides like he's ready to break out dancing; is just funny. He does it outdoors as well with no objects to navigate. Evie says sometimes, "all he needs is a runway & a tiara:)."

Lastly, all kinds of TV and television stars (most before their prime) to be found in these episodes. Lee Van Cleef, Warren Oates, and countless more.

Directors too; like Don Siegel (Dirty Harry), & Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch).

If you take nothing else from this review, just know that every episode plays like an big studio movie production. Not to impugn Bonanza, Rawhide, Gunsmoke and the rest; Tombstone Territory just stands alone.

Needless to say; we HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Thx for listening

Bob R.

A show like this would attract millions of viewers in this day of sleaze. Good stories with a moral lesson in each episode, based on factual accounts that are dramatized ... great stuff!!! Western updated in color with good solid characters regardless of which side of the law they are on would sell. Hollywood should return to fiction with a realistic wholesome story line and leave the fringe c=garbage alone. The public is tired of it. I can't tell you the last time I watched current TV.

Sheriff Clay Hollister defended the law in "The Town To Tough To Die" and did it with a no nonsense approach. The narration by Harris Claibourn editor of the Tombstone 'Epitaph' brought a sense of additional realism to this high quality show.