western tv shows of all time
Most Popular 1950s Western TV Shows (with sitcom-style or lighter elements)
Cheyenne (1955–1963) – The first hour-long Western series, starring Clint Walker, blending action with occasional humor.
Maverick (1957–1962) – James Garner’s witty gambler made this Western famous for its comedic tone.
The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956–1958) – A lighter Western adventure series based on the folk hero.
The Adventures of Kit Carson (1951–1955) – Family-friendly Western with moral lessons.
The Range Rider (1951–1953) – Known for action and humor, starring Jock Mahoney.
Buffalo Bill, Jr. (1955–1956) – A short-lived but memorable Western aimed at younger audiences.
Annie Oakley (1954–1957) – A rare female-led Western, balancing action with lighthearted storytelling.
The Cisco Kid (1950–1956) – Popular for its colorful characters and comedic sidekick Pancho.
Hopalong Cassidy (1949–1952) – Early TV Western hero, beloved by children and families.
1960s Weekly Western Dramas (Most to Less Popular)
Bonanza (1959–1973) – NBC’s flagship Western, set on the Ponderosa ranch. It was the #1 show in the U.S. for several years in the 1960s.
Gunsmoke (1955–1975) – CBS’s long-running Dodge City saga with Marshal Matt Dillon. Hugely popular and consistently top-rated.
The Big Valley (1965–1969) – Starring Barbara Stanwyck as matriarch Victoria Barkley, blending family drama with frontier action.
Daniel Boone (1964–1970) – Fess Parker reprised his frontier hero role, popular with family audiences.
Death Valley Days (1952–1970) – Anthology series sponsored by 20 Mule Team Borax, with Ronald Reagan among its hosts.
Branded (1965–1966) – Chuck Connors as a dishonored soldier wandering the West.
Cimarron Strip (1967–1968) – A short-lived CBS series starring Stuart Whitman, notable for its 90-minute format.
Lancer (1968–1970) – A family Western about two brothers and their ranch, remembered for its gritty tone.
The High Chaparral (1967–1971) – Focused on ranch life in Arizona, praised for its cultural diversity.
📝 Notes
Bonanza and Gunsmoke dominated the ratings, often ranking in the top 5 shows of the decade.
By the late 1960s, Westerns began to decline as spy thrillers, urban sitcoms, and variety shows gained popularity.
Many of these series blended traditional Western tropes with family drama (Big Valley, High Chaparral) or genre experimentation (Wild Wild West).
Would you like me to create a visual timeline chart of these Westerns by debut year, or a printable gallery sheet with cast portraits and commentary for your tribute series?
Sources:
Quick Answer: Rawhide aired from 1959 to 1965, while Wagon Train ran from 1957 to 1965.
📺 Western Drama Series Years
Wagon Train – Premiered September 18, 1957, and ended May 2, 1965. It ran for 8 seasons with 284 episodes, starring Ward Bond, Robert Horton, and later John McIntire.
📝 Notes
Both shows were staples of the late 1950s and 1960s Western boom.
Rawhide is remembered for Clint Eastwood’s breakout role as Rowdy Yates.
Wagon Train was inspired by John Ford’s film Wagon Master and became one of NBC’s most popular series before moving to ABC.
Would you like me to create a timeline chart showing Rawhide, Wagon Train, and other 1960s Westerns side by side, or a printable gallery sheet with cast portraits and commentary for your tribute series?
Sources:
Quick Answer: The most popular Western dramas of the late 1950s and 1960s were Gunsmoke and Bonanza, followed by hits like Wagon Train, Rawhide, and The Virginian. By the late 1960s, shows like The Big Valley and The High Chaparral carried the genre forward, though Westerns began to decline in popularity as spy thrillers and urban sitcoms rose.
📺 Ranked Western Drama Series (Late 1950s–1960s)
Gunsmoke (1955–1975) – The longest-running Western, consistently top-rated through the 1960s.
Bonanza (1959–1973) – NBC’s flagship Western, #1 in Nielsen ratings for several years.
Wagon Train (1957–1965) – A major NBC hit, later moved to ABC, inspired by John Ford’s Wagon Master.
Rawhide (1959–1965) – Clint Eastwood’s breakout role as Rowdy Yates, popular with family audiences.
The Big Valley (1965–1969) – Barbara Stanwyck led this family Western, blending frontier action with domestic drama.
The High Chaparral (1967–1971) – Known for cultural diversity and ranch life in Arizona.
Daniel Boone (1964–1970) – Fess Parker reprised his frontier hero role, popular with families.
Death Valley Days (1952–1970) – Anthology series, hosted at times by Ronald Reagan.
Branded (1965–1966) – Chuck Connors as a dishonored soldier wandering the West.
Cimarron Strip (1967–1968) – A short-lived CBS series with a 90-minute format.
Lancer (1968–1970) – Family Western remembered for its gritty tone.
📝 Notes
Gunsmoke and Bonanza dominated ratings, often ranking in the top 5 shows of the decade.
Wagon Train and Rawhide were staples of the late 1950s, bridging into the 1960s.
By the late 1960s, Westerns were fading, replaced by spy thrillers (Mission: Impossible) and urban sitcoms (All in the Family).
Anthology formats (Death Valley Days) and hybrids (Wild Wild West) kept the genre fresh.
Would you like me to create a visual timeline chart showing these Westerns by debut year, or a printable gallery sheet with cast portraits and commentary for your tribute series?
Sources:
Classic Western TV Shows (All-Time Favorites)
Gunsmoke (1955–1975) – The longest-running Western, set in Dodge City with Marshal Matt Dillon.
Bonanza (1959–1973) – NBC’s flagship Western about the Cartwright family on the Ponderosa ranch.
The Lone Ranger (1949–1957) – Early TV Western hero with his sidekick Tonto.
Rawhide (1959–1965) – Clint Eastwood’s breakout role as Rowdy Yates.
Wagon Train (1957–1965) – Inspired by John Ford’s Wagon Master, following pioneers heading West.
First 90-m
The Big Valley (1965–1969) – Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria Barkley leading a frontier family.
The High Chaparral (1967–1971) – Arizona ranch drama with cultural diversity.
Have Gun – Will Travel (1957–1963) – Richard Boone as Paladin, a gentleman gunfighter.
The Cisco Kid (1950–1956) – Colorful Western with comedic sidekick Pancho.
Hopalong Cassidy (1949–1952) – One of the first TV cowboys, beloved by children.
Zorro (1957–1959) – Disney’s swashbuckling masked hero in Spanish California.
Death Valley Days (1952–1970) – Anthology series hosted at times by Ronald Reagan.
Daniel Boone (1964–1970) – Fess Parker reprised his frontier hero role.
Best 50 Classic Western TV Series (All-Time)
Gunsmoke (1955–1975) – Longest-running Western, Dodge City with Marshal Matt Dillon.
Bonanza (1959–1973) – Cartwright family on the Ponderosa ranch.
Rawhide (1959–1965) – Clint Eastwood’s breakout role.
Wagon Train (1957–1965) – Pioneer journeys westward.
The Big Valley (1965–1969) – Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria Barkley.
The High Chaparral (1967–1971) – Arizona ranch drama.
Have Gun – Will Travel (1957–1963) – Gentleman gunfighter Paladin.
Death Valley Days (1952–1970) – Anthology series, hosted by Ronald Reagan.
Zorro (1957–1959) – Disney’s swashbuckling masked hero.
Hopalong Cassidy (1949–1952) – Early TV cowboy hero.
The Cisco Kid (1950–1956) – Colorful Western with Pancho.
Cheyenne (1955–1963) – Clint Walker’s frontier adventures.
Maverick (1957–1962) – James Garner’s witty gambler.
Lancer (1968–1970) – Family ranch drama.
Branded (1965–1966) – Chuck Connors as a dishonored soldier.
Cimarron Strip (1967–1968) – 90-minute CBS Western.
Daniel Boone (1964–1970) – Fess Parker as the frontier hero.
The Adventures of Kit Carson (1951–1955) – Family-friendly frontier tales.
The Range Rider (1951–1953) – Action and humor with Jock Mahoney.
Buffalo Bill, Jr. (1955–1956) – Youthful Western adventures.
Annie Oakley (1954–1957) – Female-led frontier series.
The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956–1958) – Folk hero dramatization.
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961) – One of the first adult Westerns.
Bat Masterson (1958–1961) – Gentleman lawman with a cane.
Sugarfoot (1957–1961) – Easygoing cowboy adventures.
Lawman (1958–1962) – Marshal Dan Troop in Laramie.
Colt .45 (1957–1960) – Gun salesman adventures.
Trackdown (1957–1959) – Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman.
Johnny Ringo (1959–1960) – Lawman with a troubled past.
The Rebel (1959–1961) – Post-Civil War drifter.
Yancy Derringer (1958–1959) – Gentleman adventurer in New Orleans.
Bronco (1958–1962) – Frontier wanderer.
The Rifleman (1958–1963) – Lucas McCain and his son.
Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958–1961) – Steve McQueen as bounty hunter Josh Randall.
The Deputy (1959–1961) – Henry Fonda as Marshal.
The Tall Man (1960–1962) – Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett.
Empire (1962–1963) – Ranching drama.
Frontier Doctor (1958–1959) – Medicine in the Old West.
The Restless Gun (1957–1959) – Drifter gunfighter.
The Texan (1958–1960) – Rory Calhoun as Bill Longley.
The Guns of Will Sonnett (1967–1969) – Walter Brennan searching for his son.
The Men from Shiloh (1970–1971) – Rebranded Virginian.
The Outcasts (1968–1969) – Interracial Western duo.
The Overland Trail (1960) – Short-lived frontier series.
The Dakotas (1963) – Lawmen in Dakota Territory.
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954–1959) – Boy and his dog at a frontier fort.
The Gene Autry Show (1950–1956) – Singing cowboy adventures.
📝 Notes
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