Black Saddle

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American TV Western series (1959–1960)

title: "Black Saddle" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1959-american-television-series-debuts", "1960-american-television-series-endings", "nbc-western-dramas", "american-broadcasting-company-western-dramas", "black-and-white-american-television-shows", "television-series-by-four-star-television", "television-series-by-20th-television", "1950s-western-(genre)-television-series", "american-english-language-television-shows", "television-shows-set-in-los-angeles", "1960s-western-(genre)-television-series", "television-series-about-lawyers", "fiction-about-patricide"] description: "American TV Western series (1959–1960)" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saddle" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American TV Western series (1959–1960) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]

FieldValue
imagePeter Breck Anna Lisa Black Saddle 1959.JPG
captionPeter Breck as Clay Culhane and Anna-Lisa as Nora Travers (1959)
genreWestern
creator
starring
theme_music_composer
composer
countryUnited States
languageEnglish
num_seasons2
num_episodes44
executive_producerHal Hudson
producer
runtime24 mins.
channel
cameraSingle-camera
first_aired
last_aired
::

| image = Peter Breck Anna Lisa Black Saddle 1959.JPG | caption = Peter Breck as Clay Culhane and Anna-Lisa as Nora Travers (1959) | genre = Western | creator = | starring = | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = | composer = | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = 44 | list_episodes = | executive_producer = Hal Hudson | producer = | runtime = 24 mins. | channel = | camera = Single-camera | first_aired = | last_aired =

Black Saddle is an American Western television series starring Peter Breck that aired 44 half-hour black-and-white episodes from January 10, 1959, to May 6, 1960. The first season of 20 episodes aired on NBC from January 1959 to September 1959. ABC picked up the second season in the 1959-1960 season with 24 new episodes produced. The half-hour program was produced by Dick Powell's Four Star Television, and the original backdoor pilot was an episode of CBS's Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, with Chris Alcaide originally portraying the principal character, Clay Culhane, in an episode entitled "A Threat of Violence."

Synopsis

Clay Culhane is a gunfighter who becomes a lawyer after his brothers are killed in a shootout. He carries his law books as he rides across the New Mexico Territory in the years following the Civil War, ready to help people who need help with the law. U. S. Marshal Gib Scott follows Culhane, dubious of Culhane's turning away from gunfighting. Nora Travers owns the town's hotel, and Kelly is the bartender at the saloon.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Russell_Johnson_Black_Saddle_1960.JPG" caption="[[Russell Johnson]] as Marshal Gib Scott"] ::

Cast

Main cast

Guest cast

Some of the Black Saddle guest stars include Warren Oates, Chris Alcaide (who portrayed Clay Culhane in the original pilot), Fred Aldrich, John Anderson, Parley Baer, Raymond Bailey, Russ Bender, Paul Birch (in the role of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant in the episode "Mr. Simpson"), Lane Bradford, Paul Burke, Archie Butler, James Coburn, Dennis Cross, John Dehner, Frank Dekova, Alan Dexter, Buddy Ebsen, Hampton Fancher, Scott Forbes in Episode "Client: Steele"), James Franciscus, Jack Ging, Dabbs Greer, Robert Griffin, Clu Gulager, Robert Harland, Stacy Harris, Brett King, Jess Kirkpatrick, Robert Knapp, John Marley, Ken Mayer, Ann McCrea, Rod McGaughy, Patrick McVey, James Parnell, Vic Perrin, Sam Reese, Stafford Repp, Stephen Roberts, Bing Russell, Richard Rust, Simon Scott, Richard Shannon, Robert F. Simon, Quentin Sondergaard and Patrick Macnee.

Episodes

Season 1 (1959)

|EpisodeNumber = 1 |EpisodeNumber2 = 1 |Title = Client: Travers |DirectedBy = John English |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 2 |EpisodeNumber2 = 2 |Title = Client: Meade |DirectedBy = Roger Kay |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 3 |EpisodeNumber2 = 3 |Title = Client: McQueen |DirectedBy = John English |WrittenBy = Robert Yale Libott |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 4 |EpisodeNumber2 = 4 |Title = Client: Dawes |DirectedBy = Roger Kay |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 5 |EpisodeNumber2 = 5 |Title = Client: Starkey |DirectedBy = John English |WrittenBy = Robert Yale Libott |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 6 |EpisodeNumber2 = 6 |Title = Client: Tagger |DirectedBy = John English |WrittenBy = Frederick Louis Fox |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 7 |EpisodeNumber2 = 7 |Title = Client: Robinson |DirectedBy = John Florea |WrittenBy = Jack Jacobs |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 8 |EpisodeNumber2 = 8 |Title = Client: Martinez |DirectedBy = Francis D. Lyon |WrittenBy = John Tucker Battle |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 9 |EpisodeNumber2 = 9 |Title = Client: Northrup |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 10 |EpisodeNumber2 = 10 |Title = Client: Steele |DirectedBy = Francis D. Lyon |WrittenBy = Rod Peterson |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 11 |EpisodeNumber2 = 11 |Title = Client: Mowery |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = Frederick Louis Fox |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 12 |EpisodeNumber2 = 12 |Title = Client: Braun |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 13 |EpisodeNumber2 = 13 |Title = Client: Banks |DirectedBy = John English |WrittenBy = Antony Ellis |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 14 |EpisodeNumber2 = 14 |Title = Client: Jessup |DirectedBy = John English |WrittenBy = Stuart Jerome |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 15 |EpisodeNumber2 = 15 |Title = Client: Frome |DirectedBy = John English |WrittenBy = Frederick Louis Fox |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 16 |EpisodeNumber2 = 16 |Title = Client: Nelson |DirectedBy = Boris Sagal |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 17 |EpisodeNumber2 = 17 |Title = Client: Neal Adams |DirectedBy = William D. Faralla |WrittenBy = Ken Kolb |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 18 |EpisodeNumber2 = 18 |Title = Client: Brand |DirectedBy = Gerd Oswald |WrittenBy = Joe Stone & Paul King |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 19 |EpisodeNumber2 = 19 |Title = Client: Reynolds |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 20 |EpisodeNumber2 = 20 |Title = Client: Vardon |DirectedBy = William D. Faralla |WrittenBy = Frederick Louis Fox |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor=

Season 2 (1959–60)

|EpisodeNumber = 21 |EpisodeNumber2 = 1 |Title = The Freebooters |DirectedBy = William D. Faralla |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 22 |EpisodeNumber2 = 2 |Title = The Saddle |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 23 |EpisodeNumber2 = 3 |Title = The Long Rider |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = Antony Ellis |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 24 |EpisodeNumber2 = 4 |Title = The Hotel |DirectedBy = James Sheldon |WrittenBy = Antony Ellis |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 25 |EpisodeNumber2 = 5 |Title = Client: Peter Warren |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = Donn Mullally |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 26 |EpisodeNumber2 = 6 |Title = The Freight Line |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = Antony Ellis |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 27 |EpisodeNumber2 = 7 |Title = Murdock |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = Fred Frieberger |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 28 |EpisodeNumber2 = 8 |Title = Apache Killer |DirectedBy = William D. Faralla |WrittenBy = Joe Stone & Paul King |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 29 |EpisodeNumber2 = 9 |Title = Four from Stillwater |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = George & Gertrude Fass |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 30 |EpisodeNumber2 = 10 |Title = The Deal |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = William Link & Richard Levinson |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 31 |EpisodeNumber2 = 11 |Title = Change of Venue |DirectedBy = William D. Faralla |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 32 |EpisodeNumber2 = 12 |Title = Blood Money |DirectedBy = Frank Baur |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 33 |EpisodeNumber2 = 13 |Title = The Killer |DirectedBy = William F. Claxton |WrittenBy = Antony Ellis |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 34 |EpisodeNumber2 = 14 |Title = Letter of Death |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = Frederick Louis Fox |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 35 |EpisodeNumber2 = 15 |Title = Mr. Simpson |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = Antony Ellis |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 36 |EpisodeNumber2 = 16 |Title = Means to an End |DirectedBy = Frank Baur |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 37 |EpisodeNumber2 = 17 |Title = The Indian Tree |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = John McGreevey & Antony Ellis |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 38 |EpisodeNumber2 = 18 |Title = The Apprentice |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 39 |EpisodeNumber2 = 19 |Title = Burden of Guilt |DirectedBy = Elliott Silverstein |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 40 |EpisodeNumber2 = 20 |Title = The Cabin |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = Antony Ellis |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 41 |EpisodeNumber2 = 21 |Title = The Return |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = John McGreevey |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 42 |EpisodeNumber2 = 22 |Title = A Case of Slow |DirectedBy = David Lowell Rich |WrittenBy = Antony Ellis |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 43 |EpisodeNumber2 = 23 |Title = The Penalty |DirectedBy = William D. Faralla |WrittenBy = John Falvo |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor= |EpisodeNumber = 44 |EpisodeNumber2 = 24 |Title = End of the Line |DirectedBy = William F. Claxton |WrittenBy = Richard Fielder |OriginalAirDate= |ShortSummary= |LineColor=

Production

Originally entitled War Gun, but changed just prior to filming (presumably due to the similarity to Warner Brothers' Lawman), the series was created by executive producers Hal Hudson and John McGreevey. Antony Ellis was the producer.

The pilot for the series was "Threat to Violence", the May 23, 1958, episode of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre. Chris Alcaide portrayed Culhane in it, with Johnson and Anna Lisa in the roles that they had in the series. The change of stars occurred because the program's sponsor thought Alacaide "had become too familiar as a villain".

Filming

The NBC episodes were filmed at Fox Movie Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains, while ABC's were shot at the Republic studio lot in Studio City.

Theme

Although the Black Saddle TV series lasted less than two full seasons, its original theme tune—written by Jerry Goldsmith under the name of his then-brother-in-law, J. Michael Hennagin, because Goldsmith himself was still under contract to CBS—lives on. Several cover versions of the tune have been recorded, many of which have since become available on YouTube. evanlewis1836 (July 10, 2019). "BLACK SADDLE - Bud Wattles & His Orchestra". YouTube. Retrieved November 8, 2023. See also:

Syndication as ''The Westerners''

For syndicated reruns, Black Saddle was combined with Law of the Plainsman, Johnny Ringo, and The Westerner, under the umbrella title, The Westerners,

Critical response

A review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Variety said that the script "did not stand up with the better westerns" and indicated that the pace of the episode should have been faster. The review called the characterizations of the sheriff and the villain "hard to swallow". Lisa was praised, primarily for her beauty, while Breck was said to be "okay in a flat sort of way", and the "Supporting cast was competent."

References

References

  1. (2017). "Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary". McFarland.
  2. (January 10, 2014). "Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed.". McFarland.
  3. (1996). "Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present". Penguin Books USA, Inc..
  4. (April 17, 2009). "Warren Oates: A Wild Life". University Press of Kentucky.
  5. (December 2, 1958). "Giving 'Law Gun ' New Tag to Avoid 'Lawman' Conflict". The Hollywood Reporter.
  6. (29 September 2009). "Encyclopedia of Television Law Shows: Factual and Fictional Series About Judges, Lawyers and the Courtroom, 1948-2008". McFarland.
  7. (June 24, 2009). "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present". Random House Publishing Group.
  8. Newton, Dwight (December 19, 1958). [https://www.newspapers.com/image/458643678/?clipping_id=23460011 "Day and Night: Westerns, Westerns, Westerns"]. ''The San Francisco Examiner''. Sec. III, pg. 7. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  9. (May 31, 1965). "Hal Hudson Sets Up Shop on Republic Lot". The Hollywood Repoprter.
  10. 0028703243. "Goldsmith had scored to radio western 'Frontier Gentleman,' for producer Antony Ellis. When Ellis moved into television with 'Black Saddle,' starring Peter Breck as a gunfighter-turned-lawyer, he asked Goldsmith to write the theme. Because the composer was still under contract to CBS at the time, he penned it under a pseudonym (that of his then brother-in-law, J. Michael Hennagin) and never received screen credit for his fast rhythmically exciting theme for guitars, brass and percussion. Arthur Morton (b. 1908), who several years later became Goldsmith's regular orchestrator, wrote a library of Coplandesque music for the series."
  11. [https://www.discogs.com/artist/1349119-J-Michael-Hennagin "J. Michael Hennagin credits"]. Discogs. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  12. 0-89950-251-2.
  13. [https://archive.org/details/lp_golden-buffalo-marching-band-university_university-of-colorado-marching-band?q=%22black+saddle%22+%22marching+band%22 "Golden Buffalo Marching Band, University Of Colorado; 1975"]. ''Internet Archive''. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  14. (May 31, 1965). "New...In Syndication! 5 Great Stars...125 Action Half Hours! Keenan Wynn presents The Westerners (originally seen as: Black Saddle / Johnny Ringo / The Law of the Plainsman / The Westerner)". Broadcasting.
  15. (January 14, 1959). "Black Saddle".

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1959-american-television-series-debuts1960-american-television-series-endingsnbc-western-dramasamerican-broadcasting-company-western-dramasblack-and-white-american-television-showstelevision-series-by-four-star-televisiontelevision-series-by-20th-television1950s-western-(genre)-television-seriesamerican-english-language-television-showstelevision-shows-set-in-los-angeles1960s-western-(genre)-television-seriestelevision-series-about-lawyersfiction-about-patricide