The Virginian First Season DVD

Amazon now have The Virginian DVD listed on their site for pre-order.  The entire first season on 10 DVDs for $71.99 complete with tin packaging.  NTSC Region 1 Format (USA & Canada). 

The perfect companion to my Kindle ebook available for immediate download from Amazon for $9.99.  My recently published 290 page softcover edition (10 x 7 inches) is also for sale through Amazon and all major online bookstores or direct from my publisher McFarland & Co.  Here’s the blurb from my publisher describing my book. 

“On September 19, 1962, The Virginian made its primetime broadcast premiere. Based on the 1902 novel by Owen Wister, The Virginian had already been through four movie adaptations when Frank Price mentioned the story’s series potential to NBC. In need of a western to compete for the genre’s huge audience share, the network gambled money and resources on Price’s recommendation. Filmed exclusively in color, The Virginian became TV’s first 90-minute western series. By 1967, the show had broken into the Nielsen rating’s top ten, and NBC’s gamble had paid off. Immensely successful (in spite of a rough fourth season which almost spelled the end for the series), The Virginian ran for nine seasons, becoming television’s third longest running western.

This work documents the creative history of The Virginian. It investigates the original inspirations for the main character and follows the story through various motion picture adaptations. The primary focus, however, is The Virginian’s transformation into television. Personal interviews with executive producer Frank Price and actors, James Drury, Gary Clarke, Roberta Shore, Randy Boone, Sara Lane and Pippa Scott provide insider details. The book also looks at the ways in which the show changed over time. An extensive episode guide includes title, air date, guest star(s), writers, producers, director and a brief synopsis of each of The Virginian’s 249 episodes along with a detailed list of cast and production staff. An appendix provides a cross-section of collectibles available from internet auction sites and memorabilia dealers.”

Reviews of my book from The Virginian cast and producers: 

James Drury – The Virginian
“I really enjoyed your book.  It is comprehensive and a valuable resource for anyone interested in studying The Virginian.”

Randy Boone - Randy Benton
“In my humble opinion the book was very interesting and very well written.  I was fascinated.  Thank you for writing the book.”

Sara Lane – Elizabeth Grainger
“My husband is reading the book avidly and loving it.  It’s a wonderful book.”

Frank Price – Executive Producer
“I am very impressed with it. You did a great job of research on The Virginian and it is certainly apparent in the book.  It is a work that reflects your high standards.”

Joel Rogosin – The Virginian Producer, Writer & Director
“I’m pleased to have added your wonderfully detailed and nostalgic book to my shelves.  Congratulations on this remarkable effort!  I’m having a great time leafing through it.  All in all, what a treat!”

Tane McClure

I find it interesting to read the subjects visitors to my blog search for.  One recent search was “Tane McClure and Doug McClure = related?”  The answer is yes. 

Tane (pronounced “Tahnee”) McClure is one of Doug’s two daughters.  She appeared in The Virginian as a young child with her father in the episode “The Small Parade (1:21).  As an adult she continued acting and also ventured into music and production with her own company Trampas Productions.

My book features my interview with her where she speaks about her father and her experiences on The Virginian set.  She was kind enough to include some family photographs of herself and Doug.

The Virginian “Appaloosa Journal” Article

In 2006 I interviewed James Drury and Sara Lane for a two-page article I wrote for the “Appaloosa Journal” magazine.  It was published in the November 2006 edition.  In the article Jim and Sara talk about the Appaloosa horses used on The Virginian.  Back issues are available from the “Appaloosa Journal” website.

TV Confidential : Pete Duel and Alias Smith and Jones

For those interested in listening to my recent interview (January 25) with Ed Robertson and Frankie Montiforte on TV Confidential here is the link: http://tvconfidential.net/archives.htm  The conversation about Alias Smith and Jones and Pete Duel begins about 15 minutes into the second hour of the January 25 show.

Pernell Roberts (1928-2010) in The Virginian

Sad to hear of the passing of Pernell Roberts, age 81, from pancreatic cancer.  Here’s a small tribute to him in the form of a clip from The Virginian episode “The Long Way Home” (5:13) where we are treated to his singing voice.  He also appeared in the penultimate Men From Shiloh episode “Wolf Track” (9:23).

Watercolor Paintings by Doug McClure (1986)

Cheryl has kindly contributed photographs of two framed paintings by Doug McClure (Trampas) that she owns.  As you can see they match the style of other paintings by Doug on this site.  They are  signed and dated 1986.  Cheryl states, “On the back of one of the frames there is a copy of part of a leaflet, dated April 1986, that promoted the debut of his paintings at The Stewart Galleries in Palm Springs.”

Cheryl describes her time staying with the McClure family.

“Along with a mutual friend of the McClure family we toured California and the neighbouring states in October 1986.  It was my first visit to America and something of a contrast to my native Cheltenham in the heart of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire.  At the start and end of our tour we were invited to stay at the home of Doug’s brother in Pacific Palisades.  I celebrated my 26th Birthday there and Doug’s sister in law baked my Birthday cake.  They were very kind to me. 

Sadly I never got to meet Doug in person. Doug McClure gave the watercolours you see above to my friend who is also an artist.  They had a lot in common and both shared Doug’s love of tennis.  Recently my artist friend allowed me to acquire both paintings from him – I am a lucky girl!

 

Man Without A Star = Duel at Shiloh = A Man Called Gannon

For those interested in The Virginian episode “Duel at Shiloh” (1:15) you may be interested to know it’s an adaptation of the 1955 Universal-International Western film Man Without A Star starring Kirk Douglas as Dempsey Rae.  William Campbell plays the tenderfoot Jeff Jimson.  Borden Chase and D.D. Beauchamp provided the screenplay based on the novel by Dee Linford.

Brian Keith subtitutes for Kirk Douglas and Gary Clarke for William Campbell in “Duel at Shiloh.”  The parallels are interesting to watch, with similar scenes and locations. including the shooting scene above.  Man Without A Star is recommended viewing.  Campbell tries a little too hard to be convincing as a “green” youth but Douglas is on top form

The story was adapted yet again in 1968 as A Man Called Gannon featuring Tony Franciosa in the Douglas/Keith role and Michael Sarrazin in the Campbell/Clarke role.  James Goldstone directed this inferior remake.

Happy New Year to fans of The Virginian

I’d like to wish a Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone who visits my site.  2010 will be a memorable year for The Virginian with the Encore Westerns daily broadcasts at 4.30 p.m. EST and the upcoming DVD release from Timeless Media.  Here’s hoping the show attracts many new fans of all ages.

The Virginian “The Executioners” (1:01) with Hugh O’Brian

The first episode of The Virginian, originally broadcast September 19, 1962, is a mediocre story that gives little hint of future heights.  Hugh O’Brian and Colleen Dewhurst dominate scenes while the regular cast are reduced to background players.

Even the Revue publicity still of the period emphasizes O’Brian over Roberta Shore and James Drury.

This episode premieres on Encore Westerns on January 1st followed by a January 4th broadcast at 4.30 p.m. EST.

To anyone watching The Virginian for the first time don’t be discouraged by this episode.  The first season is uneven in quality with the Charles Marquis Warren episodes heavily re-edited (see my book for complete background details to the turmoil at NBC as told to me by executive producer Frank Price).

The first season does include some excellent episodes and is also of interest for demonstrating the early and convoluted evolution of The Virginian television series.  Many episodes are atypical of the rest of the series and clearly owe a debt to 1950s Universal-International Westerns.

A History of Television’s The Virginian

To anyone who is thinking of buying my book here are the contents.  I personally interviewed James Drury, Gary Clarke, Roberta Shore, Randy Boone, Sara Lane, Pippa Scott, Tane McClure, Diane McClure, BarBara Luna, Katherine Crawford, John Saxon, executive producer Frank Price and producer-writer Joel Rogosin. Plus director Abner Biberman’s daughter-in-law Elizabeth Perry and writer Roland Kibbee’s daughter Meredith Kibbee.

Frank Price provided many behind-the-scenes photographs from his personal collection.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii
Foreword by Frank Price 1
Preface 5
Introduction 7

1. Owen Wister      9
2. Beginnings      15
3. The Virginian: Season One      21
4. Early Seasons: Seasons Two and Three      31
5. Change of Direction: Season Four      45
6. New Beginnings: Season Five      51
7. MacDonnell in Charge: Seasons Six to Eight      62
8. The Men from Shiloh: Season Nine      72
9. Production and Location      79
10. Lee J. Cobb: Judge Henry Garth 90
11. James Drury: The Virginian 94
12. Doug McClure: Trampas 104
13. Gary Clarke: Steve Hill 118
14. Roberta Shore: Betsy Garth 132
15. Randy Boone: Randy Benton 140
16. Clu Gulager and Diane Roter: Emmett Ryker and Jennifer Sommers 151
17. Charles Bickford, Don Quine and Sara Lane: John, Stacey and Elizabeth Grainger 155
18. John McIntire, David Hartman and Tim Matheson: Clay Grainger, David Sutton and Jim Horn 166
19. Stewart Granger and Lee Majors: Col. Alan Mackenzie and Roy Tate 170
20. Familiar Faces: Pippa Scott, L. Q. Jones, John Dehner, Jeanette Nolan and Ross Elliott      173
21. Frank Price: Executive Producer      179
22. Producers      184
23. Writers      192
24. Directors      200
25. Directors of Photography      212
26. Composers      217
27. Episode Guide      230
28. Afterthoughts      267

Appendix: The Virginian Memorabilia 269
Bibliography 271
Index 275