Death Valley Days - death of entertainment

[debodun]

I just happened to turn on the TV yesterday and there was a hour of "Death Valley Days", an old TV western that had a new story for each episode. I don't know if it was me or what, but the episodes that were on were some of the most boring shows I've ever seen. One was about Mark Twain before he was famous. It depicted him as an unsuccessful prospector. Hardly any action - the characters were either leading donkeys around or sitting and talking about how Sam should go to Virginia City. The other was about a nun giving sanctuary to a violent youth against the wishes of the townspeople. Just a lot of talking.

 

[Paladin1950]

I remember watching that sometimes. It was okay, but there were so many westerns that were so much better. Rawhide and Have Gun, Will Travel (my 2 favorites), Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, Maverick, Bat Masterson, Cheyenne, Lawman, Laredo, Laramie, Branded, The Rifleman, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Rebel, Bonanza, The Big Valley, The Deputy (Henry Fonda), and many others.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I always enjoyed the little comments from the Old Ranger, Stanley Andrews, and other hosts including Ronald Reagan.

I enjoy some of the other old rope operas like Lawman, and The Restless Gun.

 

[debodun]

The ones I saw had Robert Taylor as host. He even acted in some of the episodes.

 

[ChiroDoc]

I used to like watching the show in the 1950s. "The Old Ranger" (Stanley Andrews) hosted it, and the big sponsor was "20 Mule Team Borax" a household cleanser. I can still see the ads in my mind's eye.

The show went on from 1952-1970, so it was very popular. If Robert Taylor was the host, that was from 1966-1969. Any of the shows would be very pale in contrast to today's westerns. In those days many of the shows were based on story and drama, more so than action-- like today.