Tombstone Territory
Tombstone Territory stared Pat Conway as ‘Wyatt Earp-like’ tough Sheriff Clay Hollister with Richard Eastham as Harris Clairbourne, editor of the Tombstone Epitaph. The producers went to great lengths to give the show historical authenticity in both set designs and scripts.
The Epitaph office façade was constructed from photographs of the actual building. The interior including printing press and vintage typesetting equipment were museum quality originals. Most of the stories were taken from the archives of the Epitaph, with musically trained baritone, Eastham narrating the show as though reporting it from a newspaper account.
The show did not feature some of Tombstone’s better known historical characters such as the Earp brothers, The Clanton’s and Johnny Behan, though a few scripts did include Curly Bill Brocius and an appearance by Doc Holiday. Eastham and Conway were both talented and accomplished actors. Conway in particular was the real deal. Raised on a ranch in California, he could ride and rope with the best of them. The show had no shortage of talent when it came to guest stars either. Names you might remember include Michael Landon, John Carradine, Lee Van Cleef, Angie Dickenson, Leonard Nimoy, and Pernell Roberts.
So with all that going for it, what happened to Tombstone Territory? In its first season the show ran opposite Father Knows Best. Talk about a bad draw. Tough to out rate an American icon. The second season pitted the show against 77 Sunset Strip. “Kookie, Kookie lend me your comb.” “Crazy Daddy-o.” Tombstone may have been the “The town too tough to die”. The show wasn’t.
Wrapping up research for this post, it occurred to me we might find some value in going back to watch a few of those old episodes. The tough law and order sheriff paired with a supportive newspaper editor harkens back to a time when law enforcement and the press shouldered ethical responsibilities to the common good. To often today, the media assumes an adversarial relationship to law enforcement, polarizing some political agenda at the expense of an ethical obligation. Times change. No guarantee the change is good.
Next Week: Colt .45 ’57-‘60
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
The Epitaph office façade was constructed from photographs of the actual building. The interior including printing press and vintage typesetting equipment were museum quality originals. Most of the stories were taken from the archives of the Epitaph, with musically trained baritone, Eastham narrating the show as though reporting it from a newspaper account.
The show did not feature some of Tombstone’s better known historical characters such as the Earp brothers, The Clanton’s and Johnny Behan, though a few scripts did include Curly Bill Brocius and an appearance by Doc Holiday. Eastham and Conway were both talented and accomplished actors. Conway in particular was the real deal. Raised on a ranch in California, he could ride and rope with the best of them. The show had no shortage of talent when it came to guest stars either. Names you might remember include Michael Landon, John Carradine, Lee Van Cleef, Angie Dickenson, Leonard Nimoy, and Pernell Roberts.
So with all that going for it, what happened to Tombstone Territory? In its first season the show ran opposite Father Knows Best. Talk about a bad draw. Tough to out rate an American icon. The second season pitted the show against 77 Sunset Strip. “Kookie, Kookie lend me your comb.” “Crazy Daddy-o.” Tombstone may have been the “The town too tough to die”. The show wasn’t.
Wrapping up research for this post, it occurred to me we might find some value in going back to watch a few of those old episodes. The tough law and order sheriff paired with a supportive newspaper editor harkens back to a time when law enforcement and the press shouldered ethical responsibilities to the common good. To often today, the media assumes an adversarial relationship to law enforcement, polarizing some political agenda at the expense of an ethical obligation. Times change. No guarantee the change is good.
Next Week: Colt .45 ’57-‘60
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
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