The Rebel
Andrew Fenady passed away year. I remember how he regaled us with stories from his work with Nick Adams on the Rebel and John Wayne on the classic film Chisum. One never knows when one might land in the right place at the right time. That first Western Writers convention began a magical week for me.
Nick Adams was an aspiring actor when he met Fenady. Adams persuaded the writer to create a TV series for him. Fenady came up with the story of a defeated confederate soldier in search of himself on the western frontier following the war. Fenady, Adams and director Irv Kershner sold the series to ABC where it ran for two seasons, seventy six episodes.
Fenady brought a thoughtful self-searching side to Johnny Yuma as a character. Johnny Yuma was a Rebel. He was a proud young man who’d tasted bitter defeat and found the courage to move on. He made no secret of his allegiance to the confederacy in the cap and belt he wore with his cap and ball Colt dragoon. His distinctive weapon was a pistol-gripped sawed off double-barrel shotgun. The role Fenady crafted was custom made for Nick Adams.
Fenady numbered among his favorite Rebel episodes one entitled ‘Johnny Yuma at Appomattox.’ Johnny wasn’t ready to surrender at Appomattox no matter what the generals thought. He hid himself in the courthouse attic, intending to assassinate General Grant and prolong the war. When Grant offered Lee generous terms, Johnny gives up the plot in tears. The war was over. It was a heck of a plot for a thirty minute TV show. It’s why writers like Andy Fenady win Owen Wister Awards and enshrinement in the Western Writers Hall of Fame at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody Wyoming.
Fifty plus years later Fenady returned to that scene at Appomattox to launch a book he titled, Destiny Made Them Brothers, Kensington Publishing 2013. The book was a Western Writers of America Spur Award Finalist that year. Andy was kind enough to sign a copy for me. I was pretty proud of my entry that year. As I recall, I signed a copy for him. One never knows when one is likely to wind up in the right place at the wrong time.
Next Week: Laramie ‘59-‘63
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Ride easy,
Paul
Nick Adams was an aspiring actor when he met Fenady. Adams persuaded the writer to create a TV series for him. Fenady came up with the story of a defeated confederate soldier in search of himself on the western frontier following the war. Fenady, Adams and director Irv Kershner sold the series to ABC where it ran for two seasons, seventy six episodes.
Fenady brought a thoughtful self-searching side to Johnny Yuma as a character. Johnny Yuma was a Rebel. He was a proud young man who’d tasted bitter defeat and found the courage to move on. He made no secret of his allegiance to the confederacy in the cap and belt he wore with his cap and ball Colt dragoon. His distinctive weapon was a pistol-gripped sawed off double-barrel shotgun. The role Fenady crafted was custom made for Nick Adams.
Fenady numbered among his favorite Rebel episodes one entitled ‘Johnny Yuma at Appomattox.’ Johnny wasn’t ready to surrender at Appomattox no matter what the generals thought. He hid himself in the courthouse attic, intending to assassinate General Grant and prolong the war. When Grant offered Lee generous terms, Johnny gives up the plot in tears. The war was over. It was a heck of a plot for a thirty minute TV show. It’s why writers like Andy Fenady win Owen Wister Awards and enshrinement in the Western Writers Hall of Fame at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody Wyoming.
Fifty plus years later Fenady returned to that scene at Appomattox to launch a book he titled, Destiny Made Them Brothers, Kensington Publishing 2013. The book was a Western Writers of America Spur Award Finalist that year. Andy was kind enough to sign a copy for me. I was pretty proud of my entry that year. As I recall, I signed a copy for him. One never knows when one is likely to wind up in the right place at the wrong time.
Next Week: Laramie ‘59-‘63
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
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Jean
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Mar 18, 2018 03:45PM
I have the whole series of Johnny Yuma on DVD. In "Johnny Yuma at Appomattox" episode it was very engaging and a solemn one. It felt as if you were there at the end of a war that cost many lives and split families like no other war. That even if you were on the side of the Union you felt compassion for the South. I would rank that as one of the best episodes. I also have the book "Destiny made them brothers." I have yet to read it but I will now bump it up further on my list to read. Thank for this article, very nicely done.
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