Trackdown
Robert Culp studied acting in New York and pursued his early career on Broadway. He agreed to shoot an episode for Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theater thinking it a one shot deal. The pilot spun into a series and for the next two years, 1957-1959 and seventy-one black and white episodes, Culp’s career took an off Broadway trajectory.
Culp was cast as civil war veteran, Hoby Gillman who somewhat reluctantly joins the Texas Rangers, applying his gun skills to tracking down desperados and law breakers. The show employed a number of writers in addition to Robinson, notably the legendary Sam Peckinpah.
Culp took the role seriously, learning to handle his .38 Russian revolver from Arvo Ojala, arguably one of the best at his craft. He studied Texas Ranger history too, earning the show rare endorsements from the State of Texas and the Texas Rangers themselves.
Early in the series scripts had Gillman roaming the west in tracking down the objects of his pursuits. Midway through the first season the show settled into the town of Porter Texas, where Gillman effectively served as sheriff. The device allowed introduction of a regular supporting cast over the remainder of the series. Supporting actors and roles came and went including Ellen Corby as newspaper woman Henrietta Porter, James Griffin as bachelor barber Aaron Adams, Gail Kobe as Aaron’s sister Penny, Norman Leavitt as jail handyman, Rusty Wescoatt as a bartender, Peter Richards as a gambler and Adison Richards as Dr. Jay Calhoun.
Trackdown debuted on CBS opposite Jim Bowie on ABC. By the second season it faced Walt Disney on ABC and Ellery Queen on NBC. At midseason Rawhide took Trackdown’s time slot on CBS and the show moved opposite Ozzie and Harriett on ABC. Ouch.
Culp credited the show with being ‘a thinking man’s western’ and one of the better theatric achievements among westerns of the day. Right or wrong with thirty-six western series airing at the time, Culp’s critical acclaim never showed up in the ratings.
Next Week: The Restless Gun
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Ride easy,
Paul
Culp was cast as civil war veteran, Hoby Gillman who somewhat reluctantly joins the Texas Rangers, applying his gun skills to tracking down desperados and law breakers. The show employed a number of writers in addition to Robinson, notably the legendary Sam Peckinpah.
Culp took the role seriously, learning to handle his .38 Russian revolver from Arvo Ojala, arguably one of the best at his craft. He studied Texas Ranger history too, earning the show rare endorsements from the State of Texas and the Texas Rangers themselves.
Early in the series scripts had Gillman roaming the west in tracking down the objects of his pursuits. Midway through the first season the show settled into the town of Porter Texas, where Gillman effectively served as sheriff. The device allowed introduction of a regular supporting cast over the remainder of the series. Supporting actors and roles came and went including Ellen Corby as newspaper woman Henrietta Porter, James Griffin as bachelor barber Aaron Adams, Gail Kobe as Aaron’s sister Penny, Norman Leavitt as jail handyman, Rusty Wescoatt as a bartender, Peter Richards as a gambler and Adison Richards as Dr. Jay Calhoun.
Trackdown debuted on CBS opposite Jim Bowie on ABC. By the second season it faced Walt Disney on ABC and Ellery Queen on NBC. At midseason Rawhide took Trackdown’s time slot on CBS and the show moved opposite Ozzie and Harriett on ABC. Ouch.
Culp credited the show with being ‘a thinking man’s western’ and one of the better theatric achievements among westerns of the day. Right or wrong with thirty-six western series airing at the time, Culp’s critical acclaim never showed up in the ratings.
Next Week: The Restless Gun
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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