Twenty Six Men
Authenticity was the goal set by producer Russell Hayden in his vision for a series based on the exploits of Arizona’s twenty-six Rangers. Commissioned by the Arizona legislature in 1901 and modeled after Texas’s Rangers, twenty-six volunteer law enforcement officers rode out to tame a lawless territory.
Hayden brought authenticity to the seventy eight thirty minute, black and white episodes aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. Most notably episodes were introduced by four, then surviving Ranger members, Clarence Beaty, Joe Pearce, Oliver Parmer and John Redmond attesting to the truth of the story you were about to see. Episodes were shot on location in Phoenix against the backdrop of the Superstition Mountains. Other locations included Old Tucson, an Indian Mission, Sedona and the Governor’s Palace.
Hayden cast veteran western actor, Tris Coffin as Ranger Captain Harbo Rynning, the man who led the Rangers from 1902 to 1907. Kelo Henderson was cast as Ranger Clint Travis. When it came to authenticity Henderson too was the real deal. A former ranch foreman, his riding, roping and gun skills added much to the show. His fast draw timed at 13/100’s of a second.
The series hosted a long list of guest stars. Notables include one of our readers’ favorites, Lash LaRue along with future Star Trekkies Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley. Nimoy and Kelley give credence to those who assert Sci Fi are westerns with rockets for horses and rays for revolvers.
And so closes the show, “Praise be the glory of twenty-six men . . . Ride on. Ride on. Ride on.”
Next Week: Branded
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Ride easy,
Paul
Hayden brought authenticity to the seventy eight thirty minute, black and white episodes aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. Most notably episodes were introduced by four, then surviving Ranger members, Clarence Beaty, Joe Pearce, Oliver Parmer and John Redmond attesting to the truth of the story you were about to see. Episodes were shot on location in Phoenix against the backdrop of the Superstition Mountains. Other locations included Old Tucson, an Indian Mission, Sedona and the Governor’s Palace.
Hayden cast veteran western actor, Tris Coffin as Ranger Captain Harbo Rynning, the man who led the Rangers from 1902 to 1907. Kelo Henderson was cast as Ranger Clint Travis. When it came to authenticity Henderson too was the real deal. A former ranch foreman, his riding, roping and gun skills added much to the show. His fast draw timed at 13/100’s of a second.
The series hosted a long list of guest stars. Notables include one of our readers’ favorites, Lash LaRue along with future Star Trekkies Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley. Nimoy and Kelley give credence to those who assert Sci Fi are westerns with rockets for horses and rays for revolvers.
And so closes the show, “Praise be the glory of twenty-six men . . . Ride on. Ride on. Ride on.”
Next Week: Branded
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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