FORGOTTEN TELEVISION: STORIES OF THE CENTURY (TALES OF THE WEST) 1954-1955

With the Frontierado holiday coming up on Friday, August 7th this year here’s another seasonal post.

STORIES OF THE CENTURY aka TALES OF THE WEST (1954-1955) starred future Jock Ewing Jim Davis as Railroad Detective Matt Clark. Part anthology series and part historical fiction, this series presented Clark crossing paths with assorted real-life outlaws of the Old West. During Season One (26 half-hour episodes) his female sidekick was Frankie Adams (Mary Castle). Season Two ran just 13 half-hour episodes and co-starred Kristine Miller as Matt’s sidekick Margaret “Jonesy” Jones.

Clark and his Gal Fridays were fictional but the series tried to stay as factual as it could regarding the outlaws they encountered. Like on Riverboat and other westerns two consecutive stories could be set nearly 40 years apart but Matt and company never aged.

THE EPISODES:

BELLE STARR – The one and only Marie Windsor brought her special kind of subtle “butch” quality to her performance as notorious female outlaw Belle Starr. Railroad Detective Matt Clark and his lovely assistant Frankie Adams are on the trail of Starr and her gang when they steal several horses intended for the U.S. Cavalry. With Ric Roman as Belle’s husband Sam Starr.

BILLY THE KID – This time around, Matt and Frankie go up against rustler and gunfighter William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid. Richard Jaeckel plays the Kid, Richard Travis is Pat Garrett and Fred Coby is Pete Maxwell. Also starring Tom Steele.

FRANK & JESSE JAMES – We get LEE VAN CLEEF starring as Jesse James and Richard Travis as his brother Frank in this episode. Tyler McDuff is Robert Ford. Matt and Frankie try to stop the James Brothers when they seek vengeance over the slaying of their young, simple-minded half-brother.

GERONIMO – Matt and Frankie escort a witness to identify the Native Americans he saw on a rampage. Chief Yowlachie stars as Geronimo.

QUANTRILL AND HIS RAIDERS – Our heroes arrive in Lawrence, KS too late to prevent the massacre of anti-slavery citizens by Confederate-American William Clarke Quantrill and his thugs. Bruce Bennett plays Quantrill, Steve Darrell plays Bloody Bill Anderson and Lyle Talbot is U.S. Colonel Marsham.

CATTLE KATE – Extra points for this episode’s coverage of often overlooked Johnson County War heroine and martyr Ella Watson aka Cattle Kate (Jean Parker). Tom Monroe plays Tom Horn.

SAM BASS – Matt and Frankie pursue Sam Bass and his gang after they steal $60,000 in a train robbery. Denver Pyle portrays gang member Bill Hayes.

JOHNNY RINGO – Veteran of the Mason County War Johnny Ringo (Donald Curtis) steals 10,000 silver dollars from a train and gets chased by Matt and Frankie. Also with Harry Lauter.

THE DALTON GANG – Dalton Brothers Bob (Myron Healey), Grat (Fess Parker), Emmett and Bill form a gang and start robbing banks, railroads and stage coaches.

DOC HOLLIDAY – Matt and Frankie clash with Doc Holliday during the height of his and the Earp Brothers’ war with the Clanton Faction in Tombstone, AZ. Starring Kim Spalding, James Craven and Frank Richards.

THE YOUNGER BROTHERS – Our heroes are after the Younger Brothers for a bank robbery. Starring George “Commando Cody” Wallace as Cole Younger, Gregory Walcott as John Younger and Sheb Woolley as Jim Younger.

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN – Matt and Frankie are after notorious mad-dog killer John Wesley Hardin (Richard Webb).

JOAQUIN MURIETTA  – Out in the California gold fields, our heroes try to collar bandit Joaquin Murietta (Rick Jason).

TIBURCIO VASQUEZ – The famed Vasquez tries to kill as many white people as possible since he blames them for his sister’s death. Starring Anthony Caruso and Glenn Strange.

CHIEF CRAZY HORSE – Matt and Frankie get involved in the Sioux Uprising. With George Keymas as Crazy Horse.

BLACK BART – The dandified lone wolf outlaw Black Bart (Arthur Space) is hunted by our two heroes. Also with Victor Sen Yung.

HENRY PLUMMER – John Dehner stars as Handsome Henry Plummer, crime lord of the Montana and Idaho gold fields 

BILL LONGLEY – Douglas Kennedy plays gunslinger Wild Bill Longley. When he breaks out of jail after being found guilty of robbery and murder, Matt and Frankie are on his trail.

HARRY TRACY – Even the criminal element helps Matt and Frankie pursue violent fanatic Harry Tracy (Steve Brodie). Gene Roth also stars.

THE WILD BUNCH OF WYOMING – After a $30,000 bank robbery, our heroes set out after Butch Cassidy (Joe Sawyer) and his gang. Slim Pickens appears.

THE DOOLIN GANG – Frankie goes undercover to help herself and Matt nab the outlaws of the Doolin Gang. Starring Leo Gordon and Don Kennedy.

LITTLE BRITCHES – Gloria Winters plays female outlaw Little Britches in Oklahoma. James Best also stars.   

BLACK JACK KETCHUM – Matt and Frankie’s targets this time are the gang led by Black Jack Ketchum (Jack Elam) himself.

TOM HORN – Our heroes encounter former Army Scout and current hired gunman Tom Horn (Louis Jean Heydt) during the Johnson County War.

BEN THOMPSON – Matt and Frankie arrive in Austin, TX while investigating former Confederate soldier and former member of Emperor Maximilian’s army Ben Thompson (Richard Simmons, but not THAT one). 

CLAY ALLISON – Future Bart Maverick Jack Kelly stars as murderous rancher Clay Allison. 

SEASON TWO EPISODES:

BURT ALVORD – Matt and his new sidekick expose Burt Alvord (Chris Drake) as an outlaw hiding behind the law. First episode with Kristine Miller as Margaret “Jonesy” Jones.

THE APACHE KID – Former U.S. Army Scout gone rogue the Apache Kid is the latest target of our heroes. Starring Kenneth McDonald and Kenneth Alton.

TOM BELL – In the California gold fields, Matt and Jonesy clash with former physician and Mexican War veteran turned outlaw Tom Bell. With Stuart Whitman and Glen Gordon.

KATE BENDER – Our heroes take on the psychotic murderers the Bender Family, led by Mother Kate. Starring Veda Ann Borg and Slim Pickens.

AUGUSTINE CHACON – The Mexican outlaw Augustine Chacon (Rodolfo Hoyos) runs afoul of Matt Clark and Jonesy.   

CHEROKEE BILL – Matt and Jonesy try to end the reign of terror of murderous and hate-filled outlaw Cherokee Bill (Pat Hogan).

NATE CHAMPION – Our heroes encounter another overlooked hero of the Johnson County War – Nate Champion, played by Henry Brandon.

SONTAG AND EVANS – Matt and Jonesy face John Sontag and Chris Evans, two outlaws who target railroads that pass through the San Joaquin Valley. With Claudia Barrett.

RUBE BURROWS – Our dynamic duo are sent after a theatrical train robber (Paul Picerni). 

JIM COURTRIGHT – Matt and Jonesy investigate crooked lawman Long-Haired Jim Courtright’s protection scam. Starring Robert Knapp.

JACK SLADE – A Pony Express Rider (Greg Palmer) uses information from one of his mail packets to try a robbery, but our heroes aren’t having it.

MILT SHARP – The show laughably pretends to care about what Matt Clark’s jurisdiction is as he and Jonesy go after a pair of outlaws who rob stage coaches. Starring Don “Red” Barry as Milt Sharp.

L.H. MUSGROVE – In this final episode of the series, Matt and Jonesy take on the title character, a mastermind who carries out wholesale cattle rustling schemes. Starring John Archer.   

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