RIVERBOAT (1959-1961) FOR FRONTIERADO

RIVERBOAT (1959-1961) – We are less than a week away from Frontierado 2023, observed on Friday August 4th this year. For a combination Frontierado and Forgotten Television post Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at some of the best episodes of the old western series Riverboat.

This series starred Darren McGavin himself as high-stakes gambler Grey Holden, who won the riverboat Enterprise (yes, really) in a poker game. Holden settled down and tried to make a living with the vessel, taking it from New Orleans all up and down the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

Grey Holden captained the Enterprise, but the more experienced Chief Pilot was Ben Frazer, played by the one and only Burt Reynolds. Riverboat was, for a television western, atypically set during the 1830s and 1840s. Some of my favorite episodes are historical fiction, featuring our heroes aiding Texas rebels during the Texas Revolution, clashing with river pirates, or encountering young Abraham Lincoln and a few other historical figures here and there.

Though some critics dismiss it as Wagon Train on a riverboat, I feel there is more to the series than that. It lasted 44 episodes over 2 seasons, with Burt Reynolds leaving roughly halfway through due to feuding with costar Darren McGavin.

Supporting cast members included Dick Wessel as Chief Stoker Carney Kohler, Jack Lambert as First Mate Joshua MacGregor, John Mitchum as the ship’s cook Opie Pickalong, and Noah Beery Jr. as the new Chief Pilot Bill Blake, replacing the departed Reynolds. 

Some memorable episodes:

JESSIE QUINN (December 6th, 1959) – Captain Holden agrees to transport a shipment of guns that are ultimately intended for Sam Houston’s army during the Texas War of Independence from the tyrannical Mexican government. Agents of General Santa Anna try to blow up the Enterprise to prevent the arms shipment’s success.

        Mercedes McCambridge appeared as the title character, Clu Gulager was Beau Chandler and Kevin Hagen played John Hollister.

THE UNWILLING (October 11th, 1959) – Captain Holden goes on a business trip, leaving Chief Pilot Ben Frazer in charge. Ben and the Enterprise are hired by Dan Simpson (Eddie Albert), a Fitzcarraldo style pioneer obsessed with running a general store in the furthest reaches westward, despite repeated setbacks.

        River pirates who caused Dan’s first store to fail by plundering his shipments plan to strike again, but the savvy Ben Frazer considers it his duty to safeguard Simpson and his wares. Debra Paget, Russell Johnson and George Ford guest starred. 

A NIGHT AT TRAPPER’S LANDING (November 8th, 1959) – Holden and company transport Lieutenant Deveraux (Ricardo Montalban) and his troops to their new post. Deveraux and his men get wiped out in a Native American uprising and the Enterprise is now transporting a military expedition planning to avenge the massacre.

        Ben Frazer tries to convince the military that the real parties to blame are the corrupt government agents forever double-crossing the uprisen tribe. NOTE: Remember that Burt Reynolds in real life was part Native American. Guest starring R.G. Armstrong, Morris Ankrum and Raymond Bailey.

WITNESS NO EVIL (November 1st, 1959) – At Natchez, Ben Frazer and company take on a menagerie man named Otto Justin (Vincent Price) who brings on board his vast selection of exotic animals. As the journey rolls along, Otto has his trained ape climb surreptitiously into passengers’ rooms to steal their valuables.

        Barbara Lawrence and David Lewis guest starred in this light-hearted episode.

THE BLOWUP (January 17th, 1960) – This story is sort of a nautical Wages of Fear. Captain Holden, Ben Frazer and their crew transport a dangerously unstable experimental explosive compound westward for the mining operation of a young woman’s father.   

        Whitney Blake and Carlos Romero were among the supporting cast.

A RACE TO CINCINNATI (October 4th, 1959) – The Enterprise hurries to get a farmer and his crop of peaches to Cincinnati despite sabotage attempts by ruthless men who want the farmer to lose his valuable patch of land so they can buy it themselves.

        Guest-starring Anne Baxter, Monica Lewis and Lloyd Corrigan. 

GUNS FOR EMPIRE (December 20th, 1959) – Some latter-day Aaron Burrs plan to launch their own nation in sparsely settled portions of the west. Ben Frazer exposes their lies that they are transporting farm equipment on the riverboat when they are really transporting weapons. The conspirators use Captain Holden as a hostage to force Frazer to cooperate.

        Gena Rowlands, Dennis Patrick and George Macready guest star.

SALVAGE PIRATES (January 31st, 1960) – The officers and crew of the Enterprise battle it out with ruthless salvage pirates to recover a fortune in pearls from a sunken ship.

        Guest stars included Judi Meredith, Richard Garland and Robert J. Wilke.

THAT TAYLOR AFFAIR (September 26th, 1960) – In a lighter episode, Captain Holden loses a huge sum of money in a dishonest card game. The sheriff of Baton Rouge impounds the Enterprise to cover Holden’s debts. Chief Pilot Bill Blake buys a half-interest in the riverboat so that Grey can retain it.

        The conniving twosome then plan to persuade President-Elect Zachary Taylor and his entourage to travel in their vessel for a large fee. Paul Fix plays Taylor, while Arlene Dahl, Stanley Adams and Charles Horvath also appear.

PATH OF THE EAGLE (February 1st, 1960) – The Gold Rush is on, and millions are now headed west. Grey Holden, Ben Frazer and their crew transport a wealthy but naive party of travelers to Independence, Missouri where they will join a wagon train to California.

        The con artist leading the rich travelers is really just setting them up for his river pirate allies, who attack the Enterprise intent on stealing the valuables of the wealthy party. Guest starring Myron Healey, Dianne Foster and Leonard P. Geer.

So, yes, this series had an Enterprise before Star Trek and an Opie before The Andy Griffith Show.

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