With Frontierado fast approaching (August 7th this year) here’s another seasonal post from Balladeer’s Blog.
TWENTY-SIX MEN (1957-1959) – This television series ran for two seasons and 78 half-hour episodes. It dramatized the early years of the Arizona Rangers, who were established on March 21st, 1901, and for years consisted of just 26 men. Stories were based on the Arizona Rangers case files.
The program was unique in that it dealt with this law enforcement group instead of the more famous Texas Rangers. Additional novelty came from the turn of the century setting, since most other westerns of the time were set firmly in the 1800s. B-Movie icon Tris Coffin starred as Captain Tom Rynning with Kelo Henderson (lower right) as show heart-throb Ranger Clint Travis.
STANDOUT EPISODES:
THE RECRUIT – In this 1st episode of the series, Captain Rynning and Clint Travis receive an emergency telegram from a newspaper editor in Wilcox, Arizona. They ride there, but find the editor has been lynched, so they set about investigating what happened. With Don Haggerty as Big Red Monahan.
TROUBLE AT PINNACLE PEAK – Our main characters lead several Arizona Rangers in pursuit of a ruthless gang of outlaws. A Native American Scout helps in tracking them.
BORDER INCIDENT – Ranger Travis goes undercover as a gunrunner to shut down weapons smugglers who are fomenting violence on both sides of America’s border with Mexico.
DESTINATION NOWHERE – The Rangers take on human traffickers who are bringing Chinese immigrants across the border with Mexico to be sold as virtual slave labor.
INCIDENT AT YUMA – Captain Rynning assembles Rangers to track down a group of deadly escapees from Yuma Territorial Prison. With Marjorie Stapp.
DEAD MAN IN TUCSON – Plates for printing U.S. currency have been stolen and it’s up to the Rangers to recover them to prevent counterfeiting. Richard Beymer and Steve Conte appear.
THE INDIAN GUNSLINGER – The Rangers help a Native American gunman hold onto property he inherited from his adopted father.
TRADE ME DEADLY – The Arizona Rangers and the Texas Rangers team up to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the governor of Texas. Robert Blake and Harry Lauter guest star.
PANIC AT BISBEE – Our heroes must maintain order when now-unemployed miners threaten to invade a Bisbee bank which has just received a large shipment of money.
GUN HAND – Captain Rynning tries to help a former Ranger against a gang of silver thieves.
BADGE TO KILL – The Rangers search for a missing member of their corps and a stolen shipment of gold.
MONTEZUMA’S CAVE – Captain Rynning trails a Mexican bandit to his remote hideout called Montezuma’s Cave.
HOAX AT GLOBE – A corrupt politician running for sheriff of Globe, AZ tries using the Arizona Rangers as pawns in his campaign.
THE APACHE WINTER – The Rangers must remove a group of white religious pilgrims from Apache land.
THE CHAIN GANG – The one and only LASH LARUE plays an Arizona Ranger working undercover as an inmate to expose unconstitutional, inhumane treatment of prisoners. Also with B-Movie staple Glenn Strange.
THE BELLS OF SAINT THOMAS – Three homicidal bandits rob a bank and hole up in a Mission, where they demand sanctuary from a priest played by future Jock Ewing Jim Davis. Jack Beutel from The Outlaw guest stars.
THE VANQUISHER – Arizona Ranger Andrew Shoreham (Gregg Palmer) decides to go John McLane on a criminal gang who have taken over his home town.
UNHOLY PARTNERS – Ranger Clint Travis works to capture a group of hijackers. Doug McClure guest stars.
SEASON TWO
SHADOW OF A DOUBT – An Arizona Ranger suspected of cowardice is given a chance to redeem himself by leading a mission to rescue a young woman abducted by renegade Native Americans. Starring Denver Pyle and Chuck Courtney.
A MAN IN HIDING – A fugitive criminal hides out in a mine. Gregory Walcott guest stars.
THE LAST REBELLION – In 1903, our heroes are caught in the middle when a Native American (Anthony Dexter) is found not guilty of killing a Tribal leader in a white court but is then tried a second time by the tribe itself. Dub Taylor appears.
FALSE WITNESS – The Rangers come to the assistance of an honest judge against the criminal town boss where he lives. With Morris Ankrum.
THE TRAIL OF REVENGE – An escaped convict (DEFOREST KELLEY) learns his wife has deserted him and goes on a crime spree.
THE RANGER WITHOUT A BADGE – A professional gambler helps Captain Rynning and Ranger Travis corral a gang of rustlers.
THE LONG TRAIL HOME – A murderous gang of outlaws try to ruin the attempt to go straight by a former member (LEONARD NIMOY).
DEATH IN THE DRAGOONS – Captain Rynning falls in love with a woman he helped drive off three gunmen, then learns she is wanted for murder. With Jeanne Dean.
A HOUSE DIVIDED – The Rangers get caught in the middle when a rancher is determined to stop his brother from marrying a Native American woman.
DEAD OR ALIVE – Our heroes investigate a three-year-old murder mystery.
THE HAS BEEN – Captain Rynning investigates when outside forces try to bribe a boxer to throw a high-profile match.
THE TRIAL AT VERDE RIVER – The Rangers become involved in a Water Rights case being argued by a young lawyer (THE Richard Crane).
TERROR IN PARADISE – Our heroes must keep two Dance Hall Girls alive so they can testify against a very dangerous criminal leader. With Wendy Wilde and Johnnie Westmore.
THE TIGER – The Arizona Rangers must cross the border to stop a gang of American outlaws who are trying to take over a Mexican town.
THE BANDIT QUEEN – A gunslinging female outlaw is pursued by our heroes. Jackie Blanchard guest stars.
FOR MORE FORGOTTEN TELEVISION CLICK HERE. FRONTIERADO FALLS ON AUGUST SEVENTH THIS YEAR!
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