The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Hugh O'Brian was born 19 April 1925 in Rochester, New York. Debuting on Sept. 6, 1955, "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" was the first adult western on television. It beat out "Gunsmoke" for that distinction by four days.
The adult-western craze that was to render television one big corral in few years is apt not to have occurred had the first two entries not been of the high calibre that they were. Of the two series, "Wyatt Earp" was more upbeat and fast-paced.
An "adult" western was, of course, simply a western aimed at normal, decent grown-ups; the term "adult" had not yet taken on its present connotation as a euphemism for smut.
Indeed, it is doubtful that actor Hugh O'Brian, now heavily involved in youth causes, would have appeared in a series matching today's definition of "adult."
The series aired for its entire six-year run on ABC on Tuesday nights from 8:30-9 p.m., and was scripted throughout by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan. O'Brian was Earp for the entire series -- and probably for the rest of his life. The excellence of his performances in that series was such that 36 years after the series "bit the dust," O'Brian is associated with his portrayal of Earp.
There was, however, one other man tied even more closely to the role: the real Wyatt Earp, who lived from 1848-1929. Earp is best remembered for his participation, with his brothers Morgan and Virgil, along side Doc Holliday, in felling the Clanton Gang in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. That event, which took place in 1881 in Tombstone, Arizona, was recreated as the climax of a five-part series finale.
The first episode was titled, "Mr. Earp Becomes a Marshal" and depicted Earp assuming the job of his lawman-friend who had been gunned down, avenging his death.
It was in that episode that Earp acquired his trademark "Buntline Special" pistols, with foot-long barrels. (Hollywood up-manship three years later resulted in Chuck Connors asssuming the role of Lucas McCain in "The Rifleman," twirling a Winchester as if it were a handgun.)
Earp's first lawman post was in Ellsworth, Kansas. The television Earp then moved on (as the real Earp did) to Dodge City, Kansas. While there, he somehow never managed to run into that town's other marshal, Matt Dillon, whose appearances were reserved for Saturday nights on CBS on "Gunsmoke." Earp did, however, encounter Bat Masterson, who became his deputy, and later a sheriff. Masterson was in the series from 1955-57. Funny how different he looked when the "Bat Masterson" series began on NBC in 1959 (with Gene Barry).
Then, it was off to tombstone where the Clanton Gang had a stranglehold on the town -- which ended with the famed gunfight.
O'Brian was the only actor to appear in all six seasons. Among those with supporting roles during part of the run were movie-cowboy Lash La Rue (1959); Denver Pyle (1955-56), who was to play Uncle Jesse in the "Dukes of Hazzard"; and Paul Brinegar (1956-58), who was to play the cook Wishbone on "Rawhide."
Hugh O'Brian ............ Wyatt Earp William Phipps .......... Curley Bill Brocius Myron Healey ............ Doctor John "Doc" Holliday Alan Dinehart III ....... Bat Masterson Denver Pyle ............. Ben Thompson Hal Baylor .............. Bill Thompson Don Haggerty ............ Marsh Murdock Lloyd Corrigan .......... Ned Buntline Selmer Jackson .......... Mayor Hoover John Anderson ........... Virgil Earp Carol Stone ............. Kate Holliday Morgan Woodward ......... Shotgun Gibbs Dirk London ............. Morgan Earp Randy Stuart ............ Nellie Cashman Gloria Talbott .......... Abbie Crandall
Despite leading a very dangerous
lifestyle, the real Wyatt Earp lived 81 years! He was born in
1848 and died in 1929.
This tv show was the very first western aimed at strictly adult
audiences. Previous western scripts had been written to appeal to
more general audiences. Coming in at 2nd place was the series,
"Gunsmoke". It's first episode aired just four days
later.
The final five episodes of the Life & Legend Of Wyatt Earp
told the story of the famed gunfight at the O.K. Corral between
the Earp brothers (Wyatt, Morgan & Virgil) and the Clanton
gang.
In the same way that Bat Masterson was known for his Derby &
Cane, Wyatt Earp was identified by his "Buntline Special"
pistols. They had barrels that were a foot long!
Bat Materson also appeared on the show, first as Wyatt's deputy.
Near the end of the series he got "promoted" to Sheriff.
Hugh O'Brian was nominated for an Emmy in 1957 for, "Best
Continuing Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Series".
I'll tell you a story A real true life story A tale of the Western frontier The West it was lawless But one man was flawless And his is the story you'll hear. CHORUS Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp, brave courageous and bold. Long live his fame and long live his glory And long may his story be told. He came to Kansas To settle in Kansas He planned on a peaceable life. Some goods and some chattel A few head of cattle A home and a sweet loving wife. CHORUS He wasn't partial To being a marshal But fate went and dealt him his hand. While outlaws were lootin And killin' and shootin' He knew that he must take a stand. CHORUS He cleaned up the country The Old Wild West country He made law and order prevail ANd none can deny it The legend of Wyatt Forever will live on the trail. CHORUS
The Movie ~ "Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone" (1994)
| Cast overview: | ||
| Hugh O'Brian | .... | Wyatt Earp |
| Bruce Boxleitner | .... | Sam, Sheriff of Cochise County |
| Paul Brinegar | .... | Jim 'Dog' Kelly |
| Harry Carey Jr. | .... | Digger Phelps |
| Bo Hopkins | .... | Rattlesnake Reynolds |
| Alex Hyde-White | .... | Woodworth Clum |
| Martin Kove | ||
| Don Meredith | .... | Clay the Bartender |
| Jay Underwood | ||
| Douglas Fowley | .... | Doc Holliday/Doc Fabrique (flashback sequences) |
| John Anderson | .... | Virgil Earp (flashback sequence) |
| Dirk London | .... | Morgan Earp (flashback sequence) |
| Rayford Barnes | .... | Ike Clanton (flashback sequence) |
| Steve Brodie | .... | Sheriff John Behan (flashback sequence) |
| Lloyd Corrigan | .... | Ned Buntline (flashback sequence) |
Runtime: 100 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Black and White / Color
Sound Mix: Stereo
Trivia: The 1994 footage was shot in black and white to match the
original footage, then the entire film was colorized.
