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Title: Bat Masterson (1958–1961)
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Nominated for
1
Primetime Emmy.
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Wagon Train
(1957–1965)
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Adventure
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Drama
Stars:
Frank McGrath,
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Dressed-up dandy (derby and cane), gambler and lawman roams the West charming women and defending the unjustly accused. His primary weapon was his wit (and cane) rather than his gun.
Genres:
WesternParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
8 October 1958 (USA) See more »Filming Locations:
Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
(108 episodes)Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
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(theme song)
Words and music by Bart Corwin and Havens Wray
Sung by Bill Lee.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Bat rode Stardust See more »Goofs
The "derby" Gene Barry wears is incorrect. If you look at real photos of Bat Masterson you'll see that the brim on Gene's hat is too large. They tried to roll the sides more to make it seem smaller, but it still just looks like any old cowboy hat with a rounded crown. See more »Soundtracks
Bat Masterson(theme song)
Words and music by Bart Corwin and Havens Wray
Sung by Bill Lee.
See more »
Of all the so-called adult westerns that hit the tube in the mid to late 50's, "Bat Masterson" was one of the best. Gene Barry played his historical character with just the right amount of seriousness and lightness to make what could have been a cardboard creation viable. "Adult westerns" back in those days when the TV west was young meant more talk and less action with stories that supposedly dealt with mature subject matter where characters were not just all good or all bad. In the "Bat Masterson" series, usually there would be a fair amount of action with Bat whipping the meanies with his cane and using his gun only when absolutely necessary.
Another improvement in the TV western wrought by the "Bat Masterson" series was a weekly change of scenery (in reality, all the shows were shot on the same Hollywood lot), not just in Dodge City, Tombstone, or Abilene. "Incident in Leadville" is a good example. Leadville, now a Colorado tourist mecca, was then a silver mining town with its share of claim jumpers and bushwhackers.
Bat rides into Leadville to clear his name. It seems that the lady who runs the local printing press, Jo Hart (Kathleen Crowley), has slandered Bat by lumping him together with notorious outlaws such as King Fisher, a cameo by the fine character actor, Jack Lambert. The local city boss, gambler Roy Evans, portrayed by future "Get Smart" chief, Edward Platt, also has an ax to grind with Jo Hart but wants to put her out of commission permanently. Evans decides to terminate Bat in the process, a notion not to the liking of the man with the cane and derby hat.
All the shows were similar in format. Fans could be assured of being entertained for thirty minutes. The "Bat Masterson" theme song was an added treat, with catchy lyrics and a hummable tune.