Bronco (TV series)

Bronco is a Western series on ABC from 1958 through 1962. It was shown by the BBC in the United Kingdom. The program starred Ty Hardin as Bronco Layne, a former Confederate officer who wandered the Old West, meeting such well-known individuals as Wild Bill Hickok, Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Theodore Roosevelt, Belle Starr, Cole Younger, and John Wesley Hardin.

Bronco
Ty Hardin and Nina Shipman in Bronco (1962)
Also known asCheyenne: Bronco
and
The Cheyenne Show: Bronco
Officially, only season 2 was called Bronco.[1]
Genrewestern
StarringTy Hardin
Theme music composerMack David and
Jay Livingston
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes68
Production
Executive producerWilliam T. Orr
ProducersArthur W. Silver
Sidney Biddel
Charles Hoffman

Oren W. Haglund (production manager)

Gordon Bau (make-up)
Production locationCalifornia
Running time60 mins.
Production companyWarner Bros. Television
DistributorWarner Bros. Television Division
Release
Original networkABC
Picture format1.33:1 monochrome
Audio formatmonaural
First shown inTuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
Original releaseSeptember 23, 1958 (1958-09-23) 
April 30, 1962 (1962-04-30)
Chronology
Preceded byCheyenne

Overview

Bronco premiered in the fall of 1958 when Warner Bros. executives and actor Clint Walker clashed over Walker's contract on the series Cheyenne. Walker had walked out on his show over such stringent clauses as a requirement that he return half of all personal appearance fees to Warner Bros., and that he only record for Warner music labels. When the two sides came to an impasse, the network hired newcomer Ty Hardin to play the new character of Bronco Layne, but kept the title of Cheyenne.

When Walker came back to his series, Bronco became a spin-off of Cheyenne. Bronco at first alternated with another Western series, Sugarfoot, featuring Will Hutchins. In 1960, the two began alternating with Cheyenne under the Cheyenne title. Sugarfoot was dropped in 1961, leaving only Bronco and Cheyenne to alternate. Other Warner Bros. Westerns in production around this time included Maverick with James Garner, Jack Kelly, and Roger Moore, Colt .45 with Wayde Preston, and Lawman with John Russell; series characters occasionally crossed over into each other's series.

According to the theme song, Bronco came from the Texas Panhandle, but episodes of the series are set throughout the West.

In the eighth episode, "Freeze-Out" (December 30, 1958), a writer calling herself Mary Brown, played by Grace Raynor, hires Bronco to escort her to a ghost town in the high country, where they encounter three men amid the isolation. As it develops, Mary is not interested so much in story ideas, but in the body of a man buried in a nearby glacier and missing gold. Some four years before the debut of his The Virginian, James Drury plays the part of John Smith, who develops a romantic interest in Mary. Edgar Stehli (1884–1973) plays the part of "Pancake" Riddle.[2]

Guest stars

  • Peter Breck was Theodore Roosevelt in "Yankee Tornado" (1961).
  • Ahna Capri appeared as the child Emily in "A Town That Lived and Died" (1962).
  • Russ Conway appeared as Willis Turner, with Chris Alcaide as Brutus Traxel, in "The Silent Witness" (1959).
  • Walter Coy was Sheriff Walters in "The Turning Point" (1958), Victor Leggett in "Backfire" (1959), and Sheriff Springer in "Beginner's Luck" (1962).
  • Francis De Sales was Lawrence Larson in "Hero of the Town" (1959).
  • Med Flory appeared as Vance Pelham in "Then the Mountains" (1962).
  • Dean Fredericks was Great Wolf in "Seminole War Pipe" (1960).
  • Tod Griffin was Sheriff Garth Nelson in "The Silent Witness" (1959) and Chip Garnes in "Volunteers from Aberdeen" (1960).
  • Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr. portrayed Manuel Figueres in "Flight from an Empire" (1959).
  • I. Stanford Jolley was Stover in "Brand of Courage" (1958) and Old Man Shirley in "Shadow of Jesse James" (1960).
  • Douglas Kennedy as Paul Duquense in "Four Guns and a Prayer" (1958)
  • Scott Marlowe appeared as John Wesley Hardin in "The Turning Point" (1958).
  • Gregg Palmer was Colton in "Destinies West" (1962).
  • Judson Pratt was Marlow in "Manitoba Manhunt" (1961).
  • Pernell Roberts appeared as Reverend Dave Clayton in "The Belles of Silver Flats" (1959).
  • Randy Stuart was Claire Russo in "Tangled Trail" (1960).
  • Olive Sturgess was Virginia Munger in "Guns of the Lawless" (1961).
  • Gary Vinson appeared four times in different roles between 1958 and 1961: "Four Guns and a Prayer", "The Devil's Spawn" (as Bud Donner), "The Invaders", and "Cousin from Atlanta".
  • Tony Young appeared twice, as Cpl. Red Bird in "The Burning Springs" (1959) and as Tod Chapman in "One Evening in Abilene" (1962).
  • Jack Nicholson appeared as the young lover Bob in the episode "The Equalizer" in season four, episode four (1961). Jack Elam played Mr. Thompson in the same episode.

Episodes

Season 1 (1958-59)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"The Besieged"Alan Crosland Jr.Teleplay by: Robert Fisher & Alan LipscottSeptember 23, 1958 (1958-09-23)
22"Quest of the Thirty Dead"Lee SholemTeleplay by: Thomas W. BlackburnOctober 7, 1958 (1958-10-07)
33"The Turning Point"Alan Crosland Jr.Story by: George W. George
Teleplay by: George F. Slavin
October 21, 1958 (1958-10-21)
44"Four Guns and a Prayer"Alan Crosland Jr.Teleplay by: Dean RiesnerNovember 4, 1958 (1958-11-04)
55"Long Ride Back"Leslie H. MartinsonTeleplay by: James O'HanlonNovember 18, 1958 (1958-11-18)
66"Trail to Taos"Alan Crosland Jr.Teleplay by: Richard H. LandauDecember 2, 1958 (1958-12-02)
77"Brand of Courage"Lee SholemTeleplay by: Berne GilerDecember 16, 1958 (1958-12-16)
88"Freeze-Out"Lee SholemStory by: Steve Frazee
Teleplay by: Thomas W. Blackburn
December 30, 1958 (1958-12-30)
99"Baron of Broken Lance"Lee SholemStory by: Gerald Drayson Adams
Teleplay by: Gerald Drayson Adams & Dean Riesner
January 13, 1959 (1959-01-13)
1010"Payroll of the Dead"Lee SholemStory by: Steve Frazee
Teleplay by: George F. Slavin
January 27, 1959 (1959-01-27)
1111"Riding Solo"Alan Crosland Jr.Story by: Kenneth Perkins
Teleplay by: Thomas W. Blackburn
February 10, 1959 (1959-02-10)
1212"Borrowed Glory"Harmon JonesStory by: Vick Knight
Teleplay by: Berne Giler
February 24, 1959 (1959-02-24)
1313"Silent Witness"Harmon JonesTeleplay by: Arnold Belgard & Tom GriesMarch 10, 1959 (1959-03-10)
1414"The Belles of Silver Flat"Lee SholemTeleplay by: Robert Fisher & Alan LipscottMarch 24, 1959 (1959-03-24)
1515"Backfire"Lee SholemStory by: Will Cook
Teleplay by: Albert Aley
April 7, 1959 (1959-04-07)
1616"School for Cowards"Lee SholemTeleplay by: George F. SlavinApril 21, 1959 (1959-04-21)
1717"Prairie Skipper"Alan Crosland Jr.Teleplay by: Arnold BelgardMay 5, 1959 (1959-05-05)
1818"Shadow of a Man"Alan Crosland Jr.Story by: Walker A. Tomkins
Teleplay by: Albert Aley
May 19, 1959 (1959-05-19)
1919"Hero of the Town"Lee SholemTeleplay by: Arnold BelgardJune 2, 1959 (1959-06-02)
2020"Red Water North"Lee SholemStory by: Alan Le May
Teleplay by: Fenton Earnshaw & Dean Reisner
September 19, 1959 (1959-09-19)

Season 2 (1959-60)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
211"Game at the Beacon Club"Arthur LubinStory by: Arthur W. Silver
Teleplay by: Jackson Gillis
September 22, 1959 (1959-09-22)
222"The Burning Springs"Edward DeinTeleplay by: Gerald Drayson AdamsOctober 6, 1959 (1959-10-06)
233"Bodyguard"Lee SholemTeleplay by: James O'HanlonOctober 20, 1959 (1959-10-20)
244"The Soft Answer"Leslie GoodwinsTeleplay by: Arnold BelgardNovember 3, 1959 (1959-11-03)
255"The Last Resort"Lee SholemTeleplay by: Jack LairdNovember 17, 1959 (1959-11-17)
266"The Devil's Spawn"Lee SholemStory by: Wayne D. Overholser & George F. Slavin
Teleplay by: George F. Slavin
December 1, 1959 (1959-12-01)
277"Flight from an Empire"Edward DeinStory by: James Gunn
Teleplay by: Albert Aley
December 15, 1959 (1959-12-15)
288"Night Train to Denver"Leslie GoodwinsTeleplay by: George F. SlavinDecember 29, 1959 (1959-12-29)
299"Shadow of Jesse James"Leslie GoodwinsTeleplay by: Gerald Drayson AdamsJanuary 12, 1960 (1960-01-12)
3010"Masquerade"Herbert L. StrockTeleplay by: Arnold BelgardJanuary 26, 1960 (1960-01-26)
3111"Volunteers from Aberdeen"Herbert L. StrockStory by: Louis S. Kaye
Teleplay by: Ron Bishop & Wells Root
February 9, 1960 (1960-02-09)
3212"Every Man a Hero"Herbert L. StrockTeleplay by: George F. SlavinFebruary 23, 1960 (1960-02-23)
3313"Death of an Outlaw"Herbert L. StrockTeleplay by: Gerald Drayson AdamsMarch 8, 1960 (1960-03-08)
3414"The Human Equation"Lee SholemTeleplay by: Arnold BelgardMarch 22, 1960 (1960-03-22)
3515"Montana Passage"Reginald Le BorgStory by: Jack DeWitt
Teleplay by: Gerald Drayson Adams & Howard Browne
April 5, 1960 (1960-04-05)
3616"Legacy of Twisted Creek"Andre De TothTeleplay by: Jack LairdApril 19, 1960 (1960-04-19)
3717"Tangled Trail"Herbert L. StrockTeleplay by: R. Wright Campbell & Dean RiesnerMay 3, 1960 (1960-05-03)
3818"La Rubia"Reginald Le BorgStory by: Gerald Drayson Adams
Teleplay by: Arthur W. Silver
May 17, 1960 (1960-05-17)
3919"Winter Kill"Jesse HibbsStory by: Walter Doniger
Teleplay by: Kenneth Higgins
May 31, 1960 (1960-05-31)
4020"End of a Rope"Lew LandersStory by: Orville H. Hampton
Teleplay by: Orville H. Hampton & W. Hermanos
June 14, 1960 (1960-06-14)

Season 3 (1960-61)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
411"The Mustangers"Robert AltmanStory by: Frank Bonham
Teleplay by: William Bruckner
October 17, 1960 (1960-10-17)
422"Apache Treasure"Robert B. SinclairTeleplay by: Charles SmithNovember 7, 1960 (1960-11-07)
433"Seminole War Pipe"Robert SparrTeleplay by: Gerald Drayson AdamsDecember 12, 1960 (1960-12-12)
444"Ordeal at Dead Tree"Robert SparrTeleplay by: Frank CastleJanuary 2, 1961 (1961-01-02)
455"The Invaders"William J. Hole Jr.Teleplay by: Sylvan Churnas & Don TaitJanuary 23, 1961 (1961-01-23)
466"The Buckbrier Trail"Robert SparrTeleplay by: William BrucknerFebruary 20, 1961 (1961-02-20)
477"Yankee Tornado"Lee SholemTeleplay by: Warren DouglasMarch 13, 1961 (1961-03-13)
488"Manitoba Manhunt"Herbert L. StrockTeleplay by: Gerald Drayson AdamsApril 3, 1961 (1961-04-03)
499"Stage to the Sky"Robert SparrTeleplay by: Warren DouglasApril 24, 1961 (1961-04-24)
5010"Guns of the Lawless"Richard C. SarafianStory by: Todhunter Ballard
Teleplay by: William L. Stuart
May 8, 1961 (1961-05-08)

Season 4 (1961-62)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
511"The Cousin from Atlanta"Michael O'HerlihyTeleplay by: Peter GermanoOctober 16, 1961 (1961-10-16)
522"Prince of Darkness"Marc LawrenceTeleplay by: Warren DouglasNovember 6, 1961 (1961-11-06)
533"One Came Back"Robert SparrTeleplay by: Lee LoebNovember 27, 1961 (1961-11-27)
544"The Equalizer"Marc LawrenceTeleplay by: Warren DouglasDecember 18, 1961 (1961-12-18)
555"The Harrigan"Robert SparrStory by: William L. Stuart
Teleplay by: Fred Eggers
December 25, 1961 (1961-12-25)
566"Beginner's Luck"Leslie H. MartinsonStory by: Steve Frazee
Teleplay by: George F. Slavin
January 1, 1962 (1962-01-01)
577"Ride the Whirlwind"Gunther von FritschTeleplay by: Warren DouglasJanuary 15, 1962 (1962-01-15)
588"A Sure Thing"Paul LandresStory by: Don Martin
Teleplay by: Fred Eggers & Don Martin
January 22, 1962 (1962-01-22)
599"Trail of Hatred"Paul LandresStory by: Gerald Drayson Adams
Teleplay by: Cy Chermak
February 5, 1962 (1962-02-05)
6010"Rendezvous with a Miracle"Gunther von FritschStory by: Kay Linaker & Howard Phillips
Teleplay by: Kay Linaker, Howard Phillips & Bob Wehling
February 12, 1962 (1962-02-12)
6111"Destinies West"George WaggnerTeleplay by: Barry ShipmanFebruary 26, 1962 (1962-02-26)
6212"The Last Letter"Robert SparrTeleplay by: David LangMarch 5, 1962 (1962-03-05)
6313"One Evening in Abilene"Richard BenedictTeleplay by: Berne GilerMarch 19, 1962 (1962-03-19)
6414"Until Kingdom Come"Paul LandresTeleplay by: Lee LoebMarch 26, 1962 (1962-03-26)
6515"Moment of Doubt"Paul LandresTeleplay by: Lester FullerApril 2, 1962 (1962-04-02)
6616"A Town That Lived and Died"Paul LandresTeleplay by: Richard H. LandauApril 9, 1962 (1962-04-09)
6717"The Immovable Object"Sidney SalkowTeleplay by: Arnold BelgardApril 16, 1962 (1962-04-16)
6818"Then the Mountains"George WaggnerTeleplay by: George WaggnerApril 30, 1962 (1962-04-30)

Home media

Warner Bros. has released the first three seasons on DVD in Region 1 via their Warner Archive Collection. These are manufacture-on-demand (MOD) releases, available through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.[3][4][5] The fourth and final season was released on May 19, 2015.[6]

DVD Name Ep # Release Date
The Complete First Season 20 July 29, 2014
The Complete Second Season 20 October 14, 2014
The Complete Third Season 10 February 3, 2015
The Complete Fourth Season 18 May 19, 2015

References

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