1 9 5 2 – 1 9 7 5 (USA)
558 x 30 minute episodes
This long-running (23 years) anthology drama series depicted incidents in the lives of pioneer Westerners in California and Nevada in the 1880s.
Originally a radio serial that started in 1930 and was sponsored by Twenty Mule Team Borax, the series was hosted on television by Stanley Andrews (“The Old Ranger”, 1952 – 64), future US President Ronald Reagan (1964 – 67), Robert Taylor (1967 – 69), Dale Robertson (1969 – 72), and Merle Haggard (1975).
Production standards were modest, although location filming in Death Valley gave the series a certain big-sky, wide-open spaces grandeur.
Among its productions were `Kickapoo Run’ with Fess Parker; ‘Lady of the Press’ with James Franciscus; ‘The Lost Pegleg Mine’ with Andy Clyde; `The Lady Was an MD’ with Yvonne DeCarlo; and ‘A City Is Born’ with Reagan.
Also known as Call Of The West and Western Star Theatre during its numerous US re-runs.
The Old Ranger
Stanley Andrews
Host
Ronald Reagan (1)
Robert Taylor (2)
Dale Robertson (3)
Merle Haggard (4)
