1 9 5 6 – 1 9 6 1 (USA)
146 x 30 minute episodes
Like Death Valley Days and Frontier, Zane Grey Theatre was a western anthology series. It was hosted by Dick Powell and was officially titled Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theatre. Powell also occasionally starred in an episode.
Some of the stories were based on those written by Western author Zane Grey, but most were original teleplays (his books were far too long to be adapted into 30-minute episodes) .
Among the guest stars who appeared were Hedy Lamarr (in her only TV dramatic appearance, “Proud Woman,” on 25 October 1957), Jack Lemmon (“The Three Graves,” 4 January 1957), Ginger Rogers (in a rare TV appearance, “Never Too Late,” 4 February 1960), Claudette Colbert (“So Young the Savage Land,” 10 November 1960), and Esther Williams (in her last TV dramatic appearance until 1987, “The Black Wagon,” 1 December 1960).
Hal Hudson was the first producer of the half-hour show, which was supplied by Four Star Films, Zane Grey, and Pamric Productions.