![Gene Barry as Bat Masterson 1960](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Gene_Barry_as_Bat_Masterson_1960.JPG)
''Bat Masterson'' is an American
Western
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that id ...
television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...
which was a fictionalized account of the life of real-life marshal/gambler/dandy
Bat Masterson
Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...
. The title character was played by
Gene Barry
Gene Barry (born Eugene Klass, June 14, 1919 – December 9, 2009) was an American stage, screen, and television actor and singer. Barry is best remembered for his leading roles in the films '' The Atomic City'' (1952) and ''The War of The Worl ...
, and the half-hour
black-and-white
Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey.
Media
The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...
series ran on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
from 1958 to 1961. The show was produced by
Ziv Television Productions. "Bat" is a nickname for Masterson's first name, Bartholemew, although in both the 1958 pilot "Double Showdown" and 1961 episode "No Amnesty For Death", he says his name is William Barkley Masterson.
Although the series was fiction, it claimed in the closing credits to be based on the biography ''Bat Masterson'', by Richard O'Connor.
Overview
Barry's Masterson often dressed in expensive Eastern clothing and preferred to use his cane rather than a gun to get himself out of trouble. Masterson was also portrayed as a ladies' man who traveled the West looking for women and adventure. Born Eugene Klass, actor Gene Barry had changed his last name as a tribute to actor
John Barrymore
John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...
.
The black
derby
Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby g ...
, fancy decorative vest, black jacket, and elegant gold-topped cane were his trademarks. Miniaturized toy versions were marketed to children as
tie-in
A tie-in work is a work of fiction or other product based on a media property such as a film, video game, television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property. Tie-ins are authorized by the owners of the original prop ...
products during the run of the series. When dressed more casually in episodes centered on outdoor action, Masterson would sometimes wear an identical but gray derby in place of the black one. After the
turn of the century
Turn of the century, in its broadest sense, refers to the transition from one century to another. The term is most often used to indicate a distinctive time period either before or after the beginning of a century or both before and after.
Ac ...
, the real-life Bat Masterson became a prominent writer of Western reminiscences as well as a flamboyant New York City newspaper journalist and close friend of
Damon Runyon
Alfred Damon Runyon (October 4, 1880 – December 10, 1946) was an American newspaperman and short-story writer.
He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. To N ...
, and was the inspiration for the character "Sky Masterson" in Runyon's ''
Guys and Dolls
''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also bo ...
'', portrayed by
Marlon Brando in a
theatrical film three years before the television series began.
Cast
Main cast
*
Gene Barry
Gene Barry (born Eugene Klass, June 14, 1919 – December 9, 2009) was an American stage, screen, and television actor and singer. Barry is best remembered for his leading roles in the films '' The Atomic City'' (1952) and ''The War of The Worl ...
as Bat Masterson (108 episodes)
*
Allison Hayes as Ellie Winters (7 episodes)
* Allen Jaffe as belligerent drunk (7 episodes)
*
Ken Drake as Burdette (6 episodes)
*
Troy Melton
Troy Wilford Melton (March 2, 1921 – November 15, 1995)
was an American stuntman and actor.
Early life
Born in Jackson, Tennessee, Melton migrated with his family to Los Angeles during the Great Depression. After three years of service in t ...
as government agent (6 episodes)
Guest cast
''Bat Masterson'' guest stars included the
character actor Robert F. Simon
Robert Frank Simon (December 2, 1908 – November 29, 1992) was an American character actor.
Earlier years
Simon began acting with Mansfield's Community Players organization when he worked as a clerk in a meat market. Following that experience ...
, who appeared as Harrison Whitney in the episode "Death by Decree", and
Richard Eastham
Richard Eastham (born Dickinson Swift Eastham; June 22, 1916 – July 10, 2005) was an American actor of stage, film, and television, a concert singer known for his deep baritone voice, and an inventor.
Early years
Eastham's birth name was ...
, who appeared in the 1961 episode "A Lesson in Violence".
Stefanie Powers appeared in the 1961 episode named "Dead Man's Claim" (using the name Taffy Paul) as Ann, the niece of the boarding house owner.
George Macready
George Peabody Macready Jr. (August 29, 1899 – July 2, 1973) was an American stage, film, and television actor often cast in roles as polished villains.
Early life
Macready was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 29, 1899. He graduated ...
appeared as Clyde Richards in the 1961 episode "Tempest at Tioga Pass".
Quentin Sondergaard
Quentin Charles Sondergaard (January 11, 1925 – February 15, 1984) was an American film and television actor. He was known for playing Deputy Sheriff Quint in the American western television series '' Tombstone Territory''.
Career
Sonderga ...
appeared in various roles on the series five times between 1958 and 1961.
Dan Sheridan
Dan Sheridan (September 3, 1916 – June 29, 1963) was an Irish-American actor who appeared in more than thirty-five television series between 1957 and his death at the age of forty-six in 1963. He was cast in forty-one episodes of the ABC/W ...
was cast as Joe Rankin in the 1959 episode "Election Day". The lovely Allison Hayes had a recurring role as card dealer Ellie Winters in 7 episodes.
Yvonne Lime Fedderson
Yvonne is a female given name. It is the feminine form of Yvon, which is derived from the French name Yves and Yvette. It is from the French word ''iv'', meaning "yew" (or tree). Since yew wood was used for bows, Ivo may have been an occupatio ...
was cast as Lola White in the 1960 episode "The Snare".
Ron Hayes
Ronald G. Hayes (February 26, 1929 – October 1, 2004) was an American television actor who, as an activist in the environmental movement, worked for the establishment of the first Earth Day, observed on April 22, 1970. He was a member of t ...
appeared four times in the role of
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) was an American lawman and gambler in the American West, including Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone. Earp took part in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during which l ...
.
Gary Vinson
Gary Vinson (October 22, 1936 – October 15, 1984) was an American actor who appeared in significant roles in three television series of the 1960s: '' The Roaring 20s'', ''McHale's Navy'', and ''Pistols 'n' Petticoats''.
Early years
Vinson was ...
appeared as Billy Thompson in the 1958 episode "A Noose Fits Anybody".
Tyler McVey
William Tyler McVey (February 14, 1912 – July 4, 2003) was an American character actor of film and television.
Early years
McVey was born Bay City, Michigan, to William David McVey and his wife, the former Jessie Arvilla Tyler. His moth ...
appeared from 1958 to 1961 in different roles in three episodes ("Dynamite Blows Two Ways", "Incident at Fort Bowie", and "Dead Man's Claim").
Ron Foster (1960) appeared twice as Toby Dawson in "Six Feet of Gold" and as Sheriff Buck Simpson in "Jeopardy at Jackson Hole" (1961).
James Coburn also appeared in "Six Feet of Gold".
Tom Greenway guest starred twice, as Charlie in "Buffalo Kill" (1959) and as Ben Pick in "Dagger Dance" (1961).
Brett King
Brett King (born Bertell W. King, Jr.; December 29, 1920 – January 14, 1999) was an American actor who performed in films and on television between 1949 and 1967.
Early life and film career
King attended the American Theatre Wing in New Yor ...
appeared four times, beginning with the role of Hub Elliott in "License to Cheat" (1959);
Douglas Kennedy was cast as Sheriff Jeb Crater in that same episode.
William Tannen
William Tannen (November 17, 1911 – December 2, 1976) was an American actor originally from New York City, who was best known for his role of Deputy Hal Norton in fifty-six episodes from 1956 to 1958 of the ABC/Desilu western television ser ...
was cast in four episodes of ''Bat Masterson''.
Diane Brewster
Diane Brewster (March 11, 1931 – November 12, 1991) was an American television actress most noted for playing three distinctively different roles in television series of the 1950s and 1960s: confidence trickster Samantha Crawford in the Weste ...
, also known as "Beaver" Cleaver's second-grade teacher "Miss Canfield" in ''
Leave It to Beaver'' and as gambler "Samantha Crawford" opposite
James Garner
James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor. He played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, including ''The Great Escape (film), The Great Escape'' (1963) with Steve McQueen; Paddy ...
in ''
Maverick
Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to:
History
* Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick
Aviation
* AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design
* General Aviation Design Burea ...
'', played the role of Miss Lynn Harrison in the 2-part episode "The Conspiracy" (1959).
Kevin Hagen
Kevin Hagen (April 3, 1928 – July 9, 2005) was an American actor best known for his role as Dr. Hiram Baker on NBC's ''Little House on the Prairie (TV series), Little House on the Prairie.''
Early life
Hagen was born in Chicago, Illinois, t ...
appeared as Ace Williams in "The Fourth Man" (1961).
Lon Chaney Jr.
Creighton Tull Chaney (February10, 1906 – July12, 1973), known by his stage name Lon Chaney Jr., was an American actor known for playing Larry Talbot in the film '' The Wolf Man'' (1941) and its various crossovers, Count Alucard (Dra ...
played the role of Rance Fletcher in "Bat Trap" (1961).
Patrick Waltz
Jack Richard Waltz (December 6, 1924 – August 13, 1972) was an American film and television actor. He was credited in his first film as Philip Shawn.
Waltz was born in Akron, Ohio, the younger of two sons born to Frank and Lucy Leona (nee Dug ...
,
Ray Kellogg
Edgar Ray Kellogg (November 15, 1905 – July 5, 1976) was an American special effects artist and film director from Iowa.
Career
During World War II, Kellogg was a US Navy Lieutenant with the O.S.S. Field Photographing Branch where he beca ...
and
Marie Windsor
Marie Windsor (born Emily Marie Bertelsen; December 11, 1919 – December 10, 2000) was an American actress known for her femme fatale characters in the classic film noir features ''Force of Evil'', ''The Narrow Margin'' and '' The Killing''. Wi ...
had guest-starred in the episode "The Fighter".
Donald Murphy made one appearance in 1960.
Anna Navarro
Anna Delia Navarro (also cited Ana Delia Navarro; August 18, 1933 – December 27, 2006) was an American film and television actress.
Early life
With regard to Anna Navarro's birthplace, various references cite different locations. Some source ...
and
George Sawaya
George Frances Carey Sawaya (August 14, 1923 – September 17, 2003) was an American actor and stuntman. He was best known for playing the role of Detective Lopez on Jack Webb's '' Dragnet''.
Life and career
Sawaya was born in Los Angeles, ...
both made one appearance in 1961.
Production
Development
The series was loosely based on Richard O'Connor's 1957 biography of Masterson. This was highlighted by the book's front cover being shown at the end of the closing credits with an onscreen notation "based on".
From 1955 to 1959,
Mason Alan Dinehart
Mason Alan Dinehart (born 1936) is an American business consultant and retired actor best known for his role as a youthful Bat Masterson in 34 episodes between 1955 and 1959 of the ABC/Desilu television series ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Ea ...
played a 20-something Bat Masterson in thirty-four episodes of the
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
/
Desilu
Desilu Productions () was an American television production company founded and co-owned by husband and wife Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. The company is best known for shows such as '' I Love Lucy'', ''The Lucy Show'', ''Mannix'', ''The Untouchab ...
western series, ''
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' is the first Western television series written for adults, premiering four days before '' Gunsmoke'' on September 6, 1955. Two weeks later came the Clint Walker western ''Cheyenne''. The series is loosely ...
'', starring
Hugh O'Brian
Hugh O'Brian (born Hugh Charles Krampe; April 19, 1925 – September 5, 2016) was an American actor and humanitarian, best known for his starring roles in the ABC Western television series ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' (1955–1 ...
as the frontier peace officer
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) was an American lawman and gambler in the American West, including Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone. Earp took part in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during which l ...
. Dinehart left the series, and Barry was cast as a 40-something Masterson in a separate series on a different network. In the year 1958-1959 both actors were featured in the role of Masterson. The 1991
television film
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
''The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw'' featured both Barry as Masterson and O'Brian as Earp in a supporting cast peppered with such cameos.
According to BMI and the sheet music, the theme music was written by Havens Wray (although incorrectly spelled by BMI as Ravens Wray). However it was likely written by
David Rose, an ASCAP member who couldn't use his own name for a BMI composition. The words were by BMI writer Bart Corwin. The theme song was sung by
Bill Lee, a member of the
Mellomen.
Episodes
The series consisted of three seasons and 108 episodes:
Season 1 (37 episodes)
Season 2 (37 episodes)
Season 3 (34 episodes)
Spin-offs and remakes
''Guns of Paradise'' (1990)
Barry recreated the role of Bat Masterson in an episode of the television series ''
Guns of Paradise
''Paradise'' (later renamed ''Guns of Paradise'') is an American Western family television series, broadcast by CBS from October 27, 1988 to May 10, 1991. Created by David Jacobs and Robert Porter, the series presents the adventures of fictit ...
'' (1990), alongside
Hugh O'Brian
Hugh O'Brian (born Hugh Charles Krampe; April 19, 1925 – September 5, 2016) was an American actor and humanitarian, best known for his starring roles in the ABC Western television series ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' (1955–1 ...
as
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) was an American lawman and gambler in the American West, including Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone. Earp took part in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during which l ...
.
''The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw'' (1991)
In ''
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw'' (1991) Barry played Masterson, also with O'Brian as
Earp, as well as
Jack Kelly as
Bart Maverick and
Clint Walker
Norman Eugene "Clint" Walker (May 30, 1927 – May 21, 2018) was an American actor. He played cowboy Cheyenne Bodie in the ABC/ Warner Bros. western series ''Cheyenne'' from 1955 to 1963.
Early life
Clint Walker was born Norman Eugene W ...
as
Cheyenne Bodie.
Home media
TGG Direct released the first and second seasons on DVD in Region 1 on January 29, 2013. The third and final season was released on November 5, 2013. Due to licensing issues, the episode ''Terror on the Trinity'' is not included.
In other media
Comic book
Dell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1974. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium.Evanier, Mark" ...
issued nine issues of a quarterly ''Bat Masterson'' comic book between Aug./Oct. 1959 and Nov. 1961/Jan. 1962 with the initial issue a
Four Color
''Four Color'', also known as ''Four Color Comics'' and ''Dell Four Color'', was an American comic book anthology series published by Dell Comics between 1939 and 1962. The title is a reference to the four basic colors used when printing comic ...
tryout (#1013).
Comic Strip
Columbia Features
Columbia Features was a syndication service that operated from 1953 to 1994. Originally located in New York City, The syndicate specialized in comic strips based on licensed characters such as Smokey the Bear, Bat Masterson, and Nero Wolfe.
Not ...
syndicated a comic strip from September 7, 1959 to April 1960 written by
Ed Herron and drawn by
Howard Nostrand
Howard Nostrand (May 13, 1929Nostrand, Howard. "Nostrand by Nostrand", ''Graphic Story Magazine'' #16 (Summer 1974), p. 18–August 1, 1984)[Bob Powell
Bob Powell (né Stanley Robert Pawlowski; While gives Stanislav Pavlowsky, and gives Stanislav Pavlowsky, Bails and Ware note: "family name corrected by his son, Seth R. Powell July 2006." October 2, 1916] (Dec. 1959–April 1960). Nostrand was assisted (on backgrounds) by
Neal Adams
Neal Adams (June 15, 1941 – April 28, 2022) was an American comic book artist. He was the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates, and was a creators-rights advocate who helped secure a pension and recognition for Sup ...
who had just graduated from the
School of Industrial Arts
The High School of Art and Design is a career and technical education high school in Manhattan, New York City, New York State, United States. Founded in 1936 as the School of Industrial Art, the school moved to 1075 Second Avenue in 1960 and more ...
; it was among his first professional art jobs.
Neal Adams: Renaissance Man Part I
References
External links
* {{IMDb title, id=0052445, title=Bat Masterson
NBC original programming
1958 American television series debuts
1961 American television series endings
Cultural depictions of Bat Masterson
1950s Western (genre) television series
Television series based on actual events
Television series based on books
Television series by MGM Television
Black-and-white American television shows
Television shows adapted into comics
Western (genre) television series featuring gimmick weapons
1960s Western (genre) television series