Synopsis
Many episodes were based on novels by Zane Grey, to all of which Four Star Films held exclusive rights. Dick Powell was the host and the star of some episodes. Many of the guest stars made their TV debuts on the program. Powell said that working with Grey's stories proved to be both a benefit and a challenge. While he spoke of "the vast output of wonderful action stories from Zane Grey's pen", he acknowledged the challenge of "trying to compress a novel into half an hour of storytelling on television." Some stories could be adapted relatively easily, while others had to be skipped or only parts of them could be used for scripts. Over time, script writers used up the supply of adaptable material from Grey and began to adapt other authors' stories.Episodes
Production
Development
''The Zane Grey Radio Show'' had run for one season beginning in 1947 and had little in common with the stories of Zane Grey. The television series, however, began as an attempt to dramatize adaptions of Zane Grey's short stories and novels. Four Star Films acquired the rights to at least 40 Zane Grey works before filming began. However, it soon became evident that Grey's stories were too complex to fit into a 30 minute episode, and so with few exceptions, the scripts were all original. Four Star Films was the producing company, with Powell as executive producer. Producers included Helen Ainsworth, Hal Hudson, and Aaron Spelling. Directors included Felix Feist, William D. Faralla, James Sheldon, and Budd Boetticher. Writers included Marion Hargrove. Sponsors includedPreview
A preview of the show in the trade publication '' Billboard'' indicated that it would appeal to women viewers as well as to men. It noted that among the stories adapted from Grey's work "There will usually be strong love interests."Release
Broadcast
Note:All times Eastern ''Zane Grey Theatre'' first aired on Fridays when it replaced ''Home media
Reception
In early February 1957, ''Billboard'' evaluated ''Zane Grey Theatre'' as "one of the strong contenders for the title of most important new show, according to many of its ratings." TV Guide called the show "an educated 20th century view of the Old West". After five seasons, CBS ran a sixth season composed of reruns of the best episodes.Spin-offs
Five television Westerns began as episodes of ''Zane Grey Theatre: Trackdown,'' starring Robert Culp ("Badge of Honor"), '' The Rifleman'', starring Chuck Connors ("Sharpshooter"), '' Johnny Ringo'', starring Don Durrant ("The Loner"), '' The Westerner'', starring Brian Keith ("Trouble at Tres Cruces"), and '' Black Saddle'', starring Chris Alcaide ("A Threat of Violence"). Alcaide was replaced by Peter Breck in the principal role when ''Black Saddle'' was sold as a series. The "lineage" of ''Zane Grey Theatre'' also includes the NBC series, ''Law of the Plainsman'', which originated from a February 17, 1959 episode of ''The Rifleman'' starring Michael Ansara as Marshal Sam Buckhart (''The Indian'').References
{{Authority control 1956 American television series debuts 1962 American television series endings 1950s American anthology television series 1960s American anthology television series 1950s Western (genre) television series 1960s Western (genre) television series Adaptations of works by Zane Grey American English-language television shows CBS television dramas Television series by Four Star Television Television shows based on American novels