Have Gun-Will Travel

Recently I picked the entire First and Second Seasons on DVD of the classic TV Western Have Gun-Will Travel.

The series starred Richard Boone as the dandy turned investigator/gunslinger that lived in plush hotel in San Francisco. 

He spouted poetry and classic literature and hunted down murderers, etc.

For a price Paladin (as he was known) would contract with individuals to bring criminals to justice or right a wrong.

His calling card was a knight chess piece accompanied by the words Have Gun-Will Travel.

The series could both dramatic and funny.

Occasionally he would fight against his employer if he or she were in the wrong.

During the entire series Paladin’s real name was never revealed.

Running from 1957 to 1962 the series was extremely popular. 

When it ran on TV the series always ranked in the top 10 and in the top three of Westerns (Gunsmoke and Rawhide were the other two).

What made the series so good is that actor Richard Boone had his hand in the production and demanded top rate shows.

It showed. The scripts were thought-provoking, tackled delicate subjects (a daring move considering the time period the show was shown) and it featured a number of appearances by up and coming superstars such as Charles Bronson and many others.

Boone employed an impressive returning cast of actors who could play a wide range of roles.

As was typical at the time many character actors appeared that also guest-starred on other TV series-especially Westerns.

Filmed in black and white the show took advantage of the format to give it a real Old West feel.  

It is by far my favorite Western TV series and each week day beginning at 8AM I watch two episodes back-to-back.

The collected First and Second Seasons episodes from CBS/Paramount also include character profiles and some interesting episode information.

The series still holds up today almost 60 years after it left the air.