The Californians (TV series)
| The Californians | |
|---|---|
 Adam Kennedy as Dion Patrick with Maria Tsien. | |
| Starring |
Richard Coogan Art Fleming Herbert Rudley Sean McClory Adam Kennedy Carole Mathews Nan Leslie |
| Theme music composer |
Harry Warren Harold Adamson |
| Opening theme | "I've Come to California" |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 69 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Picture format | Black and white |
| Original release | September 24, 1957 – May 26, 1959 |
The Californians is a half-hour Western television series, set during the San Francisco gold rush of the 1850s, which was broadcast by NBC from September 24, 1957, to May 26, 1959 for 69 episodes. Adam Kennedy appeared the first year in early episodes as Dion Patrick, an Irish newspaperman who helps the local vigilante committee. Season one episodes also featured Sean McClory as store owner Jack McGivern, who headed the vigilante committee and Nan Leslie as his wife, Martha McGivern. Early season one episodes featured Herbert Rudley as newspaper editor Sam Brennan but Jack McGivern later took over the newspaper.
Cast
Richard Coogan appeared in later season one episodes and in season two as Matthew Wayne, a sheriff and then marshal who organizes the city police, courts a young widow, Wilma Fansler, portrayed by Carole Mathews, and clashes with an ambitious attorney, Jeremy Pitt, played by Art Fleming, later the original host of Jeopardy! At the end of season two, Matt departs when the vigilante committee becomes active again, and the last episode has James Coburn as Matt's cousin, Anthony (Pittsburgh) Wayne taking over as deputy marshal and series lead, however the show was not renewed for a third season.
Guest actors
- Charles Aidman
- Frank Albertson
- Chris Alcaide
- John Anderson
- John Archer
- R.G. Armstrong
- Whit Bissell
- Robert Blake
- Willis Bouchey
- Edgar Buchanan
- James T. Callahan
- James Coburn
- Mike Connors
- Hans Conried
- Russ Conway
- Robert O. Cornthwaite
- Ted de Corsia
- Robert L. Crawford, Jr.
- Frank Dekova
- Troy Donahue
- John Doucette
- Douglass Dumbrille
- Douglas Fowley
- Robert Fuller
- Bruce Gordon
- Don Haggerty
- James Hong
- Russell Johnson
- Allyn Joslyn
- Robert Karnes
- Stacy Keach, Sr.
- Tommy Kirk
- Gail Kobe
- Michi Kobi
- Keye Luke
- Patricia Medina
- Don Megowan
- Gerald Mohr
- J. Pat O'Malley
- Stafford Repp
- Addison Richards
- Carlos Romero
- Vito Scotti
- James Seay
- Arthur Space
- Bob Steele
- John Sutton
- Ray Teal
- Joan Tompkins
- Sammee Tong
- Audrey Totter
- Lurene Tuttle
- James Westerfield
- Peter Whitney
- Jean Willes
- Marie Windsor
Production notes
The Californians theme song was composed by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Harold Adamson, entitled "I've Come to California". Ken Darby, of the Ken Darby Singers, did some of the musical composition for the series.
The Californians had competition from The West Point Story which was broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company and The $64,000 Question by CBS. In its second season, the western competed with The Garry Moore Show of CBS and the crime/police reality show Confession, hosted by Jack Wyatt, of ABC.[1]
References
- ↑ 1957–1958 and 1958–1959 American network television schedules