Stories

Iconic cowboy actor John Wayne is fondly remembered for speaking some of the all-time favorite movie lines and for calling folks “Pilgrims.” But how often did he actually say the word?

Festus Haggen may have arrived in Dodge City as a replacement character for the departing Chester Goode, but he left fans with plenty of fond memories as Marshall Dillon’s deputy sheriff.

By John McGran Key Takeaways The question remains more than 60 years later Goode limped into retirement with a throwaway line There would never be an official explanation Americans love conspiracy theories and plot twists.…

By John McGran   The California Gold Rush of 1849 reshaped a nation, sparked amazing innovation and triggered frenzy like none seen before or since. Fueled by gold fever, thousands upon thousands of Americans—and waves…

By Sophia Ulmer Of all the holidays, Christmas evokes the most sensory memories: bells, carols, and lively chatter of fire-warmed gatherings; the rich smells of the kitchen and distinctly festive flavors on the palate; the…

Gunsmoke remains the longest-running Western series in television history, running for 20 seasons between Sep. 10, 1955, and March 31, 1975. There were 635 episodes, with 402 lasting an hour and the other 233 only 30…

By Henry C. Parke In Westerns, big-screen or small, auctions can only mean one thing: some poor sodbuster—or else Claudia Cardinale—is being forced by the land baron, banker, or whoever Lee Marvin is working for,…

By John McGran Key Takeaways Gunsmoke leans heavily on its unforgettable and relatable characters The Big Valley remains a big hit 55 years and 112 episodes after its last airing Laramie is a roller-coaster ride of adventure from…

John Wayne and Clint Eastwood held differing opinions of the values, traditions and heroes of the Old West. A major rift arose when Eastwood expressed his opinions on the big screen.

By Henry C. Parke On Nov. 15, Julien’s Auctions will conduct the Gunsmoke & Western Legends Auction, in which 568 lots, over 230 of them from the estate of Gunsmoke star James Arness, will each…

By John McGran Key Takeaways A trusty steed was a cowboy’s most important accessory A breakdown of Bonanza’s four-legged co-stars When Bonanza was cancelled, Lorne Greene bought Buck A horse is a horse, of course,…

Rivalries that pit one brother against another—or one suitor against another—attract unrivaled attention from fans of the Old West. Whose side are you on?

While cowboys and Native Americans are traditionally enemies rather than friends in Western films and TV, here are some excellent exceptions.

By Amber Holzman For this festive fall comfort dish, the bigger the pork chop the better. While apples and pork take center stage, a supporting cast of pantry ingredients add surprising depth to this classic…

It’s time to discover the joys of Western-inspired gift-giving with these six new nifty holiday designs from INSP. Mosey through this selection of frontier-inspired designs and find the perfect present for all the ranch-handing, Western-watching,…

By Henry C. Parke How would you like the original Gunsmoke U.S. Marshal Office sign on your wall? How’d you like to own the jail-cell keys? Or a complete James Arness, Matt Dillon costume? Or…

By Darlene Cah Key Takeaways Green lipstick? Yes! Early TV cameras did not record red on faces Max Factor developed early film and TV makeup Men’s beards, even a light shadow, looked like splotchy dirt…

By John McGran  Key Takeaways It was the second Western TV series written for adults Gunsmoke was a top 10 most-watched program for 13 seasons Storylines often went beyond the simple good vs. evil narratives…

By Sophia Ulmer Key Takeaways Ballots were counted by local officials and volunteers Native Americans were not considered U.S. citizens until 1924 By 1848, Texas, Wisconsin and Iowa were added to the electoral map Asked…

Key Takeaways The Great Depression and his mother’s hymns became the foundation for his unique sound. Cash’s time as a radio operator for the U.S. Air Force enforced his passion for music. Cash was also…

By Maria Schulz What do you get when you mix a Jack Russell Terrier with a Bulldog? A Jack Bull of course. If it was only that simple. The Jack Bull is the title of…

By Jay Coffin The quick answer is no, Quigley Down Under is not based on a true story. It is, however, based on the premise of an article that appeared in the Los Angeles Times.…

By John McGran An unsung hero of the Old West is transporting much-needed supplies to North Carolina residents trapped in mountainous terrain following the apocalyptic devastation of Hurricane Helene. Emergency workers and Good Samaritan groups…

Discover the best Tom Selleck Western movies ranked, from classic adventures to fan favorites. Explore his iconic roles in unforgettable cowboy tales.

Kris Kristofferson, Legendary Country Music and Film Star, Dies at 88 By Jay Coffin Kris Kristofferson, an American icon whose life spanned music, film, and political activism, died Sept. 28, 2024, at his home, his…

In its 20-year run, Gunsmoke featured over 60 famous guest stars—Bruce Dern, Bette Davis, Suzanne Pleshette, Bruce Boxleitner, Ron Howard, William Shatner…

Spoiler Alert! This article gives away the end of this classic movie. If you haven’t seen The Searchers, watch before you read this!  By Henry C. Parke    There is rarely an argument over whether The…