I remember the Rawhide Kid was my favourite of the Marvel western series when I was small but whenever I look at the cover galleries now after all these years I can never recognise any specific issues that I read back then. I think it would come back to me if I saw the interiors, though.

Though there are few current or classic western comics to read it is a great time for watching the classic western television series and movies. With the advent of so many HD free TV stations they are highlighting some of the best (and worst) of those thrilling days of yesteryear! I can now see shows which I vaguely remember or missed out on. Such greats as The Virginian, Gunsmoke, Big Valley, Wagon Train, Maverick, The Rifleman, Cheyenne, High Chapparal, Rawhide, Have Gun Will Travel, the Lone Ranger, Wild Wild West, Laramie, Death Valley Days and others. So much six gun thrills and bar room brawls to entertain a day with.

Grit TV, Charge TV, Movies/TV Network all run a strong showing of classic western movies as well so there is no end of saddle stories to view. It is a spectacular time for the renewed interest and viewing of all these western shows that today's youth have missed out on and us grizzled old timers can relive our own youth. Nothing like getting off work,fixing up some dinner and kicking back watching a western movie on Grit TV to relax the brain cells from a hectic work day and riding the dusty trail of memories when growing up all these wonderful shows were either on prime-time or weekend syndication. Saddle up the stove ma I'm riding the range tonight and again and again and again.......

That has been the fun part for me berkley in being able to watch some shows I missed out on plus seeing the various types of westerns. I had never seen Rawhide until Metv began showing it and then H&I so it's interesting watching a very young Eastwood in an ensemble piece slowly learning his way into Stardom & then watching him "burn out"  so to say towards the end doing a weekly in seasons 7 and 8 just before his movie star will shine bright. Wanted Dead or Alive with McQueen is another that I had never seen and it was this show on television that began his stardom and gave him a weekly place to spotlight his charm and charisma to the masses. I did see some of Have Gun Will Travel in my youth as it was a weekend late night western occasionally shown and Richard Boone has always been a favorite of mine with his non Hollywood chiseled and wrinkled dark look matched well with his gravely voice so HGWT is one after watching a few episodes again I had to track down the DVD's to watch whenever I want. Boone's Knight in a savage time using smarts and gun skills is one of the great shows that steps outside of just being called a "western" series. Cheyenne with Clint Walker is another I had remembered seeing episodes here or there over the years but never really seeing the entire thing. Maverick is glorious wit and charm from Garner that deserves to be seen by as many folks as possible. 

With you on these!

I'm interested in anything Al Williamson drew, even though I'm not really a fan of westerns in comics or in general.

I forgot about the Nichols show, with James Garner. I remember enjoying that as a kid. Garner was always likeable in everything he did. Branded I never heard of but I see that it starred Chuck Connors, another actor I always liked. Which reminds me, I've never seen The Rifleman either.

Let’s consider this a soft “Reboot” if you will of this West was Fun thread as I now turn the focus upon my enduring love of almost all things considered as western/cowboy/Indians/history. I shall endeavor to write of all things western whether it be in movies, comic books, novels, music or in the historical aspects. That I was born and raised in Arizona with the exposure for western themes might explain my affinity, or maybe it is that I am like every child who played Cowboys and Indians in that it’s never left my blood (or that I simply never grew up?) while it remains in my thoughts to this day.



Growing up with western television shows and movies from the crib and probably reading Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour when the other kids were reading Dr. Seuss, might be the actual beginning for my love of westerns. I remember every Saturday on the local Phoenix television affiliate was back to back old western movies from Noon until 6pm followed by Hee Haw. Seeing western tv shows growing up (in prime time and syndication) every day burned into my mind and heart all those western stars (too many to name) of yore. Such cowboy joys can never be forgotten once seen. And this is where I shall attempt to entertain and enlighten, in honored memories of those riders of the purple sage who have long since ridden into the sunset. Saddle up alongside me on the dusty trail ride ahead for fond remembrances and recollections of all the west has to offer.

First memories of the "west" for me are multiples around the same time which I can remember. Likely that they aren't exactly during the same "moments of remembrance" but it feels that way within my minds eye of memories. In no particular order is camping in the mountains up along the Mogollon Rim (about a 3 hour drive from Phoenix) with my family and dad's grandparents, staying with my dad's grandparents out on the "farm" (they had chickens, a couple of horses, a garden with corn, watermelon, radishes, potatoes, etc)  in the desert mountains called the White Tanks and my mother's grandfather who had rows and rows of big brown paper grocery bags filled with western novels from the 30's, 40's and 50's in the back bedroom that I would dig through and look at the covers until I learned to read and enjoy them even more. I went to school with Indian children who lived on Reservation property about 20 miles south west of my neighborhood (so, yes, I grew up in the boonies!). All of these are my earliest recollections and then comes the flood of television memories watching western movies and television shows on the local independent station KPHO channel 5. Mix all of this together with growing up 2 blocks from the empty and dry Salt River bed where we could ride our bikes and chase lizards, hunting rabbits and dove's all day long in the summer and any night after school and you may have an idea of why and how the "WEST" is ingrained into my very nature. 

along with the above you can combine my later youth from around age 10 on where summers were spent with my father's grandparents up in Payson in the mountains where they retired. Grandpa taught us the skills and respects he had grown with for nature from growing up on a farm. He showed us how to fish the mountain rivers and gut, clean and cook what we caught (nothing quite like fresh pan fried trout along the bank of the river) along with hunting and handling and shooting dove and rabbits and rattle snakes. During this same time a Deacon of our Baptist church lived in the same neighborhood a bit south from my house (a 15 minute bike ride) where he owned 2 acres with 4 horses which he trained and rode in professional Rodeo's. He did Barrel Racing and Calf Roping contests and made some good money. He started teaching me the basics of horses by cleaning and scrubbing the horse stalls and once I proved my sincerity and respect of the horses, he then allowed me to assist him and his daughter with "training" his horses. Every afternoon during school months us 2 kids would walk the horses through the barrel run he had set up on his property. Walking the horses daily instilled the pattern/routine they were expected to work or perform in so they would react naturally when commanded. On the weekend, Saturdays were spent riding the horses in walking and slow canter through the routine. Lyle the owner, after lunch would put the horses through full gallop and runs cutting in and around the barrels and roping wooden saw horses. Sunday after church he would load up the horses and all 3 of us would ride the horses out into the dry Salt River bed for several hours. 

All of these experiences are atypical and not something many city kids would have opportunity to grow up with and enjoy. I fully thank God for the wonderful moments and enriching my youth with and know that I shared many moments with family and friends which remain a vital part of me even today. I grew up being taught and learning of nature and wild life from men and women who truly were "pioneers" of a sort that instilled in me the love of nature and the west. This was my beginnings of finding the west to be more than just the Cowboys and Indians stuff you see in pictures and books and it being a way of life to be experienced.