Fri 6 Dec 2019
A TV Western Review: TOMBSTONE TERRITORY “Gunslinger from Galeville” (1957).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV Westerns[8] Comments
TOMBSTONE TERRITORY “Gunslinger from Galeville.” ABC, 16 Oct 1957. 30 min. Cast: Pat Conway (Sheriff Clay Hollister), Richard Eastham (Harris Claibourne of the Tombstone Epitaph / Narrator), Thomas B. Henry, Gilman Rankin. Guest Cast: Robert Foulk, Brett King, Carol Kelly. Writer: Andy White. Director: Eddie Davis.
The first two seasons of Tombstone Territory aired on ABC; the third and final season were shown in syndication only (ZIV). Each episode was supposedly based on a true story published in the Tombstone Epitaph in the 1880s. Only Richard Eastham, the publisher, and Pat Conway as Sheriff Clay Hollister were in all 91 episodes. No one else appeared more than a handful of times.
Even though the story itself is a rather fanciful one, the first episode, “Gunslinger from Galeville,” is a good one. Determined to collect taxes from everyone in the county, Hollister co-opts the services of outlaw Curly Bill Brocius (Robert Foulk) to help persuade certain recalcitrants to pay up.
It’s not easy, of course. The members of Curly Bill’s gang don’t know what’s come over their boss. One in particular holds a personal grudge against the sheriff, and lots of gunplay is the result. Curly Bill Brocius returned for a couple more episodes, but this was the only time that Carol Kelly appeared, as the owner of a small store in outlaw territory.
Pat Conway had a decent career in TV, mostly in westerns, but this series was his only steady job. He’s both tough and steady in this one, and he displays a small sense of humor along with the other two attributes — that plus being a fine hand with a gun. Richard Eastham was solid enough as the editor/publisher/narrator, but mostly he acts a well-established witness who is otherwise only along for the ride.
December 6th, 2019 at 5:42 pm
I still know the words to the theme song.
December 6th, 2019 at 10:06 pm
You’re way ahead of me there, Jim. I found this on Amazon Prime yesterday and watched it for the first time in over 60 years. I didn’t watch it all that often back then, though. To many other cowboy shows on back then, and my parents always made sure my homework was finished before I could watch TV.
December 7th, 2019 at 5:07 pm
Ironically the Sheriff of Tombstone in this era in most iterations of the Wyatt Earp story is portrayed as a corrupt tool of the Clanton’s, and Curly Bill a near psychotic killer.
December 7th, 2019 at 9:11 pm
No, there is absolutely no connection between the real Curly Bill and the one who shows up as the starring guest appearance in this TV version. The names are the same, but that’s all. Robert Foulk is a lot of fun to watch, though.
December 7th, 2019 at 7:04 pm
From what I can see this person at YouTube has all the episodes of the series. This channel has a great selection for those who enjoy the b&w TV classics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAkhtHJvKT4
When you go there click on the name in the left corner under the picture.
December 7th, 2019 at 7:06 pm
Correction – click on name
thegoldenagetvandmoviechannel
December 8th, 2019 at 7:50 pm
I recall the series, though it was one I never watched despite the catchy title song. It was one of several Western series that used a newspaperman or newspaper as the set up for the story, including MAN WITHOUT A GUN which had a journalist hero.
After the success of the WYATT EARP series the use of a quasi historical basis for the series became a common trope used in this, STORY OF THE CENTURY, and BAT MASTERSON among others.
December 9th, 2019 at 11:11 am
For whatever it may be worth, Pat Conway had Hollywood ‘royalty’ as part of his pedigree. Jack Conway, a fine film maker was his father, and Francis X. Bushman his grandfather. Pat was a terrific actor, an attractive individual, who was unable to successfully deal with his demons, which is not unheard of.