Bronco ran from 9/23/58 to 8/20/62 on the ABC TV network
and was produced by Warner Bros. Studios.

The cast included
Ty Hardin as the title character, Bronco Layne

Show Reference / Episode List (68 episodes)

Returning to Memphis this year will be one of the Memphis Film Festival's most popular guests - Ty Hardin!

Ty starred as the rugged Bronco Layne on that popular TV series
and made appearances on many of the other popular Warner Bros. western series.
In fact, he was the featured star of the Cheyenne show during the time when
Clint Walker was involved in a strike.  When Walker returned to the show,
the Bronco character had become so popular, he got his own show.

He was also featured in such films as
PT 109, The Chapman Report, and Merrill's Marauders.

Biography / Film Credits

Website

Colt .45 ran from 10/18/57 to 6/21/60 on the ABC TV network
and was produced by Warner Bros. Studios.

The cast included
Wayde Preston as Christopher Colt
Donald May as Sam Colt, Jr

Show Reference / Episode List (67 episodes)

Donald May appeared in various films and TV shows more than forty times
between 1956 and 1993, including Hawaiian Eye, Sugarfoot, Cheyenne,
77 Sunset Strip, Surfside 6, Follow Me, Boys!, Bus Stop,
The Dukes of Hazzard, and a starring role on The Roaring 20s.

But Don will best be remembered for his work on the Colt .45 western series.
 He became the leading star on the classic series in the second year
when Wayde Preston left the series over a contract dispute.  Don stepped in
playing Sam Colt, Jr., cousin to Preston's character, Christopher Colt.
Preston later returned to the series during the final episodes.

This will be Don May's first appearance at a film festival since 1993!
And where was that final appearance made 16 years ago?
Well at the Memphis Film Festival, of course!!

Film Credits

The High Chaparral ran from 9/10/67 to 3/12/71 on the NBC TV network
and was produced by NBC and Xanadu Productions.

The cast included
Leif Erickson as Big John Cannon
Cameron Mitchell as Buck Cannon
Linda Cristal as Victoria Montoya Cannon
Henry Darrow as Manolito Montoya
Mark Slade as Billy Blue Cannon
Frank Silvera as Don Sebastian Montoya
Don Collier as Sam Butler
Robert Hoy as Joe Butler

Show Website / Episode List (98 episodes)

Making his first appearance at the Memphis Film Festival
will be the popular actor, Henry Darrow!

Henry's familiar face has been seen in dozens of TV shows and films
includiing appearances on Bonanza (which lead to his role os "Manolito"),
Gunsmoke and The Wild Wild West.
He even appeared in the 1994 feature film version of Maverick!

Henry may have the distinction of being the actor with the most
connections to the famous character, Zorro.  He was a regular on two
TV series based on the hero as well as provided the voice
of the swordsman in the Filmation animated series.

Biography / Film Credits

Website

Show Website / Episode List (124 episodes)

Click the Play Button below to hear the Laramie theme --

Robert Fuller has had the good fortune of having "lighthing strike three times"
in terms of TV show success.  Besides his successful run on Laramie,
TV audiences also recognize him from his memorable roles
on Wagon Train (as Cooper Smith) and on Jack Webb's exciting series,
Emergency (as Dr. Kelly Brackett).

But his experience is not limited to only TV shows - he appeared
on the big screen in Incident at Phantom Hill (with fellow MFF guest Don Collier),
The Brain from the Planet Arous and The Return of the Seven,
the initial sequel to the classic The Magnificent Seven.

Biography / Film Credits

Website

Show Website / Episode List (56 episodes)

Click the Play Button below to hear the Laredo theme --

Show Website / Episode List (156 episodes)

Click the Play Button below to hear the Lawman theme --

When you speak of TV westerns, Peter Brown has definitely made
a lasting legacy in that genre.

Besides those impressive western credits, Peter made appearances in many
of the other classic series including The Virginian, Wagon Train, Cheyenne,
Maverick, Sugarfoot and Colt 45.

Between his starring roles on two popular western series
and his many guest shots on other classic programs,
Peter has made close to 250 appearances on TV westerns!

Biography / Film Credits

Website

My Friend Flicka ran originally from 9/30/55 to 6/22/56 on both the CBS
and the NBC TV networks.  Those broadcasts were followed
by repeat episodes on ABC and then again on CBS.
It was produced by the 20th Century Fox Studios.

The cast included
Gene Evans as Rob MacLaughlin
Johnny Washbrook as Ken MacLaughlin
Anita Louise as Neil MacLaughlin
(and Flicka was played by a 900-lb Arabian sorrell named Wahama!)

Show Reference / Episode List (39 episodes)

Film Credits

Outlaws ran from 9/29/1960 to 5/10/62 on the NBC TV network.
It was also produced by the NBC Television Network.

The cast included
Barton MacLane as U.S. Marshal Frank Caine
Don Collier as Deputy Will Foreman
Jock Gaynor as Deputy Heck Martin
(and also costarred that same loveable dog from Disney's Ol' Yeller!)

Show Reference / Episode List (50 episodes)

Film Credits / Biography

Website

The Rifleman ran from 9/30/58 to 4/8/63 on the ABC TV network
and was produced by Four Star Productions.

The cast included
Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain
Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain
Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance

Show Reference / Episode List (168 episodes)

Show Website

Click the Play Button below to hear the Rifleman theme --

We are excited to have Jeff Connors, Chuck Connors's son, join us to honor his dad's
legacy in TV westerns as Lucas McCain, The Rifleman.

Jeff will be bringing with him to the show a real treat for all the Rifleman fans - his father's rifle!
He will also be bringing other memorabilia from that popular show as well.

Film Credits

Rough Riders ran from 10/2/58 to 9/24/59 on the ABC TV network
and was produced by ZIV Television Productions.

The cast included
Kent Taylor as Captain Jim Flagg
Jan Merlin as Lieutenant Colin Kirby
Peter Whitney as Sergeant Buck Sinclair

Show Reference / Episode List (39 episodes)

Jan Merlin has a long list of film credits that goes far beyond TV westerns.
His body of work goes back to the golden days of radio and live television productions
(including his regular role as Roger Manning on the
Tom Corbett, Space Cadet series (as seen above) .

Jan estimates he has appeared in about 1500 TV programs, 50 radio shows
and more than 30 feature films.  When describing his many villainous roles,
Jan has said "I must have died on screen more often than any other actor!"

Come welcome Jan as he shares his many experiences
in the world of film and TV.

Biography / Film Credits

Sugarfoot ran from 9/17/57 to 4/17/61 on the ABC TV network
and was produced by Warner Bros. Studios.

The cast included
Will Hutchins as the title character, Tom "Sugarfoot" Brewster

Show Reference / Episode List (68 episodes)

Will Hutchins will always be fondly remembered as the likeable Sugarfoot character
that he portrayed on that classic series and on other Warner Bros westerns.

But Will has a wide spectrum of other roles that he can proudly
claim - such as playing Dagwood Bumstead in a TV version of Blondie,
appearing in 2 films with Elvis Presley and performing
as a circus clown.

This will be Will's first appearance at the Memphis show
in over 20 years.

Biography / Film Credits

Website

The Virginian ran from 9/19/62 to 3/24/71 on the NBC TV network
and was produced by Revue Studios and by Universal Studios.

The cast included
James Drury as the title role of The Virginian
Doug McClure as Trampas
Lee J. Cobb as Judge Henry Garth

Show Reference / Episode List (249 episodes)

Biography / Film Credits

Website

Wagon Train ran from 9/18/57 to 9/5/65
on both the NBC and the ABC TV networks
and was produced by Revue Studios and by Universal Studios.

The cast included
Ward Bond as Seth Adams
John McIntire as Chris Hale
Robert Horton as Flint McCullough
Robert Fuller as Cooper Smith
Denny Miller as Duke Shannon

Show Reference / Episode List (284 episodes)

Robert Horton, like his Wagon Train alumni Robert Fuller, has also
had the good fortune of starring in more than one TV western series.
Besides his regular appearance on Wagon Train, Robert was seen
every week playing the title role in A Man Called Shenandoah.

His face could also be seen in dozens of TV shows and films including the
sci-fi favorite, The Green Slime.  He may also have the distiction of being
the actor with the most appearances on the classic TV anthology series,
Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Biography / Film Credits

Website

Tarzan himself will be swinging into the Memphis show next year!

Besides being a member of that select group of actors who have portrayed
The Ape Man, Denny built up an impressive list of credits that included
very memorable performances in such TV classics as The Fugitive,
Gilligan's Island and almost every western series around!

Biography / Film Credits

Website

The leading men of television westerns couldn't be heroic
without a villain to play off of.

One of the "Best of the Badmen" was Richard Devon.
His deadly, thin-lipped evil smile was a staple on such series
as The Rifleman, Sugarfoot, Laramie, Laredo,
The Rough Riders, Wagon Train,The Virginian,
and High Chaparral.  He also was a semi-regular on
Yancy Derringer playing Jody Barker.

Seeing him teamed up again with so many
of his former screen adversaries will be a big thrill.

Biography / Film Credits

What would a festival be without at least one leading lady?

Miss Helm added feminine beauty to many a television western,
including appearances with guest stars Don Collier, Ty Hardin, Robert Fuller,
Denny Miller, Robert Horton, and James Drury.

She also has a connection to Memphis
in that she co-starred with Elvis Presley in one of the King's best films,
"Follow That Dream."

This year's entertainment will be none other than Les Gilliam - the "Oklahoma Balladeer,"
so designated by the Oklahoma State Legislature in 1998.

Les is known for his wonderful concerts of cowboy, Western swing, country and gospel music,
along with fascinating stories about the songs and the artists who performed them.
He always includes original songs and humorous material,
adding a touch of nostalgia and good ol' fashion patriotism.

Biography

Website

Click the Play Button below to hear a sample of Les's music--
"Dusty Skies"
(used by permission of Les Gilliam)

(This selection is from his "It's Time to Sing a Song" CD
for which Les Gilliam won the Wrangler Award
from the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2005
as the #1 Country Album of the Year.)

CDs of Les's music are available to order
from his website.