Return with us now.....

The TV western. They are no longer on network channels due to the complaints of those who failed to understand their meaning or purpose of defining morality for a handful of generations. However, some can still be found on cable channels where they continue to flourish, so those of us who remember can return for a while and ride the range with Hoppy, Gene, Tex, Roy, Paladin, Matt Dillon, the Cartwrights, Cheyenne, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Sugarfoot, Bronco, the Range Rider and, of course, the Lone Ranger plus a host of others that are entirely too many to list at this time.

They played at various times. During the afternoon hours after school, on weekends and even in prime time. Many a student's homework suffered because they just had to see what the Cisco Kid and Pancho were up to that particular afternoon.

Of course, there were also the commercials, predominately Kellog's cereals.
Remember these?




But it went even further than that, remember those marvelous cap guns that were available mainly at Christmas time. Here is an old page from a Western Auto catalog.





You'll note that the Paladin model had a derringer and a set of calling cards as part of the entire package.

Such things today are no longer available unless you happen upon one for sale on e-bay or one of the other auction sites.

Then there were other venues that depicted the television western, most notably Dell Comics which depicted episodes in graphic form. Below are a few samples of the genre.



For close to two decades the television western reigned before they were foolishly removed by those who decried the "violence" depicted in them as being unsuitable for young viewers. A sign of things that were to come from those who'd been placed in authority and decided they knew better.

Yet, they could not remove them from the consciousness of those who viewed them and learned that actions have consequences and that those who chose to play by the rules will achieve far more than those who do not. Perhaps it was all too sharply delineated in black & white instead of the multiple shades of gray prevalent today and that's the reason they no longer ride the range as they once did on network television.

And so, pardners, it's time to saddle up ol' Paint and ride into the sunset. Until the next time, Happy Trails.