"The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955) TV series 1955-1961

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

6 September 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Marshal Earp keeps the law, first in Kansas and later in Arizona, using his over-sized pistols and a variety of sidekicks...

Plot Keywords:

Marshal | Kansas | Wyatt Earp | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Hugh O'Brian

...

Wyatt Earp (170 episodes, 1955-1961)

Also Known As:

Wyatt Earp

Runtime:

30 min (266 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Desilu Productions

Trivia:

From 1956 until 1959 the show was set in Dodge City, which was also the setting for "Gunsmoke" (1955). Marshall Matt Dillon is never mentioned, but in one episode Earp makes a passing reference to the Longbranch Saloon, a setting for much of the action on "Gunsmoke".

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Movie Orgy (1968)

Soundtrack:

The Legend Of Wyatt Earp

An Old-Fashioned Western

When TV Land recently began showing reruns of "Wyatt Earp," I had forgotten that, apparently in the early episodes, the only music heard was an a cappella male quartet. Not only did they sing the theme song, but periodically during those episodes, to augment certain special "drama," they would chime in, humming either low in the background for sentimentality, or swelling to full volume when the emotions were supposed to be at peak. The only lyrics heard were those of the theme song; otherwise, the musical accompaniment consisted entirely of that periodic humming in four-part harmony. Written out, it appeared, "mmmm-oooooo-AAAAHHHH-OOOOOHHH!!" Bypassing a full orchestra was one sure way to save a chunk of cash for the budget. Then in other, perhaps later, episodes, orchestral music replaced that humming, and the a cappella quartet only sang the theme song. I must admit that the humming contributed a rather corny element to the show.