About This Quiz
Cowboys are still a thing today right? Well maybe not as much as they use to be in the past, but movies such as the Magnificent Seven (2016) showed that the world may yet still be interested in Westerns. A Western, by definition, is a genre of show or movie that centers around the cowboy way of life. A life that includes saloons, cowboy boots (and hats), damsels in distress and of course, gold and guns. This kind of TV genre was very popular during the 1950s and 1960s when there were easily hundreds of them airing all around the world. Eventually, classic Westerns were categorized into varied groups of subgenres. These included comedy Westerns, space Westerns, fantasy Westerns and even horror Westerns.
But some of the most popular shows to ever play on our TV screens included Lonesome Dove, Gunsmoke and the more modern, Deadwood. And the baddest (yes, we deliberately spelled it this way) outlaws and cowboys were none other than Marshal Dillon, Josh Randall, and Raylan Givens. They acted out the stories like they were real life, which some of them actually were.
I mean really, who doesn't love stories with bounty hunters, outlaws, ranchers, and lawmen? Well, you better, especially if you want to ace this amazing TV Westerns quiz!
"Gunsmoke" premiered as a one-hour TV show in 1955. It ran 635 episodes for 20 years, ending in 1975.
"The Rifleman" starred actor Chuck Connors as a rancher, and actor Johnny Crawford as his son. The show lasted five seasons from 1958 - 1963.
"Wagon Train" premiered in 1957 and ran 284 episodes through 1965.
Advertisement
Hugh O'Brian was born on April 19, 1925 in Rochester, New York. He passed away at the age of 91 in 2016.
"Bonanza" ran for 430 episodes from 1959 - 1973.
"Have Gun - Will Travel" debuted on CBS and aired from 1957 - 1963. It was one of the few TV shows to spawn a popular radio series as well, which aired in 1958.
Advertisement
Actors James Garner and Jack Kelly star as big poker players from Texas, in "Maverick." The show aired from 1957 - 1962.
"Rawhide" ran from 1959 - 1966 and featured Clint Eastwood and Eric Fleming among the cast.
Starring Doug McClure, James Drury, and Lee J. Cobb, "The Virginian" debuted in 1962.
Advertisement
"The Big Valley" debuted in 1965 and ran for 112 episodes until 1969.
Starring actors Robert Conrad and Ross Martin, "The Wild Wild West" ran 104 episodes from 1965 - 1969.
"Cheyenne" was directed by Irving J. Moore and ran for seven seasons beginning in 1955 until 1963.
Advertisement
Steve McQueen starred as a Civil War vet who carried a sawed-off rifle in his holster.
"The High Chaparral" was created by David Dortort. Starring Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell, it ran from 1967 - 1971.
Will Hutchins stars as Sugarfoot in this series. It debuted in 1957 and aired 69 episodes until 1961.
Advertisement
Pat Brady was born on December 31, 1914 in Toledo, Ohio. He was actually born as O'Brady but dropped the O somewhere along the way!
Starring John Russell, Peter Brown and Peggie Castle, "Lawman" debuted in 1958 and ran 156 episodes until 1962.
"Laramie" starred John Smith and Robert Fuller. It premiered in 1959 and aired for 124 episodes, ending in 1963.
Advertisement
One of the most beloved family westerns of all time, "Little House on the Prairie" was created by Blanche Hanalis, debuted in 1974, and aired through 1983.
"Kung Fu" was a popular American western which debuted in 1972. Each of the 63 episodes was one-hour long.
Johnny Yuma was an aspiring writer. He was portrayed by actor Nick Adams.
Advertisement
Jane Seymour portrayed Dr. Quinn from 1993 - 1998. She was born Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg in London, England in 1951.
George Montgomery was born on August 29, 1916 in Brady, Montana. He was once married to Dinah Shore.
"Alias Smith and Jones" starred actors Pete Duel and Ben Murphy. The show was created by Glen A. Larson.
Advertisement
This series was influenced by the biography of Wells Fargo detective Fred J. Dodge.
"F Troop" debuted on September 14, 1965 in black and white. Its second season aired in color!
"Zorro" debuted in 1957 and ran for 82 episodes until 1959.
Advertisement
"Laredo" debuted in 1965. It aired 56 episodes over the course of two years.
"Branded" aired on NBC from 1965 through 1966. It was sponsored by Procter & Gamble in its Sunday night 8:30 p.m. time slot.
"26 Men" debuted on October 15, 1957 and ended on June 30, 1959 after 78 episodes.
Advertisement
Ty Hardin was born Orton Whipple Hungerford, Jr. on January 1, 1930 in New York City. He has been married eight times!
Starring John Payne as Vint Bonner, "The Restless Gun" aired on NBC between 1957 and 1959 for 78 episodes.
Dick West was portrayed by actor Dick Jones. Jones was born Richard Percy Jones in 1927.
Advertisement
Written by Gene Autry and Ray Whitley, this song was released in 1939.
"Colt .45" was the name of the television series. It aired on ABC from 1957 - 1960 and was based on the film with the same name.