Bat Masterson (TV series)

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox television Bat Masterson is an American Western television series which was a fictionalized account of real-life marshal, gambler, and journalist Bat Masterson. The title character was played by Gene Barry, and the half-hour black-and-white series ran on NBC from 1958 to 1961.Template:Sfn The show was produced by Ziv Television Productions. "Bat" is a nickname for Masterson's first name Bartholemew, although the fictional Masterson says that his name is William Barkley Masterson.Template:Sfn

The series was based on the biography Bat Masterson by Richard O'Connor, as noted in the closing credits.<ref name="Yoggy">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp<ref>Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

Overview

The fictionalized Masterson dressed in expensive clothing, including a walking stick with a hidden sword.Template:Sfn He preferred to use his cane rather than a gun to get himself out of trouble. He was portrayed as a ladies' man who traveled the West looking for women and adventure. He also came to the aid of innocents wrongly accused of crimes.Template:Sfn

Cast

Allison Hayes appeared in 7 episodes (1958)
With Jacqueline Scott in "The Black Pearls"
Jean Willes, Gene Barry and Adele Mara in first series episode

Main cast

Episodes

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} List of Bat Masterson episodes

Production

Development

The series is a fictionalized account of the life of real-life Bat Masterson, who had been an Army scout, Indian fighter, lawman, and a deputy of Wyatt Earp.<ref name="Marill" />Template:Rp It was produced by Ziv Television Productions,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> and is loosely based on Richard O'Connor's 1957 biography of Masterson.<ref name="Yoggy" />Template:Rp This was highlighted by the book's front cover being shown at the end of the closing credits with an onscreen notation "based on". A 1959 TV Guide article quoted the producer as stating they wanted the show to be as accurate as possible.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The series was sponsored by Kraft.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Casting

Gene Barry originally turned down the role of Bat Masterson because he preferred to stay working in film,<ref name=":0" /> and he did not like ordinary cowboys. But when Barry, who wore a homburg and chesterfield coat when looking for work as an actor in New York, found out the character carried a cane and wore a derby hat, he jumped at the opportunity.<ref name="Yoggy" />Template:Rp Barry was selected for the part directly by Fred Ziv.<ref name=":0" /> Barry was the only regular cast member of the series, while guest stars each week included both name and soon-to-be-name performers.<ref name="Marill">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

Production design

While Bat Masterson's dapper attire and gold-tipped cane might not seem like the look of a typical Wild West hero, Bat Masterson's derby hat and cane were trademarks of the real-life Masterson, having been presented to him by the citizens of Dodge City and were thus incorporated into the character as portrayed in the series.Template:Sfn<ref name="Yoggy" />Template:Rp In the series, his cane contained a hidden sword.Template:Sfn

Music

The popularity of the singing cowboys of the fifties led to several classic Westerns having themes resembling cowboy ballads, and Bat Masterson was no exception.<ref name="Marill" />Template:Rp According to BMI and the sheet music, the theme music was written by Havens Wray (although incorrectly spelled by BMI as Ravens Wray). However, it was likely written by David Rose, an ASCAP member who couldn't use his own name for a BMI composition.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The words were by BMI writer Bart Corwin. The theme song was sung by Bill Lee, a member of the Mellomen.

Cancellation

Although Bat Masterson was positively reviewed by critics, the show was aired at a time when there were many other Westerns, and it was lost in the crowd. It never appeared in the Nielsen top 25. The show was cancelled after only three seasons.<ref name="Yoggy" />Template:Rp

Release

Broadcast

The show originally aired on NBC from October 8, 1958 to September 21, 1961. It was placed in a different time slot for each of its three seasons:Template:SfnTemplate:Rp

Home media

File:Barry e Goulart, 1961.pdf TGG Direct released the first and second seasons on DVD in Region 1 on January 29, 2013.<ref>Bat Masterson Complete Season One</ref><ref>Bat Masterson Complete Season Two</ref> The third and final season was released on November 5, 2013.<ref>Bat Masterson Season 3</ref> Due to licensing issues, the episode Terror on the Trinity is not included.

Reception

A fictional Bat Masterson appeared in 34 episodes of the unrelated ABC/Desilu western series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp from 1955 to 1959. Mason Alan Dinehart played the role of Bat Masterson, with Hugh O'Brian as frontier peace officer Wyatt Earp. Dinehart was so associated with the role of Masterson that it was difficult for television audiences to adapt to a different actor in the role.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The show was extremely popular in Brazil. Gene Barry visited the country in 1961, the year that the show was first broadcast there, and he was received by President João Goulart for a talk in Brasilia.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Other media

Front cover of Bat Masterson number 3 (Dell Comics, June, 1960)
Front cover of Bat Masterson number 3 (Dell Comics, June, 1960)

Guns of Paradise (1990)

Barry recreated the role of Bat Masterson in an episode of the television series Guns of Paradise (1990), alongside Hugh O'Brian as Wyatt Earp.

The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991)

In The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991) Barry played Masterson, also with O'Brian as Earp, as well as Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick and Clint Walker as Cheyenne Bodie.

Comic book

Dell Comics issued nine issues of a quarterly Bat Masterson comic book between Aug./Oct. 1959 and Nov. 1961/Jan. 1962 with the initial issue a Four Color tryout (#1013).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Comic strip

Columbia Features syndicated a comic strip from September 7, 1959 to April 1960 written by Ed Herron and drawn by Howard Nostrand (Sept. 1959–Dec. 1959) and Bob Powell (Dec. 1959–April 1960).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nostrand was assisted (on backgrounds) by Neal Adams who had just graduated from the School of Industrial Arts; it was among his first professional art jobs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

References

Footnotes

Template:Reflist

Sources

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