Tombstone Territory is an American Western television series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the second season by Lipton (tea/soup) and Philip Morris (Marlboro cigarettes). The third and final season aired in syndication from 1959 until 1960. The program was produced by Ziv Television.

Tombstone Territory
Pat Conway as Clay Hollister, 1958
GenreWestern
Starring
Narrated byRichard Eastham
Theme music composerWilliam M. Backer
Opening theme"Whistle Me Up a Memory" performed by Jimmy Blaine
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes91
Production
Executive producerFrederick W. Ziv
Producers
  • Frank Pittman
  • Andy White
Cinematography
  • Monroe P. Askins
  • Curt Fetters
  • Robert Hoffman
Editors
Running time30 minutes
Production companyZiv Television Programs
Original release
Network
ReleaseOctober 16, 1957 (1957-10-16) –
July 8, 1960 (1960-07-08)

Overview

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This program took place in the boomtown of Tombstone, Arizona Territory, one of the Old West's most notorious towns and the site of the shootout known as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Located south of Tucson, Tombstone was then known by the sobriquet "the town too tough to die". The program's theme song, "Whistle Me Up a Memory", was written by William M. Backer and performed by Jimmy Blaine.[1]

The series did not deal with real characters in the history of Tombstone in the 1880s, such as Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, or the Clanton gang, with the exception of Curly Bill Brocius, who appeared in the first season. It was about fictional characters in the American Southwest. The first episode opens, according to the narrator, on August 4, 1881. Conway played Sheriff Clay Hollister. Eastham, the only other actor besides Conway to appear in all the episodes, played Harris Claibourne, editor of The Tombstone Epitaph (an actual newspaper that still exists in limited form). Eastham, originally a singer in opera and on Broadway, also narrated the series in a deep baritone voice,[2] describing each episode as an actual report from the newspaper's archives.

Gerald Mohr played Doc Holliday in the first-season Tombstone Territory episode titled "Doc Holliday in Durango", initially broadcast in 1958. The previous year, Mohr had portrayed Holliday in an episode of Maverick titled "The Quick and the Dead" starring James Garner and Marie Windsor. Mohr's version of Holliday was identical in both series.

The ending credits indicate, "This series is produced with the full cooperation of Clayton A. Smith, editor of the TOMBSTONE EPITAPH and D'Estell Iszard, historian".[3]

Cast

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Recurring

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Guest stars

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Episode list

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Season 1 (1957–58)

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No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Gunslinger from Galeyville"Eddie DavisStory by : Frank Pittman and Andy White
Teleplay by : Andy White
October 16, 1957 (1957-10-16)
22"Reward for a Gunslinger"Leon BensonStuart JeromeOctober 23, 1957 (1957-10-23)
33"Ride Out at Noon"Leon BensonClark E. Reynolds and Martin BerkeleyOctober 30, 1957 (1957-10-30)
44"Revenge Town"Eddie DavisSteve FisherNovember 6, 1957 (1957-11-06)
55"A Bullet for an Editor"Walter DonigerLeo GordonNovember 13, 1957 (1957-11-13)
66"Killer Without a Conscience"Walter DonigerWilliam TunbergNovember 20, 1957 (1957-11-20)
77"Guns of Silver"Eddie DavisFred FreibergerNovember 27, 1957 (1957-11-27)
88"Desert Survival"Eddie DavisGene LevittDecember 4, 1957 (1957-12-04)
99"Apache Vendetta"Walter DonigerAndy WhiteDecember 11, 1957 (1957-12-11)
1010"Ambush at Gila Gulch"Leon BensonWilliam TunbergDecember 18, 1957 (1957-12-18)
1111"Sermons and Six Guns"Walter DonigerLaurence HeathDecember 25, 1957 (1957-12-25)
1212"The Youngest Gun"Leon BensonHarold ShumateJanuary 1, 1958 (1958-01-01)
1313"Shoot Out at Dark"Eddie DavisMartin Berkeley and Clark E. ReynoldsJanuary 8, 1958 (1958-01-08)
1414"The Rebels' Last Charge"Eddie DavisSteve FisherJanuary 15, 1958 (1958-01-15)
1515"Gun Fever"Eddie DavisBarney SlaterJanuary 22, 1958 (1958-01-22)
1616"Mexican Bandito"Ted PostPaul SavageJanuary 29, 1958 (1958-01-29)
1717"Tong War"Eddie DavisLeo GordonFebruary 5, 1958 (1958-02-05)
1818"Postmarked for Death"Ted PostMartin Berkeley and Clark E. ReynoldsFebruary 12, 1958 (1958-02-12)
1919"Johnny Ringo's Last Ride"Ted PostStory by : Andy White
Teleplay by : Sam Peckinpah
February 19, 1958 (1958-02-19)
2020"Outlaw's Bugle"Walter DonigerLaurence HeathFebruary 26, 1958 (1958-02-26)
2121"Geronimo"Harold D. SchusterStory by : Andy White
Teleplay by : Leo Gordon
March 5, 1958 (1958-03-05)
2222"The Return of the Outlaw"Walter DonigerBarney SlaterMarch 12, 1958 (1958-03-12)
2323"Guilt of a Town"Norman FosterStory by : Frank Pittman and Andy White
Teleplay by : Andy White
March 19, 1958 (1958-03-19)
2424"Cave-In"Walter DonigerStory by : Andy White
Teleplay by : Gene Levitt
March 26, 1958 (1958-03-26)
2525"Skeleton Canyon Massacre"Christian NybyRobert C. BennettApril 2, 1958 (1958-04-02)
2626"Strange Vengeance"Christian NybyDon BrinkleyApril 9, 1958 (1958-04-09)
2727"The Tin Gunman"Walter DonigerWarren DouglasApril 16, 1958 (1958-04-16)
2828"The Outcasts"Tom GriesTom GriesApril 23, 1958 (1958-04-23)
2929"Doc Holliday in Durango"Richard L. BareGene Levitt, Frank Pittman, and Andy WhiteApril 30, 1958 (1958-04-30)
3030"Triangle of Death"Henry S. KeslerPaul SavageMay 7, 1958 (1958-05-07)
3131"Pick up the Gun"Walter DonigerMaurice TombragelMay 14, 1958 (1958-05-14)
3232"The Assassin"Tom GriesFred FriedbergerMay 21, 1958 (1958-05-21)
3333"The Lady Gambler"Walter DonigerWilliam DriskillMay 28, 1958 (1958-05-28)
3434"Fight for a Fugitive"Paul GuilfoyleBarney SlaterJune 4, 1958 (1958-06-04)
Kenne Duncan as the Bartender
3535"Legacy of Death"Tom GriesMilton S. GelmanJune 11, 1958 (1958-06-11)
3636"The Gatling Gun"Richard L. BareDavid LangAugust 27, 1958 (1958-08-27)
Kenne Duncan as the Bartender
3737"The Black Marshal from Deadwood"Christian NybyJames EdmistonSeptember 3, 1958 (1958-09-03)
Kenne Duncan as the Bartender
3838"Thicker Than Water"Walter DonigerLeo GordonSeptember 10, 1958 (1958-09-10)
3939"Rose of the Rio Bravo"Walter DonigerAndy WhiteSeptember 17, 1958 (1958-09-17)

Season 2 (1959)

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No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
401"Whipsaw"Richard L. BareBret HillMarch 13, 1959 (1959-03-13)
412"Marked for Murder"William ConradBarney SlaterMarch 20, 1959 (1959-03-20)
423"Payroll to Tombstone"Richard L. BareD.D. BeauchampMarch 27, 1959 (1959-03-27)
434"Day of the Amnesty"Richard L. BareDon IngallsApril 3, 1959 (1959-04-03)
445"Trail's End"Otto LangMartin Berkeley and Clarke ReynoldsApril 10, 1959 (1959-04-10)
456"The Black Diamond"William ConradMelvin LevyApril 17, 1959 (1959-04-17)
467"The Man from Brewster"Richard L. BareGuy de VryApril 24, 1959 (1959-04-24)
478"Gun Hostage"Eddie DavisJim Carling and Martin MooneyMay 1, 1959 (1959-05-01)
489"Warrant for Death"Richard L. BareTurnley WalkerMay 8, 1959 (1959-05-08)
4910"Surrender at Sunglow"Richard L. BareHarold ShumateMay 15, 1959 (1959-05-15)
5011"Grave Near Tombstone"Lew LandersJohn ElliotteMay 22, 1959 (1959-05-22)
5112"Death Is to Write About"Otto LangLeo GordonMay 29, 1959 (1959-05-29)

Season 3 (1959–60)

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No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
521"Red Terror of Tombstone"Eddie DavisAndy WhiteOctober 9, 1959 (1959-10-09)
532"The Gunfighter"Eddie DavisGuy de VryOctober 16, 1959 (1959-10-16)
543"Stolen Loot"Franklin AdreonStephen KandelOctober 23, 1959 (1959-10-23)
554"The Writer"Alan Crosland Jr.John W. KrafftOctober 30, 1959 (1959-10-30)
565"Payroll Robbery"Eddie DavisWilliam TunbergNovember 6, 1959 (1959-11-06)
576"The Horse Thief"Eddie DavisVirginia M. CookeNovember 13, 1959 (1959-11-13)
587"The Legend"Otto LangWells Root and Ron BishopNovember 20, 1959 (1959-11-20)
598"Premature Obituary"Eddie DavisPaul FranklinNovember 27, 1959 (1959-11-27)
609"Dangerous Romance"Otto LangBarney SlaterDecember 4, 1959 (1959-12-04)
6110"Self-Defense"Franklin AdreonStuart JeromeDecember 11, 1959 (1959-12-11)
6211"The Marked Horseshoe"Herman HoffmanJim Carling and Martin MooneyDecember 18, 1959 (1959-12-18)
6312"The Noose That Broke"Alan Crosland Jr.Stuart JeromeDecember 25, 1959 (1959-12-25)
6413"Mine Disasters"Franklin AdreonS.H. Barnett and Fran van HartesveldtJanuary 1, 1960 (1960-01-01)
6514"The Witness"James GoldstoneBarney SlaterJanuary 8, 1960 (1960-01-08)
6615"The Capture"Eddie DavisBarney SlaterJanuary 15, 1960 (1960-01-15)
6716"State's Witness"Lew LandersTeddi ShermanJanuary 22, 1960 (1960-01-22)
6817"The Target"James GoldstoneDave ClayJanuary 29, 1960 (1960-01-29)
6918"The Bride"Otto LangRobert TurnerFebruary 5, 1960 (1960-02-05)
7019"Female Killer"James GoldstoneLeo GordonFebruary 12, 1960 (1960-02-12)
7120"The Lady Lawyer"Jack HerzbergTeddi ShermanFebruary 19, 1960 (1960-02-19)
7221"Silver Killers"William ConradJoe RichardsonFebruary 26, 1960 (1960-02-26)
7322"Holcomb Brothers"Otto LangPaul FranklinMarch 4, 1960 (1960-03-04)
7423"Young Killer"James GoldstoneS.H. Barnett and Fran van HartesveldtMarch 11, 1960 (1960-03-11)
7524"Coded Newspaper"James GoldstoneS.H. Barnett, Marion Parsonnet, and Fran van HartesveldtMarch 18, 1960 (1960-03-18)
7625"Memory"William ConradRobert TurnerMarch 25, 1960 (1960-03-25)
7726"Revenge"Eddie DavisStuart JeromeApril 1, 1960 (1960-04-01)
7827"The Hostage"Franklin AdreonVernon E. ClarkApril 8, 1960 (1960-04-08)
7928"The Governor"William ConradRon Bishop and Wells RootApril 16, 1960 (1960-04-16)
8029"The Kidnapping"Eddie DavisStuart JeromeApril 22, 1960 (1960-04-22)
8130"Girl from Philadelphia"Herman HoffmanRon Bishop and Wells RootApril 29, 1960 (1960-04-29)
8231"The Fortune"James GoldstoneGuy de VryMay 6, 1960 (1960-05-06)
8332"The Innocent Man"Alan Crosland Jr.Guy de VryMay 13, 1960 (1960-05-13)
8433"The Siesta Killer"David FriedkinLee BergMay 20, 1960 (1960-05-20)
8534"The Return of Kansas Joe"Franklin AdreonWilliam TunbergMay 27, 1960 (1960-05-27)
8635"Betrayal"William ConradGuy de VryJune 3, 1960 (1960-06-03)
8736"The Treaty"Eddie DavisGuy de VryJune 10, 1960 (1960-06-10)
8837"The Outlaw"James GoldstoneMikhail RykoffJune 17, 1960 (1960-06-17)
8938"The Injury"Eddie DavisDon BrinkleyJune 24, 1960 (1960-06-24)
9039"Crime Epidemic"Herman HoffmanMelvin LevyJuly 1, 1960 (1960-07-01)
9140"Juan Diega"Franklin AdreonLeo GordonJuly 8, 1960 (1960-07-08)

Release

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Home media

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On April 2, 2013, Timeless Media Group released season 1 on DVD in Region 1.[6]

As of late 2014,The complete series of all 91 episodes has been released on DVD.[7]

Syndication

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Rerun aired on FETV from 2021 to 2022, an as of 2022, the show are aired daily on Grit as a part of its daytime schedule.

Merchandising

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The TV show was also adapted into a comic book by Dan Spiegle, distributed by Dell Comics.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "TV Westerns: Tombstone Territory". fiftiesweb.com. 5 July 1999. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  2. ^ Alex McNeil, Total Television, New York: Penguin Books, 1996, 4th ed., p. 849, ISBN 0-14-024916-8
  3. ^ "TOMBSTONE TERRITORY - THE TARGET". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05.
  4. ^ Aaker, Everett (1997). Television Western Players of the Fifties: A Biographical Encyclopedia of All Regular Cast Members in Western Series, 1949-1959. McFarland. p. 434. ISBN 9780786402847.
  5. ^ Brode, Douglas (January 1, 2010). Shooting Stars of the Small Screen: Encyclopedia of TV Western Actors, 1946–Present. University of Texas Press. p. 92. ISBN 9780292783317 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "DVD Calendar Feature Articles - Metacritic". www.metacritic.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013.
  7. ^ "Tombstone Territory: The Complete TV Series". Amazon. 17 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Dan Spiegle". lambiek.net.
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