Danl Boone

[walks with gun]

It's weird, our local TV station is playing back to back episodes of Fess Parkers Daniel Boone. I guess I never realized how much Kentucky looks like the republic of California. And I did not know percussion to flintlock guns came first, I think I remember seeing some trapdoor Springfield flintlocks.

[Malamute]

Funny how we didnt notice thngs like that in the past.

I just looked at youtube, theres tons of episodes of Daniel Boone there, likely every single one, listed by season and episode. I think I'll watch a few in the evenings. Thanks for the reminder!

[AJMD429]

Mostly the 'point' of those shows was to:

• a) make some money producing a television show, and
  b) show some redeeming and probably-accurate history of a particular character in history

I don't think that "c) illustrate accurate firearms history" is usually on their list of priorities (unfortunately).

The episodes were kind of cool, along with "Lassie", "Andy Griffith", "Gunsmoke" and "Star Trek" - all illustrating basic concepts of right-vs-wrong, and exploring some historic, generic, and futuristic characters.

Too bad the 'gun' stuff wasn't more accurate though - for those of us who are into 'guns' it tends to detract from the overall experience. I suppose the same thing applies to those who know about any other technology (radio, flight, or whatever).

[Pete44ru]

I don't think that "c) illustrate accurate firearms history" is usually on their list of priorities (unfortunately).

I would presume a script writer wouldn't list something they know squat about (firearms and/or firearms history).


.

[walks with gun]

Hey, the stuff on Star Trek is accurate right?

[octagon]

Loved it as a kid, great theme song. My real favorite show (and song) the Lone Ranger. I find little today that compares. Gotta love it when the good guy always wins.

[vancelw]

It's weird, our local TV station is playing back to back episodes of Fess Parkers Daniel Boone. I guess I never realized how much Kentucky looks like the republic of California. And I did not know percussion to flintlock guns came first, I think I remember seeing some trapdoor Springfield flintlocks.

I always laughed (even as a kid) that the wagons/horses/people always traveled though the same valley, whether it was Little House (MN), Gunsmoke (KS) Bonanza (NV) or whatever

I LOVE the show "Jusitfied" but I can't help seeing California where Kentucky is supposed to be.

Don't get me started on Longmire in New Mexico that looks nothing like NE Wyoming.

Star Trek....I guess we really won't know in our lifetime....they told us we would, but I don't think we're going to make it.

[Grizz]

Doc

Did you miss the hay-day?

Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans

Hopalong Cassidy

Cisco Kid

Lone Ranger


television took a nosedive after that era

Grizz

[JerryB]

OOOOOOHHH CISCO,,,, OOOOOOHHH PANCHO!!!!!!!

[Gaucho Gringo]

Add a few more:

Annie Oakley
Death Valley Days
Story Of The Century (starring Jim Davis of Dallas fame)
Kit Carson
Cheyenne
Jim Bowie
Sugarfoot
Rin Tin Tin
Have Gun Will Travel
Wild Bill Hickok
Maverick
Colt .45
Zorro
The Gene Autry Show
Wanted Dead or Alive
Gunsmoke
Rawhide
Wyatt Earp

These are all the ones I remember in the 1950-59 time frame in addition to the ones already mentioned. There were others but I don't remember watching them.

[Grizz]

good ones. was death valley days the one that had the 20-mule team wagons hauling borax with original actual teamsters?

not all of those titles were contemporary were they?

Grizz

[Gaucho Gringo]

Yes, Death Valley Days was the 20 mule team which was sponsored by the Borax Company which really did use mule teams and wagons to get borax out of Death Valley starting after the Civil War. Most of the programs on the list had a more embellished name, I just made them simpler. Here is a pretty accurate list of them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_TV_Westerns

[claybob86]

Hey, the stuff on Star Trek is accurate right?

Not yet, but it will be!

[guido4198]

Hey, the stuff on Star Trek is accurate right?

Well, Actually, the closer we get to Stardate 41153.7, the more REAL all that "Stuff" seems to become.

[TomF]

I like watching these oldies for anachronisms ( I think that's the term) where things in the movie are from a later time. Saw a '54 Ford on hogans heroes, Schultz carrying a Krag (possible I guess) and a western saddle on Daniel Boone. Sometime guns out of time, one of the Barkleys with a 336. Fun stuff.

TomF

[Griff]

I don't think that "c) illustrate accurate firearms history" is usually on their list of priorities (unfortunately).

I would presume a script writer wouldn't list something they know squat about (firearms and/or firearms history).

Hey, the screenwriter might get it right... but the 'armorer' or 'prop guy' might have a real problem comin' up with what the screenwriter calls for...

Frankly, as a kid watchin' those shows... those goofs didn't detract one little bit from the show. But, my Dad chucklin' at what seems inappropriate times now makes a lot more sense! He didn't bother tellin' me what was wrong with the show... just let it entertain.

Mostly the 'point' of those shows was to:
b) show some redeeming and probably-accurate history of a particular character in history

Even back then, I found it a bit incongruous that Hollywood would take a known "hitman" and somehow make that seem "right". Seemed a bit farfetched and fanciful...

And I have to say, "probably-accurate" is more'n likely a bit overstated. I'd certainly concur with "maybe-" or "somewhat-". I realize I might be pickin' nits, but "probably-" makes it seems to close to "nearly-"; as, gosh-darned it Marshall Dillon, we KNOW that weren't their intention! It started and ended with a)! The fact that b) occurred at all was simply their desire to sell the ADVERTISERS what the advertisers thought the audience wanted to see... and c) wasn't anywhere near their radar screen!

[Pete44ru]

Star Trek....I guess we really won't know in our lifetime....they told us we would, but I don't think we're going to make it.

Oh, I dunno - I suspect, there's a few, here, that are out of this world..........


.

[Grizz]

ah youth.... some of you youngsters have missed something.

the ones I listed were all morality plays. there are bad guys and there are good guys. the bad guys do bad things and the good guys stop them or rectify the bad things. there are no shades of pink and no, Sally does NOT have two mommies. the good guys don't do bad things. the pretenders get outed and all is right by the time the credits roll.

every one of those early shows were mentoring stories teaching the kids watching that there is right and wrong, and how to do right. there is truth and falsehood, how to tell the truth, and know the difference.

that entire ethic is turned exactly upside down and we live in the day when evil is called good, and good is called evil. as prophesied. our culture is sowing the wind, the whirlwind is on the horizon.

Grizz

[piller]

The Guns of Will Sonnet. Does anyone remember that series? It was a good one in my opinion. "No brag, just fact" was a great line from Walter Brennan's character. 1967 to 1969

[Blaine]

One D. Boone show ended with them leaning on the split rail fence, with a contrail in the background.....I love that kind of stuff

[piller]

No! It couldn't be! Why, those must have been just some strange clouds.

[vancelw]

the ones I listed were all morality plays. there are bad guys and there are good guys. the bad guys do bad things and the good guys stop them or rectify the bad things. there are no shades of pink and no, Sally does NOT have two mommies. the good guys don't do bad things. the pretenders get outed and all is right by the time the credits roll.

Way back when I was watching those shows I would have agreed with you. Now, not all the time.

Recently, I was watching some of the early Andy Griffith shows. You know, the ones with Miss Elly . Andy was a JERK!
And most dilemmas on each episode began with someone (often the protagonist, often someone else) being less than truthful and forthcoming. Big no-no in my house growing up.
And Miss Kitty really was just a dancer, right Fine, upstanding pillar of the community. (no offense, piller)
Those Cartwrights were downright MEAN. On one episode, they were shooting at some people just for being on their property! The Ponderosa was so big, no one could ride around it.

[Blaine]

the ones with Miss Elly

Andy was an idiot for dumping her for that skank Helen...

[Ysabel Kid]

How many times, even in John Wayne films, did you see a Peacemaker used in fighting during the Civil War?

I think it was a combination of lazy prop guys just reaching for what they had lots of, a public that didn't care, and producers that were clueless.

That is one of the nice things about many current shows and movies; at least they try to get the firearms right. No one probably does it better than Tom Selleck, who is a stickler for period firearm authenticity.

Still, we see a lot of errors, even now. I recently got hooked on "Hel on Wheels", watching the first three seasons on Netflix. Thought I had found nirvana when in the first episode they mentioned the main character carrying a "Griswold"; perfectly reasonable for an ex-Confederate officer. But then they showed a close up of the gun and it was just a brass-framed 1860 Army - a gun that never existed! The prop master should be tarred and feathered for that - it was such an easy mistake to avoid in the internet age!

[hondo1892]

I wasn't around the first time Jim Bowie was on. But I did watch it when a local station aired it. My wife hated it and when I started singing the song she would cringe. I don't know if it was my voice or the song that got to her.

[walks with gun]

The woman used to, and still does I guess, tell me to shut up and just watch the movie, every time I try to explain that the gun in question wasn't made at that period of time, or if anybody had any sense at all they would un fold the stock and shoot that SMG or rifle the way it was intended. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[guido4198]

Like many here, if not most...I have to say that if I watch carefully, and look for it, I'm able to identify all kinds of issues with the selection and use of firearms in TV and movies..both the oldies, and the current crop.
That said, I have to say that I try not to look too closely. I prefer to enjoy the story...the characters, etc.
You see, I really don't care if the "Mexicans" assaulting the Alamo are carrying Trapdoor Springfields.
I'm there to be entertained, and such glitches don't bother me at all.

[firefuzz]

The Guns of Will Sonnet. Does anyone remember that series? It was a good one in my opinion. "No brag, just fact" was a great line from Walter Brennan's character. 1967 to 1969

One of my favorites.

[Rusty]

The Guns of Will Sonnet. Does anyone remember that series? It was a good one in my opinion. "No brag, just fact" was a great line from Walter Brennan's character. 1967 to 1969

One of my favorites.

+2... I have one season on DVD. I think you can find it at Cracker barrel.

[Walker]

Came along too late for Davy Crockett, but didn't miss an episode of Dan'l Boone. Got to watch the Crockett movies with Mr. Parker on his winery's lawn though. Nice man, I miss him.

[gamekeeper]

Doc

Did you miss the hay-day?

Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans

Hopalong Cassidy

Cisco Kid

Lone Ranger


television took a nosedive after that era

Grizz

+1 I tried hard to be like those guys when I was growing up, not so much Dale Evans I still think they were good role models.

Jay, that brass framed 1860 " Griswold " riled me too!...

[Lassiter]

The Guns of Will Sonnet. Does anyone remember that series? It was a good one in my opinion. "No brag, just fact" was a great line from Walter Brennan's character. 1967 to 1969

He always ended each episode with a prayer..............can't do that anymore

[Malamute]

The Guns of Will Sonnet. Does anyone remember that series? It was a good one in my opinion. "No brag, just fact" was a great line from Walter Brennan's character. 1967 to 1969

One of my favorites.

+2... I have one season on DVD. I think you can find it at Cracker barrel.

I've been watching it on youtube. Theres 2 seasons there.

[Gaucho Gringo]

The Guns of Will Sonnet. Does anyone remember that series? It was a good one in my opinion. "No brag, just fact" was a great line from Walter Brennan's character. 1967 to 1969

He always ended each episode with a prayer..............can't do that anymore

Duck Dynasty and Blue Bloods do family dinner grace. Which is a lot more than most do.

[walks with gun]

What are MORALS anyway, must be some kind of mushrooms, I remember hearing about morals on some of the old TV shows and movies, but not so much anymore.