Official Peter Brown Fan Site
WHEN THE WEST WAS FUN
A Western Reunion
Original air date 1979
Directed by Walter C. Miller
Written by Fred Putman
Set in a western saloon, Glenn Ford hosted a gathering of western television and film series stars including cast members from The Lone Ranger, The High Chaparral, The Virginian, Lawman and many others. This special event program brought ABC-TV its highest ratings of 1979. If you grew up on westerns like we did, (and despite the campy dialogue) it was fun to reminisce about those cherished childhood heroes with the stars who played them.
Front Row: Dewey Martin, Johnny Crawford, Chuck Connors, Glen Ford, Alan Hale Jr., Henry Darrow, Larry Storch, Neville Brand.
2nd Row: Denver Pyle, Iron Eyes Cody, Harry Lauter, Jeanette Nolan, Linda Cristal, John Ireland, Mark Slade, Joe Bowman, Fred Putnam. 3rd Row: Pat Buttram, Milburn Stone, Dan Haggerty, Guy Madison, Rex Allen, John Bromfield, Keenan Wynn, Jackie Coogan, George Montgomery. 4th Row: X Brands, Bill Williams, Michael Ansara, Slim Pickens, Dick Jones, Don Diamond, Ken Curtis, John Russell, Peter Brown, James Drury. Back Row: Rod Cameron, Jock Mahoney, Jack Kelly, Tony Young, John McIntire, Ty Hardin, Darby Hinton, Lee Van Cleef, Will Hutchins, Terry Wilson, Clayton Moore, Doug McClure.
Near the end of the show, Ford says "This one's for you Duke." At the time, John Wayne (who was suppose to watch the telecast), was in the hospital suffering from the final stages of cancer.
Serving as bartender, Larry Storch of F Troop enters the empty saloon and greets the obligatory resident cat that rests on the bar. After blowing the dust off the glassware, he begins to hear the theme song from The Lone Ranger coming from the mug in his hand. He looks up and sees Clayton Moore coming through the batwing doors.
Then, over and over in similiar fashion, we hear a familiar theme song just as the star(s) of that show enters the saloon.
Also on hand were the colorful character stars of western films and television.
Due to a video defect, we can't include a capture of Chuck Connors, who enters just before Johnny Crawford.
As the "bad guys" meander in, Peter Brown (who pulls his hat down to its signature position over his eyes) and a few others react in close-up.
Following a montage of old clips featuring fast draw shooting that included
himself in Lawman, Peter asks John Russell, "Marshall, was I fast or was I fast?" Poking fun at Peter's legendary fast draw prowess, Russell answers "Well Peter, during those four years playing my deputy Johnny McKay on Lawman, you didn't have much of a chance to practice." "Is that right," Peter quips, as he draws and fires...showing that he did indeed still have it.
Favorably impressed by Peter's shooting demonstration, Russell tells him, "Since you can still shoot so fast Peter, you can be my deputy anytime." Peter takes off his hat, scratches his head and says, "You know, with the cost of livin' goin' up so much, I'll probably need a raise." (From 1958-1962, Johnny McKay earned $50 per month.) Like a good public servant to the citizens of Laramie the Marshall responds, "Don't draw so fast and we'll leave the money where it is."
During the last segment of the show (in a campfire setting) Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and the Sons of the Pioneers join the reunion for some old western music.
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