"Bat Masterson" (1958) TV series 1958-1961

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Dressed-up dandy (derby and cane), gambler and lawman roams the West charming women and defending the unjustly accused...

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Gene Barry	...	William Barclay 'Bat' Masterson (108 episodes, 1958-1961)
Bill Baldwin	...	Narrator (102 episodes, 1958-1961)

Runtime:

30 min (108 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

ZIV Television Programs

Trivia:

Two episodes from season one have fallen into the public domain. They are: "Bat Masterson: Stampede at Tent City (#1.4)" (1958) and "Bat Masterson: The Fighter (#1.5)" (1958).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Master Ninja II (#4.24)" (1992)

Different but with some historical accuracy

I remember this series fondly but even as a kid wondered why Gene Barry did not sport the moustache that Masterson wore almost all of his adult life and did (if I remember correctly) as portrayed in at least one episode of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. As an adult I have read almost everything written about Masterson, seen as many motion pictures as possible, and find the gambler, sportsman, writer and sometime lawman fascinating. Masterson did carry a walking stick, wore a bowler in at least one famous photograph, was a townsman and loyal friend, was involved in boxing and by all accounts was a cheerful and well-liked man - a lot like Gene Barry. Was this TV series always historically accurate? Not in the slightest! But it did capture something of the real man, a certain insouciance and worldliness lacking in the run-of-the-mill TV cowboy or lawman. 'Tis rather too bad that they never had an episode set later when Masterson was an apparently happily married man and sports writer for a New York newspaper. And yes, I frequently carry a walking stick today and fondly recall "Back when the West was very young/There lived a man named Masterson/ He wore a cane and derby hat/ They called him Bat, Bat Masterson...."