How the West Was Won 

The Macahans, a family from Virginia, headed by Zeb Macahan, travel across the country to pioneer a new land and a new home in the American West.

Creators:

Jim Byrnes, Al Ruddy

Stars:

James Arness, Bruce Boxleitner, Kathryn Holcomb

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
James Arness	...	Zeb Macahan / ... 26 episodes, 1976-1979
Bruce Boxleitner	...	Luke Macahan / ... 26 episodes, 1976-1979
Kathryn Holcomb	...	Laura Macahan / ... 26 episodes, 1976-1979
William Kirby Cullen	...	Josh Macahan / ... 26 episodes, 1976-1979
Vicki Schreck	...	Jessie Macahan / ... 26 episodes, 1976-1979
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Molly Culhane 22 episodes, 1978-1979

Storyline

Episodes revolving around the Macahan family as they try to fulfill their dream of going to Oregon. They run into many setbacks along the way and are forced to delay their move many times as a result. Common wild west themes and characters abound, such as Native Americans and crazy mountain men.

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Plot Keywords:

west | uncle | fugitive | civil war | native american | 

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Genres:

Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Macahans

Filming Locations:

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site - 35110 Highway 194 East, La Junta, Colorado, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

MGM Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Russian hunting expedition that served as the basis for conflict with the Sioux tribes of the Dakotas in this mini-series, was based on an actual highly publicized state visit to the U.S. by Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia in 1871 to 1872. This mini-series fictionalized the historic meeting amongst the Sioux, the visiting Russians, and their U.S. Army hosts into fabricated subplots of hostility and violence that devolved into a melodramatic tale of poaching, kidnapping, murder, political crisis, warfare, and genocide before the absurdity reaches its climax with a ritual suicide. Thankfully, history records a far more benign encounter with the Sioux during the Grand Duke's visit. U.S. Army preparations for the hunt were conducted well in advance of the Russian hunting expedition. The assistance of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody was employed in negotiations with the Sioux. Rather than being itinerant poachers on Sioux lands, as utilized in this mini-series, the U.S. government provided the Sioux tribes under Chief Spotted Tail with a wagon train containing tons of coffee, sugar, tobacco, and other provisions in exchange for the use of the Sioux hunting grounds. Chief Spotted Tail and hundreds of warriors greeted the expedition at its camp, and received the Grand Duke and his party as guests of the Sioux nation. Not only did the Sioux approve of the hunt, they participated in it, being eager to demonstrate their style of horsemanship and marksmanship to the "great white chief from across the water."

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Connections

Spoofed in The Survivors (1983)

User Reviews

Two thumbs way way up!!!!

I agree with everyone else, excellent show. Considering some of the crap that they put on DVD, I am very disappointed that this mini-series is not available.

Best Mini-Series of all time in my opinion. I saw it 20 years ago and would buy it in a second if it came out on DVD. I just hope it wouldn't be like watching Billy Jack 15 years later. Oh....my....God, did I really think that was good the first time around? I was only a teenager when I first watched "The West" but my parents and my brothers all really enjoyed it too. We all thought it depicted the west how it really was, not as one of those phony westerns that are common to the big screen.