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, Albert S. 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 25 episodes, 1976-1979
Bruce Boxleitner	...	Luke Macahan / ... 25 episodes, 1976-1979
Kathryn Holcomb	...	Laura Macahan 25 episodes, 1976-1979
William Kirby Cullen	...	Josh Macahan / ... 25 episodes, 1976-1979
Vicki Schreck	...	Jessie Macahan 25 episodes, 1976-1979
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Molly Culhane 21 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 the miniseries is based on an actual highly publicized state visit to the US by Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia in 1871-72. The miniseries fictionalized the historic meeting among the Sioux, the visiting Russians and their US Army hosts into fabricated subplots of hostility and violence that devolve 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. US Army preparations for the hunt were conducted well in advance of the Russian hunting expedition. The assistance of William F. Cody (aka "Buffalo Bill") was employed in negotiations with the Sioux. Rather than being itinerant poachers on Sioux lands, as utilized in the miniseries, the US 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. 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

Referenced in Rederiet: Wild Wild East (2001)

User Reviews

The best show ever

I feel sorry for those of you who missed the adventures of Zeb and his family. Zeb (Arness) is the greatest man ever walked the screen. Josh is the little boy who never got to do anything. He is getting slapped around of all different sorts of people.

Luke is the handsome longhaired young stud who travels the west, facing problems proving to be the nephew of Zeb. Laura is the kid sister who just loves everything and everyone.

Laura is the oldest sister whose eyes starts to glow every time a man passes the macahan ranch. She is every feminist worst nightmare, hence she characterais the beutiful but week woman who just waits for a man to fulfill her dreams.

In summary, this is the greatest show ever broadcasted. Here in sweden nightclubs were forced to close when macahans was aired. Everybody was sitting at home watching it at saturday nights. more than half the swedish population that is. Just order the tapes and enjoy.