This show was originally developed to be adaptations of short stories and novels by Western author Zane Grey. However, the material ran out (the books were far too long for a half-hour show), and later original material was commissioned.
This show was unique because it was the only Western anthology on television at the time. Anthologies were popular on early television and were the equivalent of today's television movies. Because of this format, it attracted many stars who wanted to appear on it.
On-screen title is Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre. -re not -er.
The gun store scene (Eli Wallach as Tuco) in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) was copied from Zane Grey Theater (1956) season one, episode eighteen, "Backtrail", in which Dick Powell played a retired gunfighter outlaw who is forced to take up the gun again. He visits a store and takes pieces and hones down a perfect gun. Sergio Leone was a big fan of the show. Sergio Leone was able to extend the scene much more, since he had a movie feature length at his disposal. In the Zane Grey Theater (1956) version, Dick Powell paid the gun store owner; in 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', Eli Wallach as Tuco robbed him blind. Sergio Leone wanted to take away the politeness found in American westerns.
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