When did the first season of the Wild Wild West start?
Season 1 of The Wild Wild West premiered on September 17, 1965. Season 2 of The Wild Wild West premiered on September 16, 1966. Season 3 of The Wild Wild West premiered on September 8, 1967. Season 4 of The Wild Wild West premiered on September 27, 1968.
What channel is the Wild Wild West on?
In 1994 The Wild Wild West began running on Saturdays at 10 a.m. on Turner Network Television (TNT), which preferred the color episodes to the black and white ones. The series was dropped from WGN soon after. Hallmark Channel aired the series in 2005 as part of its slate of Saturday afternoon Westerns, but dropped it after only a few weeks.
Why did the Wild Wild West get cancelled?
The Wild Wild Westexperienced a precipitous decline in its Nielsen ratings, falling to 87th place out of 92 series for the 1968-69 television season.[32] Due to declining ratings, as well as a crack-down on programs with excessive violence, the series was cancelled after four seasons.
Is Wild Wild West based on a true story?
Ralston later sued Warner Bros. over the 1999 theatrical film Wild Wild West, which was based on the series. As indicated by Robert Conrad on his DVD commentary, the show went through several producers in its first season.
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Why was The Wild Wild West Cancelled?
Despite high ratings and 393 action packed fights in 104 episodes, “The Wild Wild West” was cancelled after four seasons as a concession to Congress over television violence after the slayings of Martin Luther King and Senator Robert Kennedy.
How many Wild Wild West episodes are there?
104The Wild Wild West / Number of episodesThe Wild Wild West is an American television series that ran on the CBS network from 1965 to 1969. During its four-season run a total of 104 episodes were broadcast.
What was the last episode of The Wild Wild West?
Episode 24The Wild Wild West / Latest episode
How many seasons of The Wild Wild West were in black and white?
In black and white (season one only) and living color. The Wild Wild West is a 1965-1969 CBS TV series that combined two then-popular genres: The Western and Spy Fiction, following the anachronistic adventures of two Secret Service agents roaming the western United States during the Ulysses S. Grant administration.
Did they take Wild Wild West off Netflix?
Wild, Wild West is heading off Netflix on March 31st.
Did Robert Conrad attend Ross Martin's funeral?
' Conrad, who said he wept when he learned of Martin's death, planned to attend the funeral. Martin had planned to star as a corporate board chairman in a television series Conrad was producing to air in January, he said.
Why was Ross Martin not in the last episode of Wild Wild West?
Ross Martin (Artemus Gordon) missed nine episodes due to a broken leg and a nearly fatal heart attack.
Is Wild Wild West based on a true story?
Wild Wild West, the seminal film achievement of the 90s, is regarded as a masterpiece of the medium not only for its fantastic acting and brilliant cinematography, but also for the honest, truthful manner in which it depicts the true story of Captain James West in his well-documented but oft-misunderstood journey of ...
Was Wild Wild West A flop?
and produced on a $170 million budget (making it one of the most expensive films ever made when adjusting for inflation at the time of its release), Wild Wild West was a commercial failure, grossing only $113.8 million domestically and $108.3 million overseas for a worldwide total of $222.1 million.
Is there a Wild Wild West 2?
Wild Wild West 2: The Mild, Mild North.
Who is the villain in Wild Wild West?
Miguelito Quixote LovelessMiguelito Quixote Loveless is a fictional character who appeared as the primary antagonist of ten episodes of the 1960s western action television series The Wild Wild West. Portrayed by Michael Dunn, he is a brilliant but insane mad scientist born with dwarfism.
Is Ross Martin still alive?
July 3, 1981Ross Martin / Date of death
How many episodes of Wild Wild West was Dr Loveless in?
Miguelito Quixote Loveless is a fictional character who appeared as the primary antagonist of ten episodes of the 1960s western action television series The Wild Wild West. Portrayed by Michael Dunn, he is a brilliant but insane mad scientist born with dwarfism.
Is there a Wild Wild West 2?
Wild Wild West 2: The Mild, Mild North.
What is the best Wild Wild West episode?
My Top Ten Favorite Wild Wild West TV EpisodesThe Night of the Inferno (Sept. ... The Night the Dragon Screamed (Jan. ... The Night of the Golden Cobra (Sept. ... The Night of the Flying Pie Plate (Oct. ... The Night of the Bottomless Pit (Nov. ... The Night of the Watery Death (Nov. ... The Night of the Deadly Bubble (Feb.More items...•
Is actor Robert Conrad still alive?
February 8, 2020Robert Conrad / Date of death
How many seasons of Wild West were there?
The Wild Wild West is an American Western, espionage and science fiction television series that ran on the CBS television network for four seasons from September 17, 1965 to April 11, 1969. Two satirical comedy television film sequels were made with the original cast in 1979 and 1980 and the series was adapted for a theatrical film in 1999.
Why was Wild West cancelled?
Cancellation came mainly because CBS officials were concerned about the criticism over televised violence and to a lesser degree because Robert Conrad had grown slightly weary of the role of James West. Ever since last fall's ratings started rolling in, CBS has wished that it had kept Wild Wild West. None of the replacements have done nearly as well and, as a result, all of the Friday programs suffered."
What was the name of the train in Wild West?
When The Wild Wild West went into series production, however, an entirely different train was employed. The locomotive, a 4-4-0 named the Inyo, was built in 1875 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia. Originally a wood-burner, the Inyo was converted to oil in 1910. The Inyo, as well as the express car and the passenger car, originally served the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in Nevada. They were among the V&T cars sold to Paramount Pictures in 1937–38. The Inyo appears in numerous films including High, Wide, and Handsome (1938), Union Pacific (1939), the Marx Brothers ' Go West (1940), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Red River (1948), Disney 's The Great Locomotive Chase (1956) and McLintock! (1963). For The Wild Wild West, Inyo's original number plate was temporarily changed from No. 22 to No. 8 so that footage of the train could be flopped horizontally without the number appearing reversed. Footage of the Inyo in motion and idling was shot around Menifee, California, and reused in virtually every episode. Stock footage of Sierra No. 3 occasionally resurfaced as well.
What were the gadgets in Wild West?
Some were recurring devices, such as West's sleeve gun or a breakaway Derringer hidden in his left and right boot heels. Others appeared in only a single episode.
Why is Wild West being watched by censors?
Television reporter Cynthia Lowrey, in an article published in August 1968, wrote that The Wild Wild West "is one of the action series being watched by network censors for scenes of excessive violence , even if the violence is all in fun.".
Where does West live when he retires?
According to the later TV movies, West retires from the Service by 1880 and lives on a ranch in Mexico. When he retires, Gordon, who was a captain in the Civil War, returns to show business as the head of a traveling Shakespeare players troupe.
Who played Artemus Gordon in Wild West?
The Wild Wild West told the story of two Secret Service agents: the fearless and handsome James West (played by Robert Conrad ), and Artemus Gordon (played by Ross Martin ), a brilliant gadgeteer and master of disguise. Their mission was to protect President Ulysses S. Grant and the United States from all manner of dangerous threats. The agents traveled in luxury aboard their own train, the Wanderer, equipped with everything from a stable car to a laboratory. James West had served as an intelligence and cavalry officer in the American Civil War (1861–1865) on Grant's staff; his "cover", at least in the pilot episode, is that of "a dandy, a high-roller from the East". Thereafter, however, there is no pretense, and his reputation as the foremost Secret Service agent often precedes him. According to the later TV movies, West retires from the Service by 1880 and lives on a ranch in Mexico. When he retires, Gordon, who was a captain in the Civil War, returns to show business as the head of a traveling Shakespeare players troupe.
What is the role of West and Gordon in the movie Raven?
West and Gordon are assigned to protect Dr. Raven, who is developing a secret weapon. Raven is a member of a tontine, an investment group whose by-laws state that the surving member of the group gets the assets of the group. When one of the tontine's members is killed and an attempt is made on Raven's life, the agents decide to investigate.
Where does Agent West meet Major Jason?
On a mission for President Grant, agent West travels to Fort Savage to meet with a Major Jason and help prevent a revolution in Canada that outlaw Shawn O'Riley has plans to incite.
Why are West and Gordon called to Mexico?
West and Gordon are called into Mexico to investigate a group of bandits who are attacking and terrorizing border towns. They track the bandits to a Mexican Village where they learn of an old legend about Cortez.
Storyline
James West and Artemus Gordon are two agents of President Grant who take their splendidly appointed private train through the west to fight evil. Half science fiction and half western, Artemus designs a series of interesting gadgets for James that would make Inspector Gadget proud. A lighthearted adventure series. — John Vogel <[email protected]>
Did you know
Ross Martin read a script when it was first given to him, then did a pen-and-ink drawing of the character he was going to play, down to the last detail, glasses, mustache, clothes, posture, shoes, et cetera. Then he brought the sketch to make-up artist Don Schoenfeld, and together they molded his face until it looked like the drawing.
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By what name was The Wild Wild West (1965) officially released in India in English?
How many seasons did the Wild West run?
In combining cowboys with spy-fi, the show also pioneered the steampunk genre with its mid-19th-century gadgets. The Wild Wild West ran for four seasons, from 1965–1969, and only met its end after Congress pressured networks to tone down violence on television. Still, you can't keep a good man down.
When did the movie Wild West come out?
There was a made-for-TV movie sequel in 1980. A decade after riding off into the sunset, Conrad and costar Ross Martin returned for More Wild Wild West, which also featured Jonathan Winters, Harry Morgan, Jack LaLanne and Joyce Brothers. The small-screen flick might have led to a revival series.
How many episodes did Artemus Gordon miss?
The man who played Artemus Gordon missed nine episodes in 1968 after suffering a heart attack. The actor was temporarily replaced by familiar faces like William Schallert and Alan Hale, Jr.
What was the Wild West pilot called?
Early in production, the pilot was called The Wild West. Playing off the character's name, The Wild West West was also up for consideration and thankfully scrapped. That's just confusing.
What genre was the Wild West in the 1960s?
In 1960s Hollywood, few genres were bigger than Westerns and spy adventures. James Bond and Clint Eastwood were the epitome of cool and manhood, so it was inevitable that someone would think to combine the two. The Wild Wild West can trace its origins back to Bond.
Who created the Wild West?
The Wild Wild West can trace its origins back to Bond. The show's creator, Michael Garrison, was half of the duo that purchased the film rights to Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, Casino Royale, way back in 1954. They paid $600. A decade later, Garrison pitched the concept of "James Bond on horseback" to CBS.
Who was born in James West?
Robert Conrad was born Conrad Falk and changed his name to hide. Conrad was the perfect man to play James West. The Northwestern University grad had a fascinating background, too.
Overview
The Wild Wild West is an American Western, espionage, and science fiction television series that ran on the CBS television network for four seasons from September 17, 1965, to April 11, 1969. Two satirical comedy television film sequels were made with the original cast in 1979 and 1980 and the series was adapted for a theatrical film in 1999.
Concept
The Wild Wild West told the story of two Secret Service agents: the fearless and handsome James West (played by Robert Conrad), and Artemus Gordon (played by Ross Martin), a brilliant gadgeteer and master of disguise. Their mission was to protect President Ulysses S. Grant and the United States from all manner of dangerous threats. The agents traveled in luxury aboard their own train, the W…
Characters
Before The Wild Wild West, Robert Conrad played private detective Tom Lopaka in ABC's Hawaiian Eye for four seasons (1959–63). In November 1964, he was making the film Young Dillinger (1965) with Nick Adams, Victor Buono and John Ashley (all of whom would later guest star on The Wild Wild West) when his agent sent him to CBS to audition for the West role. Conrad claimed to be the …
Production
In 1954, director/producer Gregory Ratoff purchased the film rights to Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, for $600. CBS, meanwhile, bought the TV rights for $1,000, and on October 21, 1954, the network broadcast an hour-long adaptation on its Climax! series, with Barry Nelson playing American agent "Jimmy Bond" and Peter Lorre playing the villain, Le Chiffre. CBS also approach…
Cancellation
Some episodes were considered violent for their time and that, rather than low ratings, ultimately was the series' downfall. In addition to gunplay, there were usually two fight sequences per episode. These were choreographed by Whitey Hughes and Conrad and performed by Conrad and a stock company of stuntmen, including Red West, Dick Cangey and Bob Herron (who doubled for Ross Martin).
Syndication
In the summer of 1970, CBS reran several episodes of The Wild Wild West on Mondays at 10 p.m. as a summer replacement for The Carol Burnett Show. These episodes were "The Night of the Bleak Island" (aired July 6); "The Night of the Big Blackmail" (July 13); "The Night of the Kraken" (July 20); "The Night of the Diva" (July 27); "The Night of the Simian Terror" (August 3); "The Night of the Bubbling Death" (August 11); "The Night of the Returning Dead" (August 17); "The Night of …
Home video
The first season of The Wild Wild West was released on DVD in North America on June 6, 2006, by CBS Home Entertainment (distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment). Although it was touted as a special 40th anniversary edition, it appeared 41 years after the show's 1965 debut. Robert Conrad recorded audio introductions for all 28 first-season episodes, plus a commentary track for the pilot. The set also featured audio interviews by Susan Kesler (for her book, The Wild Wild We…
Theatrical film adaptation
Warner Bros. optioned the film rights to The Wild Wild West in 1992. Mel Gibson was cast as James West, with Richard Donner set to direct from a screenplay by Shane Black (Donner had directed three episodes of the original series). In 1997, as the film was still being developed with other directors, writers and stars, Gilbert Ralston, who wrote the TV pilot, sued Warner Bros. over the upcoming feature film based on the series he helped create. Ralston died in 1999 before his …