Owen Wister’s 1902 novel “The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains” became the basis for the show. It was about the firm, mysterious and respected foreman of Shiloh Ranch. Like the book, everyone called the foreman “the Virginian.” No one knew his name, contributing to his mysterious identity.
Why is the foreman called The Virginian?
The foreman is the Virginian in the series and the book. Since the series incorporated bits of the book’s essence, it was only appropriate for the foreman to go by the same name. James Drury played the Virginian, and he gathered a lot of attention for the role because he embodied the character so well.
What was the name of the man on the Virginian?
The Virginian was a Western TV show that ran from 1962 to 1971. It was based on the 1902 Owen Wister novel, “The Virginian, A Horseman of the Plains.” The star was the foreman of the Shiloh Ranch, played by James Drury. He was known only as The Virginian, the man with no name.
Who is the Virginian in the show?
The Virginian uses the name Ed Morgon in the episode 'A Bad Place To Die'. He hires on at the ranch where Trampas supposedly killed a man to find out who really killed him. I have been inclined to think it is Owen Wister. I read that in one episode Trampas referred to The Virginian as Jim. The one and only time in the series he was named.
Why is the Virginian so popular?
The long-running Western series, The Virginian, came on air around 1962 to 1971. The series had a large viewership for many reasons: its top-notch production, brilliant storyline, and excellent casting. The cast members were relatable and gave excellent deliveries to their characters.
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Did they ever reveal the name of The Virginian?
The series was loosely based on Owen Wister's 1902 novel “The Virginian, A Horseman of the Plains,” in which the name of the main character was never revealed.
Why is James Drury called The Virginian?
Drury's laconic character was always referred to as “The Virginian”; he had no name, unlike his horse, a white Appaloosa called Joe D. The Shiloh foreman may have sported a black hat, but he routinely did the right thing, rescuing folks and fighting rustlers and outlaws in the Wyoming Territory in the 1890s.
Where did The Virginian come from?
The Virginian is established as the foreman of the Shiloh Ranch in Medicine Bow, Wyoming. He was born in Fairfax, Virginia.
What was the Virginians name on The Virginian?
James Drury was an actor best known for starring as the nameless title character of TV's “The Virginian” from 1962 to 1971.
Was Shiloh Ranch real?
The show was shot on the Universal backlot where the Shiloh Ranch had been built especially for the show, at Six Points Texas, and on stage 34. The Medicine Bow western street set (pictured below) was destroyed in the 1967 fire, and the present day Court of Miracles was built in it's place.
Did James Drury own a ranch?
His grandfather had a 100-acre ranch just south of Salem near Ankeny Hill, which Drury's nephew now owns.
What it means to be a Virginian?
a native or inhabitant of Virginiaa native or inhabitant of Virginia.
Which came first the men from Shiloh or The Virginian?
The VirginianThe Virginian was the first 90-minute television western, airing in prime time on NBC from 1962-1971. After 8 seasons, the long-running and popular series took a new direction, as well as a new title, The Men From Shiloh.
Who was the first Virginian?
The VirginianFirst appearance"The Executioners" (1962)Last appearance"Jump-up" (1971)Created byOwen WisterPortrayed byJames Drury4 more rows
What was the Virginians net worth?
James is best remembered for his title role in the 90-minute weekly Western TV series The Virginian, (NBC, 1962–1971). He was born James Child Drury on April 18, 1934, in New York City, New York....James Drury Net Worth.Net Worth:$1.5 MillionProfession:Businessperson, ActorNationality:United States of America3 more rows
What gun did The Virginian carry?
James Drury holds a Winchester Model 1892 as The Virginian on a promotion still for The Virginian TV series. James Drury (born April 18, 1934 as James Child Drury) is an American actor, best known for the titlular role in The Virginian TV series (1962-1971).
How did Trampas get his name?
In the novel, Trampas was the antagonist. His name was likely based on the Spanish noun trampa, meaning “trap” or “snare.”
What was JAMES DRURY's favorite episode of The Virginian?
Felicity's SpringJames Drury's Favorite 'Virginian' Episode: "Felicity's Spring" Don't be fooled by the hug. Virginian star James Drury and guest Katherine Crawford had an icy relationship behind the scenes. "It was a very bittersweet, poignant love story," Drury told Inspiration late in his life.
What was The Virginian renamed in its final season?
The Men from ShilohThe Virginian (later renamed The Men from Shiloh in its final year) is an American Western television series starring James Drury in the title role, along with Doug McClure, Lee J. Cobb, and others.
Did JAMES DRURY like to ride horses?
Cowboy Up! Having grown up on an Oregon ranch, he knew horses, so when casting directors asked if he could ride, he could honestly say, “Yes.” “I'd been riding since I was in diapers. Most of the actors would lie about it, and the posse would ride off in all directions,” Drury says in the blog.
Is The Virginian based on a true story?
Although fiction, the novel had much of its story based on real events, such as the Johnson County war and spending the night on the counter at the Medicine Bow Mercantile. The play, The Virginian by Wister & LaShelle ran for 138 performances on Broadway.
What was the inspiration for the character of the Virginian?
The Virginian. When it came to inspiration for developing the character of The Virginian, Drury turned to his ancestry. His grandfather traveled west by wagon train from Missouri as a teen in the 1880s. If another TV pilot he had acted in had sold, he would never have had the opportunity to star in The Virginian.
When did Drury move to Texas?
Most of the actors would lie about it, and the posse would ride off in all directions,” Drury says in the blog. When he moved to Texas in the 1970s, he started competing and winning, showing cutting and reining horses.
Who played Trampas in The Virginian?
“I drove her into a convent!”. Drury writes. In 1995, the world lost another beloved TV cowboy, Doug McClure who played Trampas on The Virginian. He was just 59.
Who is the cowboy in The Virginian?
James Drury: The Man Behind The Virginian. He played the iconic cowboy, the mysterious man of upstanding character, and few words: The Virginian. Turns out James Drury , the real cowboy, is not as reticent as his TV counterpart. Before his passing, Drury wrote a blog post for True West, revealing some tidbits about his life.
Is James Drury a real cowboy?
Turns out James Drury, the real cowboy, is not as reticent as his TV counterpart. Before his passing, Drury wrote a blog post for True West, revealing some tidbits about his life. Here are a few highlights:
Did Drury go to school?
Drury was expelled from high school a day before graduation, but still he attended New York University, where his father was a professor. “No one wants to go to a school where their father is a teacher,” Drury writes. Luckily, he discovered the drama department.
Who plays the owner of Shiloh?
Of the actors who play the owner of Shiloh, Drury loved working with Lee J. Cobb the best. The episode that burns brightest in his mind: “The Mountain of the Sun,” in which Dolores Hart plays a missionary bound for Mexico. Ironically, shortly after filming the episode, Hart became a nun. “I drove her into a convent!”.
How many seasons did the Virginian run?
The Virginian ran for nine seasons; it was television’s third longest running Western after Bonanza and Gunsmoke. Towards the end of its run, spaghetti Westerns were becoming popular, so the format was changed in the final season and it was renamed to The Men From Shiloh. Sadly, it was discontinued along with other Western shows in what was known as the “rural purge” of 1969 to 1971. CBS had become known as the “country broadcasting system” and sought to change its image.
What is the Virginian based on?
The Virginian was a Western TV show that ran from 1962 to 1971. It was based on the 1902 Owen Wister novel, “The Virginian, A Horseman of the Plains.” The star was the foreman of the Shiloh Ranch, played by James Drury. He was known only as The Virginian, the man with no name. The series circled around the foreman’s quest to maintain an orderly lifestyle at Shiloh. It was set in Medicine Bow, Wyo., around the year 1898. The Shiloh ranch was named after the two-day American Civil War Battle of Shiloh, Tenn.
When did spaghetti westerns end?
Towards the end of its run, spaghetti Westerns were becoming popular, so the format was changed in the final season and it was renamed to The Men From Shiloh. Sadly, it was discontinued along with other Western shows in what was known as the “rural purge” of 1969 to 1971.
Where did Drury grow up?
Drury grew up on a ranch in Salem, Ore. , and moved to Houston, Texas in 1974. Besides The Virginian, he appeared on Walker Texas Ranger, Kung Fu, The Red Skelton Show, Perry Mason, Rawhide, Gunsmoke, Forbidden Planet and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In 1991, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy ...
Did Bonanza and Rawhide take place during the same period?
Bonanza and Rawhide took place during our same period. Some had a different slant. Jim Garner of Warner Brothers did a Western, Maverick. Mel Gibson did a motion picture version of it somewhat recently. The movie Support Your Local Sheriff had comedy in it.
Who played the man with no name in The Shiloh Ranch?
The Man With No Name Revealed. The star was the foreman of the Shiloh Ranch, played by James Drury. He was known only as The Virginian, the man with no name.
Is JD Open Range a good Western?
JD Open Range was a really good Western, with Robert Duvall and Kevin Costner. I think the recent Lone Ranger was done well.
What episode does the Virginian use Ed Morgon?
The Virginian uses the name Ed Morgon in the episode 'A Bad Place To Die' . He hires on at the ranch where Trampas supposedly killed a man to find out who really killed him. I doubt very much that the Virginian's real name was ever revealed.
What did Steve write to the Virginian before he was hung?
But in the book by Owen Wister there is mention of a name in a note that Steve wrote to The Virginian before he was hung he writes the name Jeff but The Virginian says that was only a nickname Steve called him. Kate. Jim. Jim.
Did Wister want to keep his cowboy nameless?
Or, it's possible that Wister actually met a lot of men, nameless drifters,in his real life adventures in Wyoming and it made sense to him to keep his cowboy nameless.
Did Owen Wister give his cowboy a name?
I know that the TV series made a huge change with the character of Trampas, but they kept the Virginian character very close to Owen Wister's original concept and Wister never, never gave his cowboy a name. Maybe Wister wanted the Virginian to be a little bit mysterious.
Who was the Virginian?
The Virginian was one of the original 'men with no name' that populated the fictional West. To give away his name would destroy the illusion.
How many owners did the Shiloh Ranch have?
The Shiloh Ranch went through several owners, and by the show’s ending, the ranch had had five different owners. One of the most significant changes made on the show was changing the show’s name from The Virginian to The Men of Shiloh in the ninth season.
What was the show Trampas about?
The show focused on the foreman. It portrayed his commitment to making things work on the ranch. The series showed the different ways he tried to keep the peace and maintain order at the place. The Virginian was the show’s star, and so was Trampas.
What topics did the Virginian cover?
The episodes of The Virginian covered topics on compassion, injustice, responsibility, and morals. It covered all these while remaining family-friendly. The episodes explored the typical Western themes such as cattle riding, fighting, gunslinging, relationships, and love.
What did Clarke do in the 90s?
Clarke worked on a project with James Drury, Billy, and the Bandit before Drury died.
How many children does Clarke have?
Clarke has been married three times and has five children (Jeff, David, Denis, Natalie, and Ava) from his first and third marriage. As of 2011, Clarke lived in Austin, Texas.
How old is Clarke from Virginian?
Clarke (88 years old now) worked on different sets before acting the Steve Hill role on The Virginian. He was on How to Make a Monster, Passion Street, Date Bait, and Missile to the Moon. According to him, he had a contract with Universal Pictures as a contract player.
Why did Gary Clarke leave the Virginian?
The network didn’t offer any concrete information on why Gary Clarke left The Virginian. However, his character began to phase out in season two.
How many seasons did Clu Gulager play on Sopranos?
Clu Gulager was on the show for four seasons as the deputy, Emmett Ryker, and is known for his restlessness. He left the show in its sixth season but returned briefly in the seventh season. Gulager gained popularity for his lead role in The Sopranos.
Why did the producers put the foreman in the ranch?
The difference was, the producers put him in the ranch from the first episode to give the impression that the foreman had always been part of the ranch. However, in the book, he wasn’t always the formidable foreman. He went from deputy foreman to foreman only after the judge promoted him.
How many episodes are there in The Virginian?
The Virginian series had nine seasons and 249 episodes. Like most Westerns, its setting was in the late 19th century. The story got its foundation from the 1902 novel “The Virginian, A Horseman of the Plains” by Owen Wister. It focused on the fierce and formidable foreman of the Shiloh ranch.
What did the Virginian wear?
The Virginian had a signature look. He always dressed in a maroon red shirt with a black leather vest, a black hat, black boots, and revolver. The producers wanted him to appear mysterious and unattainable, so they tried to keep little details about the Virginian from the viewers, like his name or past. He was an intriguing character that viewers were always trying to demystify.
What was the first 90 minute Western series?
The Virginian was the first 90-minute Western series on television. The series was way ahead of its time. The filming was in color with first-class actors, which was massive for a movie made in the 60s.
What was the aim of the trampas?
The Trampas in the series had an entirely different personality from those of the novel. The aim of this was to balance the Virginian’s serious demeanor —like fire and ice. Doug McClure played the role so well, adding light comedy occasionally to the series.
What episode of The Virginian was the first episode?
The pilot episode called “The Virginian” aired in 1958 and was part of the “Decision” series, which also aired the pilot for three other series.
What happened to the cast of the Virginian?
The show ended years ago, and the cast went on to do different things. Some actors featured in other projects, some went into writing, directing, and other aspects of entertainment. Meanwhile, others are relaxing and spending time with their loved ones.
Why did Steve Hill work at Shiloh Ranch?
Nowhere coincidentally was in a ranch that was Shiloh’s competition. Steve ended up working in Shiloh because he spoiled an attempt to ruin the Shiloh Ranch. Judge Garth hired him, and he would become best friends with Trampas and the Virginian. He often got Trampas out of trouble, which he was in a lot.
How did Trampas evolve?
The character Trampas evolved after his encounter with Judge Garth and the Virginian. Although he became more law-abiding and responsible, his personality didn’t change. He is fun and the total opposite of the Virginian. However, his character got him into trouble sometimes. Viewers loved him, though.
Why was the foreman on the show Trampas?
He was the show’s star, and so was Trampas because he spent a lot of time assisting the Virginian.
How many episodes are there in The Virginian?
The 1902 novel by Owen Wister called “The Virginian, A Horseman of the plains” inspires the show. The series consists of 249 episodes, making up the show’s nine seasons.
What are the topics in The Virginian?
The episodes of The Virginian were family-friendly while covering topics on injustice, responsibility, compassion, morals, and overall good behavior. The episodes covered everything from fighting to cattle rides to love and relationships. All of these happened because of the production and actors who played their roles so well.
How old is Randy Boone?
Randy Boone, who played Randy Beton on the show, is currently 79 years old. He gained popularity as “the singing cowboy” and made an album with Roberta Shore after the series ended.
Was the Zodiac Killer identified?
On October 6, a cold case team known as the Case Breakers claimed to have identified the Zodiac Killer as Gary Francis Poste who passed away in 2018.
How did the Zodiac Killer die?
Just hours after his alleged identity was released, TMZ obtained the death certificate of Poste and revealed how he died.
Why is the Zodiac Killer called the Zodiac Killer?
He called himself "Zodiac" in his fourth letter to the press on August 7, 1969.
What are the latest updates on the Zodiac Killer?
The Zodiac Killer’s case was inactive since 2004 but the San Francisco Police Department reopened it in March of 2007.
Overview
The Virginian (later renamed The Men from Shiloh in its final year) is an American Western television series starring James Drury in the title role, along with Doug McClure, Lee J. Cobb, and others. It originally aired on NBC from 1962 to 1971, for a total of 249 episodes. Drury had played the same role in 1958, in an unsuccessful pilot that became an episode of the NBC summer series Decis…
Production
When Revue Productions' hour-long series Wagon Train moved from the NBC network to ABC, The Virginian was proposed to replace it. From the beginning, the 90-minute series was filmed in Technicolor on 35 mm movie film. The half-hour pilot in 1958 was filmed in black-and-white.
Synopsis
The half-hour black-and-white pilot titled The Virginian aired in 1958 as part of the series Decision, which in other weeks aired pilots for three other series.
In the pilot, unlike in the later series, the Virginian had a noticeable Southern accent and wore a belt buckle marked "CSA", indicating service in the Confederate army. The portrayal of him as a young Civil War veteran would ind…
Characters
Played by James Drury, the Virginian was the tough foreman of the Shiloh Ranch. Based loosely on the character in the Owen Wister novel, he always stood his ground firmly. Respected by the town citizens and the hands of the ranch, he was a prominent figure in Medicine Bow. In the series, the Virginian is the ranch foreman from the first episode. This way, the producers were able t…
Guest stars
Well-known guest stars from film and television included Claude Akins, Eddie Albert, Lloyd Bochner, Charles Bronson, Robert Culp, Joan Crawford, Jim Davis, Bette Davis, Troy Donahue, Patty Duke, Robert Duvall, Nina Foch, Harrison Ford, James Gregory, Pat Hingle, Robert Lansing, Jack Lord, Lee Marvin, Eve McVeagh, Vera Miles,Ricardo Montalban, Leonard Nimoy, Edmond O'Brien, Ryan O'Neal, Slim Pickens, Robert Redford, John Saxon, George C. Scott, William Shatner, Franchot To…
Reception
The Virginian prevailed or held steady against its network competition, topping in its first season Dwayne Hickman's The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, which ceased production in 1963. In its fifth season, The Virginian faced competition from another Western, one also set in Wyoming: ABC's The Monroes, starring Michael Anderson Jr. and Barbara Hershey as orphans trying to hold their famil…
Filming locations
• Western streets in the backlot of Universal City, California
• Iverson Movie Ranch, Chatsworth, California
• Lone Pine, California
• Pollock Pines, California (Ghost Mountain Ranch)
Spin-offs
In April 1965, an episode of The Virginian called "We've Lost a Train" served as a backdoor pilot for the TV series Laredo.