Timeless Media is releasing a 16 DVD boxed set consisting of all 32 90 minute color episodes of the classic Western TV series Wagon Train. The set will be released on November 4 and sell for retail price of $119.95. Here is info from the official press release:
This fall, fans of classic television and the
celebrated Western drama will delight in the debut of WAGON TRAIN
as a special edition 16-DVD set. Timeless Media Group
has painstakingly restored and
re-mastered all 32 90-minute episodes of the
series’ only
season filmed in color,
as well as 16
best-loved episodes from the seasons filmed in
black and white, for this exceptional limited
release.Â
WAGON TRAIN: THEÂ Â COMPLETE
COLOR SEASON is housed in handsome collector’s packaging, and includes
newly produced interviews with actors Robert Fuller (“Cooper Smithâ€) and Denny
Scott Miller (“Duke Shannonâ€). Other
than a handful of sub-quality public domain episodes, “Wagon Trainâ€
has never before been available on DVD.Â
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Inspired by John Ford’s classic 1950
film, Wagon Master, “Wagon Train†debuted on NBC in
1957, running for five seasons before jumping
to ABC for the final three seasons. It was only
during the seventh season that the show
was extended to 90 minutes, and shot in color,
returning to its original format for the eighth and final
season.Â
Consistently popular with viewers, the show
was propelled to the top of the ratings during
the 1961-62 season, beating out “Gunsmoke†for
the number one slot throughout the year.Â
“Wagon Train†differed from the field
awash with other Western-genre series (“Tales
of Wells Fargo,†“Sugarfoot,†etc.) with its significantly higher weekly
production budget, truly quality writing and top-name guest star appeal. The long list of notable visiting
cast members includes Shelly Winters, Lou
Costello, Jane Wyman, Barbara Stanwyck, Ronald Reagan, Peter Falk, Suzanne
Pleshette, Bruce Dern, Rhonda Fleming, Burgess Meredith, Neville Brand, Annette
Funicello and many more.
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In addition to the revolving door of bright
Hollywood stars, the recurring “Wagon Trainâ€
cast featured an impressive group of actors and
gave the show stability. In addition to Fuller and Miller, Ward Bond (Major Seth
Adams), Robert Horton (Flint McCullough), Terry Wilson (Bill Hawks), Frank
McGrath (Charlie Wooster ), John
McIntire (Christopher Hale) and Michael Burns (Barnaby West) all played
prominent characters throughout the classic
series’ run.
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Each of “Wagon Train’s†284 episodes revolved around characters and
personalities who were journeying to
California’s Pacific shores by
Conestoga wagon from the banks of the
Mississippi in the face of great
odds. The main
cast of characters conducted the train through
perils and adventures associated with the
landscapes and inhabitants of the American West. The recurring c
ast’s interrelationships, problems and camaraderie,
as well as the
enticing star power of guest appearances, kept audiences “on board†the “Wagon
Train†week after week.
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