The one thing I noticed about this show (I'm watching it for the very first time this year) is that Four Star was able to get a lot of actors still making an impact in theaters at the time. Maybe they weren't the biggest, but they weren't has-beens, either. I don't know if it was revolutionary back then, but I can't recall an earlier program with that type of track record (other than guest appearances such as on I Love Lucy).
No blah, blah, blah!
Dick Powell knew and had worked with almost everyone in Hollywood. It was his Four Stars production company that made this program. Four Stars was no mere name. Part owners were Charles Boyer, David Niven. Joel McCrea was the 4th one but he dropped out. Ida Lupino replaced him. At the time Four Stars was one of the top producers of TV programming. Many TV series were piloted on Zane Grey such as Trackdown, the Rifleman and the Westerner. Four Stars also produced Richard Diamond, Wanted Dead or Alive, Burke's Law, the Rogues, Honey West, and the Big Valley. Future powerhouses like Aaron Spelling and Sam Peckingpaugh got their first breaks with Four Stars.
shareI didn't know that. Thanks for the info.
"Don't tell me your little problems son, all I'm interested in is results."
I recently (re) discovered Zane Gray Theater on an off channel and have become addicted. I remember it from my childhood but now I view it with a different eye. I had no idea that Four Star had so much stroke (thanks for the insight) but it does explains why the series is a who’s who of stars and character actors. Today I saw the episode, “So Young the Savage Land”, (Season 5, Episode 5, 1960). John Dehner, one of my all time favorites, was the co-star, and Claudette Colbert was the guest star. This was a first for me because I’d never seen her in a small screen project. She’s always been a “secret” crush of mine so this rare, unexpected tidbit was particularly enjoyable. I don’t know how much “star power” she had in the 60s but to me, she’ll always be a biggie.
shareI just started watching also. I've heard so much about it and knew of its all star casts.
I didn't know they were all westerns which I love. I never read any Zane Gray books.
Correction: Grey
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