By Caroline Clemmons
Who’s
the first western hero you loved? For me, it was Roy Rogers. I longed for a
horse like Trigger, and to ride with Roy saving the West from rustlers and bank
robbers. I didn’t dislike Dale Evan, but I was certain Roy would prefer me if
only he knew me. I was crushed when I realized his real age.
A
close second to Roy was The Lone Ranger. Do I ever hear the William Tell
Overture without thinking of him? No. For me, Clayton Moore was the only Long
Ranger, but he was based on a real person, Bass Reeves. I still don’t
understand the reason for the mask, but I loved the show. Even I realized that the
same big rock that appeared in so many episodes had to be on a sound stage.
So
my family moved on to evening television westerns. “Gunsmoke” was a long-running national
favorite. Who could fail to like easy-going peacekeeper Marshal Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty and Doc and Chester and Festus? My folks
and I loved them. Only in the last decade did I learn Miss Kitty was modeled
after a real person. But we never guessed that Festus (Ken Curtis) had a beautiful singing voice.
Other
long-running series were “The Virginian” and “The Big Valley.” There are many more I don't have space to list. I still
enjoy reruns of some of the series.
In addition, I especially enjoy the movies made from Louis L’Amour’s books. They are numerous, and I love each of them. I also enjoy rereading the books by America's storyteller, Louis L'Amour.
Pull up a chair, sit back, and enjoy a western movie. And keep reading western romance!
