Wagon Train: The Television Series Summary and Reviews

Wagon Train: The Television Series
by James Rosin

Wagon Train: The Television Series
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Book Summary Information

Author: James Rosin
Edition: Paperback
Published: 2008
ISBN: 0972868445
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: The Autumn Road Company

Book Reviews of Wagon Train: The Television Series

Book Review: Entertaining Tribute to a Classic Western!
Summary: 4 Stars

To my mind, there were four classic b&w adult TV westerns aired during the 1960s: HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, GUNSMOKE, RAWHIDE and WAGON TRAIN. James Rosin offers up an informative, entertaining history of that last show in this 2008 release from Autumn Road Company.

First off, it's a crying shame it took so long for such a book to appear. Three of the four original 'horsemen' are long gone along with many of the other creative people who helped make 'Wagon Train' the endearing classic it is. What that means is that Rosin can offer up an overview of the show - the 'skeleton,' if you will - but what he can't supply is all the 'meat,' the first-person reminiscences, insights, etc. that Ward Bond, Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, John McIntire, producer Howard Christie, director Joe Pevney, et al could have provided.

Rosin does provide a season-by-season breakdown of the show with short info blurbs on each show; short reminiscences by Robert Horton, Denny Scott Miller and various other 'Wagon Train' alumni; listings of fan favorites; bios of some of the actors; etc. A nice introduction but hardly definitive. (It's unfortunate Rosin didn't interview Horton at length). The text is illustrated with dozens of evocative photographs.

To be honest, I lost interest in the show after Ward Bond died. He WAS the wagonmaster and brought such a sense of authenticity to the proceedings that you were hooked. No one did bluster better than Bond and his weekly face-to-faces with the Charlie Wooster character brought an element of humor sadly lacking in the McIntire shows.

In any case, WAGON TRAIN, THE TELEVISION SERIES will be a fond trip down memory lane for all us baby boomers. 'Wagon Train,' especially its first four seasons, was a wonderful show, a great show filled with endearing characters and memorable storylines. Though not definitive, James Rosin's book is probably the best 'Wagon Train' tribute we'll ever see. Recommended.

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