Westerns

[Dixie]

It wasn't that long ago that Westerns ruled supreme on TV and movies. It was a huge story setting audiences adored. They couldn't get enough of it. Now, it's not so common.

What I keep wondering is, why? What was it about the 50s through the early 70s that made Westerns such a phenomena? I've researched this a lot, and can find no real answers. So I'm asking y'all. What are your thoughts?

[brainz01]

While I think you're not completely wrong, Taylor Sheridan would likely laugh at the assertion.

Sent from my CPH2451 using Tapatalk

[A930Rocket]

Growing up in the 60’s as kids, we played cowboys and indians, or army men. That’s what was on tv and I’m guessing it’s because those were two big events in recent history.

[rfuerst911sc]

I just don't think the wild wild west has the same allure as it once did . The Rust debacle certainly didn't help . Changing times

[WPOZZZ]

I think it has to do with changing societal norms and values. Back in the 50s/60s, the wild west wasn't that far off. Just look at Taylor Sheridan's 1923. There were still vestiges of the wild west. 100 years later, there isn't much left that we have not conquered. The 1923 wild west is now ski resorts and home to billionaires.

[Steve Carlton]

My take is the western craze petered out and wasn’t nearly as much a draw as it used to be. There was too much of it, IMO, and became a little boring. I don’t think Taylor Sheridan is pure classic western, more post-western. There has been less of it in recent decades, but the quality is much higher and the story lines more developed. I love the genre, personally.

[stevej37]

Times have changed.

[juanbenae]

If you've not watched American Primaeval on NETFLIX tune in on that. Excellent miniseries.

Are they even called "miniseries" anymore?

[wdfifteen]

I don’t know why they’ve faded. Open Range, Lonesome Dove, all the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns - entertainment don’t get much better than that.

[berettafan]

two...no three of the greatest westerns I've ever watched have been made in recent years. Tombstone, Django Unchained, 3:10 to Yuma (remake) and I'd probably add Hateful Eight to the list to make 4.

[Baz]

The gold standard for TV westerns is "Gunsmoke", "Bonanza", "Rawhide", and "The Big Valley".

That said....there is a slew of others that are fantastic as well....such as:

Have Gun Will Travel
Maverick
Tales of Wells Fargo
The Virginian
The Rifleman
Bat Masterson
Tombstone Territory
Laredo
High Chapperal
Wanted Dead or Alive
Zane Gray Theater
Wagon Train

"Gunsmoke" considered the best ever. I've watched every episode and it is such a good TV show, forget about western, I often watch re-runs and still enjoy them as much as when I watched the first time through. Jame Arness being the main reason why. His character Matt Dillon is amazing.

Trivia....Arness's son Rolf won the world surfing championship in Australia back in '70. His Dad, James, also surfed!



In 1970 Rolf Aurness* won the Surfing World Championship at Bells Beach and his father James Arness the Hollywood actor (he featured in the tv western drama 'Gunsmoke' as Marshall Matt Dillon) travelled with him to Victoria (Australia). The pair surfed at Bells in the lead up to the event. This footage from John Bennett's film Blue Cool shows James Arness surfing Bells on his Bing Foil.

*there's a story about why Rolf altered the spelling of his last name......

[thingmon]

I'd have to say Science Ficfion and Rom Coms edged them out.
Probably need to look at the demagraphics of who's watching movies now vs then.

[herr_oberst]

If I think of the heyday and subsequent ebb of 'the western', the realization is that the nadir is right around the time Elvis and then the Beatles suddenly burst on the scene...



Against that backdrop, how can old news like 'the western' compete with the onslaught of shiny new objects, trends and thoughts that were being shown on tv daily? Good and bad, colorful and wonderful, horrible and terrible.

The stories of the Old West still reverberate.Even Star Trek, the original series is based on the classic Western format. A lot of great Westerns have come out since the glory days, from The Wild Bunch, Once Upon A Time in The West, Lonesome Dove, Quigley Down Under, Tombstone. All those new miniseries on streaming services, but just like everything popular, there was a time for a wild ride as was the Western in the fifties and early sixties, but eventually tastes move on.

[unclebilly]

Steve pretty much nailed it. After Blazing Saddles, there was nothing more to do.

Nobody could top that masterpiece.

[KFC911]

Easterns .... the demise of the Westerns...

A man sashays into a Starbucks

I still watch old westerns ... love the b&w Gunsmokes, etc.

Didn't have a TV in our house until I was a teen (and not watching by then .. '73)

So I love the new westerns

[Steve Carlton]

This article seems to explain it pretty well. It echoes much of what was said here:

https://screenrant.com/why-western-movies-stopped-being-popular-hollywood/


One series that hasn't been mentioned here yet that I thought was excellent was The English. It's on Amazon.

[cockerpunk]

there are still great westerns being made.

the harder they fall
3:10 to yuma (new one)
ballad of buster scruggs
the wind (you'll like this one dixie)
deadwood

i think with better historical accuracy, much of what made the 1960s westerns popular kinda died. the west wasn't feel good children's america, it was largely horrifying to everyone. but its been replaced by much better drama, so i dont think we lost anything.

[recycled sixtie]

I think the Lone Ranger was omitted. That was in the 1950's. Of course there was his sidekick Tonto. In my mind Westerns have lost their appeal. The best were Clint Eastwood and as mentioned above Tombstone.

The modern Lone Ranger now is Trump. He would have fired Tonto.

[stevej37]

I've probably seen almost every Western Movie made. They're mostly all good, but my favorite is still 'Open Range'.
It also contains the best 'shoot-out' of all Westerns....IMO

[HobieMarty]

I have Blazing Saddles on Blu-ray and it has some interviews and extra stuff on it. Can you just imagine that movie being made today?

I loved watching Roy Rogers when I was a kid and anything with John Wayne in it.
Later on, I liked to watch reruns of Rawhide!!!
Tombstone is a good one but ever since I was a kid, my favorite western is The War Wagon. I will watch that movie any time it is on TV.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk