Cheyenne TV Series

Cheyenne is an American black-and-white television Western series comprising 108 episodes broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) between 1955 and 1962. As one of the formative programmes in the development of the television Western, it marked several industry firsts: it was the first hour-long Western series on American television, the first hour-long dramatic series with continuing characters to last for more than one season, and the first original television drama produced by a major Hollywood studio — Warner Bros — that was not adapted from existing film properties. The series inaugurated a long line of Warner Bros television productions and became one of the most recognisable Westerns of its era.

Synopsis and Characterisation

The programme stars Clint Walker as Cheyenne Bodie, a physically imposing yet soft-spoken cowboy who wanders the post-Civil War American West in pursuit of justice. Each episode presents Bodie as a heroic drifter intervening in conflicts that range from outlaw encounters to frontier disputes. A consistent theme is his moral code, balancing personal strength with compassion. The opening episode, Mountain Fortress, concerns outlaws posing as benefactors and features James Garner, who was briefly considered for the lead role before Walker’s casting.
Narrative continuity across episodes is limited. Although Bodie’s origins are referenced at various points, details vary, with some accounts suggesting he was raised by a Cheyenne tribe after his parents’ deaths and others indicating he grew up in a settler household. This inconsistency was characteristic of Western television storytelling in the period.

Cast and Recurring Performers

• Clint Walker as Cheyenne Bodie (107 episodes)
• L. Q. Jones appeared as Smitty Smith in early episodes
• Guest and bit roles were filled by a recurring pool of character actors:
  • Clyde Howdy (49 episodes)
  • Chuck Hicks (15 episodes)
  • Lane Chandler (10 episodes)

Although the series had a central protagonist, it did not maintain a broad ensemble of continuing characters. Instead, guest actors frequently appeared in varied roles, supporting the anthology-like structure of each week’s narrative.

Production Background

Cheyenne began within the umbrella of Warner Bros Presents, a rotating “wheel” series which alternated weekly between Cheyenne, Casablanca, and Kings Row. After its first year, Cheyenne was taken out of the wheel format and placed under producer Roy Huggins, who implemented stylistic and structural revisions that contributed to the show’s success.
The programme utilised opening and closing themes in its first season composed by Jerry Livingston and Mack David. Once outside the Warner Bros Presents framework, the Lava–Jones theme Bodie was used exclusively. Production personnel included Arthur W. Silver, Sidney Biddel, Burt Dunne, William L. Stuart, and Oren W. Haglund, with Harry Blackledge responsible for wardrobe and Gordon Bau for makeup.
A significant interruption occurred in 1958–59, when Clint Walker left the series during a contract dispute. His grievances included demands for higher residuals, an end to Warner Bros’ claim on half of his personal appearance earnings, and greater artistic freedom in recording music. During Walker’s absence, Warner Bros introduced Bronco Layne, played by Ty Hardin, as a near-substitute protagonist. Upon Walker’s return, Bronco was spun off into its own successful series.
Despite resuming his role, Walker later expressed frustration at portraying the same character for an extended period, describing himself as feeling “like a caged animal”.

Broadcast History

The series aired during prime-time as follows:

• September 1955 – September 1959: Tuesdays, 7:30–8:30 pm
• September 1959 – December 1962: Mondays, 7:30–8:30 pm

Its popularity was reflected in Nielsen ratings, where it achieved:

• No. 13 in the 1957–58 season
• No. 18 in 1958–59
• No. 17 in 1959–60
• No. 28 in 1960–61

These rankings demonstrate its sustained appeal during the peak of the television Western genre.

Home Media Releases

Warner Home Video issued a Best Of compilation in 2005 featuring episodes from seasons one, two, and six. The complete first season has been released on Region 1 DVD, while seasons two through seven were made available through the Warner Archive Collection as manufacture-on-demand DVDR sets. The seventh and final season was released in November 2013.

Critical Reception and Awards

Cheyenne received notable recognition during its run. It was a co-winner of the 1957 Golden Globe Award for Television Achievement, acknowledging its contribution to the evolving medium. Additionally, Robert Watts received a 1957 Emmy nomination for Best Editing of a Film for Television.
Contemporary reviews praised its blend of action, character-driven storytelling, and high production values, particularly compared with other early television Westerns.

Spinoffs, Crossovers, and Legacy

The expansive Warner Bros television universe enabled Cheyenne to connect with several related programmes, including Bronco, Maverick, and Sugarfoot. At the end of season six, an episode titled A Man Named Ragan served as a pilot for The Dakotas, intended as a midseason replacement. However, because Cheyenne Bodie did not appear, the linkage remained largely thematic.
Clint Walker reprised his role in two later productions:

• The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991), which reunited numerous stars from classic Western series
• A 1995 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues episode, Gunfighters, featuring a time-travel narrative