MovieChat Forums > The High Chaparral (1967) Discussion > Best Western?

Best Western?

posted 17 years ago by somic
15 replies | jump to latest

I loved this show as a kid. My sister was in love with Manolito Montoya. I thought Buck was cool. Whenever he went to the bar, He always asked for Red Eye. Just what was Red Eye?

I remember in the late 60s Mom and Dad and all us kids went on a family trip. We visited the set of the (High Chaparral). I'll never forget it. I still have a photo of my sister and I on a wagon used in the show. Great memories.

"I was plumb horn swoggled.By the time I got back to my car a plumber swoggled my horn." Bob Hope

[–] Dressed 16 years ago

This one was never sent at the time here in norway. Most other were(Gunsmoke, Laramie, Bonanza)
But it was sent in the 90's, and it have to be my favourite even if it came so late

If it was on DVD, I would concider buying it.

D

[–] deforest-1 11 years ago

I would say the early 'Gunsmoke' just edges it, though Buck, as played by Cameron Mitchell, should have got a prize for best character. Others great, gritty westerns like 'The Outcasts', 'Cimarron Strip' and others that were cut short by sponsors must also be considered.

[–] jane1-1 16 years ago

Yep, somic, we loved it too. In fact, I can remember kids carrying High Chaparral lunch boxes to school. Quite a few of us were really geared up on Fridays. We couldn't wait to get home, do our work, eat supper and then watch "The High Chaparral" and "Name of the Game."
And red-eye? That's a slang term for cheap, strong whiskey.

[–] crazylayupper23 16 years ago

We loved the show as well. The whole family would watch together. My favorite was Blue, he was my hero!

[–] somic 16 years ago

Those were simpler times. I only wish they made shows like that today.

"I was plumb horn swoggled.By the time I got back to my car a plumber swoggled my horn." Bob Hope

[–] jane1-1 16 years ago

I do too! In fact, our local NBC affiliate ran "Truth or Consequences" at 7:00, before joining the network at 7:30 for "The High Chaparral." And if you remember, "Star Trek" ran at 10:00 on Friday night right after "The Name of the Game." Just look at the variety! A game show at 7:00, a fantastic western from 7:30-8:30, an adventure series from 8:30-10:00, then a sci-fi program from 10:00 to local news time. My mind still boggles at such a schedule! And that was every week for an entire season!
It astounds me how television improved from its inception to this point, and deteriorated to the sour, sickening dreck we see today. Incredible, and sad. It just goes to show us how limited perspicacity does not always indicate earning potential, or status.
(After I posted this and was reading the posts again, I couldn't help but notice that my comments seemed geared toward only one poster. Dressed and crazylayupper23, I deeply apologize!)

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 12 years ago

And a season was 26 episodes back in the day, IIRC.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ShadowsGathered 10 years ago

THANK you! That's what I've been trying to tell people these days when they tell us how "lucky" we are to have 13 to 20 episodes of a show a season! I'm sorry, but I'm not lucky to see 13 eps per year... I grew up on 26 a year, with reruns right after that... ummmm... sorry, I forgot where I was going with this.

~ the hardest thing in this world... is to live in it ~

[–] slackersmom 10 years ago

Just popping in with additional information. I happen to watch Perry Mason once in a while, which ran from about 1958-1967 or something. It was nine seasons, and some of those seasons had 28, 29, or 30 episodes.* Not only that, but back in those days, without a zillion commercials, each episode was about 50-52 minutes, compared to about 42 minutes today.

Can you imagine??? Making that many more episodes per season, and each episode lasting ten minutes longer?? Today's actors are so spoiled!! Put them on a cable network with 13 shows per "season" (sometimes over a two-year period) and they think they're overworked!!

*I just checked, and the first season of Perry Mason had 39--yes, I said thirty-nine--episodes.

[–] SuCue 10 years ago

A bit late to comment, but we used to do the same thing on Fridays. "High Chaparral" followed by "The Name of the Game" and then "Star Trek." It was the greatest TV night line-up EVER.

[–] skiddoo 11 years ago

Times always seem simpler in retrospect, especially when you experienced them as a child and didn't know what was going on. :)

In reality those were extremely complex times with massive social change and upheaval.

[–] somic 11 years ago

No one is saying the times, in regards to social changes were simple. It's all about television and the entertainment industry. In those days they told simple stories that entertained. Westerns were huge.

People loved the escape, if only for an hour, from the complex world around them. A time to give your mind a rest. Today some of people behind most forms of entertainment have used it as a tool to make a political or social statement.

I miss the simple escape that entertainment used to provide. We fell in love with these characters on the screen. That's why we remember them. And no it's not just because I remember these programs as a child. I have discovered many programs and films as an adult that have the same effect on me.

This is only my personal view. It may mean nothing to you. All the best.

"WHY SOILTENLY!"
-Curly Howard
www.sunstarstudios.com

[–] deforest-1 11 years ago

And to think old Bob needed a team of comedy writers to dredge up 'jokes' like that.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 6 years ago

❤️️
I loved this show. Manolito was also my favorite.
Another western I liked around the time this show was ending was Lancer. I had crushes on both Scott and Johnny.