Gunsmoke or Bonanza

[BRDof3]

The good old days of westerns on TV. Which one was best?

[DaveInTN]

I voted for Bonanza if for no other reason than the theme song rocked.

[des1954]

I didn't care for either Bonanza or Gunsmoke. But I loved "Wild, Wild West"! (Okay - not a western - but it took place in the west)

[BRDof3]

I didn't care for either Bonanza or Gunsmoke. But I loved "Wild, Wild West"! (Okay - not a western - but it took place in the west)

Ah man! Forgot about Jim West, I loved that show.

[vick]

I voted Bonanza because I thought Little Joe and Adam were cute. I loved Wild Wild West because I thought Jim West was cute. I had my priorities right. :rotfl:

[Colston69]

I voted Bonanza because I thought Little Joe and Adam were cute. I loved Wild Wild West because I thought Jim West was cute. I had my priorities right. :rotfl:

Hoss was cuter. ;)

[Judy in Texas]

I didn't watch the westerns much. We only had one TV and it wasn't turned on much... but, I LOVED to hear Frankie Laine sing the Rawhide song.

[clkelley]

I watched Bonanza the most on TV when it was on when I was a kid, but now I love listening to Gunsmoke on Radio Classics on Sirius/XM :-)

[auntie]

I didn't care for either Bonanza or Gunsmoke. But I loved "Wild, Wild West"! (Okay - not a western - but it took place in the west)

Oh God, Wild, Wild West...my younger brother loved that show. (figures, he turned out to be such a sneaky bas..., wait..best not to go there :sad2:)..

Brings to mind one of my husbands favorite family memories. Allow me to share :wizard:

The show was on in repeats when I first started dating my husband(back in the old days of 1975). Bob was picking me up(poor choice of words):sad2: for a date one night.:car:.
He walks into the house, and in the living room there sits my 12 year old brother on the couch watching his favorite show.. Wild, Wild, West and he is picking his nose. I mean as if he were digging for burried treasure. :eek: (I was mortified)..my dad happens to walk into the room at the exact same time. He see's the picker and he see's me, shooting him the "big eyes" (pleadingly saying..do something..but be discreet). No such luck.:sad2:
My dad says loud as can be
"Hey son...pick me a winner"....:faint:
Bob..he thought it was hilarious..:lmao: At which point dad turns to my then date, and asks him if he wants a drink..:drinking1....and he didn't mean water. :rolleyes1

Yep...welcome to the family. :rolleyes2

Oh..and Bob took the drink (and then some). We didn't wind up going out. He wound up watching M.A.S.H. episodes with my father. :headache:


Oh..and I'd rather watch Bonanza.

[ftwildernessguy]

Bonanza was too girly for me, as is evident by the above references to how "cute" the characters were. Western guys were not supposed to be cute - they were rugged and they smelled bad and they had a bunch of really bad habits - they were real men. I always related to Festus - my kind of guy. Festus wasn't afraid of what people thought of him. Heck, he even rode a mule. I also had a crush on Miss Kitty, but I can't figure out if she was the only good bar girl in the west or if it was a front, and what was the relationship with Matt - platonic or more behind the scenes? I think Doc was light on his feet. Festus was just plain frustrated. I don't know, maybe he liked his mule a little too much. What the heck was the mule's name, anyway? It's buried in the deep recesses of my brain someplace, and will work its way to the surface sooner or later I suppose.

[Judy in Texas]

I don't know, maybe he liked his mule a little too much. What the heck was the mule's name, anyway? It's buried in the deep recesses of my brain someplace, and will work its way to the surface sooner or later I suppose.

According to Google is was "Ruth". Good thing my brothers didn't know it. Ruth is my middle name and they wouldn't have let me live it down. I had a hard enough time when I got a Columbus Zoo T-shirt with a picture of Colo, the first gorilla born in captivity. They wanted to know how I got my picture printed on the shirt. I loved that shirt but I never wore it again. :sad1:

[BRDof3]

Bonanza was too girly for me, as is evident by the above references to how "cute" the characters were. Western guys were not supposed to be cute - they were rugged and they smelled bad and they had a bunch of really bad habits - they were real men. I always related to Festus - my kind of guy. Festus wasn't afraid of what people thought of him. Heck, he even rode a mule. I also had a crush on Miss Kitty, but I can't figure out if she was the only good bar girl in the west or if it was a front, and what was the relationship with Matt - platonic or more behind the scenes? I think Doc was light on his feet. Festus was just plain frustrated. I don't know, maybe he liked his mule a little too much. What the heck was the mule's name, anyway? It's buried in the deep recesses of my brain someplace, and will work its way to the surface sooner or later I suppose.

:rotfl2:

[stacktester]

Bonanza was too girly for me, as is evident by the above references to how "cute" the characters were. Western guys were not supposed to be cute - they were rugged and they smelled bad and they had a bunch of really bad habits - they were real men. I always related to Festus - my kind of guy. Festus wasn't afraid of what people thought of him. Heck, he even rode a mule. I also had a crush on Miss Kitty, but I can't figure out if she was the only good bar girl in the west or if it was a front, and what was the relationship with Matt - platonic or more behind the scenes? I think Doc was light on his feet. Festus was just plain frustrated. I don't know, maybe he liked his mule a little too much. What the heck was the mule's name, anyway? It's buried in the deep recesses of my brain someplace, and will work its way to the surface sooner or later I suppose.

Festus was a good ol guy. I liked him to. His famous saying was always "now what in tarnation Matthew" ................lol

[Colston69]

So how come I can't vote for The Big Valley?

[auntie]

The Big Valley! :thumbsup2
Jared, Heath, and Audra.
Didn't Audra turn into Crystal Carrinngton?..:wizard:

[Born 2 Fish]

I voted other,,and that would be "Rawhide"




Rawhide was the first reality ever filmed,,bet ya didnt know that, didja ? :rotfl2:

[2goofycampers]

The Big Valley! :thumbsup2
Jared, Heath, and Audra.
Didn't Audra turn into Crystal Carrinngton?..:wizard:

Don't forget Nick and Mom.

Remember Hondo?

[jimmytammy]

Gunsmoke, hands down for me, was the best western of its time. Remember watching it in primetime with my family. Festus was a great character, Matthew was a rugged but gentle man, Doc was a no holds barred but compassionate man, Kitty was the kind of lady you could bring home and not get scorned by your folks. Wish they would make shows like that again

[auntie]

How about The Rifleman? Anyone remember that? Chuck Connors as a single widowed dad raising his son on the ranch.
I was a baby when it was on in primetime, but I do remember watching the repeats after school when I was a kid.

[auntie]

Don't forget Nick and Mom.

Remember Hondo?


Ahh..that's right Nick!
I forget what was the mom's character's name?.:confused:.I know it was played by Barbara Stanwick

[2goofycampers]

Ahh..that's right Nick!
I forget what was the mom's character's name?.:confused:.I know it was played by Barbara Stanwick

Victoria

[4mickey2]

all i can remember is the cool horse little joe rode on bonanza. other than that, i think i am out of this conversation...

[Wistful_Thinking]

1) Have Gun Will Travel. Richard Boone was the Best!
2) Rawhide. Clint Eastwood and Eric Fleming.Great stories.
3) Wanted Dead or Alive. Steve McQueen, need I say more.
4) Gunsmoke. The early, 1/2 hour, B&W episodes. Miss Kitty was Hot back then!

[Donna]

Definitely Gunsmoke for us! i LOVE matt dillon, he's such a gentle giant, love his blue steely eyes. always wished they'd do more with him and kitty. we still watch it when it's on Encore Western. I follow him on his website to see how he's doing.
also loved big valley. never could get in to bonanza but the rifleman is pretty good. hated these shows as a kid, but love and appreciate them as an adult.

[RocklandRVers]

I voted for Bonanza because I liked Hoss. Being a big guy myself I related to him. People saw him as this big strong tough guy to be feared but in reality he was a kind, compassionate, huggable teddy bear. Then again when he got riled up, he could kick anyone's butt and didn't hesitate doing so.