Hopalong Cassidy (TV series)
First Western TV series, starring William Boyd.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Hopalong Cassidy was a Western TV series that aired on NBC from 1949 to 1952. It starred William Boyd as the fictional gunslinger Hopalong Cassidy, a character originally created by writer Clarence E. Mulford. The show holds the distinction of being the first network Western television series. It initially aired edited versions of the 66 Hopalong Cassidy films Boyd had starred in between 1935 and 1948. Later, the series shifted to producing original episodes with a new supporting cast, including Edgar Buchanan as Hopalong's sidekick Red Connors. Boyd created and produced the show himself.
The series was a major hit, especially with children, and sparked a wave of other Western TV shows, such as *The Gene Autry Show* and *The Roy Rogers Show*. It also proved extremely successful in merchandising, notably producing the first TV series-themed lunchbox.
The Hopalong Cassidy film series had ended in 1948 due to falling revenues, and Boyd, then 53, was seen as a star from a bygone era. Believing the character had a future on television, he spent $350,000—selling or mortgaging nearly everything he owned—to buy the rights to his old films. In November 1948, he convinced NBC's Los Angeles station to air one film for a $200 rental fee. At a time when most TV programs ran only five, 15, or 30 minutes, airing a feature film was a special event. The broadcast was so successful that NBC rented the entire film library and aired the movies nationally.
While those films were airing, Boyd quickly assembled a cast and crew to produce new half-hour episodes for NBC. *Hopalong Cassidy* premiered on June 24, 1949, becoming the first network Western TV series, beating *The Lone Ranger* by several months. The rushed production schedule meant Boyd's film co-star Andy Clyde couldn't rearrange his commitments, though he continued working with Boyd on radio and children's records. Edgar Buchanan stepped in as the new TV sidekick, Red Connors, a character from the original stories and early films. The show's theme music was composed by Nacio Herb Brown (music) and L. Wolfe Gilbert (lyrics).
The show ranked number 7 in the 1949 Nielsen ratings, number 9 in the 1950–1951 season, and number 28 in 1951–1952.
The series and character were so popular that Hopalong Cassidy appeared on the covers of national magazines like *Look*, *Life*, and *Time*.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Western
- Starring
- William Boyd
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Company
- William Boyd Productions / B.B. Productions
- Network
- NBC
- Last Aired
- 1952
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Hopalong Cassidy film series ended in 1948 due to declining revenues, and its star William Boyd, then 53, was regarded as a film star of the past. However, Boyd thought the character might have a future in television and spent $350,000 to obtain the rights to his old films, selling or mortgaging almost everything he owned to raise the money. In November 1948, he persuaded the Los Angeles NBC television station to air one Hopalong Cassidy film for a $200 rental fee; the broadcast was so successful that NBC rented the entire library and broadcast the films on its national network. While the feature films were airing, Boyd assembled a cast and crew to produce new half-hour films for television, again for NBC. Hopalong Cassidy began airing on June 24, 1949, and was the first network Western television series, predating The Lone Ranger by several months. The production schedule was so rushed that his movie co-star Andy Clyde could not rearrange his schedule; Edgar Buchanan was cast as the new TV sidekick, Red Connors. The theme music was written by Nacio Herb Brown (music) and L. Wolfe Gilbert (lyrics).
Reader's Guide
Hopalong Cassidy was a hit, especially among children, and helped lead to a wave of other Western TV series, including The Gene Autry Show and The Roy Rogers Show. The show ranked number 7 in the 1949 Nielsen ratings, number 9 in the 1950–1951 season, and number 28 in 1951–1952. Its influence extended to merchandising: in 1950, more than 100 companies manufactured $70 million of Hopalong Cassidy products, including children's dinnerware, pillows, roller skates, soap, wristwatches, and jackknives. The series also spawned the first TV series-themed lunchbox, causing Aladdin lunch box sales to jump from 50,000 to 600,000 units per year. Boyd earned millions from the series, including $800,000 in 1950 alone, mostly from merchandise licensing and endorsement deals. The character appeared on the cover of national magazines such as Look, Life, and Time. The success inspired juvenile television westerns such as The Range Rider, Tales of the Texas Rangers, Annie Oakley, The Gene Autry Show, and The Roy Rogers Show. The series was later released on DVD by Timeless Media Group in 2011 and aired on Cozi TV and Encore's western channels in the 2010s.
Did You Know?
- William Boyd spent $350,000 to obtain the rights to his old Hopalong Cassidy films, selling or mortgaging almost everything he owned.
- The 1951 Christmas song 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' mentions 'A pair of Hopalong boots' as a gift children will want.
More in Nielsen ratings winners 1-24
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