I’m too young to remember the 60’s but I’ve seen some of the TV shows from that era and it looks like many mainstream television stars had a lot of fun, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. being a good example.
Were Robert Vaughn and David McCallum the stars of just one of many American series inspired by the success of the British secret agent James Bond? This article in the Los Angeles Times would seem to confirm that listing the recently re-made Get Smart and sci-fi/western crossover ‘Wild Wild West’ as two more 60s spy shows.
The Times interviews Robert Conrad who played US Secret Service agent James West as a collectors edition 27-disc-box set goes in sale stating that
when the show was originally pitched to the networks, it was described as “James Bond on horseback.”
For 4 years on CBS James West and Artemus Gordon acted as agents of President Ulysses S. Grant taking their private train through the west to fight evil.
If you’ve seen the truly awful remake starring Will Smith and Kevin Kline you’ll know about the half science fiction / half western, packed with gadgets approach.
I’d like to see just how the original TV show compares but it would appear the reissue is only on sale in the US for now. Are there fans out there who can confirm just how much fun the original was to watch?
