Lawman: A Companion to the Classic TV Western Series (paperback)
ISBN 9781629335261
The Warner Bros. western series Lawman starring John Russell, Peter Brown, and Peggie Castle originally broadcast on ABC-TV airing 156 new episodes between September 1958 and June 1962. As played by steel-eyed John Russell, Dan Troop is a no-nonsense marshal who has little patience for outlaws or hypocrites, but will stand up for underdogs and outsiders. He also displays a warmer side with his mentoring of his young deputy (Peter Brown) and, beginning in the second season, in his relation- ship with Peggie Castle’s beautiful Lily Merrill.
Lawman: A Companion to the Classic TV Western Series, the first book to focus fully on this show, re-familiarizes veteran viewers and introduces new fans to this exceptional television western and its three-dimensional leads. It features a Foreword by Will “Sugarfoot” Hutchins, a discussion of why Lawman stands out from other television westerns, a history of its creation, episode summary capsules, a “Recollections” chapter with recent interviews of Lawman alumni, and photos covering the show’s four years.
Bill Levy is the author of John Ford: A Bio-Bibliography, Beyond the Beach: The Wit and Wisdom of Nevil Shute, and Lest We Forget: The John Ford Stock Company as well as numerous columns, articles, and stories on films, television, literature, and contemporary America. He resides in Sarasota, Florida.
Q&A with Bill Levy, the author of the BearManor book, Lawman: A Companion To The Classic Western Series.
Out of all the TV westerns of the 1950s and 1960s, why write a book about LAWMAN?
When I was a teenager growing up on Long Island, New York in the late 1950s and early 1960s, I loved television westerns. My favorite series was Warner Bros. ABC-TV’s Lawman (1958-1962) starring John Russell as Laramie’s Marshal Dan Troop and Peter Brown as Deputy Johnny McKay.
I identified with Peter Brown’s loyal deputy, open to learning the ropes so he could become a successful peace officer. I admired John Russell’s laconic marshal who had little patience for outlaws or hypocrites, but would stand up for underdogs and outsiders. Tough Marshal Troop also displayed a warmer side for his young deputy and, beginning in the second season, in his relationship with Peggie Castle’s beautiful Lily Merrill.
It's been five years since the Lawman book was published. Why discuss it now?
I have been genuinely surprised with the interest in the book and – more importantly - in the show. Many older viewers who experienced the series during its original run and many younger audiences who have recently been introduced to the show on cable and on DVD have contacted me and all of them have raved about the show. There’s just something about Lawman that touches people.
Why do you think this is so?
My book discusses numerous reasons why Lawman has such “Legs” and is so appealing sixty years after it first came out. The contributions of the three leads were crucial in the creation of a special viewing experience as were the tight scripts, superior photography, and addictive background music. Actress Jan Shepard, who was in the show and who I interviewed for the book, recalled the positive and supportive comradery of the cast, the expertise of the wardrobe and make-up crews, and the professionalism of the music and photography departments.
One might say that Lawman was Gunsmoke, The Lone Ranger, and Father Knows Best all rolled into one. Or as John Russell surmised, “Lawman was a pure western that employed standard weapons rather than gold-headed canes or tricked-up rifles. Its stories began with ‘A,’ proceeded straight to ‘B,’ and stopped neatly at ‘C’ without any fussy complications.”