TV Home(s) on the Range Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bonanza

After a long week of busting broncos, chopping firewood, doing chores around the ranch, and chasing strangers and trespassers off their land (The Ponderosa Ranch), the Cartwright boys, Adam (Pernell Roberts), Hoss (Dan Blocker) and Little Joe (Michael Landon) liked to ride into Virginia City for some much needed relaxation.

Virginia City offered a saloon where they can get a cold beer, a good poker game, and delightful ladies for companionship.

The family patriarch Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) often favored relaxing by sitting in the den of his huge ranch home reading a good book.

One of television's longest running Western series, "Bonanza" aired for 14 seasons (1959-1973), with 431 episodes.

Answer: The Big Valley

Located just a two hour ride (on horseback or buckboard) from the bustling town of Stockton, California, was the expansive 30,000 acre ranch of the area's richest and most powerful family.

The Barkley Ranch, known for raising grazing cattle, a logging camp operations, lush citrus groves, and profitable mineral mines was headed by the widowed family matriarch, Victoria Barkley (Barbara Stanwyck). Oldest son Jarrod (Richard Long), an attorney, tended to family business and legal matters, as well as his law office in Stockton. Middle son Nick (Peter Breck) managed the day to day operations of the ranch, assisted by his young step-brother, Heath (Lee Majors). The only female sibling Audra (Linda Evans), an independent soul and expert equestrian, assisted her mother in running the family's huge mansion.

"The Big Valley" aired for four seasons (1965-1969), with 112 episodes.

Answer: Gunsmoke

Bank robbers, gunslingers, cattle rustlers, and bar brawlers knew to stay clear of Dodge City, Kansas. Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) kept a tight rein on activities in and around the town and maintained law and order.

"Gunsmoke" became a major staple in television history for a Western series, remaining on the air for 20 seasons (1955-1975), yielding 635 episodes.

Over the run of the series, Dodge City townspeople who praised the work of Marshal Matt Dillon included Long Branch Saloon proprietress Miss Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), kindly Galen "Doc" Adams (Milburn Stone), Matt's trusted sidekick Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver), town blacksmith Quint Asper (Burt Reynolds), Barkeeper Sam Noonan (Glenn Strange), deputy marshal Festus Hagen (Ken Curtis), part-time deputy Thad Greenwood (Roger Ewing), and gunsmith/deputy Newly O'Brien (Buck Taylor).

Answer: The Virginian

The Shiloh Ranch was located near the town of Medicine Bow, Wyoming. No one ever knew the true name of the tough, no-nonsense ranch foreman. He was known only as "The Virginian".

James Drury starred in the title role of the hit Western series for the entire nine season (1962-1971) run of the show. The series featured 249 episodes, and was the first 90-minute Western television series.

Answer: The Rifleman

Following the American Civil War, Union veteran Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors), a widower raising his young son Mark (Johnny Crawford), purchased a ranch just outside of the town of North Fork.

McCain was known as a hard working honest rancher, and was known for his expert proficiency with his weapon of choice, a modified Winchester 44-40 1892 model rifle with a large ring lever.

When needed, he was always available to assist his neighbors and the ageing town marshal, Micah Torrance (Paul Fix).

"The Rifleman" aired for five seasons (1958-1963) with 168 half-hour episodes, all filmed in black and white.

Answer: Hec Ramsey

Former "Have Gun-Will Travel" star Richard Boone starred in the title role about a turn-of-the-century former gunslinger/Deputy U.S. Territorial Marshal turned deputy police chief of the small town of New Prospect, Oklahoma. The series was set in 1903, during the dawn of the new crime fighting field of criminology.

Hec Ramsey developed a keen interest, and became one of the first experts in using the state-of-the-art methods of scientific investigation as a tool to more accurately investigate and solve crimes.
In addition to his traditional sidearm ( a single action, short barrel revolver carried in a covered holster), Ramsey armed himself with a fingerprint kit, a microscope, magnifying glasses, scales, a personal criminal identification file (listing photos and information on outlaw he had previously encountered) and his newly acquired knowledge of ballistics and forensics.

Using his scientific tools over use of his gun, Ramsey was effective is solving crimes, to the delight of his once skeptical boss, Chief of Police Oliver B Stamp (Rick Lenz), a younger, inexperienced lawman and former school teacher, who appreciated the wisdom, knowledge, and past experiences of his deputy chief.
Chief Stamp, who insisted that his men referred to him as "chief or sir" was focused and determined to change the towns marshal office into a modern police department, leaving the wild West images of the "shoot first" lawman behind.

"Hec Ramsey" aired ten 90-minute episodes over two seasons (1972-1974), with five episodes during each season.
"Hec Ramsey" was part of the "NBC Mystery Movie" wheel, airing an episode once every four weeks. "Hec Ramsey" alternated air dates with three other series - "McCloud" starring Dennis Weaver, "Columbo" starring Peter Falk, and "McMillian & Wife" starring Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James.

Answer: Dr. Quinn

Jane Seymour starred in the title role as Dr. Michaela "Doctor Mike" Quinn in the Western drama "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman".

In search of a challenge and the adventure of life in the Old West, Dr. Quinn left her practice in Boston, Massachusetts, and relocated to the small town of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1867, to set up a new medical practice.
When her assistant, a midwife named Charlotte (Diane Ladd) is bitten by a rattlesnake, on her deathbed, she ask Dr. Quinn to look after her three young children.
Dr. Quinn manages to adjust to being a new mother of three, maintaining a social life, and convincing the townspeople that an Eastern educated physician could be successfully handle a medical practice in their small town.

"Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" aired for six seasons (1993-1998), with 149 60-minute episodes and two made-for-television movies.

Answer: Lawman

During the late 1880s, the good citizens of Laramie, Wyoming could rest assured in knowing that their town was under the protection of Marshal Dan Troop (John Russell), their dedicated town lawman.

Marshal Troop was assisted by his young and enthusiastic deputy, Johnny McKay (Peter Brown).
Troop's dual mission was to maintain law and order while serving as to McKay and teaching him how to become a disciplined professional lawman.

"Lawman" aired for four seasons (1958-1962), with 156 half hour episodes.

Answer: Hotel de Paree

Earl Holliman starred as "Sundance", the town marshal of Georgetown, Colorado, on the 1959 Western series "Hotel de Paree".

Sundance, a former gunfighter convicted of a crime, rode into Georgetown after spending 17 years in prison.
During an unwanted and unavoidable altercation with the town villain, Sundance is forced to kill the man in a gunfight. A group of townspeople approached him, urging him to accept the position as town marshal. He accepted the job and also became part owner of the town's hotel, the Hotel de Paree.

Sundance's trademark was the black Stetson hat he wore, with a string of polished silver dollar coins mounted on the hat band.
Sundance was known to use his hat band as a means to momentarily blind an adversary during a confrontation, giving him an advantage.

"Hotel de Paree" aired for one season (1959-1960) with 33 episodes.

Answer: Rango

Deep Wells, Texas was considered the quietest and most crime free outpost of the area under the jurisdiction of the legendary Texas Rangers.
What better place to assign the most inept member or the agency.

Tim Conway starred as a well meaning by clumsy, accident prone Texas Ranger named Rango.

Rango's immediate supervisor, Captain Horton (Norman Adler) felt the assignment would be perfect for keeping Rango out of trouble and safe. The fact that Rango's father was a Texas Ranger Commander made Horton's desire to fire Rango from the Texas Ranger Service a career problem for him, so assigning Rango to a post where he could do no harm to himself or anyone else seemed to be a solution.
Rango was assisted in his assignment by a Native American Indian scout called Pink Cloud (Guy Marks), who was very articulate but somewhat cowardly.

"Rango", one of the few Western comedy series, aired for nine months in 1967, broadcasting 17 half hour episodes before being canceled.

"Rango" holds the unenviable distinction of being ranked #47 on the "TV Guide" list of "50 Worst Shows of All Time". in their 2002 poll.