T.V. Western Theme Songs Quiz | TV Theme Songs

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Paladin, Paladin, where do you roam? Paladin, Paladin, far, far from home." Which old television Western starring Richard Boone as Paladin began with these lyrics?

Answer: Have Gun, Will Travel

"'Have Gun, Will Travel' reads the card of a man
A knight without armor in a savage land."

"Have Gun, Will Travel" ran from 1957-1963 on the CBS network. The storyline featured a rather out-of-the-ordinary gunfighter; a man who was educated and had served during the U.S. Civil War as a Union general. Those who requested his help were instructed to "wire Paladin" at his San Francisco location.

2. Another somewhat unusual character from the Old West was based on a real-life man from back east. "Back when the west was very young There lived a man named - " Who was this man who "wore a cane and derby hat"?

Answer: Bat Masterson

"A man of steel, the stories say
But women's eyes all glanced his way
A gambler's game he always won,
His name was Bat - Bat Masterson"

Gene Barry, the star of "Bat Masterson" helped to perpetuate the legend that the real Bat Masterson needed a cane to walk for the rest of his life, after an altercation with a soldier as they fought over a young lady. The program aired from 1958-1961 on NBC.

Among the real Masterson's actual accomplishments; he was known as a buffalo hunter, a U.S. Marshal, an Army scout, a fisherman, a gambler, a frontier lawman, as well as being a sports editor for the New York Morning Telegraph.

3. Bret, Bart, and Beau all featured on this old T.V. Western. Can you recall the program based on these lyrics? "Who is the tall, dark stranger there? ---- is the name. Ridin' the trail to who knows where; Luck is his companion, Gambling is his game."

Answer: Maverick

"Riverboat, ring your bell,
Fare thee well, Annabel.
Luck is the lady that he loves the best.
Natchez to New Orleans;
Livin' on jacks and queens,
Maverick is a legend of the west."

"Maverick" aired on ABC TV from 1957 until 1962. James Garner, Jack Kelly and later Roger Moore, each played the role of one of the Mavericks; Bret, Bart and Beau Maverick, respectively.

4. Here we must encounter "blanks" in order to prevent a dead-giveaway in the clue. What Western series included these lyrics in the opening title? "----, ----, easy lopin', cattle ropin' ----, Carefree as the tumbleweeds, a'joggin' along with a heart full of song And a rifle and a volume of the law."

Answer: Sugarfoot

Will Hutchins, who portrayed the character of an Eastern lawyer, Tom Brewster, got the sobriquet "Sugarfoot" due to his image as a man who sadly lacked in any cowboy skills. A "tenderfoot", but even more so, his character went into saloon's and ordered sarsaparilla, with a touch of sherry, but was always informed that the bar didn't keep sherry, so he merely ordered the drink without alcohol.

"Sugarfoot" was presented on ABC TV from 1957-61.

5. Somewhere in the middle of this Western theme song, one can find the following lyrics. Do you remember this program that aired on NBC T.V.? "With a houseful of friends where the rainbow ends, how rich can a fellow be? On this land we put our brand, Cartwright is the name, fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claim. Here in the west we're livin' the best, ----"

Answer: Bonanza

"We chased lady luck, 'til we finally struck Bonanza.
With a gun and a rope and a hat full of hope, planted a family tree.
We got hold of a pot of gold, Bonanza.
With a horse and a saddle, and a range full of cattle, how rich can a fellow be?"

On this land we put our brand, Cartwright is the name, fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claim.
Here in the West, we're livin' the best - Bonanza, if anyone fights any one of us, he's go a fight with me - Bonanza."

"Bonanza" was a long-running series that aired on NBC from 1959 to 1973. Only "Gunsmoke", on CBS had a longer run in the Westerns genre than "Bonanza", airing for 20 seasons.

(These lyrics were only used in the pilot episode, yet the tune was played each week as the program aired).

6. This television series theme song ENDED the program with the following lyrics. Who were the man and woman that hosted this program on NBC TV from 1951 until 1957? "Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then. Who cares about the clouds when we're together? Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather. Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again."

Answer: Roy and Dale

"The Roy Rogers Show", featuring Roy Rogers and his wife, Dale Evans, had begun as a radio program, but was introduced to television in 1951. The program appealed to both children and adults alike, with serious marketing geared towards the younger generation. For years kids bugged their parents for items related to the program, from lunch boxes to play sets to comic books.

7. This 1950s television Western asked several questions as the opening credits hit the screen. Can you tell me the word(s) that would correctly fill in the blanks? "----, ---- where will you be camping tonight? Lonely man, ----, will your heart stay free and light? Dream ---- of a girl you may never love Move along, ---- like the restless cloud up above."

Answer: Cheyenne

From 1955 until 1963, "Cheyenne", featuring Clint Walker, was broadcast on ABC.
His character's role as Cheyenne Bodie was based on the premise that although his parents from back east had been killed in a massacre by the Cheyenne American Natives, he had nonetheless been raised by the them; hence the name.

Cheyenne was known for his gentle and fair-minded spirit as he wandered the West implementing his version of frontier justice and assistance to others.

8. "All but one man died There at Bitter Creek And they say he ran away..." What was the name of this series that featured Chuck Connors as a man who was falsely accused of the shameful act of desertion in the U.S. Army?

Answer: Branded

"Branded" was a short-lived NBC television Western that was based on the erroneous assumption of guilt associated with Army Captain Jason McCord, a role that was played by Chuck Connors, (formerly of "The Rifleman" fame.)

The series aired only 2 seasons; in 1965 and 66. The first season was broadcast in black and white, with the second season airing in color.

9. This short-lived ABC Western series ran for only one year from 1965-66. The theme song was based on an American traditional folk song. See if you can recall this show, based on the following lyrics... "Shenandoah, you're doomed to wander On beyond this land so lonely Oh, Shenandoah, you're doomed to wander To roam in search of gold Across this land so lonely."

Answer: A Man Called Shenandoah

Robert Horton, who had co-starred in the very popular T.V. Western "Wagon Train" took the title role in "A Man Called Shenandoah", another of the Westerns of short duration. The program aired from September 1965 until September 1966 on ABC.

A man who had been shot lost his memory, according to the script of the show, and for the remainder of the series he spent his time trying to learn his identity. As it turned out, he discovered that he had been an officer in the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War, and the series ended with him not still completely understanding who he actually was previously, but with a general idea of who he had become in the processes of struggling to find his identity.

10. "Johnny Yuma was a rebel He rode through the West Then Johnny Yuma, the rebel He wandered alone." What late 50s/early 60s television Western featured these lyrics in its opening credits?

Answer: The Rebel

"The Rebel", (Johnny Yuma), was a role played by Nick Adams. In the series, aired on ABC and running from 1959-1961, Johnny Yuma was a U.S. Confederate Civil War veteran who roamed the West where he kept a journal of his experiences while correcting wrongs and injustices wherever he found them.

At one time, actor Nick Adams was a friend of both James Dean and Elvis Presley.

Source: Author logcrawler

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

T.V. Western Theme Songs Trivia Quiz

Television during the 1950s and 1960s was filled with Western programs in the U.S. I will give you some of the lyrics or other hints about the theme songs. Let's see how many you may remember.

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