26 Men

Synopsis and background

The series is set in the Arizona Territory in the first decade of the 20th century. The rangers were part of the group established by the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1901. The number of members was limited to 26 "to avoid vigilantism". Information from government archives and newspapers provided the basis of the plots of episodes.

Critical response

A review in the trade publication Variety said that the premiere episode had "clean action and plot situations", making it different from the era's trend toward adult Westerns. It commended the work of Tris Coffin and Kelo Henderson and the pacing of the direction but noted that production values appeared weaker than those of Western programs on networks.

Cast

Main

• Tris Coffin as Captain Thomas H. Rynning
• Kelo Henderson as ranger Clint Travis.

Guest stars

• Rico Alaniz
• Rayford Barnes
• Baynes Barron
• Robert Blake
• Edgar Buchanan
• Mason Alan Dinehart
• William Fawcett
• Richard Garland
• Don Haggerty
• Ron Hayes
• Tom Hennesy
• Robert Karnes
• DeForest Kelley
• Lash LaRue
• Forrest Lewis
• Jackie Loughery
• Jeanne Carmen as Lili Mae Turner
• Walter Maslow
• Doug McClure
• William Murphy
• Leonard Nimoy
• Gregg Palmer
• Tex Palmer
• Denver Pyle
• Maudie Prickett
• Richard Reeves
• Kim Spalding
• Glenn Strange
• Dub Taylor
• Carol Thurston
• Gregory Walcott
• Patrick Waltz
• Grant Withers

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (1957–58)

Season 2 (1958–59)

Production

Russell Hayden was the producer of the ABC Film Syndication series. Reg Browne was the director, Sloane Nibley was the writer, and Oliver Drake was the adapter. The theme song was written by Hal Hopper.

Facilities of Cudia City Studios, in Phoenix, Arizona, were expanded to handle filming of 26 Men. When the series filmed on location, local residents often filled some roles in the cast. It was "reportedly the first TV series ever to be filmed completely in Arizona."

Sponsors

As a syndicated program, 26 Men had different sponsors in different parts of the United States. They included H. P. Hood and Sons (a dairy) for all of New England; Mrs. Smith's Pie Company and Freihofer Baking Company (alternating weekly) in four cities in Pennsylvania; Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company in Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Buffalo; and Standard Oil of Texas in eight markets in Texas and New Mexico.

Release

Home media

Timeless Media Group released a 3-disc best-of set, featuring 20 episodes from the series on DVD in Region 1 on April 12, 2011.

UK television network Talking Pictures TV began a re-run of series 1 from Wednesday 9 October 2024

References

References

1. (1996). "Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present". Penguin Books USA, Inc..
2. (March 15, 1958). "26 Men Based on Fact". The Record.
3. (June 16, 1958). "More Western Series". The Sydney Morning Herald.
4. (December 23, 1957). "Film Clips". Broadcasting.
5. (1989). "Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987'". McFarland & Company, Inc..
6. (August 2, 1958). "'26 Men' - the Story of Arizona". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
7. (October 16, 1957). "26 Men".
8. (June 13, 1981). "Russell (Lucky) Hayden, Romantic Film Cowboy". The New York Times.
9. (August 19, 1957). "George T. (2-gun) Shupert calls it a Western, son!".
10. (September 2, 1957). "'26 Men' Filming begins". Broadcasting.
11. (July 22, 1957). "ABC Film's '26 Men' Racks Up $500,000 in Advance Sales". Broadcasting.
12. David Lambert. (April 7, 2011). "26 Men - TMG Release a 3-DVD Set about the Old West's Arizona Rangers".