26 Men
GenreWestern
Directed by
  • Franklin Adreon
  • Joseph Kane
  • Reg Browne
  • Oliver Drake
Starring
Theme music composer
Composers
  • Al Sack
  • Gordon Zahler
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes78
Production
Executive producerRussell Hayden
Producers
  • William Dennis
  • Russell Hayden
Cinematography
Editors
Running time25 minutes
Production companyRussell Hayden Productions
Original release
NetworkSyndication
ReleaseNovember 1, 1957 (1957-11-01) –
June 30, 1959 (1959-06-30)

26 Men is a syndicated American Western television series about the Arizona Rangers, a law-enforcement group limited to 26 active members.[1] By March 1958, the program was carried on 158 stations in the United States.[2] The program was also broadcast on ATN-7 in Australia[3] and on ZBM-TV in Bermuda.[4]

Synopsis and background

The series is set in the Arizona Territory in the first decade of the 20th century.[3] The rangers were part of the group established by the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1901.[1] The number of members was limited to 26 "to avoid vigilantism".[5] Information from government archives and newspapers provided the basis of the plots of episodes.[6]

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.[7] 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.[7]

Cast

Main

Guest stars

Tex Palmer, Hal Hopper, Don Haggerty and William Murphy in 26 Men, 1957

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
139October 15, 1957 (1957-10-15)July 15, 1958 (1958-07-15)
239October 7, 1958 (1958-10-07)June 30, 1959 (1959-06-30)

Season 1 (1957–58)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"The Recruit"Reg BrowneUnknownOctober 15, 1957 (1957-10-15)
22"Trouble at Pinnacle Peak"Reg BrowneSloan NibleyOctober 22, 1957 (1957-10-22)
33"The Wild Bunch"Reg BrowneBuckley AngellOctober 29, 1957 (1957-10-29)
44"Border Incident"Reg BrowneJoe RichardsonNovember 5, 1957 (1957-11-05)
55"Destination Nowhere"UnknownDwight V. BabcockNovember 12, 1957 (1957-11-12)
66"Incident at Yuma"Reg BrowneEd ReppNovember 19, 1957 (1957-11-19)
77"The Slater Brothers"Oliver DrakeTerence Maples & Sam Roeca & Tom HubbardNovember 26, 1957 (1957-11-26)
88"Dead Man in Tucson"Reg BrowneTom Hubbard & Sam RoecaDecember 3, 1957 (1957-12-03)
99"Man on the Run"Oliver DrakeSam Roeca & Tom Hubbard & Will GeorgeDecember 10, 1957 (1957-12-10)
1010"The Big Rope"Oliver DrakeJohn K. ButlerDecember 17, 1957 (1957-12-17)
1111"Valley of Fear"UnknownSloan NibleyDecember 24, 1957 (1957-12-24)
1212"Indian Gunslinger"Reg BrowneFrank GravesDecember 31, 1957 (1957-12-31)
1313"Trail of Darkness"UnknownJoe RichardsonJanuary 7, 1958 (1958-01-07)
1414"Trade Me Deadly"Oliver DrakeBuckley AngellJanuary 14, 1958 (1958-01-14)
1515"Violent Land"UnknownUnknownJanuary 28, 1958 (1958-01-28)
1616"Panic at Bisbee"UnknownUnknownFebruary 4, 1958 (1958-02-04)
1717"Insurrection"UnknownDwight V. BabcockFebruary 11, 1958 (1958-02-11)
1818"Slaughter Trail"UnknownUnknownFebruary 18, 1958 (1958-02-18)
1919"Gun Hand"UnknownUnknownFebruary 25, 1958 (1958-02-25)
2020"Cattle Embargo"UnknownUnknownMarch 4, 1958 (1958-03-04)
2121"Badge to Kill"UnknownUnknownMarch 11, 1958 (1958-03-11)
2222"Montezuma's Cave"UnknownUnknownMarch 18, 1958 (1958-03-18)
2323"Sundown Decision"UnknownUnknownMarch 25, 1958 (1958-03-25)
2424"The Parrish Gang"UnknownUnknownApril 1, 1958 (1958-04-01)
2525"Hoax at Globe"UnknownUnknownApril 8, 1958 (1958-04-08)
2626"The Bounty Hunter"UnknownUnknownApril 15, 1958 (1958-04-15)
2727"Apache Water"UnknownUnknownApril 22, 1958 (1958-04-22)
2828"Legacy of Death"Oliver DrakeOliver DrakeApril 29, 1958 (1958-04-29)
2929"Chain Gang"UnknownUnknownMay 6, 1958 (1958-05-06)
3030"The Bells of St. Thomas"Oliver DrakeOliver DrakeMay 13, 1958 (1958-05-13)
3131"Hondo Man"UnknownUnknownMay 20, 1958 (1958-05-20)
3232"The Vanquisher"UnknownUnknownMay 27, 1958 (1958-05-27)
3333"The Ranger and the Lady"UnknownUnknownJune 3, 1958 (1958-06-03)
3434"Idol in the Dust"UnknownUnknownJune 10, 1958 (1958-06-10)
3535"Runaway Stage"UnknownUnknownJune 17, 1958 (1958-06-17)
3636"Wayward Gun"UnknownUnknownJune 24, 1958 (1958-06-24)
3737"Hole Up"UnknownUnknownJuly 1, 1958 (1958-07-01)
3838"Unholy Partners"UnknownUnknownJuly 8, 1958 (1958-07-08)
3939"Killer's Trail"UnknownUnknownJuly 15, 1958 (1958-07-15)

Season 2 (1958–59)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
401"The Glory Road"UnknownUnknownOctober 7, 1958 (1958-10-07)
412"Shadow of Doubt"UnknownUnknownOctober 14, 1958 (1958-10-14)
423"Man in Hiding"UnknownUnknownOctober 21, 1958 (1958-10-21)
434"Cross and Double Cross"UnknownUnknownOctober 28, 1958 (1958-10-28)
445"The Last Rebellion"UnknownUnknownNovember 4, 1958 (1958-11-04)
456"Brief Glory"UnknownUnknownNovember 11, 1958 (1958-11-11)
467"Dog Eat Dog"UnknownUnknownNovember 18, 1958 (1958-11-18)
478"Judge Not"UnknownUnknownNovember 25, 1958 (1958-11-25)
489"My Brother's Keeper"UnknownUnknownDecember 2, 1958 (1958-12-02)
4910"Run No More"UnknownUnknownDecember 9, 1958 (1958-12-09)
5011"The Manhunt"UnknownUnknownDecember 16, 1958 (1958-12-16)
5112"The Avenger"UnknownUnknownDecember 23, 1958 (1958-12-23)
5213"False Witness"UnknownUnknownDecember 30, 1958 (1958-12-30)
5314"The Torch"UnknownUnknownJanuary 6, 1959 (1959-01-06)
5415"Trail of Revenge"UnknownUnknownJanuary 13, 1959 (1959-01-13)
5516"The Hellion"UnknownUnknownJanuary 20, 1959 (1959-01-20)
5617"Ranger Without a Badge"UnknownUnknownJanuary 27, 1959 (1959-01-27)
5718"The Showdown"UnknownUnknownFebruary 3, 1959 (1959-02-03)
5819"The Long Trail Home"UnknownUnknownFebruary 10, 1959 (1959-02-10)
5920"Death in the Dragoons"UnknownUnknownFebruary 17, 1959 (1959-02-17)
6021"Ricochet"UnknownUnknownFebruary 24, 1959 (1959-02-24)
6122"House Divided"UnknownUnknownMarch 3, 1959 (1959-03-03)
6223"Profane Masquerade"UnknownUnknownMarch 10, 1959 (1959-03-10)
6324"Dead or Alive"UnknownUnknownMarch 17, 1959 (1959-03-17)
6425"The Has Been"UnknownUnknownMarch 24, 1959 (1959-03-24)
6526"The Unwanted"UnknownUnknownMarch 31, 1959 (1959-03-31)
6627"Live and Let Die"UnknownUnknownApril 7, 1958 (1958-04-07)
6728"Trial at Verde River"UnknownUnknownApril 14, 1959 (1959-04-14)
6829"Scorpion"UnknownUnknownApril 21, 1959 (1959-04-21)
6930"The Last Kill"UnknownUnknownApril 28, 1959 (1959-04-28)
7031"Redskin"UnknownUnknownMay 5, 1959 (1959-05-05)
7132"Cave-In"UnknownUnknownMay 12, 1959 (1959-05-12)
7233"Terror in Paradise"UnknownUnknownMay 19, 1959 (1959-05-19)
7334"Fighting Man"UnknownUnknownMay 26, 1959 (1959-05-26)
7435"Tumbleweed Ranger"UnknownUnknownJune 2, 1959 (1959-06-02)
7536"The Tiger"UnknownUnknownJune 9, 1959 (1959-06-09)
7637"Abandoned"UnknownUnknownJune 16, 1959 (1959-06-16)
7738"Bandit Queen"UnknownUnknownJune 23, 1959 (1959-06-23)
7839"Refuge at Broken Bow"UnknownUnknownJune 30, 1959 (1959-06-30)

Production

Russell Hayden was the producer[8] of the ABC Film Syndication series. Reg Browne was the director, Sloane Nibley was the writer, and Oliver Drake was the adapter.[9] The theme song was written by Hal Hopper.[5]

Facilities of Cudia City Studios, in Phoenix, Arizona, were expanded to handle filming of 26 Men.[6] When the series filmed on location, local residents often filled some roles in the cast.[5] It was "reportedly the first TV series ever to be filmed completely in Arizona."[10]

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.[11]

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.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. pp. 870–871. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. ↑ Stern, Harold (March 15, 1958). "26 Men Based on Fact". The Record. New Jersey, Hackensack. p. 37. Retrieved June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "More Western Series". The Sydney Morning Herald. June 16, 1958. p. 15. Retrieved June 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Film Clips" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 23, 1957. p. 64. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Erickson, Hal (1989). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987'. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 101. ISBN 0-7864-1198-8.
  6. 1 2 "'26 Men' - the Story of Arizona". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. August 2, 1958. p. 74. Retrieved June 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "26 Men". Variety. October 16, 1957. p. 52. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Russell (Lucky) Hayden, Romantic Film Cowboy". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 13, 1981. p. 16. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. ↑ "George T. (2-gun) Shupert calls it a Western, son!" (PDF). Billboard. August 19, 1957. p. 10. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  10. ↑ "'26 Men' Filming begins" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 2, 1957. p. 81.
  11. ↑ "ABC Film's '26 Men' Racks Up $500,000 in Advance Sales" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 22, 1957. p. 62. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  12. ↑ David Lambert (April 7, 2011). "26 Men - TMG Release a 3-DVD Set about the Old West's Arizona Rangers". Archived from the original on 2011-09-16. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
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