with Joanne Moore Then a couple of weeks later Robert was summoned again to Patrick Kelly's office. "Wagon Train" followed the trials and tribulations of pioneering families as they set out from St. Joseph, MO, to carve out a new life in the west soon after the Civil War. Bonus DVDs: 16 Classic Episodes of Wagon Train on 4 DVD discs - These classic episodes of Wagon Train span the entire series, from Season 1 with Ward Bond and Robert Horton, to season 8, when the series returned to a one-hour, black and white format with John McIntire, Robert Fuller and Denny Scott Miller. Wyler then said "Say this line - "I bet I can knock down more than you can." It does not store any personal data. "The character of Vin he portrayed in "Seven" was the part previously occupied by Steve McQueen who had now gone on to become a superstar. This changed when Robert started acting and he decided he needed a different handle. The inspiration for the series came from the 50s film the Wagon Master by John Ford. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Andy. He studied the frontier era, drove the actual route the fictional wagon train took, and invented a back story for his character. [citation needed]. That was our intention with this video as well. This included working in many top grade musicals such as Oklahoma, Jailhouse Rock, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in which young Robert Fuller also appeared as a dancer in the chorus line.After the move to Hollywood Robert had several jobs. See production, box office & company info, Stage 19, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA. Within a week of Laramies cancellation, Robert received a call from Peter Kelly, vice president in charge of talent for Universal Studios. By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. , her husband and son are a loving family traveling with the train. In June 1963, the final episode of the sixth season introduced Michael Burns as teenager Barnaby West, who became a recurring character in the seventh season, which also introduced Robert Fuller as the new scout, Cooper Smith, joining Duke Shannon and ultimately becoming the wagon train's sole scout when Scott Miller left the series in April Nice horsey, pull it out for old Charlie. The series was inspired by the 1950 film Wagon Master[2] and by the 1930 early widescreen film The Big Trail. Terry W. Wilson (September 3, 1923 - March 30, 1999) [1] was an American actor most noted for his role as "Bill Hawks", the assistant trail master, in all 267 episodes of the NBC and ABC western television series, Wagon Train, which aired from 1957 to 1965. [14], Horton performed for many years in theaters and nightclubs all over America, and in Australia as a singer (sometimes with his wife, the former Marilynn Bradley). Fuller easily shed his cowboy gear to become Dr. Kelly Brackett M.D./F.A.C.S. The most significant of these was at Graumans Chinese Theatre where he started as a doorman and worked his way up to Assistant Manager. wagon train, caravan of wagons organized by settlers in the United States for emigration to the West during the late 18th and most of the 19th centuries. Just kidding I'm not jealous. LARAMIE, Robert Fuller, 'The Star Trail,' aired October 13, 1959 / Everett Collection Robert Fuller began his career quietly with a small role in the 1952 film Above and Beyond, but soon transitioned into projects with big names attached, such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondesstarring Marilyn Monroe. Inspired by the 1950 John Ford movie "Wagon Master", Wagon Train debuted Wednesday night, September 18, 1957, on the NBC Television Network. Early life One of two sons, Mead Howard Horton Jr. was born on July 29, 1924, in Los Angeles, California. "[6] His "first major TV role" was in Ford Theatre in the episode "Portrait of Lydia" on December 16, 1954. Robert was put into Miami Military Academy, where he did 5th to 6th grade. He has always loved his fans and that remains true today. Emily Hawks was played by Irene Windust, who was also billed under her maiden name, which was Corlett. In the first four seasons Ward Bond was billed above Robert Horton in the opening credits. Guest actors: Macdonald Carey (Bill Tawnee). 2023 TV GUIDE, A FANDOM COMPANY. First Telecast: 9/18/57. [6] The former's A-side was also the title track of an album he released on the same label. [7], At the end of the fifth season, in June 1962, Robert Horton left the series to pursue a career in musical theatre. NBC Wed 7:30-8:30 (9/57 - 9/62) Charlie tries to figure out who she is and find a way to help her. Guest actors: Debra Paget (Marie Dupree). Robert was in good company.In 1956 came his first speaking part in a movie where he played a union soldier and said to Gary Cooper "Bet you a dollar you can't do that again." When did the wagon train reach 90 minutes? At this time Betty met and married Robert Simpson who was a naval officer and they moved to Chicago for one year then returned to Key West where he attended Robert attended Key West High for 9th grade. Special guest star George Montgomery (Jesse Cowan). When did Robert Fuller join wagon train? Mr. Horton left the show when it was at the height of its popularity, turning down a lucrative contract because, he said, he wanted to avoid becoming typecast. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. On his 90th birthday, he received the Western Legend Award. They were registered Quarter Horses." SOURCE: yahoo group post from "Happi" Post Aug 31, 2007 . Both episodes were great opportunities for Robert to develop his acting skills and help prepare him for his iconic role as Jess Harper in Laramie. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. His co-stars were Ward Bond, John McIntire, Terry Wilson, and Frank McGrath. This change also allowed for expanded stories and continued to attract talented established actors. with Susan Kohner Robert Horton, 'Wagon Train' Actor, Dies at 91 By Alyssa Sage Dezo Hoffmann/REX/Shutterstock Robert Horton, known for his role as scout Flint McCullough in the Emmy-nominated series "Wagon. Cooper Smith falls in love with Rose although he recognizes Sam as the crook who had him beaten up in Brooklyn. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The_Rawhide_Trail > General Chat > . The only woman at Fort Pierce, Mrs. Nancy Winters deals with her loneliness, fears and painful memories by secretly drinking whiskey out of a fancy tea set. Cooper Smith rescues Molly Kincaid and Rome a teenaged Indian boy from being hung for horse stealing. Coop has to escort an ex-marshal and his wife who once shot Coop in the back to the wagon train. Robert Fuller was born on July 29, 1933 and is 89 years old now. His frequent co-pilot was his French Poodle, "Jamie". with Penny Edwards, Mort Mills, Lee Van Cleef, Olive Carey, James Burke, Frank McGrath. On September 18, 1957, NBC . Wagon Train is an American Western television series that was produced by Revue Studios. Last Telecast: 9/5/65. Horton and his wife lived in Encino, California in the same home for 55 years, until 2015. Also Beverly Owens would go on to play Marilyn Munster in the same tv show. His parents owned a dancing school in Florida. The final season reverts to black-and-white and runs for 60 minutes. This episode of Wagon Train has Robert Fuller detached to accompany Beverly Owen to a small town where her sister Suzanne Pleshette and husband Charles Drake live. [5] In its first three seasons and part of the fourth, the regular cast consisted of Ward Bond as Major Seth Adams, the trailmaster, Robert Horton as Flint McCullough, the scout, Terry Wilson as Bill Hawks, the ramrod, and Frank McGrath as Charlie Wooster, the cook. Harry Tyler, Emerson Treacy, Terry Wilson, James Brandt, Tom Brandt, Frank McGrath, K. L. Smith, Minerva Urecal, Elizabeth Harrower, Special guest star Sterling Hayden (Les Rand). The character Charlie Wooster was called both Charlie and Chuck, and sometimes both in the same episode. with Carlos Romero, Reba Waters, Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, Gordon Wynn, Charlie Murray, James Maloney. Some say the change to black and white was an homage to the early years of Wagon Train. This was a pivotal move for Robert as the class impressed him so much he changed his mind, decided to stay in show business and take a shot at becoming an actor. One episode very seldom shown is "Princess of the Lost Tribe" (season 4 episode 6, shown 6 Nov 1960), in which Flint McCullough happens upon the hiding place of descendants of the Aztec Indians - now moved up from central Mexico to the vicinity of Arizona, with Raymond Massey playing their king, Montezuma IX, speaking English with flawless educated diction. Rivals Bond and Horton frequently quarreled on the set, an extensively publicized development at the time, while their characters disputed within the episodes. Irene Windust, Ellen Hardies, Robert Roark, John Merrick, Monte Blue, Robert Riordan, Special guest stars Anne Jeffreys (Julie Gage), Robert Sterling [2] Wagon Train was an immensely popular program during its original run. In addition he hires three men temporarily who hate the marshal but have more extreme plans f Read allCoop has to escort an ex-marshal and his wife who once shot Coop in the back to the wagon train. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". After a four year run, Laramie ended with the last episode airing May 21, 1963. The series influenced the development of Star Trek, pitched as "Wagon Train to the stars" and launched in 1966. He explained to Robert that the role of Jess had already been given to John Smith who was already under contract with Revue. Originally Helmick had wanted Edd Byrnes but after seeing Chuck and Robert perform Helmick gave the role of bad guy Maurie Weston to Robert. Episodes revolve around the stories of guest characters portraying members of the massive wagon train or encountered by it. The Cliff Grundy Story on Dan Duryea Central, "TV Westerns - Wagon Train s4 Episodes- FiftiesWeb", "TV Westerns - Wagon Train Episode Pictures- FiftiesWeb", "The Museum of Broadcast Communications - Encyclopedia of Television - Wagon Train", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wagon_Train&oldid=1142321403, Roger Smith - (see "Charles Bickford" earlier in the list), This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 19:29. Wagon Train Intro by Gail (Gus) Fox April 2016. When Indian tribes join forces to keep the army off their land, Clarke, his assistant Ram Singh, and a road survey crew guided by Chris Hale and Cooper Smith are caught between the two. Written by Sammy Fain and Jack Brooks. (15 years of age). All episodes eventually reverted to their original titling after the series left the air. [3] After graduation in 1943 at age 19, he enlisted in the Coast Guard, but was medically discharged because of his kidney. With thanks to James Rosin, author of "Wagon Train - The Television Series" for providing an excellent source of information for fact checking and episode identification. will do almost anything to keep them apart. [6] The musical, with a score by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, ran for 330 performances on Broadway. Theme to classic TV western "Wagon Train". In 1953, Robert performed in the musical comedy film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Marilyn Monroe. You're holding up the rest of the outfit. Copyright 2016 Robert Fuller Official Website. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Robert was the first American to receive this award 1970 - Best Actor in Germany. So again Kelly found himself being refused. There were three different theme songs used during the eight year run of Wagon Train. . [23], He was the recipient of several lifetime achievement awards for television, including the Golden Boot in 2004,[24] and also the Cowboy Spirit Award at the National Festival of the West. Even Angelina Jolie felt out of place in high school. Robert Baxter-Fuller sits on his bed in blue pajamas. Taking inspiration from John Ford's 1950 film Wagon Master, Revue Productions conceived of a semi-anthology series with an emphasis on strong storytelling and quality direction with weekly guest stars known for their work in motion pictures and other media but retaining a regular cast of characters to provide a touchstone for audiences. Why did Robert Fuller leave wagon train?Four years later, when Laramie came to an end, Fuller was immediately pulled aboard the long-running series Wagon Tra. This theme would last through the series' run and is the most remembered Wagon Train theme. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. As you can imagine he's not held in high esteem. mind. With the death of John Smith, on January 25, 1995, Fuller and Robert Crawford, Jr. Robert Horton, known for his role as scout Flint McCullough in the Emmy-nominated series Wagon Train, died March 9 in Los Angeles, his niece Joan Evans told the New York Times. Fabian, Barbara Stanwyck, Carolyn Jones and Ray Danton guest stars. Sung by multi-talented Robert Horton who played the scout, Flint McCullough. Season 7 (1963-64) episodes were in color and 90 minutes long. By the end of the season, Bill has . WASHINGTON'S Y E S T E R D A Y A N D T O D A Y CCentennial Farms Reconnecting with Washington's Centennial Farms Prepared by the Washington State Department of Agriculture But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. All Rights Reserved. Jones, Morgan Woodward, Frank Ferguson guest stars, Brian Keith and Michael Rennie guest stars. "Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Disappearing Trick (1958) - Arthur Hiller | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie", "Archival Television Audio - Search Results", "Columbia Main Series, Part 18: CL 2200-2299/CS 90009099 (19641965)", "110 in the Shade Broadway Musical Original | IBDB", "The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones (1966) - Alex March | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie", "The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones (1966)", "The Green Slime (1968) - Kinji Fukasaku | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie", "Starlet Barbara Ruick, Young Actor Married", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Horton_(actor)&oldid=1142376297, Last onscreen episode is Season 5, Episode 36; credit only in episode 37, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 01:54. When they fail to return to the wagon train, Cooper Smith sets out to find them. Forumer.com is hosting this forum for free. Meisner was a highly respected acting teacher who taught future stars like Gregory Peck, Jon Voight, Robert Duvall, Edmund O'Brien and Grace Kelly. Robert was very close to his step-dad and considered him as a dad rather than a step-dad, so for the remainder of this biography I will refer to him as Robert's dad or father.Eventually, Betty convinced Robert Simpson to quit the navy. Here is the Wagon Train schedule. [7]:297, In his six decades of television, Horton, who became known for his voice, was most noted for his role as the frontier scout Flint McCullough in the television series Wagon Train from 1957 to 1962. with Kevin Hagen, Frank McGrath, John Day, Terry Wilson, Irene Corlett, Tom Selden, Charles Stevens, Dale Van Sickle, Bill Rae Also starring Joanne Dru When did Robert Fuller join wagon train? What are various methods available for deploying a Windows application? In the third season a new tune was written and conducted by Jerome Moross. And wow she was gorgeous I'm jealous lol. Robert Fuller (dual starring role as Cooper Smith and Captain Terence O'Rouke) Episode 5. His unit was 19th Infantry Regiment and he was chosen 3 times as the outstanding soldier on Guard Mount, a decision based upon appearance, knowledge of military subjects and bearing.When he returned home in 1955 he decided to give up his career in show business as he did not see any future in it. Also starring Virginia Grey, Diane Brewster. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Ward Bond led the group as the Wagon Master alongside Robert Horton, who played the scout Flint McCullough (he was replaced by Robert Fuller as Cooper Smith in season 7 and 8), Frank. Uncredited: Charles Sullivan, Carol Henry. Mead Howard "Robert" Horton Jr. (July 29, 1924 March 9, 2016) was an American actor and singer. The film was "Friendly Persuasion," and not only was it Robert's first talking part in a movie, it was also the first time he worked with his Laramie co-star John Smith. Charlie Wooster visits with her, further adding to the mystery. The first episode of the Wagon Train aired on NBC in 1957, and in 1962, they moved to ABC. Having come to America to obtain a true account of life in the West, rude and uppity British correspondent Robert Harrison Clarke deems it barbaric, dull and monotonous. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. a teenaged Indian boy from being hung for horse stealing. From the Megan Herring Collection In 1972, Robert Fuller assumed a starring role in Jack Webb's Emergency! Had that role change not happened then Laramie would not have worked anywhere near as well as it did. Bob Stuart: One thing none of you has ever done is put a hand on me. September 18, 1957 Inspired by the 1950 John Ford movie "Wagon Master", Wagon Train debuted Wednesday night, September 18, 1957, on the NBC Television Network. Special guest star Ernest Borgnine [Willy Moran]. [11]:649, In 1966, he starred in The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones, the first Western made specifically for television and simultaneous distribution to cinemas in Europe. Kitty Pryers new husband Victor Harpe admits hes already married to Martha a wealthy socialite. Today you can still buy the soundtrack and the DVD.Jack Webb saw Robert's performance in "The Hard Ride" and decided he wanted him to star in a new TV medical drama series called Emergency. The series chronicles the adventures of a wagon train from St. Joseph, Missouri, across the plains of the Midwestern United States and the Rocky Mountains to Sacramento, California. 2 When did Robert Fuller join wagon train? [2] It ran for eight seasons, with the first episode airing in the United States on September18,1957(1957-09-18) and the final episode on May2,1965(1965-05-02). Horton appeared on seven episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, including memorably as a tennis-playing insurance investigator and blackmailer opposite Betsy von Furstenberg in "The Disappearing Trick", directed by Arthur Hiller. It was one of the most successful American Westerns to date. Abel Fernandez, Eddie Little, Ted Mapes, Frank McGrath, David Armstrong, Fredrick Ledebur 0:57. Cooper Smith: You never dealt with anybody except from behind. Many starring roles were played by already extremely famous actors such as Bette Davis, Lee Marvin, Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan, Ann Sheridan, Charles Laughton, Peter Lorre, Barbara Stanwyck, Mickey Rooney, Lon Chaney Jr. and Joseph Cotten. Final season to air on NBC. While scouting for the wagon train, Charlie Wooster and Duke Shannon come upon a large and mysterious estate in the middle of nowhere. Robert Horton, a ruggedly handsome actor who found television stardom in 1957 as the scout Flint McCullough on "Wagon Train" but who resisted being typecast in Westerns as he pursued a. He reveals his plans to take his first wife on a wagon train to California. However there was a twist - The very same day Robert's agent called him to say that he was required to test for the part of Jess Harper. Emotions run high and trouble is around every corner after they join train. Several season 5 episodes are in color. Kim Charney, Don Durant, Terry Wilson, Malcolm Atterbury, Frank McGrath, Irene Corlett, Norman Leavitt, Ellen Hardies, Special guest star Farley Granger (Charles Avery) can come along on the trip. Bob Stuart: This is my wedding day, so if you don't mind. MESSAGES. The early highlights of his life were acting and dancing. Paul Sorenson, Frederick Ford, Terry Wilson, Frank McGrath, Craig Duncan, Ruth Lee, Fred Coby, Special guest star Gary Merrill (Zeke Thomas). All the wagons and travelers are searched causing emotions and accusations to run wild. Cassie Vance, her husband and son are a loving family traveling with the train. In Season 1, Bill and his wife, Emily Hawks, travel on the wagon train. The episodes were entitled The Ella Lindstrom Story (original air date February 4, 1959) and The Kate Parker Story (original air date May 6, 1959). with Kent Smith, Dean Stockwell His role on Wagon Train was taken by Robert Fuller as the scout . The next day he was given the role that he wanted so much, a role that was truly made for him, a role that would make him an international star and transform his life.John Smith was given the role of Slim Sherman and hindsight shows that these were the right roles for each of them. with Margo, Edgar Buchanan With Robert it was very different and he and Yul got along very well, and in fact remained close friends until Brynner died in 1985.Robert remained busy doing movies in Germany, Israel and the States over the next few years, then in 1970 he made one of his best ever movies "The Hard Ride." Reply. At the time he had no idea what his name should be but he had a relative with a first name of Fuller and he figured it went well with his name so the handle of Robert Fuller was created. Robert Horton, a ruggedly handsome actor who found television stardom in 1957 as the scout Flint McCullough on " Wagon Train " but who resisted being typecast in westerns as he pursued a. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Like his best friends Julie London, Bobby Troup and James Drury, he used to be a heavy smoker until his first wife, Patricia Lyons, was diagnosed with cancer in 1984. [3] Its first five seasons were broadcast on the NBC network and the remaining three on ABC. Whitfield, Stephen, and Roddenberry, Gene. Eugene Martin, Ray Teal, Linda Watkins, John Dierkes, Frank McGrath, Russ Thorson, Ted Mapes, James Philbrook, Shooting Star, Special guest star Mark Stevens (Nels Stack) But this is one strange marriage as Pleshette is a wild child who works in the town saloon owned by Rex Reason and Drake is the sheriff. [citation needed]. All episodes in color and run for 90 minutes. He made his film debut in 1952's Above and Beyond a WWII film about the pilot of the aircraft that dropped a five-ton bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. Grant Withers, William Phipps, Terry Wilson, Phil Chambers, Dick Rich, Hannes Lutz, Robert Osterloh He also recorded albums and performed in nightclubs during his tenure on "Wagon Train.". When Laramie' ended its run, Fuller jumped to another western, Wagon Train, opposite John McIntire, a veteran film actor, two-time guest-star on Laramie, and a future star of The Virginian, Frank McGrath, and Terry Wilson.According to an August 17, 2009 interview On Screen and Beyond, Fuller was not brought into the show to replace Robert Horton in the role of the wagon train scout. Upset after witnessing a deadly railroad tunnel collapse, Ethan Morgan meets with his hardened older brother Gus Morgan and Chris Hale to find an alternate route over a mountain pass. Robert Fuller first appeared on Wagon Train during Season 2 in two guest starring roles. Robert Fuller joined the cast as scout Cooper Smith for Seasons 7 and 8. Robert was grateful for the offer but did not want to play a doctor and he told Webb so. An assistant scout, Duke Shannon, played by Scott Miller, was introduced two months later, in January 1961, and after another two months, a new trailmaster, Christopher Hale, played by John McIntire, took over the running of the wagon train in March 1961, replacing Major Adams. Below are a few pictures from one of his guest appearances in The Kate Parker Story and Ella Lindstrom Story plus some shots as Coop. Coop vows to find the Brancrofts and exact retribution. Bond tragically passed away from a heart attack in 1960 after just giving his career a second wind by starring as wagon master Major Seth Adams in the first four seasons of the beloved NBC TV. Uncredited: Hal Needham, Special guest star Guy Madison (Riley Gratton) She taught him to dance, and this led to them opening a dance school in Key West. They have three children together. He is known for playing Flint McCullough in Wagon Train (1957-1962). As a favor to Ward Bond, film director John Ford joined the show to direct a 1960 segment titled "The Colter Craven Story", which includes many members of the "John Ford Stock Company", momentarily featuring John Wayne speaking from the shadows and billed in the credits as "Michael Morris".[3]. At an initial budget of US$100,000 (equivalent to $965,000 in 2021) per segment, Wagon Train episodes cost over 40% more than most contemporary hour-long Westerns, allowing it to film on location in California's San Fernando Valley and afford its expensive guest stars.[36]. a wealthy socialite. with K. T. Stevens, Harold Stone White, Terry Wilson, Frank McGrath, Robert Swan It was this appearance that led to his being offered the role of Jess Harper in "Laramie. Bill Hawks: Howdy Miss Marshall. Raised by a strict minister father, Myra and Grace Marshall grow up to choose very different lifestyles. Look at this!1961 - Best Actor Award in Japan 1961 - Japanese Golden Order Of Merit - awarded to him by the Empress of Japan. Robert quit school at 9th grade as he did not enjoy school and openly admits he did not do well there. with Susan Oliver, John Dehner, Special guest star Eddie Albert [John Darro] OMAHA Dennis Joe Holmes, 69, formerly of Kearney, died Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, in Omaha from complications of cancer treatment. According to Plane and Pilot:[citation needed], "His three greatest thrills were his first solo flight, a performance before Queen Elizabeth II, and being featured on Ralph Edwards' This Is Your Life. Five officers tackled the man to the ground, as shouts of 'hands behind your back' rang out. He did most of his own horseback riding on the show. He also chose to ride a chestnut horse and modify his riding style. Special guest star Keenan Wynn (Luke O'Malley). Gus and Ethan constantly disagree about the best and safest way to continue the line. [a fist fight ensues until the Sherrif intervenes]. Coop accompanies Grace Marshall to visit her sister Myra whom, traumatized by an upbringing by an abusive father, Grace finds living a life of addiction and infidelity for which Grace wrongf Read allCoop accompanies Grace Marshall to visit her sister Myra whom, traumatized by an upbringing by an abusive father, Grace finds living a life of addiction and infidelity for which Grace wrongfully blames husband Vern.Coop accompanies Grace Marshall to visit her sister Myra whom, traumatized by an upbringing by an abusive father, Grace finds living a life of addiction and infidelity for which Grace wrongfully blames husband Vern. Inspired by the 1950 John Ford movie Wagon Master, Wagon Train debuted Wednesday night, September 18, 1957, on the NBC Television Network. "(Roll Along) Wagon Train" was written by Sammy Fain and Jack Brooks and sung by Johnny O'Neill. He played Ranger Wade Harper, who was a descendant of Jess Harper, and an old west Town Sheriff. The opening shot of the exterior mansion is the house that would used a few months later in the Munsters TV show. The theme was conducted by Revue musical director Stanley Wilson. [5], The first season theme "Wagon Train" was written by Henri Ren and Bob Russell, and lyrics were not used. When Myra writes to her sister pleading for help to escape a bad marriage to Vern Rothman, Cooper Smith accompanies Grace to Fortune City, a tough gambling town. Robert later married the lovely Jennifer Savidge who played Nurse Lucy in "St Elsewhere" and appeared regularly in the hit TV series JAG.Robert's last performance was playing 2 roles in the final episode of Walker Texas Ranger. He met a number of people around his own age of 18 years, who were members of the Screen Extras Guild, and they convinced him to join as they were earning significantly more than Robert.