<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe show aired in January 1959 and ran for a total of two-hundred and seventeen one hour episodes for over seven years until its cancellation in December 1965. Without doubt one of the most popular TV cowboy shows of all time, “Rawhide” was admired by audiences alike in both America and Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was mainly down to the charismatic actor Eric Fleming as trail boss Gil Favor, the presence of a gangly unknown actor by the name of Clint Eastwood as ladies’ favourite Rowdy Yates and THE most famous TV Western theme of all time (over here in the UK anyway), written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington and a huge hit for Frankie Laine on both sides of the Atlantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fleming was the initial star of the show, helping to guide huge herds of steers through countryside bedevilled by Indians, rustlers, bandits and the like, he and the other cowboys needing to keep “them dogies rollin” through rain and wind and weather” come what may. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Favor and Yates were accompanied on their various adventures by regular cast mates including Paul Brinegar as trail cook Wishbone and Sheb Wooley as scout Pete Nolan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Various other recurring characters came and went throughout the eight-year run but Brinegar was one of the few, along with Steve Raines as drover Jim Quince, to make it all the way through to the end of the trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One almost constant feature of the show was the habit of labelling most episode names with the word “Incident” as in “Incident With An Executioner” and “Incident at Royo Canyon” until series six when a new production team arrived in town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The list of notable guest stars numbers as many as the huge herds of cattle that ran across the screen each week but some of the most famous include John Cassavetes, Mickey Rooney, Brian Keith, Linda Crystal and Bruce Dern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Directors associated with the show included the aforementioned Charles Maquis Warren, Andrew V. McLaglen, Ted Post, George Sherman and Jack Arnold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All good things must come to an end and for “Rawhide” it was two “incidents” that eventually contributed toward its decline and cancellation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first one worth noting is that during the seasonal hiatus of “Rawhide” in 1963 Clint Eastwood took off for Italy and snaffled the starring role in the Italian Western “A Fistful of Dollars”, a part that had apparently been offered to Eric Fleming among others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although this did not immediately affect the success of “Rawhide” the die was now most certainly cast, and the show was eventually cancelled after the end of season eight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second “incident” occurred when a newly appointed producer of the show decided to replace Eric Fleming with Clint Eastwood, Fleming leaving “Rawhide” just before season eight aired in September 1965. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It became quickly apparent by the drop in ratings that the character of Gil Favor was the glue that held the series together but the damage had already been done, and the show was eventually cancelled after season eight finished.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eric Fleming sadly died a year later at the age of 41 in a boating accident whilst filming in Peru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trivia Note: Andrew V. McLaglen directed a number of episodes for “Rawhide” and was once asked if he ever had to give any instructions to Clint Eastwood. “Yes, I did”, he replied. “I used to tell him all the time to SPEAK UP”. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nNot sure Clint ever got the memo on that one<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd finally – best ever Western TV theme bar none: <\/p>\n\n\n\n