DGS49
Diamond Member
I ran across the word, "paladin" the other day and it started a stream of memories. When Have Gun - Will Travel came on TV I was 8 or 9 years old, and we watched it every week for it's 6 year run. Half hour show. I thought "Wire" was the character's first name.
Of course, I looked through YouTube and have watched several episodes.
The write-ups say that the creators wanted to combine a Private Detective show with a Western - both were popular at the time - and HG-WT came out of that scenario. It turns out that "Paladin" was NOT the character's name, but rather how he wanted to be thought of. A "paladin" is an extraordinarily brave and chivalrous knight - hence the knight chess piece on his card and holster. His name was NEVER disclosed during the entire run of the TV show (which also uniquely spawned a radio program).
The character was a Civil War vet - an officer but I don't think his highest rank was revealed, and also an expert in martial arts, a gourmet, a student of the Fine Arts (often quoting great literature), an expert at Chess, and of course an expert marksman with a pistol and a quick-draw.
The shows are limited significantly by the half-hour format, but otherwise they are still entertaining, and I have no doubt that a similar Western would be popular today.
Of course, I looked through YouTube and have watched several episodes.
The write-ups say that the creators wanted to combine a Private Detective show with a Western - both were popular at the time - and HG-WT came out of that scenario. It turns out that "Paladin" was NOT the character's name, but rather how he wanted to be thought of. A "paladin" is an extraordinarily brave and chivalrous knight - hence the knight chess piece on his card and holster. His name was NEVER disclosed during the entire run of the TV show (which also uniquely spawned a radio program).
The character was a Civil War vet - an officer but I don't think his highest rank was revealed, and also an expert in martial arts, a gourmet, a student of the Fine Arts (often quoting great literature), an expert at Chess, and of course an expert marksman with a pistol and a quick-draw.
The shows are limited significantly by the half-hour format, but otherwise they are still entertaining, and I have no doubt that a similar Western would be popular today.