In 1959, the top four most popular television shows in the United States were westerns. From humble beginnings the small-screen horse opera became a TV staple and cultural phenomenon in the 1950s and 60s, and many are still on regular repeat today.
The television western was no less popular in the UK and indeed worldwide. In more innocent times, the values and tropes preached by such dramas struck a chord with audiences. A catchy theme tune and the natural beauty of the American west also helped.
