Debuting on Sept. 6, 1955, "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" was the first adult western on television. It beat out "Gunsmoke" for that distinction by four days.

The adult-western craze that was to render television one big corral in few years is apt not to have occurred had the first two entries not been of the high calibre that they were. Of the two series, "Wyatt Earp" was more upbeat and fast-paced.

An "adult" western was, of course, simply a western aimed at normal, decent grown-ups; the term "adult" had not yet taken on its present connotation as a euphemism for smut.

Indeed, it is doubtful that actor Hugh O'Brian, now heavily involved in youth causes, would have appeared in a series matching today's definition of "adult."

The series aired for its entire six-year run on ABC on Tuesday nights from 8:30-9 p.m., and was scripted throughout by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan. O'Brian was Earp for the entire series -- and probably for the rest of his life. The excellence of his performances in that series was such that 36 years after the series "bit the dust," O'Brian is associated with his portrayal of Earp.

There was, however, one other man tied even more closely to the role: the real Wyatt Earp, who lived from 1848-1929. Earp is best remembered for his participation, with his brothers Morgan and Virgil, along side Doc Holliday, in felling the Clanton Gang in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. That event, which took place in 1881 in Tombstone, Arizona, was recreated as the climax of a five-part series finale.

The first episode was titled, "Mr. Earp Becomes a Marshal" and depicted Earp assuming the job of his lawman-friend who had been gunned down, avenging his death.

It was in that episode that Earp acquired his trademark "Buntline Special" pistols, with foot-long barrels. (Hollywood up-manship three years later resulted in Chuck Connors asssuming the role of Lucas McCain in "The Rifleman," twirling a Winchester as if it were a handgun.)

Earp's first lawman post was in Ellsworth, Kansas. The television Earp then moved on (as the real Earp did) to Dodge City, Kansas. While there, he somehow never managed to run into that town's other marshal, Matt Dillon, whose appearances were reserved for Saturday nights on CBS on "Gunsmoke." Earp did, however, encounter Bat Masterson, who became his deputy, and later a sheriff. Masterson was in the series from 1955-57. Funny how different he looked when the "Bat Masterson" series began on NBC in 1959 (with Gene Barry).

Then, it was off to tombstone where the Clanton Gang had a stranglehold on the town -- which ended with the famed gunfight.

O'Brian was the only actor to appear in all six seasons. Among those with supporting roles during part of the run were movie-cowboy Lash La Rue (1959); Denver Pyle (1955-56), who was to play Uncle Jesse in the "Dukes of Hazzard"; and Paul Brinegar (1956-58), who was to play the cook Wishbone on "Rawhide."

Those who recall the series are bound to remember the words of the theme song we heard each Tuesday:

Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp.
Brave, courageous, and bold.
Long live his fame, and long live his glory,
And long may his story be told.




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