Shotgun Slade: Difference between revisions
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The third novelty of the series is that it featured a modern [[jazz]] score instead of the traditional Western-themed music that was the norm for Western television shows and movies. Again, this seems an influence of the private eye genre's popularity because most private eye shows featured a jazz score. |
The third novelty of the series is that it featured a modern [[jazz]] score instead of the traditional Western-themed music that was the norm for Western television shows and movies. Again, this seems an influence of the private eye genre's popularity because most private eye shows featured a jazz score. |
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Unfortunately, all of Shotgun Slade's quirks and idiosyncracies did not add up to a long-running series |
Unfortunately, all of Shotgun Slade's quirks and idiosyncracies did not add up to a long-running series because the show only lasted two seasons. |
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Revision as of 13:51, 20 September 2007
Shotgun Slade was a Western television series starring Scott Brady that aired in television syndication from October 24, 1959 until 1961.
| Shotgun Slade | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Scott Brady |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 39 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | television syndication |
| Release | October 24, 1959 – 1961 |
Since the Western genre was beginning to lose popularity with viewing audiences, Shotgun Slade had three characterstics that made it novel among Westerns. The first was Slade's profession. Instead being a marshal, sheriff, or wandering gunfighter, Slade was a private detective, hired by individuals to track down criminals, return stolen money, and other similar duties. This was obviously influenced by the growing popularity of television private eyes such as Peter Gunn, Richard Diamond, Private Eye, Hawaiian Eye, and others.
Another quirks was Slade's weapon of choice. Instead of packing a six-gun, Slade carried a combination shotgun that has an upper and lower barrel.The lower barrel fired a 12-gauge shotgun shell, while the top barrel fired a .32 caliber rifle bullet. The idea was that this weapon gave Slade the ability to fire at close and distant targets with the same amount of accuracy. Western television shows were known for featuring distinctive weapons, such as those on shows like The Rifleman,The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Wanted: Dead or Alive, and The Rebel, but Slade's shotgun stood out even among the weapons of those other shows.
The third novelty of the series is that it featured a modern jazz score instead of the traditional Western-themed music that was the norm for Western television shows and movies. Again, this seems an influence of the private eye genre's popularity because most private eye shows featured a jazz score.
Unfortunately, all of Shotgun Slade's quirks and idiosyncracies did not add up to a long-running series because the show only lasted two seasons.
External links
Shotgun Slade at the The Internet Movie Database
References
McNeil, Alex. Total Television (1996). New York: Penguin Books ISBN 0-140-24916-8 Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle. "The Complete Directory To Primetime Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present' (1999). New York: Ballantine Books ISBN 0-345-42923-0