Temple Houston

Click here to hear the original theme music... .mp3

See detail of Episodes: and more pictures.

The above left photo was added on 3/14/2006.

Magazine articles:

Jeff Hunter Breaks Hollywood Jinx
Article from Chicago Tribune
January 11, 1964

Temple Houston: The Story Behind A Forgotten Western (by Glenn A. Mosley)
Wildest Westerns Magazine, Collector's Issue No. 2
2000

EPISODE INFORMATION

----------------------------
Temple Houston Company
Rancom Productions, Inc./ Apollo Productions, Inc.
Warner Brothers Television
for
NBC (Thursdays 7:30 pm EST)
Executive Producer Jack Webb
Producers, Joseph Dackow, Richard Bluel, Lawrence Dobkin, James Lydon

US Western series 1963-1964 unaired pilot + 26 episodes x 60 min bw

Starring
Jeffrey Hunter as Temple Houston
Jack Elam as George Taggart

Recurring cast:
Mary Wickes as Ida Goff
Frank Ferguson as Judge Ben Gurney
Chubby Johnson as Concho Charlie
James Best as Bill Gotch

Premise:
The story of Temple Houston, son of Sam Houston, a circuit-riding
attorney, and his partner George Taggert, an ex-gunfighter turned law
enforcer, as they defend unjustly accused people before circuit-riding
judges in the post-Civil War southwest

"Temple Houston" theme music: Ned Washington, Frank Comstock.

############### Temple Houston #################
################# unaired pilot ##################
#############################################

THE MAN FROM GALVESTON (1963) (photos page)
(Pilot unaired on TV; released theatrically - running time 54 min)
Executive Producer: Jack Webb
Produced by Michel Meshekoff
Starring:
Jeffrey Hunter as Timothy Higgins (not Temple Houston)
Guest Cast:
Preston Foster....................Judge Homer Black
James Coburn....................Boyd Palmer
Joanna Moore....................Rita Dillard
Edward Andrews...............Hyde
Kevin Hagen......................John Dillard
Ed Nelson.........................Cole Marteen
Karl Swenson....................Sheriff
Grace Lee Whitney............Texas Rose
Claude Stroud...................Harvey Sprager
Marjorie Bennett................Mrs. Warren
Arthur Malet......................Barney
Sherwood Price.................George Taggarr
Martin West.......................Stonewall Grey
Synopsis:
Circuit-riding frontier lawyer Timothy Higgins, defends a woman
accused of murder.

################ Temple Houston ###################
########### 1963-1964 season episodes ###############
#################################################
NBC Thursdays 7:30 pm Eastern

Episode 1: THE TWISTED ROPE (series premiere)
(c) Copyright 1963 the Temple Houston Company.
Airdate: 19 Sept 1963
Warner Brothers Television
Rancom Productions, Inc.; Apollo Productions, Inc.
Executive producer: Jack Webb
Produced by Joseph Dackow
Teleplay by Jack Turley/ Story by James Warner Bellah.
Directed by Abner Biberman
Photography: Robert Hoffman
Film Editor: Byron Chudnow
Music: Frank Comstock;
Theme music: Ned Washington, Frank Comstock.
Starring:
Jeffrey Hunter (Temple Houston); Jack Elam (George Taggart)
Guest Cast:
Victor Jory.........................Claude Boley
Collin Wilcox.....................Dorrie Chevenix
Richard Evans....................the Chevenix Brothers
Anthony Coll......................the Chevenix Brothers
Booth Colman
Paul Newlan
Bill Zuckert
Synopsis:
Dorrie Chevenix wants Temple to defend her two brothers, accused of
killing a sheriff. Temple had better hurry up. An irate mob wants the
prisoners at the end of a rope.

Episode 2: FIND ANGEL CHAVEZ
Airdate: 26 Sept 1963
Executive producer: Jack Webb
Directed by Herman Hoffman
Guest Cast:
Herbert Rudley ..................Paul Lennox
Rafael Campos ..................Angel Chavez
Gene Evans ........................Sam Clanton
Linda Dangcil .....................Maria
Anna Navarro ....................Donna Lennox
Woodrow Parfrey ..............Fred Bell
Synopsis:
Houston's client is his sidekick Marshal Taggart, who killed a man in a
shootout but can't prove it was self-defense because someone stole
his adversary's gun after the duel was over.

Episode 3: LETTER OF THE LAW
Airdate: 03 Oct 1963
Directed by Robert Totten
Guest Cast:
Brenda Scott ......................Ruth
Victor French ....................Willie Hatrod
James Anderson .................Vint Harrod
Jan Stine ............................Prue Harrod
Crahan Denton ..................Judge Brandon
Hayden Rorke ...................Pinkley
H.M. Wynant ................... Jered Mallory

With Susan Kohner

Episode 4: TOLL THE BELL SLOWLY
Airdate: 17 Oct 1963
Executive producer: Jack Webb
Directed by Gerd Oswald
Guest Cast:
Susan Kohner ...................Ellena Romolo
Noah Beery ......................Bailey
Everett Sloane ..................Daniel Forbes
Leo Gordon .....................Charles Grimm
Royal Dano ......................Sheriff Smiley
Walter Burke ....................Potts
Robert Foulk ....................O'Garrick
Rusty Lane .......................Poag
James Bell ........................Dr. Davis Carter
Synopsis:
Houston finds that he can't clear his client without first clearing
the key witness, who has himself been sentenced to hang for murder.

Episode 5: THE THIRD BULLET
Airdate: 24 Oct 1963
Directed by Alvin Ganzer
Guest Cast:
Frank Sutton .....................Logan Stocker
Anne Helm ........................Francie
Hampton Fancher ..............Jim Stocker
Parley Baer .......................Sheriff Beckman
Don Beddoe .....................Simpson
George Petrie ...................Newton Fountain

Episode 6: GALLOWS IN GALILEE
Airdate: 31 Oct 1963
Directed by Robert Totten
Guest Cast:
Robert Lansing ..................Judge Galen Stanke
Ralph Reed .......................Roy Julian
Jacqueline Scott ................Kate Hagadorn
Dabbs Greer .....................Marshal Cloud
Elisha Cook, Jr. .................John Alvorsen
Tol Avery .........................Ed Bascombe
Bob Steele .......................Yeager
Richard Grant ...................Ainslee Priest
Synopsis:
Houston appears before a notorious hanging judge to defend a
man charged with murder for a death that in fact was accidental.

Episode 7: THE SIEGE AT THAYER'S BLUFF
Airdate: 07 Nov 1963
Directed by Alvin Ganzer
Guest Cast:
William Reynolds ...............Paul Bannerman
E.J. Andre .........................Judge Diversey
Robert Bray ......................Hal Kester
Russell Thorson .................Red Gilman
Nina Shipman ....................Mary Bannerman
John Cliff ...........................Joe Joyce
Shug Fisher .......................Augie Wren

Episode 8: JUBILEE
Airdate: 14 Nov 1963
Directed by Robert Totten
Guest Cast:
Peter Whitney ....................Cletus Emory
Virginia Gregg ....................Elizabeth Clendennon
Morgan Woodward ...........Sheriff Ivers
Eddie Firestone ..................Tobe Gillard
William Bramley .................Ford Conley
Dub Taylor ........................Cliff Willard
Paul Birch ..........................Matt Clendennon
Ian Wolfe ...........................Judge Farnley

Episode 9: THUNDER GAP
Airdate: 21 Nov 1963
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Guest Cast:
Diana Millay .......................Marcey Bannister
Robert Colbert ...................Tom Bannister
Richard Garland .................Jess Newmark
Brad Weston ......................Lew Sykes
Harry Lauter ......................Sheriff Macon

Episode 10: BILLY HART
Airdate: 28 Nov 1963
Executive producer: Jack Webb
Directed by William Conrad
Guest Cast:
Philip Ober .........................Bert Clarke
Russ Conway .....................Henry Hart
Audrey Dalton ....................Amy Hart
Ron Hayes .........................Lambert
Pat Cardi ...........................Billy Hart
Jon Lormer ........................Matt Turner
Rhys Williams ....................Judge Curry
Len Lesser ........................Orley Baldwin
Jim Nusser ........................Flytrap

Episode 11: SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN
Airdate: 05 Dec 1963
Directed by Robert Totten
Guest Cast:
Susanne Cramer ................Helmi Bergen
Steve Ihnat ........................Ben Wade
Karl Swenson ...................Sam Wade
Charles Radilac .................Gustav Bergen
Simon Scott .......................Sheriff Hab Martin
Dan Stafford ......................Fritz Bergen
Sam Edwards .....................Bartender
Tom Holland ......................Lee Bates
James Almanzar .................Nate Hollister
Robert Rothwell .................Joe Shivers
Walter Mathews .................Prosecutor
Marshall Bradford ..............Judge

PRETTY SWINDLER: "Fortune-hunting" Kathie Browne practices the art of deception on series star Jeff Hunter in "Fracas at Kiowa Flats," on NBC-TV's "Temple Houston," Miss Browne guest stars in the episode, which introduces new format for series calling for a light approach to adventures of western lawyer. Jack Elam co-stars.

Episode 12: FRACAS AT KIOWA FLATS
Airdate: 12 Dec 1963
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Guest Cast:
Kathie Browne ..................Meredith Nothing
Barry Kelley ......................Col. Jim Shepard
Dayton Lummis ..................Col. Bob Grainger
J. Pat O'Malley ..................Joshua C. Merry
Jean Willes ........................Doll Lucas
Jonathan Hole ....................T.T. Teague
Ralph Neff .........................Two Finger Bill
Robert Phillips ...................Shotgun Guard

ARTIST AT WORK: Ruta Lee gives Jeff Hunter a handlebar mustache in offstage hi-jinx during the filming of "Enough Rope" on NBC-TV's "Temple Houston," Thursday, Dec. 19. Miss Lee guests as a saloon girl assigned to spy on Houston (Hunter) who is running for mayor. John Dehner guest stars as Hunter's opponent.

Episode 13: ENOUGH ROPE
Airdate: 19 Dec 1963
Directed by Irving J. Moore
Guest Cast:
John Dehner ......................Benedict Williams
John Harmon ....................Crane
Ruta Lee ...........................Lucy Tolliver
Ron Soble .........................Fowler
Walter Sande ....................McGee
Tim Graham ......................Fred Jackson
Steve Condir .....................Sammy
Ed Prentiss ........................Burton
Kenneth MacDonald .........Official

Episode 14: THE DARK MADONNA
Airdate: 26 Dec 1963
Directed by John Floria
Guest Cast:
Constance Ford .................Lily Lamont
Don Collier .......................Seth Warrener
Johnny Seven ....................Rio
Stacy Harris ......................Cliff Carteret
Penny Santon ....................Senora Ortega
Nick Alexander .................Juan Ortega

Episode 15: THE GUARDIAN
Airdate: 02 Jan 1964
Directed by NOT KNOWN (possibly Robert D. Webb)
Guest Cast:
Robert Emhardt ..................Owen Judd
Julie Parrish ........................Maggie Ballard
Greg Irvin ...........................Robert Ballard
Sammy Jackson ..................Sodbuster
John Archer ........................Adam Ballard

Episode 16: THY NAME IS WOMAN
Airdate: 09 Jan 1964
Directed by NOT KNOWN (possibly Robert D. Webb)
Guest Cast:
Charles Lane .................... Amos Riggs
Patricia Blair ......................Leslie Hale
Georgia Goode ..................Billie Jean James
Synopsis:
Houston enlists a woman lawyer to help him defend a saloon hostess
charged with a murder she insists was self-defense.

Episode 17: THE LAW AND BIG ANNIE
Airdate: 16 Jan 1964
Directed by Charles R. Rondeau
Guest Cast:
Norman Alden ...................Carlton Owens
Carol Byron .......................Marian Carter
Synopsis:
Houston finds a huge problem on his hands when his buddy Taggart
inherits a four ton elephant.

Episode 18: SAM'S BOY
Airdate: 23 Jan 1964
Directed by Irving J. Moore
Guest Cast:
Douglas Fowley ................ Doc Webb
Kenneth Tobey ................. Dan Powers
William Fawcett .................Billy Rogers
Charles Seel ......................Henry Hicks
Herb Vigran ......................Wak
William Bryant ...................Cy Morgan
Richard Tretter ..................Jake Harvey
Don Kennedy ....................Ike Hobbs
Kenneth MacDonald .........Jury Foreman

Episode 19: TEN ROUNDS FOR BABY
Airdate: 30 Jan 1964
Executive producer: Jack Webb
Directed by Irving J. Moore
Guest Cast:
Anne Francis .....................Kate Fitzpatrick
Van Williams .....................Joey Baker
Zeme North ......................Baby Dale
Dave Willock ....................Speedy Jackson
William Phipps ..................Sandy Dale
Hal Baylor ........................Con Morgan

Episode 20: THE CASE FOR WILLIAM GOTCH
Airdate: 06 Feb 1964
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Guest Cast:
Ray Danton ......................Martin Royale
Richard Jaeckel ................Coley
Denver Pyle ......................Phineas Fallon
Gordon Wescourt .............Bryce
Erin O'Donnell ..................Laura Jean

Episode 21: A SLIGHT CASE OF LARCENY
Airdate: 13 Feb 1964
Executive producer: Jack Webb
Directed by William Conrad
Guest Cast:
Vim Scotti ........................Pancho Blanca
Charles Watts ...................Paul Hillings
Carol Byron .....................Marian Carter

Episode 22: THE LAST FULL MOON
Airdate: 27 Feb 1964
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Guest Cast:
Abraham Sofaer ................Chief Last Full Moon
Larry Ward .......................Harry Cobb
Vaughn Taylor ...................Colonel Grove
Pilar Seurat ........................Bluebird
John Alonzo .......................Long Maned Pony
Charles Lane .....................Amos Riggs
Edward Colmans ...............Two Suns
Charles Bateman ................Bowman
Karen Noel ........................Dorisse
Synopsis:
An Indian chief whose son has been accused of horse theft decides
to retain Houston as defense counsel rather than follow the usual
routine and bribe the local Indian agent to set the youth free.

Episode 23: THE GUN THAT SWEPT THE WEST
Airdate: 05 Mar 1964
Directed by William Conrad
Guest Cast:
Michael Pate ......................Nat Cramer
John Dehner .......................Jed Dobbs
Sherwood Price .................Dan Sheldon

Episode 24: DO UNTO OTHERS, THEN GALLOP
Airdate: 19 Mar 1964
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Guest Cast:
Adam Williams ..................Harmony Brown
Grace Lee Whitney ............Tangerine O'Shea
Robert McQueeney ...........Robert Sangster
Paul Smith .........................Grover Clippett
Ken Mayer ........................Sam
Claude Stroud ...................Murdock
William Bramley ................Gus Finney

Episode 25: THE TOWN THAT TRESPASSED
Airdate: 26 Mar 1964
Directed by William Conrad
Guest Cast:
Robert Conrad ..................Martin Purcell
Parley Baer .......................Claude Spanker
Connie Stevens .................Charity Simpson
Walter Sande ....................Mayor
Dave Willock ....................Seedy Jackson
Claude Stroud ...................Murdock
Sheldon Allman .................Cutter
Martin West ......................Lawson
Dal Jenkins .......................Wade
Richard Collier ..................Mr. Huckabee
Robert Adler .....................Townsman

Episode 26: MISS KATHERINA (final episode)
Airdate: 02 Apr 1964
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Guest Cast:
Paula Raymond .................Miss Katherina
John Baer ..........................Frank McGuire
Richard X. Slattery ............Sergeant Smathers
Anthony Costello ...............Lieutenant Greeley
Simon Scott ......................Henry Rivers
John Lupton ......................Sinclair
Sammy Jackson ................Wick
Donald Losby ...................Tommy Rivers
Robert Phillips ...................Private Keller
David McMahon ...............Doc Burgess