The Californians (TV series)


The Californians is a half-hour Western television series, set during the San Francisco gold rush of the 1850s, which was broadcast by NBC from September 24, 1957, to May 26, 1959, for 69 episodes.

Cast

starred in the first year in early episodes as Dion Patrick, an Irish newspaperman who helps the local vigilante committee. Season one episodes also featured Sean McClory as store owner Jack McGivern, who headed the vigilante committee and Nan Leslie as his wife, Martha McGivern. Early season one episodes featured Herbert Rudley as newspaper editor Sam Brennan but Jack McGivern later took over the newspaper. Due to sagging ratings, Richard Coogan was brought in in later season one episodes; his introduction boosted ratings, and led to the departure of Kennedy and McCrory. In season two, Coogan stars as Matthew Wayne, a sheriff and then marshal who organizes the city police, courts a young widow, Wilma Fansler, portrayed by Carole Mathews, and clashes with an ambitious attorney, Jeremy Pitt, played by Art Fleming, later the original host of "Jeopardy!". At the end of season two, Matt departs when the vigilante committee becomes active again, and the last episode has James Coburn as Matt's cousin, Anthony Wayne, taking over as deputy marshal and series lead; however, the show was not renewed for a third season.

Episode list

Season 2: 1958–59

Guest actors

The Californians theme song was composed by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Harold Adamson, entitled "I've Come to California". Ken Darby, of the Ken Darby Singers, did some of the musical composition for the series.
The Californians had competition from The West Point Story, which was broadcast by the American Broadcasting Company, and The $64,000 Question by CBS. In its second season, the western competed with The Garry Moore Show on CBS and the crime/police reality show Confession, hosted by Jack Wyatt, on ABC.