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Another classic TV western, ‘Have Gun-Will Travel’

The Westerner

Photo Provided Richard Boone as Paladin.

A gunslinger with a business card? That’s right! The gunslinger willing to travel was known as Paladin. Paladin was a man of culture, manners, fine clothes and he was literate and ate the finest of meals available at his home base of the Hotel Carlton in San Francisco. The solemn message on his card read simply, “Have Gun-Will Travel, wire Paladin, San Francisco.”

The figure of the Paladin was on his holster and his business card. The Paladin is the white chess knight and was the only name he was known by. Even though Paladin hired out his gun, he was by no means a killer. Quite the contrary, Paladin was a man of high ethics and morals. By engaging his services, by no stretch of the imagination meant that you owned him. Upon accepting an assignment, Paladin left the comfort he so enjoyed and dressed completely in black, he rode to his job and took care of business. Sometimes the employer would feel the wrath of Paladin if he tried to pull a shady deal on him.

Debuting on Sept. 14, 1957, and running until Sept. 23, 1963, “Have Gun-Will Travel” was an immediate hit, rarely out of the top 10. From 1958 to 1961, it was the number three program on the air, with only “Wagon Train” and “Gunsmoke” being rated higher.

Paladin certainly was not the everyday gunfighter; he was college educated and a graduate of West Point. Disillusioned with the military life and the Civil War, he headed West to become the high-priced gun for hire. Hey Boy (or Kim Chang), a Chinese man working at the Hotel Carlton, would bring Paladin his job offers with the morning paper, and accept them he did, for 225 half-hour, black and white episodes.

Rugged actor Richard Boone was an ideal choice for Paladin, being a no-nonsense person in real life and a no-nonsense character in “Have Gun-Will Travel.” Boone had been working in films since the early 50s, and was the star of one of  early TV’s biggest hits, “Medic.” A few years after the end of “Have Gun-Will Travel,” Boone starred in two more series, namely “The Richard Boone Show,” and “Hec Ramsey.” Neither effort, however, duplicated his earlier successes.

It is ironic that “Have Gun-Will Travel” was such an enduring hit, as it was well known from Boone’s own mouth he disliked location work and horses in particular. Nevertheless, “Have Gun-Will Travel” filmed all over the country, including such diverse sites as Bend, Ore.; Gallup, N.M.; Kanab, Utah; and Tucson, Ariz.

Noted directors such as Ida Lupino, Sam Peckinpah, Andrew McLaglen — who directed 101 episodes, Charles Marquis Warren and Boone himself directed many of them.

Talented guest stars that appeared in “Have Gun-Will Travel” included: James Coburn, June Lockhart, James Craig, Harry Carey Jr., Victor McLaglen, John Dehner, Roy Barcroft, Angie Dickinson, Johnny Western, Ben Johnson and James Drury.

Hal Needham was Boone’s stunt double.

Other regulars besides Boone were Kam Tong as Hey Boy, and Lisa Lu as Hey Girl, for only the 1961 season. Richard Boone and Kam Tong have passed away.

“Have Gun-Will Travel” was produced by the CBS Television network and was one of their biggest hits, running for six years; being voluntarily canceled by Boone after he had grown tired of it.

The theme song, “The Ballad of Paladin,” sung by Johnny Western, was released in 1961 and became a hit single. “Have Gun-Will Travel” cards are today a valued piece of memorabilia.

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Side notes on “Have Gun-Will Trave”

Some of the guest stars I met from this classic show were: Ben Johnson, James Drury, Harry Carey Jr., Andrew McLaglen and Johnny Western.

Johnny Western toured with Gene Autry till 1960, and then spent the next 30 plus years touring with Johnny Cash. When Cash retired, Johnny went on his own and found a new audience with the various western film festivals. I worked many a festival with Johnny and always attended his concerts as he paid tribute to all the classic lyrics from your favorite TV westerns.

He concluded each performance with the Ballad of Paladin.

Peter Boone, Richard’s son, attended the Williamsburg Film Festival several years ago and had with him the jacket his dad wore in “The Alamo,” starring John Wayne. Peter was a jeweler in the Richmond, Va., area. He told us when they took Richard’s mother to see his current movie, most of the time he was a nasty villain, his mother had to be prepared for his performance. Richard Boone was a bad dude in “Hombre,” “The Shootist,” and “Big Jake.”

Arvo Ojala designed the holster rig for Richard Boone. Arvo also did the holster for many of the cowboy stars of that era. He also trained many in the art of fast draw and proper gun handling.

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The Westerner Magazine, special 40th anniversary is still available and can be purchased by calling 304-295-3143 or email: oldwestshop@aol.com.

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