The Rough Riders

This 1958 series from ZIV got lost in the sea of other 30-minute filmed black and white westerns that deluged TV in the late 1950s. However, it has many points of interest, including a good cast--- three stalwart, very different heroes, with the stories successively featuring each in turn. The authenticity of the series is also impressive. Firearms are correct for roughly 1870, and properly single-action, and there seem to be almost no sets, as such. Most action takes place outdoors, but indoor sequences seem to take place in real rooms in real buildings. Jan Merlin is, as he was on TOM CORBETT, SPACE CADET, the most interesting member of the trio. It's as if a time machine had taken Roger Manning back to 1870.

The writing is above average. The series has an interesting concept: Veterans from a war continue to contend with conflict which incited a war.

Not so much a review as a correction. Lieutenant Kirby's first name was Cullen not Colin. Jan Merlin says it quite clearly in The Ransom of Rita Renee.

I loved this old series, and got a chuckle out of the comment of the backwards guns, many of the old time western stars wore their guns backwards. They sometimes crossed their arms to draw. I wish, this series would show up on cable sometime. Being from Texas my favorite character was Lt Kirby,loved his blonde hair, and smart Aleck persona. I remember Jan Merlin from Tom Corbett Space Cadet too, I've followed his career over the years, IMO, he is one of the best character actors around, and he seemed to really enjoy playing the wise guy or the bad guy. Cole Younger, Gunfighter, was another one of my favorites! I've noticed his name pop up on Amazon, seems he has turned to writing.

I guess the other person commenting didn't watch the same series I watched, because I loved it.

It was actually a Yankee Sergeant (Peter Whitney) that teamed up with a Yankee Captain (Kent Taylor) and a Rebel Lieutenant (Jan Merlin) who roamed the west fighting trouble and bad guys.

It was a lesson in how to put past troubles and differences behind you and move on with your life. Another lesson was in teamwork and looking out for one another.

Today's TV shows could take a lesson in this formula.