Laramie

Out of all the many TV Westerns that there are to choose from in the 1950s and early-1960s, I personally rate Laramie as the absolute best of the very best.

Very masculine, very rugged and very-very entertaining, Laramie was definitely a real action-packed TV show that easily ranks, in my books, as the ultimate epitome of the "near-perfect" cowboy-fantasy saga.

Featuring plenty of guest stars and an excellent cast of regulars, headlined by Robert Fuller, as Jess Harper, and John Smith, as Slim Sherman - Laramie proudly showcased these 2 strapping and husky, young dudes who literally lived and breathed the true "Code of the West", a set of values which existed, just as they existed, in absolute accordance with the belief in loyalty, morality, and personal pride.

Set (during the 1870s) on the very edge of a vast and spectacular frontier within the Wyoming Territory, Laramie was a serious and often good-natured show. It never skimped on the violence when it came to depicting the many hardships that were encountered by those pioneers who faithfully strove to tame the wildness of the great, old west.

Filmed in b&w (with each episode running approx. 50 minutes), Laramie is definitely a show that I highly recommend to anyone who really appreciates a superb TV Western that stands tall above all the rest.

There certainly were an awful lot of western-themed shows on tv,for close to a 2 decade run,from the early 1950's to the early 1970's !

As crowded as the tv was at that time with the westerns,remember there is always room for another good show,right? I say there is and these folks knew it too!

In my opinion,this show is very good and it is well worth watching-I like it and you might like it too! Some episodes are better than others but none of them are bad,I suggest watching at least a few episodes to get a good idea of how the show goes. Laramie has a way of growing on you,as it is quite funny and charming.

too bad we cannot get the old real good series that used to be. we have stations that claim to be western channels but none of the series are ever on. why? this was one of the greats like WAGON TRAIN. Better than gunsmoke. if you ever get a chance watch it.

We recently dumped cable; so much useless and never watched programming for too much dough. My wife installed (had it installed) an antenna and to my delight, through wafting around with the remote, I happened on a Laramie show in progress. I had never seen one. When all those westerns were popular, I was a teen and really didn't watch much TV then, and watched even less western type fare. Anyway, when I saw it recently, I was quickly riveted. I could not believe the verisimilitude of the show. All the little details of farm and ranch implements, the whole layout, including the period dress of the actors, the scenery, was perfect. Most of all, though, was the deep and gripping nostalgia for a time-and I remember it well- when the progeny of the people who conquered this land and made it fruitful, were portrayed without apology as the moral, strong, and brave souls they actually were. That time will come again, I'm sure, though I won't be here to see it, most likely. Laramie was neither Right nor Left. It was dramatized history, and done very very well. I receive it on a network called Gritz. I hope it stays on as long as possible. Hoagy Carmichael, a semi-regular on the show, apparently, wrote "Stardust," one of the most recorded songs ever. It bears no resemblance to what these sad days passes for music.

I was enthralled by this western and its two handsome heroes as a child and it was Laramie (and reading Shane as a kid!) that made me want to visit Wyoming and especially Laramie itself- which I did when I grew up! I remember having a drink in a Laramie bar with a mirror behind the bar said to be broken by a bullet :) and staying on a ranch way out in Wyoming (which was exactly how I'd imagined it). Anyhow..I recently got the dvds and have been enjoying the whole series. Very entertaining too! The action's there, the friendship's there, the sense of honour and decency's there with our two leads...but I have to keep reminding myself that "family shows" couldn't officially tread on other than very safe and acceptable ground then. Nonetheless it's not for nothing that Laramie has been described as the original of Brokeback Mountain. The relationship between the two leads is unique and hints at a closer one, shall I say, than normally is presented in the average Western ! This could account for its popularity in Japan. The producer (s) appear to have quietly encouraged this subtext in several ways. For instance, as mentioned, they were exceptionally close and bonded from the first episode and also when you look close, Jess Harper is well made up, mascara-ed eyelashes, eyeliner etc! His looks are really emphasised whereas John Smith's are not. There's a lot of physical touching, albeit perfectly innocent, too. Westerns aren't popular now but I'd love to see Laramie as it would be produced today :) A definite 10/10 I bet.