In the early 1960s when TV-western mania reached its peak, an American
magazine sponsored a contest for the actors who portrayed western
heroes and villains. Since the climactic moment of so many shows was
the classic quick-draw shoot-out, the actors had to acquire that skill
to play their scenes. The magazine held a competiton among some of the
stars of the shows, firing blanks, aiming not at each other but
downrange, and using an electronic timer. Quite a number of cowboy
stars showed up to "slap leather." He beat them all and won the title
of the fastest gun in Hollywood.