Tombstone Territory (1957–1960) User Reviews (8)

"This is the way it happened - in the town too tough to die".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 1 October 2011]

The golden age of TV Westerns consisted roughly of the half decade from 1957 to 1962, and network TV was just loaded with them. The A list included classics like 'Gunsmoke' and 'Rawhide', but there was a respectable second tier of shows like 'Colt .45', 'The Texan', and this one - 'Tombstone Territory', starring Pat Conway as Sheriff Clay Hollister. Each show opened with a brief narration by Richard Eastham who portrayed the editor of The Tombstone Epitaph, Harris Cliburn, stating that the episode to follow was based on news that appeared within it's pages. I don't know if that was true or not, but it sounded cool enough, and I don't doubt that some of them actually could have been.

Knowing a little bit about the history of the Old West in general, and the OK Corral in particular, it's curious to me now how the series avoided mentioning the Earp Brothers. The infamous gunfight took place on October 26th, 1881, which would have placed it squarely within the dates cited every week by Editor Cliburn for when the episodes took place, roughly spanning the years 1880 through 1886. However the show did use other historical figures of the era like Johnny Ringo, Doc Holliday and Geronimo, and actor Robert Foulk had a recurring role in the first season as amiable outlaw Curly Bill Broscious.

Over the past couple of months I've been able to watch about sixty of the show's total of ninety two episodes spanning 1957 to 1960. Something I found interesting was that beyond the first season, when actor Gil Rankin appeared as Hollister's deputy Charlie Riggs, the sheriff wound up with various other deputies from show to show named Pete, Fred and Quint. None of them were portrayed by known actors, and since the closing credits listed the players by name only and not their characters, I have no idea who was who. Not a big deal, but it's just one of those things I'd like to know.

As with all TV Westerns of the time, a great list of guest actors would make their appearance in 'Tombstone Territory', names like Jack Elam, Lee Van Cleef, Andrew Duggan, William Conrad, Michael Landon and Pernell Roberts. Warren Oates showed up a couple of times as different characters, and even though I wasn't surprised to see Angie Dickinson in one of the shows, one guest that caught me off guard was Dyan Cannon showing up at the tail end of the third season in 'The Injury'.

One of the things I liked about the show was that Hollister and Cliburn developed a pretty strong relationship during the series run. Clay almost always called him Mr. Cliburn, and it wasn't unusual to see the newspaper man take a heated stand to back up the sheriff, like he did in #1.7 - 'Guns of Silver'. Pat Conway for his part was the classic TV lawman, squaring back his shoulders and moving straight ahead whenever he got ready to perform his duties. One of his best efforts came in episode #1.6 - 'Killer Without a Conscience' when he faced down Bruce Gordon as a sadistic lawman who wanted to take Hollister's place in Tombstone. That was one of Hollister's finest moments in a classic showdown that Westerns like these were noted for.

Something I'll have to get around to at some point is finding out how the three major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS) operated back in the day. I say that because when the second season of 'Tombstone Territory' ended on October 9th, 1958, Pat Conway appeared in an episode of 'The Texan' on CBS that aired on October 13th. Oddly, that's the only time I've ever seen Conway outside of his regular series, even though he had a fair number of appearances in other vehicles, almost all in TV shows from the mid-Fifties to the early Seventies. An interesting trivia note is that he appeared in episodes of 'Gunsmoke' in 1955, and then again in 1973! How cool is that?

The Town Too Tough To Die

[hogwrassler · 8/10 · 8 June 2022]

I vaguely remember this series as a kid in the 1950s. Grit TV is currently showing two episodes each weekday at 1PM and 130PM. All the episodes seem new to me. It was a well done western series with Pat Conway and Richard Eastham as the stars. Conway as Sheriff Clay Hollister always had a deputy during the run, but they often seemed to be elsewhere when the trouble starts and Eastham and newspaper man Harris has to fill in and help catch the bad guys.

The scripts were well written and the action fast in the half hour shows. It really makes me feel young again to see these old shows from my youth.

I do recommend Tombstone Territory if you ever have a chance to see it. It's worth watching.

Very, very well played

[QueenoftheGoons · 8/10 · 14 February 2022]

Pat Conway, i had never met him before. Due to his age you expect him to be a punk but he handles himself quite well. The series was very good and i will watch it again in1-2 years. I had originally got it for my goons that are in it; my gorgeous goons; Robert Wilke, Lee Van Cleef, Allen jaffe, Charlie Aidman, Jack Elam, John Duke, John Milford, Paul Richards, Leo Gordon, Nick Barkley, & Lon Chaney Jr. Conway handled himself well against these tough guys. Was a good chance i'm glad i took it.

Simply, best Western by leaps & bounds

[laurelhardy-12268 · 10/10 · 11 March 2020]

Although I was 4 years old when TT debuted; I never viewed it back then. In 2020; it's a great watch; and far far superior to anything crappy TV has to offer today or, Western TV shows of yore.

First, it makes every other Western TV show, seem like the mundane.

Here's the thing about this show: While each episode is a bit less than 25 minutes, it plays like a big screen MGM movie. It's pretty remarkable.

The stories are unique; and the atmosphere remarkably big screen. And the added touch of the Epitaph (Tombstone newspaper) editor narration at the intro; is excellent as well. The great majority of stories are re-enactments of actual history.

We were recording them off of DTV, but the wife (like me), loved the show so much; I just purchased the entire 3 season set year set for $20.00 on Amazon. Best money we ever spent. And that's 110-120 episodes. A steal.

For story development, there are episodes with scenes that are "head scratchers." By this, I am referring to the many times the star (Hollister); allows others to 'get the jump on him'. Usually via bad judgement. But that's so he can be a hero in some other 'totally-like wow-bitchen) way, and get into Donnybrooks so it's not all about his quick draw.

There's one hilarious thing my wife Evelyn & I laugh about nearly every episode. I think a portion of this show was dedicated to housewives. Pat Conway is a good looking guy. But the way he moves when leaving his office, is just plain funny. Not just striking poses, but also, the swaying of his hips around tables, chairs, and hand rails, with arms out to both sides like he's ready to break out dancing; is just funny. He does it outdoors as well with no objects to navigate. Evie says sometimes, "all he needs is a runway & a tiara:)."

Lastly, all kinds of TV and television stars (most before their prime) to be found in these episodes. Lee Van Cleef, Warren Oates, and countless more.

Directors too; like Don Siegel (Dirty Harry), & Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch).

If you take nothing else from this review, just know that every episode plays like an big studio movie production. Not to impugn Bonanza, Rawhide, Gunsmoke and the rest; Tombstone Territory just stands alone.

Needless to say; we HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Thx for listening

Bob R.

Whistle Me Up This Memory From Classic 1950's Television

[BERECAT · 3 June 2001]

6ft.3in.Pat Conway starring Sherriff Clay Hollister was in charge of keeping thing orderly in the "Town Too Tough To Die". The show originally ran on ABC from October 16, 1957 to October 9, 1959. Richard Eastham played double duty as editor of the Epitaph and as narrator of the show.Tombstone Territory came out of the stable that produced the likes of Bat Masterson and Highway Patrol and a slew of other popular 1950 TV series.Pat Conway handled his role as Clay Hollister quite well as his family are no strangers to the performing arts.(His mother was silent screen star Francis Bushman).Tombstone Territory was never short on shoot-em ups or fistic violence as was the norm for westerns of its day.Has it changed? As a kid in the fifties I had an ear for those catchy tunes that were so prevelant back in those days and "Whistle Me Up A Memory" was one of the best.As with so many other entertaining TV show from yesteryear (and many from ZIV) the only copies available from this show are a few 16mm transfers. What a shame!

"Whistle Me Up A Memory"

[Ramar · 10/10 · 16 February 1999]

Sheriff Clay Hollister defended the law in "The Town To Tough To Die" and did it with a no nonsense approach. The narration by Harris Claibourn editor of the Tombstone 'Epitaph' brought a sense of additional realism to this high quality show.

Bring it Back! Tombstone Territory!

[bl2moons · 10/10 · 4 March 2021]

A show like this would attract millions of viewers in this day of sleaze. Good stories with a moral lesson in each episode, based on factual accounts that are dramatized ... great stuff!!! Western updated in color with good solid characters regardless of which side of the law they are on would sell. Hollywood should return to fiction with a realistic wholesome story line and leave the fringe c=garbage alone. The public is tired of it. I can't tell you the last time I watched current TV.

"The Town to tough to die"

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 19 April 2020]

This half hour TV Western is set in Tombstone, Arizona some years after thr Earps and Clsntons had done their thing and left the scene. The new sheriff in town is Clay Hollister played by Pat Conway.

The format of the show has the publisher and editor of the Tombstone Epitaph Richard Eastham narrate the story, ripped from the headlines of his paper as it were. The Tombstone Epitaph was a real paper, the accounts we have o the Earp/Clanton feud come from the stories in the Epitaph which had a pro-Earp bias.

Conway was a resolute defender of the law in the three seasons the show ran. As for Tombstone the town did die and like Virginia City in Nevada tje remnants are a tourist site.