In 1962, The Virginian, perhaps the greatest TV western of all time, aired on television.

• The Virginian was based on Owen Wister’s novel of the same name.

• The Virginian was set in 1890s Medicine Bow, Wyoming.

• Season 1 & 2 both featured the same opening, but with slightly different music.

• There had been movies of The Virginian in 1929 and 1946.

• Season 1 was filmed from 1962-63, and Season 2 was filmed from 1963-64.

• Both seasons had 30 episodes each.

The first 3 seasons of The Virginian were some of the best hours of TV ever made.

• Steve Hill (Gary Clarke) appeared as a regular in both seasons.

• Randy (Randy Boone) was added to the show near the end of Season 2.

The theme song for The Virginian, which was played in different versions each season,
was called "Lonesome Tree". It was composed by Canadian bandleader, orchestrator,
composer, and conductor, Percy Faith (1908-1976). He also composed Christmas music.






Some of The Virginian's background music was also on Wagon Train (1957).

Every few episodes were filmed simultaneously, due to episode length and having to air one each week. Mr. Drury said
that he would walk on one episode, say his part, then go to the next one and do a shooting scene or ride his horse.

The entire show came to an end in 1971, after running for 9 years with 249 90-minute-long color episodes.

• The Virginian, along with Trampas, were the only two main characters who stayed on the whole show.

• Other characters that stayed on the entire show were Harper and Sheriff Abbott.





The opening for The Virginian 1958 pilot (colorized)