A History Of Television's The Virginian 1962-1971 : REVIEWS
JAMES DRURY - The Virginian
"I really enjoyed your book. It is comprehensive and a valuable resource for anyone interested in studying The Virginian."
FRANK PRICE - Executive Producer
"I am very impressed with it. You did a great job of research on The Virginian and it is certainly apparent in the book. It is a work that reflects your high standards."
JOEL ROGOSIN - 'The Virginian' producer, writer & director
"I'm pleased to have added your wonderfully detailed and nostalgic book to my shelves. Congratulations on this remarkable effort! I'm having a great time leafing through it. All in all, what a treat!"
RANDY BOONE - Randy Benton
"In my humble opinion the book was very interesting and very well written. I was fascinated. Thank you for writing the book."
SARA LANE - Elizabeth Grainger
"My husband is reading the book avidly and loving it. It's a wonderful book."
WESTERN CLIPPINGS 11/11/06
"If you care one whit about TV westerns, Paul Green's A HISTORY OF TELEVISION'S 'THE VIRGINIAN' 1962-1971 is a magnificent must for you. No book yet written on a single western TV series (except for the Barabas book on Gunsmoke) comes close to approaching the scope and depth of Green's treatise on The Virginian. Throughout its nine year run, The Virginian maintained quality production values, hiring only the best acting talent. Green's history of the series takes us from Owen Wister's 1902 novel to the failed '57 Screen Gems pilot with James Drury on through the entire nine years of the 90 min. series documenting its 249 episodes with personal interviews of actors, creative personnel, producers, writers, directors etc. (including bios on all as well). Only Gunsmoke and Bonanza had longer runs on TV, yet The Virginian has had relatively little written about it. Green's book remedies that, creating a full bodied history of an excellent series. Green's research and writing receives WC's (Western Clippings) highest praise."
WRANGLER'S ROOST
"Fans of television westerns in general and The Virginian in particular will not find a better book than this on the subject. This hardcover really is a must have."
WESTERN MAIL Feb. 2007 - Berlin, Germany
"Here the writer shows in a highly informative way every imaginable aspect of the very popular TV show, that made number 10 in the USA Nielsen Ratings in 1966-67 and could also be repeatedly found in the top 20.
The Hollywood productions were analyzed, the characters explained, the main actors and cast members introduced and every single episode talked over and listed in filmographical respects."
[Translated from original German text by Regina Urban]
A HISTORY OF TELEVISION'S THE VIRGINIAN 1962-1971
Foreword by Frank Price
ISBN: 978-0-7864-2613-3
57 photos, appendix, bibliography, index
300pp. library binding (7 x 10) 2006
$55
Available for immediate shipment
On September 19, 1962, The Virginian made its primetime broadcast premiere. Based on the 1902 novel by Owen Wister, The Virginian had already been through four movie adaptations when Frank Price mentioned the story’s series potential to NBC. In need of a western to compete for the genre’s huge audience share, the network gambled money and resources on Price’s recommendation. Filmed exclusively in color, The Virginian became TV’s first 90-minute western series. By 1967, the show had broken into the Nielsen rating’s top ten, and NBC’s gamble had paid off. Immensely successful (in spite of a rough fourth season which almost spelled the end for the series), The Virginian ran for nine seasons, becoming television’s third longest running western.
This work documents the creative history of The Virginian. It investigates the original inspirations for the main character and follows the story through various motion picture adaptations. The primary focus, however, is The Virginian’s transformation into television. Personal interviews with executive producer Frank Price and actors, James Drury, Gary Clarke, Roberta Shore, Randy Boone, Sara Lane and Pippa Scott provide insider details. The book also looks at the ways in which the show changed over time. An extensive episode guide includes title, air date, guest star(s), writers, producers, director and a brief synopsis of each of The Virginian’s 249 episodes along with a detailed list of cast and production staff. An appendix provides a cross-section of collectibles available from internet auction sites and memorabilia dealers.
