Man Without a Gun (1957–1959)

Information from IMDb

Plot Summary
The adventures of Adam MacLean, publisher and chief reporter
for the Yellowstone Sentinel of Yellowstone, Wyoming, in the late 19th century.

Series Cast
Rex Reason ... Adam MacLean (51 episodes, 1957-1959)
Mort Mills ... Marshal Frank Tallman / ... (33 episodes, 1957-1959)
Harry Harvey ... Mayor George Dixon (22 episodes, 1957-1959)
Forrest Taylor ... Doc Brannon / ... (22 episodes, 1957-1959)
James Philbrook ... Roy Brattan / ... (3 episodes, 1957-1958)
and many more....
Series Directed
Charles F. Haas ... (8 episodes, 1957-1958)
John Peyser ... (7 episodes, 1958)
and many more...

Series Writing Credits
Peter Packer ... (creator) (35 episodes, 1957-1959)
Robert Leslie Bellem ... (11 episodes, 1957-1959)
and many more...

Series Produced
Alan A. Armer ... producer (27 episodes, 1957-1959)
Mel Epstein ... producer (3 episodes, 1958)
and many more...

Cinematography
Charles Van Enger ... (16 episodes, 1957-1959)
Lloyd Ahern Sr. ... (1 episode, 1959)

Filming Location
20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City,
Los Angeles, California, USA

Man Without a Gun is an American western television series
produced by 20th Century Fox Television and presented on the NTA Film Network
and in first-run syndication in the United States from 1957 to 1959.

Set in the town of Yellowstone near Yellowstone National Park
in the then Dakota Territory during the 1870s, the program starred Rex Reason
as newspaper editor Adam MacLean, who brought miscreants to justice without
the use of violence or gunplay but through his Yellowstone Sentinel.
The co-star was Mort Mills, as Marshal Frank Tallman, who intervened
when the "pen" proved not to be "mightier than the sword".
Harry Harvey, Sr., was cast in twenty-one episodes as Yellowstone Mayor George Dixon.

The program is considered to have been unique because it showcased
MacLean's moral ethics and common sense to bring outlaws to justice.
The show was also used as a schoolroom to teach the youngsters of the 1950s
about decency and the differences between right and wrong.

User Review

Classic Early Pacifist Western series
Author: Dejael from Los Angeles, California

Quote from dejael

9 November 2003

This terrific syndicated TV series, in 52 black & white 30-minute episodes,
made by 20th Century Fox Television, now seemingly long-forgotten by TV viewers,
had a new angle at the time of its release as a family show,
and that was to tone down the violent aspects of Western stories and
concentrate on how outlaws could be brought to justice just as well
by the printing press as they could with a gun, using the old maxim
"the pen is mightier than the sword".

Starring handsome hunk, baritone-voiced movie star Rex Reason,
most famous as Dr. Cal Meacham in the science fiction classic
THIS ISLAND EARTH (1955), as Adam MacLean, a crusading newspaper reporter
and editor-in-chief of the "YELLOWSTONE SENTINEL" newspaper in the
rustic western town of Yellowstone, Wyoming near Yellowstone National Park,
with a circulation all over the Dakotas, thanks to his dispatches via
Western Union and Wells Fargo Express.

Adam MacLean was an idealistic impresario in this small town who has as his
chief ally and friend Sheriff and U.S. Marshal Frank Tallman,
well played by actor Mort Mills, and often would pal around with series regulars
Harry Harvey Sr. as Mayor George Dixon and Forrest Taylor as Doc Brannon
in the course of his investigations.
Guest stars included many popularTV actresses of the day as
passing love interests for burly Adam MacLean.

Running for 52 episodes, produced from the fall of 1957 to late 1959,
this popular series had its season premiere in September 1958
and ran for two seasons thru spring of 1960.

Rex Reason admirably showcased how moral ethics and common sense
could be used instead of violence to bring crooks and outlaws to justice,
but was not averse to an occasional fistfight if the situation demanded it.

As MacLean, Reason also used his newspaper office as a schoolroom
to teach youngsters their lessons as well as common decency and the
difference between right and wrong.

Rex Reason as a Western star was comparable to James Garner and Jack Kelly in MAVERICK,
Clint Walker in CHEYENNE or Ty Hardin in BRONCO.
Rex had already starred in a few Western movies so he was comfortable
and well-suited to the series, and well-received by viewers.

One particular episode from the second season, titled "DEVIL'S ACRES"
was filmed like an episode of Rod Serling's TWILIGHT ZONE, as a fantasy allegory,
and is especially memorable.
Pretty blonde actress Carol Ohmart (HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, 1959)
guest-starred as a young lady who came to claim her lost relative's land,
only to realize it was claimed by the Devil, played in an uncredited
cameo role by John Carradine, who rides off on a black horse at the end!

Highly recommended to Western movie and TV fans, or anyone who loves
classic TV of the 1950s & 1960s.

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