Rawhide

1/9/1959 – 1/4/1966 CBS

Black and White

60 minutes – 217 episodes

Jan. 1959-April 1959 Friday 8:00-9:00

May 1959-Sept.1963 Friday 7:30-8:30

Sept. 1963-Sept. 1964 Thursday 8:00-9:00

Sept. 1964-Sept. 1965 Friday 7:30-8:30

Sept. 1965-Jan.1966 Tuesday 7:30-8:30

Rawhide Cast

Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates

Eric Fleming as Gil Favor

John Ireland as Jed Colby

Sheb Wooley as Pete Nolan

Paul Brinegar as Wishbone

James Murdock as Mushy

Rocky Shahan as Joe Scarlet

Steve Raines as Jim Quince

Raymond St. Jacques as Simon Blake

Horse: (Rowdy’s) Midnight

CLICK HERE for a heartwarming story of Midnight’s rescue and life after Rawhide

Rawhide Theme Song

“Rawhide” by Ned Washington and Dimitri Tiomkin

Performed by Frankie Laine

Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rawhide! Rollin', rollin', rollin' Though the streams are swollen Keep them doggies rollin' Rawhide Rain and wind and weather Hellbent for leather Wishin' my gal was by my side All the things I'm missin' Good vittals, love and kissin' Are waiting at the end of my ride CHORUS Move 'em on, head 'em up Head 'em up, move 'em on Move 'em on, head 'em up Rawhide Count 'em out, ride 'em in Ride 'em in, count 'em out Count 'em out, ride 'em in Rawhide Keep movin', movin', movin' Though they're disapprovin' Keep them doggies movin' Rawhide Don't try to understand 'em Just rope 'em, pull and brand 'em Soon we'll be living high and wide My hearts calculatin' My true love will be waitin' Be waitin' at the end of my ride Hyaa! CHORUS Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Hyaa! Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Hyaa! Rawhide! Rawhide!

Tidbits

Gil Favor (Eric Fleming) was the trail boss of the cattle drive from North Texas to Sedalia, Kansas. His ramrod was a young Clint Eastwood playing Rowdy Yates. When Fleming left the show in the last season, Rowdy became the boss.

Rawhide is often compared to Wagon Train which debuted first. The cattle drive provided the same opportunity to come across many different people and situations. Even Rawhide’s whiskered cook, Wishbone (Paul Brinegar) is often confused with Wagon Train’s bushy cook, Charlie Wooster (Frank McGrath).

Did you know that Sheb Wooley, who played Pete Nolan, is also known as a country and western singer? Or that he brought you the tune, Purple People Eater?

Rawhide has one of the most easily recognized theme songs. And well it should. Composer Dimitri Tiomkin also composed the theme music for High Noon, Rio Bravo, Dial M for Murder, The Alamo and many other movies.

When you watch Rawhide now, it is interesting to see the young Clint Eastwood inasmuch as we now know all he will become.

Of historical note: When Raymond St. Jacques joined the cast in 1965 he became the first black actor to be regularly featured on a Western.

Passings

Eric Fleming drowned in Peru in 1966. John Ireland died in 1992 of leukemia. Paul Brinegar in 1995, James Murdock in 1981, Steve Raines in 1996, Raymond St. Jacques in 1990. Sheb Wooley died of leukemia in 2003.