A Word on Westerns

Our special guest who recalls a western with Bob Dylan and Brigitte Bardot written by a counter culture comedy troupe? What could go wrong? Well, according to Firesign Theatre's Philip Proctor, a lot could happen…and did. What was left was ZACHARIAH, a 1971 rock and roll cult western starring Broadway's PIPPIN, 25-year-old John Rubinstein, and 21-year-old Don Johnson, in only his 2nd film.  They were trippy cowboy pals in the psychedelic Old West. Very loosely based on Herman Hesse's SIDDHARTHA, the script by Joe Massot and the Firesign Theatre's Proctor, Davis Ossman, Peter Berman and Philip Austin, follows the two young wannabe gunslingers, one good and one bad, as they meet up with various outlaw musicians and odd balls, before having a final confrontation.   Even with an outlaw gang played by Country Joe and the Fish, a fast-draw drum-slinging bad guy, Elvin Jones, a soothsaying fiddler in black (the legendary Doug Kershaw), and a foot stomping rock number from Joe Walsh and the James Gang that opens the film, ZACHARIAH was a unique studio funded flop.   Find out what happened during development and during the filming south of the border from Proctor, who regales a packed house of western fans with hysterical drug fueled memories.   Phil blows the audience away with his memory of another acting gig with Fess Parker on the popular series DANIEL BOONE. That's followed by the origin story behind the award winning Firesign Theatre.  It was a revolutionary group of brilliant comics, writers, voice artists, actors and...storytellers whose audio fantasies created over a dozen albums. The zany, hysterical LPs were bestsellers that created trippy storytelling for the psychedelic 60's and 70's. Learn how a Sunset Strip riot became the meeting place and inspiration of the thought provoking comedy troop of performers known as The Firesign Theatre. They were embraced on college campuses everywhere and became darlings of the media.   Following his cowboy misadventures, Proctor became a much in demand voice artist in animation (TOY STORY, MONSTERS, INC.) and video games (ASSASSIN'S CREED) racking up over 200 roles. Phil shared his amazing adventures with producer and host Rob Word for this special episode of A WORD ON WESTERN recorded at The Autry Museum, January 20, 2016.

Patrick Wayne & Claude Jarman, Jr recall the John Ford classic RIO GRANDE in a rare A WORD ON WESTERNS interview. Appearing together over 70 years ago in RIO GRANDE (1950), two young kids, Oscar winner Claude Jarman, Jr. and actor Patrick Wayne, reunited at the Lone Pine Film Festival, October 2021, for a screening, followed by a conversation with Rob Word about the timeless film. A WORD ON WESTERNS Podcast presents Patrick and Claude's informative and very fun remembrance. R.I.P. Claude Jarman, Jr. Sept 27, 1934-Jan 12, 2025.  Claude was only 15 years old when he portrayed the son of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in John Ford's classic, RIO GRANDE (1950). The young Academy Award winner for THE YEARLING (1946) got the casting call to meet with Ford and was soon out at Fat Jones' Stable in the San Fernando valley learning to ride two horses at once…while standing! RIO GRANDE was part of Ford's "Cavalry Trilogy," the others being FORT APACHE and SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON. In this interview, Jarman and Patrick Wayne (who was 10 years old in the film) share delightful memories. It's perhaps Ford's most intensely romantic western and the first pairing of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. RIO GRANDE is loaded with the unofficial Ford Stock Company of actors, including Ben Johnson, Harry Carey, Jr., Victor McLaglen, Grant Withers and the Sons of the Pioneers with Ford's son-in-law, Ken Curtis. Shot in Moab, Utah, RIO GRANDE is filled with heart, humor and some fancy Roman riding. It was a wonderful experience, especially for the two youngsters who share memories in this special episode of A WORD ON WESTERNS Podcast.

Two-time Emmy nominee Lee Purcell got an early career break when she auditioned for Steve McQueen's production company, Solar. Selected by McQueen, Lee landed the lead role opposite Michael Douglas in ADAM AT 6AM and was mentored by McQueen. Lee joins producer Rob Word for a career retrospective at The Autry Museum for A WORD ON WESTERNS.   Lee's co-starring role with Richard Thomas in a BONAZA episode was her first western. Lee's starring roles in two memorable western features include an amazing turn as a young prostitute in Hollywood legend Jack L. Warner's last feature film, DIRTY LITTLE BILLY, the innovative story of Billy the Kid with Michael J. Pollard as the kid. Lee was surrounded by western icons in KID BLUE, a turn of the century western about a train robber, Dennis Hopper, trying to go straight. Portraying the wife of Warren Oates, her co-stars included Ben Johnson, Ralph Waite, Janice Rule, Peter Boyle, Clifton James, M. Emmett Walsh, and Howard Hesseman. As the female lead in the first of THE GAMBLER series, Lee recalls teaching star Kenny Rogers how to read a script. He was a very fast learner. It was also Lee's first film with longtime friend, Bruce Boxleitner. More recently, Lee co-starred with Jon Voight in the JL Ranch and portrayed "Miss Kitty Russell" in a GUNSMOKE radio show adaptation for her production company, Two Fat Dogs Entertainment, series of virtual shows, "Radio You Can See."

Bruce Davison shares Burt Lancaster's acting tips ULZANA'S RAID in this episode of A WORD ON WESTERNS PODCAST! Oscar nominated actor Bruce Davison's amazing career has given audiences hundreds of powerful performances. Early roles in films like LAST SUMMER, THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT and WILLARD led him to a starring role with Burt Lancaster in the classic western, ULZANA'S RAID (1972). Bruce remembers embarrassing himself with director Robert Aldrich when he landed the role and being dazzled by, Lancaster and the lineup of top stunt men and women working on the film. Bruce also recalls the very strong alcoholic breath of Richard Boone while shooting a scene with the actor for an episode of Boone's HEC RAMSEY.  More fun adventures followed on and off set. Find out who Bruce ran into while waiting in line for an unemployment check. Join us for this interview with Bruce done in a roomful of fans that included Clu Gulager and Bruce Boxleitner at The Autry Museum, Jan 20, 2016.

102-Year-Old Nehemiah Persoff (1919-2022) WORD ON WESTERNS Podcast Exclusive! Hollywood legends Wayne, Bogart, Brando, Poitier and more taught Nehemiah Persoff about the movie business. Nicky joins Rob and RJ Word for an exclusive Zoom interview recorded November 2021, shortly before the celebrated actor died at the age of 102. Coming from the stage and the Actor's Studio, Nehemiah, was a fast learner and appeared in 100s of film and TV roles. We feel so fortunate to have done a zoom interview with him.   Nehemiah's memories of working with John Wayne in THE COMANCHEROS on acclaimed director Michael Curtiz' last film are fascinating. It was a thrill to have him share so many stories of his career for his fans to enjoy on our weekly series of conversations with filmmakers. Born in Jerusalem, Nehemiah Persoff (Aug 2, 1919-April 5, 2022) came to America at the age of 10. He was one of the first to join the celebrated Actor's Studio where he worked with Elia Kazan and met Marlon Brando, later appearing with "Bud" in Kazan's celebrated ON THE WATERFRONT. Persoff's first western feature was Delmar Daves' THE BADLANDERS with Alan Ladd. The actors were quite different from those he had worked with in New York. On Humphrey Bogart's last movie, THE HARDER THEY FALL, Nicky learned a big lesson in acting. His revealing memories of working with John Wayne as the heavy in THE COMANCHEROS caused him to rethink his approach to his interpretation of the villain. When Edward G. Robinson bailed on Billy Wilder in a key role in the now classic SOME LIKE IT HOT, Nicky replaced him and tells of the support he got from Wilder and the atmosphere on the set which made Persoff furious. Nehemiah was loaded with talent and versatility. His career was amazing; his life filled with love and adventure. Thanks to his cousin, author Jim Rosin, for helping arrange the interview. Nicky may have only been 5'7" tall but he was a GIANT on screen, leaving many powerful performances for generations to savor for years to come. May he Rest in Peace. Nicky was also a celebrated Plein Air artist and published his autobiography, "The Many Faces of Nehemiah," in 2021. It is available through Amazon here: https://www.shorturl.at/bftPW

Actor Chris Mulkey remembers BROKEN TRAIL, THE LONG RIDERS & TIMERIDER! Mulkey was warned by BROKEN TRAIL'S director Walter Hill to be very very careful not to hurt Robert Duvall in the fight scene. Chris joined Rob Word to share the experience and reveal who got hurt in this exclusive interview for A WORD ON WESTERNS podcast. BROKEN TRAIL was the third time Chris had worked for Hill and the first with Oscar winning actor Duvall in AMC's very successful 2-part western. Not to worry, said Mulkey, who ended up getting clipped by Duvall in the climatic skirmish. The 2006 western turned into a multi-award-winning program that helped launch AMC into airing more original programs. Mulkey first worked for director Hill in the classic tale of the James and Younger gang, THE LONG RIDERS in 1980 and later in Hill's monster hit, 48 HOURS. The veteran actor's long resume includes nearly 300 films and TV shows, including a stunning portrayal in season two of JUSTIFIED and as an outlaw with L.Q. Jones and Peter Coyote in the cult time travel classic, TIMERIDER: THE ADVENTURES OF LYLE SWANN. Chris averages 6 films a year! When he's not in front of the camera performing, he's on stage traveling, singing, and writing songs while fronting the stellar rock band, Chris Mulkey & Deluxe, formerly the house band at the House of Blues. Find out more about this versatile actor and what it's like being an in-demand performer.

With 635 episodes over 20 seasons, Gunsmoke set television's high-water mark for dramatic series. Season-one guest Brett Halsey, final-season tough-guy Martin Kove, and writer-producer Jim Byrnes reveal how scripts like Byrnes's lone-wolf classic "Lobo" kept Dodge City fresh. They swap candid memories of on-set hazards, last-minute rewrites, and what it took to sell a story to TV's longest-running Western. Versatile stars Jan Shepard and Jacqueline Scott spotlight the show's standout roles for women, from Shepard's riveting drunk-cell scene in "Friend" to Scott's fan-favorite turns in "Abelia" and "Kitty Cornered." Together they pull back the curtain on lightning-fast rehearsals, hard-charging directors, and a set where authenticity always came first. Press play, enjoy the ride, and follow A Word on Westerns for more untold stories from the frontier of classic TV.

Barry Corbin, the iconic Texan character actor who first ambled onto the big screen as Uncle Bob in Urban Cowboy (1980), has since played more than 300 roles—ranging from Maurice Minnifield, the philosophical ex-astronaut of Northern Exposure (earning two Emmy nominations), to crusty ranch hand Ross welcoming Jimmy to the 6666 on Yellowstone. In this illuminating visit with Rob and RJ Word—recorded inside Corbin's Fort Worth "man-cave," beneath trophy longhorns and movie memorabilia—the actor recalls swapping guitar licks with John Travolta on the Urban Cowboy set, jousting verbally with Clint Eastwood in Honky Tonk Man (1982), and watching director Taylor Sheridan mine real ranch life for on-screen grit. Corbin's authenticity runs deep: before Hollywood called, he rodeoed, penned one-acts, and helped campaign for his father, Kilmer B. Corbin, the youngest state senator in Texas history. Listen in and discover why every modern Western still reaches for Barry Corbin's brand of authenticity.

Gregory Harrison—TV favorite remembered for Dr. "Gonzo" Gates on Trapper John, M.D. and pioneer Levi Zendt in the epic miniseries Centennial—saddles up with Rob and RJ Word to talk Westerns, remakes, and riding alongside legends.  In 1988, he acquired the rights to Red River, produced a television remake, and cast James Arness—fresh out of retirement—as Thomas Dunson, with Bruce Boxleitner by his side.  Harrison packed the film with cameo salutes to classic TV cowboys, from Guy Madison and Ty Hardin to John Lupton, creating what felt like a living Western hall of fame.   Born in Avalon on California's Catalina Island, Harrison shares a heartfelt story of outfitting John Wayne and his Hollywood pals in yachting gear during summer stopovers—a teenage encounter that ignited his lifelong love of the Duke. Listen in, and if you enjoy the conversation, follow and share A Word on Westerns with fellow lovers of Western entertainment!

Golden Globe–winning actress Karen Sharpe—famed for The High and the Mighty and TV's Johnny Ringo—joins Rob and RJ Word on A Word on Westerns for a heartfelt trip down memory lane. She explains how John Wayne took her under his wing after The High and the Mighty and—at her urging—released her from his film contract so she could saddle up for the booming world of television. That leap landed her on dusty sets from Gunsmoke to Rawhide, The Range Rider, Trackdown, and The Wild Wild West, where she sparred with James Arness, Clint Eastwood, Eric Fleming, and a young Burt Reynolds. She laughs about Eastwood teasing her during a Rawhide scene and reveals how starring in Aaron Spelling's first Western series, Johnny Ringo, shaped her career. The conversation also touches on her Golden Globe win, her early jungle-girl days, and her love story with director Stanley Kramer. Tune in, and if you enjoy the conversation, follow and share A Word on Westerns with fellow lovers of cinema history.

Edward Asner: Emmy-winning star of Lou Grant and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, appears on this episode of A Word on Westerns. Hosts Rob and RJ Word dig into Asner's rich career—from his iconic role as Lou Grant in TV journalism to his adventures in the American West. Asner shares warm recollections of playing sly rancher Bart Jason opposite John Wayne in Howard Hawks's classic El Dorado (1966) and tales from the set with Robert Mitchum and actress Jacqueline Scott. He even recounts two different turns on Gunsmoke (as Sgt. Wilks in 1964's "Hung High" and drifter Redmond in 1966's "The Whispering Tree"), highlighting his dramatic range. The conversation also touches on Asner's many TV appearances—Route 66, The Virginian , and even a turn on The Fugitive —and his diverse film roles, from Westerns like The Skin Game (1971) to Pixar animation (Up, as Carl Fredricksen) . Along the way, Rob and RJ reflect on how Norman Lear and company created Lou Grant and the character's legacy as a gruff-but-goldenhearted boss, a role that earned Asner a record-breaking seven Emmys.

Will Hutchins (1930–2025)—the lanky Angeleno who ambled onto ABC screens as gentle‑souled law‑student‑turned‑drifter Tom "Sugarfoot" Brewster—joins host Rob Word and producer/co‑host RJ Word in a 2021 Zoom sit‑down that now feels like a fond farewell. Hutchins recalls how Warner Bros. spun Sugarfoot out of Clint Walker's smash hit Cheyenne, easing Walker's load of thirty‑nine hour‑long episodes a year with a rotating‑slot companion series. He delights in writer‑director Montgomery Pittman's wild "Canary Kid" trilogy, where he played both straight‑arrow Brewster and his mustachioed outlaw twin. Towering memories follow: sparring with James Arness in Gunsmoke's 1963 gem "Blind Man's Bluff," where Ted Post carved tension to the bone; leaping from TV backlots to William Wellman's World War I adventure Lafayette Escadrille (1958); slogging through jungle mud and live ammo for Sam Fuller's rugged war epic Merrill's Marauders (1962); and embracing desert existentialism in Monte Hellman's cult classic The Shooting (1966) opposite a young Jack Nicholson. Hutchins even appears—cheekily bullet‑proof—in Clint Eastwood's Magnum Force (1973). The conversation crescendos at his 2002 Golden Boot Award, where fellow Warner cowboy Clint Walker calmed his stage jitters poolside. Recorded before his passing, this episode now stands as a warm campfire send‑off to television's gentlest cowboy—proof that a dash of sarsaparilla humor and an Arctic‑blonde mop can still make the frontier feel friendly.

Russ Tamblyn and Ruta Lee reunite with host Rob Word and co-host RJ Word for a spirited look back at Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and the Golden Age of Hollywood. From barn-raising dance tales to gun-slinging stories with Glenn Ford, the duo trades memories that sparkle with studio-lot magic. Hear how a shovel dance saved a Western, why Michael Kidd's choreography still dazzles, and what makes on-set camaraderie endure. This episode has nostalgia, laughter, and pure movie lore in one brisk ride. Tune in now and saddle up for timeless Hollywood legends, Russ and Ruta! 

Tommy Cook, the irrepressible kid who first saddled up as "Little Beaver" in Republic's 1940 serial The Adventures of Red Ryder, swings by A Word on Westerns to relive a Hollywood journey spanning radio days, serial cliffhangers, and big-screen showdowns. Joining host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word, Tommy reveals how directors William Witney and John English guided him through action-packed stunts and shares fond memories of sidekicks like Don "Red" Barry. Tune in now!

Ryan O'Neal: From Peyton Place to Wild Rovers Academy Award nominee Ryan O'Neal, star of classics like Love Story, Paper Moon, and Barry Lyndon, strides into A Word on Westerns with tales of his big-screen adventures and a lifelong passion for film history. Joining host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word, O'Neal recalls his early days as a budding actor on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, how boxing with a young Clint Eastwood nearly materialized, and his unlikely kinship with character actor Henry Brandon—best known as Chief Scar in The Searchers—who became a family friend and a key influence on Ryan's Hollywood dreams. He also takes listeners behind the scenes of Blake Edwards' Wild Rovers (1971), where he co-starred with screen legend William Holden. Along the way, O'Neal reveals never-before-heard anecdotes about Holden's uproarious sense of humor, including the jaw-dropping fate of the actor's Stalag 17 Oscar—supposedly tossed into the Bay of Naples. From his father's work on the Randolph Scott Western Return of the Bad Men to O'Neal's own reflections on stardom, this candid conversation roams from comedic tangles with Barbra Streisand to the rough-and-tumble sets of the Western heyday. 

Veteran character actor Pepe Serna, celebrated for his roles in Scarface and The Jerk, joins host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word to reflect on a multifaceted career that has taken him from comedic hits to iconic Westerns. Raised in Texas and starting out in improv troupes, Serna shares how his early love of storytelling led him to memorable frontier roles and collaborations with legends like Henry Hathaway, Gregory Peck, and Lawrence Kasdan.   Between surviving Hathaway's on-set intensity in Shoot Out, portraying a quick-witted cowboy in Silverado, and contributing to powerful projects like Ballad of Gregorio Cortez and Conagher, Serna offers a candid view of the grit and camaraderie behind each Western. He also touches on the enduring importance of self-expression—both in his motivational outreach and his colorful artwork. Whether you know him best as a scene-stealer in modern classics or as a versatile player in the Old West, don't miss this spirited conversation with an actor whose range and resilience mirror the frontier itself.

On this episode of A Word on Westerns, host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word welcome Michael Beck, best known for his cool, stoic performance in Walter Hill's cult classic The Warriors. Yet before and after crossing bats with the "Baseball Furies," Beck rode west, exploring iconic tales of rugged heroes and flawed legends. From Triumphs of a Man Called Horse, where he played the son of Richard Harris's legendary character, to portraying Jim Bowie opposite Sam Elliott's Sam Houston in Gone to Texas, Beck sheds light on stepping into the boots of real-life American heroes. He recalls enduring tough on-location shoots in Mexico and Texas, contending with the relentless heat, and capturing the essence of frontier figures who are both epic and deeply human. Whether you know him from the electrifying streets of The Warriors or simply love delving into the thrills and tribulations of western cinema, saddle up for an engaging conversation that spans Michael Beck's early stage experiences, the classic TV westerns he grew up on, and the excitement of bringing history's boldest legends to life.

On this special A Word on Westerns compilation, host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word examine Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece, The Wild Bunch, a Western that redefined on-screen violence, through five voices who survived its famously tumultuous shoot. Producer/assistant director Howard Kazanjian (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi) recounts corralling Peckinpah's temper and fending off mass firings, while stuntman Gary Combs recalls being fired—then rehired—on the very same project. Costume designer-turned-producer Gordon Dawson describes frantic on-set scrambles and last-minute improvisations, and the late, great Bo Hopkins and LQ Jones share behind-the-scenes tales of squib-laden chaos, epic gunfights, and Sam's restless search for inspiration. From Mexico's sweltering backlots to the slow-motion carnage that forever changed Hollywood's depiction of brutality, these firsthand accounts reveal Peckinpah's tempestuous methods and the artistry that made The Wild Bunch a landmark Western—altering how cinema portrays loyalty, violence, and a vanishing frontier.

On this episode of A Word on Westerns, host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word welcome Irish-born actress Audrey Dalton, whose wide-ranging career brought her to Hollywood's golden era—and right into the heart of the Western genre. Known for her role in 1953's Titanic (opposite Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb), Audrey also appeared in a host of classic TV Westerns and frontier features that showcased both her elegance and her grit. Audrey recalls filming Drumbeat in scenic Sedona, Arizona for star-producer Alan Ladd and director Delmer Daves, revealing how a then-rising Charles Bronson (credited for the first time under his new stage name) brought fierce intensity to the role of "Captain Jack." She shares fond memories of working on Gunsmoke with Burt Reynolds, including the challenges of conquering her fear of horses for a fast-paced storyline. She also recounts guest turns on Wagon Train with Ward Bond, on The Big Valley with Barbara Stanwyck, and on The Wild Wild West wrangling live cheetahs—plus a brush with the legendary Boris Karloff. From surviving runaway stagecoaches to juggling comedic bits of costuming and accent changes, Audrey's experiences shine a loving spotlight on Hollywood's high adventure of the 1950s and '60s. Saddle up as she takes us from the soundstages of Paramount to the rugged backlots and desert vistas that transformed a Dublin girl into one of the genre's favorite frontier ladies.

On this episode of A Word on Westerns, host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word welcome the beloved Marion Ross, best known as the iconic Mrs. Cunningham on Happy Days. Yet long before she became America's favorite sitcom mom, Marion spent her early days under contract at Paramount, landing roles on some of television's most popular Westerns. She vividly recalls shooting The Lone Ranger with Clayton Moore—marveling at his lasting persona—and riding shotgun alongside a young Clint Eastwood in a runaway stagecoach on Rawhide. Whether you know her as Mrs. C or simply love hearing behind-the-scenes Western stories, saddle up for an entertaining ride through Marion Ross's Hollywood journey and discover a pioneer spirit that shone as brightly on dusty backlots as it did in a studio audience.