It’s time for a lesson in Western genre history.
Box,Dark Wind’sTony Hillerman, and other Western fiction authors ran with themselves.
Paramount released five more Boyd-led Hopalong Cassidy movies the following year, and another six the next.
But after the 41st entry, Paramount opted to sell some of its assets,including theHopalong Cassidypictures.
United Artists bought the rights, and in the last few months of 1942 released bothUncover ManandLost Canyon.
This new “series” became so popular that Boyd decided to film more adventures.
For two seasons and 52 episodes total, Boyd continued to delight viewers as his infamous cowboy until 1955.
In fact, he started airing on television around the same time asThe Lone Ranger.
Of course,the success didn’t exactly last.
But that shouldn’t minimize the impact that either Boyd or his on-screen counterpart had on the Western genre.
In his later years, Boyd stayed out of the public eye.
No doubt,The Lonerseries creatorRod Serlingwould’ve disapproved.
Boyd’s final role would be in theHopalong Cassidytelevision series, effectively concluding his Hollywood career.
Hop-a-long Cassidyis available to watch on MGM+ in the U.S.
Watch on MGM+
