The Best Classic TV Western Christmas Episodes, from ‘Wagon Train’ to ‘Gunsmoke’
Beneath their rugged surface, many Westerns are essentially morality plays set in an untamed America. So, what better locale for Christmastime parables, with a message of peace and goodwill toward one’s fellow man, including, in many cases, orphans? Here’s a gift bag of 12 holiday episodes (for each day of Christmas) from TV’s past, when Westerns still ruled the airwaves.
The Lone Ranger (“Christmas Story,” Dec. 20, 1956):
The Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) drops his mask and dons the disguise of a bearded old-timey prospector after he and Tonto (Jay Silverheels) encounter young Robby Talbot trying to chop down a tree for Christmas because his father has abandoned him and his mom, seeking gold. The Ranger’s guilt-trip subterfuge works on the runaway dad, who reunites with his family as our hero hi-yos away on Silver.
The Restless Gun (“The Child,” Dec. 23, 1957):
Two years before becoming Hoss Cartwright, Dan Blocker appeared on this lesser-known Western (produced by Bonanza creator David Dortort) as a giant mistreated mute known as “El Bruto” — real name John — accused of murder and taken into custody on Christmas Eve by a marshal and cowboy drifter Vint Bonner (John Payne), who can’t bring himself to shoot the violent hulk. Good thing, because when they all take shelter at a mission that’s also an orphanage, John is shown kindness by a little boy named Jésus and mercifully reunited with the padre who helped raise him.
Wanted: Dead or Alive (“Eight Cent Reward,” Dec. 20, 1958):
Everett Collection
Bounty hunter Josh Randall (Steve McQueen) takes on one of his toughest but most heartwarming assignments when little Laddie Stone (Jay North, not yet TV’s Dennis the Menace) offers Josh his savings of 8 cents to find Santa Claus. Josh’s plan to hire the town drunk to play Santa backfires, but Laddie magically gets his wish anyway when a mysterious stranger (Pardner Claus?) leaves behind a rifle on Christmas morning that his sheepherding family desperately needs to fend off wolves.
Wagon Train (“The Mary Ellen Thomas Story,” Dec. 24, 1958):
Larry Barbier / TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection
A tear-jerker stars Patty McCormack, already famous from her Oscar nomination at 11 years old as The Bad Seed, in the title role of bratty orphan Mary Ellen, who befriends Sally, a girl suffering with consumption. While the wagon train hastily arranges an early Christmas party for Sally to enjoy, Mary Ellen fulfills her friend’s dying wish by fetching snow from the mountains as Flint McCullough croons “Silent Night.” Not a dry eye around this campfire.
Rawhide (“Twenty-Five Santa Clauses,” Dec. 22, 1961):
Everett Collection
Comedian Ed Wynn plays a con man in a Santa suit who convinces the team of 25 cattle drovers, including Rowdy Yates (Clint Eastwood), to organize an August Christmas party and donate gifts including heads of cattle in honor of his dying son — who isn’t. What the shyster doesn’t realize is that his wife (Anne Seymour) is the one who won’t live to see the next holiday.
Have Gun — Will Travel (“Be Not Forgetful of Strangers,” Dec. 22, 1962):
Everett Collection
Gunslinger Paladin (Richard Boone) puts his pistols aside on Christmas Eve to be the moral conscience in a raucous saloon where a cowboy and his pregnant wife are turned away. No room at this inn? Hardly. Paladin finds them a storeroom and enlists a saloon girl as midwife when the town doctor is too drunk. After the blessed event, the revelers take up a collection for the family. After all, they’re in Bethlehem, Texas!
The Big Valley (“Judgement in Heaven,” Dec. 22, 1965):
The Barkleys of California take in a wildcat named Maybelle (Lynn Loring) for Christmas when lawyer son Jarrod (Richard Long) convinces a judge to release the young woman, a bank robber’s girlfriend, into his custody. Maybelle initially tries to run away but succumbs to the warm rancher family vibes — it doesn’t hurt that Audra (Linda Evans) relinquishes her new red dress after the presents are unwrapped. But will Maybelle revert to her wanton ways when the robber comes back for her? (No spoilers, but we’re talking Christmas miracles here.)
Daniel Boone (“The Christmas Story,” Dec. 23, 1965):
The Nativity story gets another metaphorical workout in a thoughtful episode set at Fort Boonesborough, where a Native American chief and his pregnant wife are initially denied entry during a blizzard and food shortage. Frontiersman Daniel (Fess Parker) intervenes, later learning the expecting couple represents warring tribes and are essential to a peace treaty. Jay “Tonto” Silverheels of The Lone Ranger fame guests as a villainous warmongering tribesman up to no good.
Bonanza (“A Christmas Story,” Dec. 25, 1966):
Orphans are again at the center of a story that features Wayne Newton in his second appearance as farm-boy-turned-singer Andy Walker, who agrees to sing at a charity fundraiser to build an orphanage. Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) puts gullible Hoss (Dan Blocker) in charge while he’s away, and he’s nearly swindled by Andy’s greedy uncle/manager (Jack Oakie). Newton and Greene duet on “Silent Night,” and Newton solos on a song from his then-new Christmas album.
Gunsmoke (“P.S. Murry Christmas,” Dec. 27, 1971):
photo: Gene Trindl/TV Guide/courtesy Everett Collection
Life wasn’t easy in the Old West, which may explain why orphans are so prevalent in TV Westerns at holiday time. Look closely at this episode, from late in Gunsmoke’s run, to spot among the needy waifs such future stars as two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster, Happy Days’ Erin Moran and Eight Is Enough’s Willie Aames. Character actor Jack Elam guest-stars as a caretaker who brings a group of orphans to Dodge City so they can enjoy Christmas away from their grinch of an overseer (Jeanette Nolan), who follows them to town. Extra Yuletide bonus: Miss Kitty (Amanda Blake) gives Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) a peck on the cheek, one of their few overt signs of affection.
Little House on the Prairie (“Christmas at Plum Creek,” Dec. 25, 1974):
The first season of the beloved pioneer-family drama featured its best-remembered holiday episode, an O. Henry-worthy fable of sacrifice and giving. “Half-pint” Laura (Melissa Gilbert) is so determined to purchase a much-needed stove for her Ma (Karen Grassle) as a Christmas surprise that she sells her prized horse, Bunny, to the Olesons — only to have Pa (Michael Landon) gift his daughter with a saddle!
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (“Mike’s Dream: A Christmas Tale,” Dec. 18, 1993):
photo: Jeff Katz/TV Guide/courtesy Everett Collection
In this version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Dr. Mike (Jane Seymour) is visited by the ghost of Charlotte Cooper (Diane Ladd), the woman whose children she adopted. The good doctor, having just lost a patient on Christmas Eve, is having second thoughts about her career choice, so it’s up to Charlotte’s spirit to take Mike to her past, present and future and ease her mind.
Cowboy Christmas
November/December 2024
Saddle up for some Holiday Cowboy fun with movies, music and your fav Christmas episodes of classic Westerns.
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