5 Things You Never Knew About ‘Tales of Wells Fargo,’ the Classic Western TV Series
Premiering on NBC in 1957, Tales of Wells Fargo starred Dale Robertson as Special Agent Jim Hardie, a fictional lawman who took on dangerous assignments for the famous stagecoach company. Over the course of 201 episodes, the Western series blended action, adventure and a bit of mystery, with Hardie often tangling with outlaws and protecting Wells Fargo’s shipments.
The show ran in a half-hour black-and-white format for most of its six seasons before expanding to a full hour and making the jump to color in its final year. It remains a favorite among classic TV Western fans today — seasons 1 and 2 are streamable on Tubi and Pluto, seasons 1 through 4 are available on Amazon Prime, and the show’s reruns still air four times a week on the INSP channel.
In honor of the series, let’s learn some fun facts about it:
1 Dale Robertson taught himself to shoot left-handed for the role
Everett Collection
Robertson was naturally right-handed, but he wanted his portrayal of Wells Fargo Special Agent Jim Hardie to be distinctive. To achieve this, he taught himself to draw his gun and shoot left-handed. He also rode his own horse, Jubilee, for the entire run of the series, adding another layer of authenticity to the part.
2 One of the first shows to move to color
Everett Collection
Tales of Wells Fargo began its NBC run in 1957 as a black-and-white half-hour series and stayed that way for five seasons. In its final season, the show expanded to a full hour and made the jump to color, giving viewers a richer visual experience. The longer format allowed for more in-depth storytelling, while the move to color reflected television’s industry-wide shift during the early 1960s.
3 The train was famous
Everett Collection
The steam engine featured in the series was Sierra Railroad’s Number 3, based in Jamestown, California. Many scenes were also filmed in nearby Columbia State Park, adding to the authentic Old West feel. Fans of classic TV might recognize the same locomotive as the one that later became the “Hooterville Cannonball” in Petticoat Junction, making it one of television’s most famous trains.
4 The series also had a comic book
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In addition to its television success, Tales of Wells Fargo reached fans through a Dell comic book series. These issues featured full-color covers with Robertson as Jim Hardie and sold for just ten cents each, a typical price for comics at the time. This helped the show reach even younger audiences at the time.
5 The pilot debuted on another series
Everett Collection
Before Tales of Wells Fargo became a weekly show, its story debuted as a pilot episode titled “A Tale of Wells Fargo” on the anthology series Schlitz Playhouse. The positive reception from that broadcast led NBC to launch the full series the following year. This approach of testing a concept within an established anthology was common in the 1950s and helped networks gauge audience interest before committing to a full production.
Remind 
TV Westerns of the 50's & 60's
September 2021
’50s and ’60s TV Westerns roundup, celebrating the shows and stars of their golden age.
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