Stoney Burke (TV series)


Stoney Burke is an American Western television series broadcast on ABC from October 1, 1962, until May 20, 1963. Jack Lord starred in the title role.

Overview

Stoney Burke was a rodeo rider competing for the Golden Buckle, the award given to the world champion saddle bronc rider. During his quest for the Golden Buckle, Stoney became entangled in the lives of numerous people. He was accompanied on the rodeo circuit by his friends Ves Painter, Cody Bristol, and E. J. Stocker.
Dick Clark of American Bandstand was cast as Sgt. Andy Kincaid in the 1963 episode "Kincaid." Rodeo performer Casey Tibbs appeared as himself in this episode. James Coburn was cast as Jamison in the 1963 episode "The Test." J. Pat O'Malley, Richard Eyer, and Ivan Dixon were also featured in this episode.

Reception

The same year that Stoney Burke premiered, NBC aired its own drama about rodeo performers, The Wide Country, starring Earl Holliman and Andrew Prine. It ended after twenty-eight episodes. Both series were Westerns that debuted at the end of the time when Western programs—a fixture of 1950s and early 1960s television—had been a number one draw on the medium. By the mid-1960s, market saturation had begun to take its toll; while established series such as Bonanza and Gunsmoke continued to thrive, new shows with less than robust ratings struggled to survive. Both rodeo series were canceled after one season.

Other guest stars

On April 16, 2013, Timeless Media Group released Stoney Burke - The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1. The six disc set includes all 32 episodes of the series.