"How the West Was Won" (1979) TV series

Writer:

Jim Byrnes (writer)

Seasons:

2

Release Date:

15 January 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Zeb Macahan takes in his orphaned nieces and nephews after their parents are killed and raises them with the help of their aunt Molly Culhane...

Plot Keywords:

Fugitive | American Indian | Native American | Family Relationships | Uncle

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Fionnula Flanagan	...	Molly Culhane (11 episodes, 1979)
Bruce Boxleitner	...	Luke Macahan (11 episodes, 1979)
Kathryn Holcomb	...	Laura Macahan (11 episodes, 1979)
William Kirby Cullen	...	Josh Macahan (11 episodes, 1979)
Vicki Schreck	...	Jessie Macahan (11 episodes, 1979)
James Arness	...	Zeb Macahan (11 episodes, 1979)

Series Directed by
Barry Crane		(2 episodes, 1979)
Vincent McEveety		(2 episodes, 1979)
Joseph Pevney		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Writing credits
Calvin Clements Sr.		(3 episodes, 1979)
John Mantley		(3 episodes, 1979)
Ron Bishop		(2 episodes, 1979)
Calvin Clements Jr.		(2 episodes, 1979)
Ray Goldrup		(2 episodes, 1979)
Steve Hayes		(2 episodes, 1979)
Earl W. Wallace		(2 episodes, 1979)
Jim Byrnes		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
John A. Fegan Jr.	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1979)
John Mantley	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 1979)
John G. Stephens	....	producer (3 episodes, 1979)

Series Original Music by
Bruce Broughton		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Cinematography by
Edward R. Plante		(3 episodes, 1979)

Series Film Editing by
Steven C. Brown		(4 episodes, 1979)
Gregory Prange		(4 episodes, 1979)
Joe Morrisey		(3 episodes, 1979)

Series Casting by
Pam Polifroni		(3 episodes, 1979)

Series Production Design by
Archie J. Bacon		(1 episode, 1979)

Series Art Direction by
Archie J. Bacon		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Set Decoration by
Herman N. Schoenbrun		(3 episodes, 1979)

Series Makeup Department
Richard Cobos	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1979)
Mary Hadley	....	hairdresser (3 episodes, 1979)
Tony Lane	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1979)
Joan Phillips	....	hairdresser (2 episodes, 1979)

Series Production Management
Hal Klein	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1979)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Kusley	....	assistant director (6 episodes, 1979)
Lawrence S. Brooks	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1979)
Mary Lou MacLaury	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1979)
Lorin Bennett Salob	....	assistant director (5 episodes, 1979)

Series Art Department
Earl W. Huntoon Jr.	....	property master (6 episodes, 1979)
Earl Gawthorpe	....	property master (5 episodes, 1979)

Series Sound Department
Larry Hadsell	....	sound (6 episodes, 1979)
Gene Garvin	....	sound (5 episodes, 1979)
Dick McCarthy	....	sound editor (4 episodes, 1979)
Tom C. McCarthy	....	sound editor (4 episodes, 1979)
Jack Cheap	....	sound editor (3 episodes, 1979)
Hal Watkins	....	sound (3 episodes, 1979)

Series Special Effects by
Bill Balles	....	special effects (3 episodes, 1979)

Series Stunts
Diamond Farnsworth	....	stunts (5 episodes, 1979)
Ben Bates	....	stunt coordinator (3 episodes, 1979)
Richard Lundin	....	action coordinator (3 episodes, 1979)
Dennis Lehane	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Stafford	....	assistant camera (11 episodes, 1979)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gilda Craig	....	wardrobe: women (3 episodes, 1979)
Robert Magahay	....	wardrobe: men (3 episodes, 1979)

Series Music Department
Joanie Diener	....	music editor (6 episodes, 1979)
Scott Perry Jr.	....	music editor (5 episodes, 1979)
Jerrold Immel	....	composer: theme music (3 episodes, 1979)
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor (3 episodes, 1979)

Series Other crew
Rita Lundin	....	wrangler (11 episodes, 1979)
Jim Byrnes	....	developed for television by (3 episodes, 1979)
Calvin Clements Sr.	....	executive story consultant (3 episodes, 1979)
John Dutton	....	script supervisor (3 episodes, 1979)
Albert S. Ruddy	....	developed for television by (3 episodes, 1979)

Production Companies

• MGM Television (in association with)

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1979) (USA) (TV)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (198?) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Brown & Bigelow, A Saxon Company  charles m. russell paintings courtesy of
• C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Montana  charles m. russell paintings courtesy of
• Mackay Gallery, Montana Historical Society  charles m. russell paintings courtesy of
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Alla conquista del west (Italy) [it]
Familjen Macahan (Sweden) [sv]

Runtime:

USA:60 min (20 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Deschutes National Forest - 1001 Southwest Emkay Drive, Bend, Oregon, USA

Company:

MGM Television

Movie Connections:

Follows "How the West Was Won" (1978)

A Great TV-series

In my opinion the TV-series "How the West Was Won" is the greatest western ever made straight to TV. The cast is superb with James Arness (Zeb Macahan) in the lead and Bruce Boxleitner (Luke Macahan) co-starring.

I've now been watching all the episodes of this western on Swedish television for the third time (1978, 1989 and 2000). The quality of this series is how it's being able to get the grip of the viewer in such a fashion that not even a frontrunner like Gunsmoke can compete with "How the West Was Won".