The Cowboys (TV series)

This article is about the American western series. For the British sitcom, see Cowboys (TV series).
The Cowboys
Main cast screenshot
GenreWestern
Starring
Theme music composerJohn Williams
Opening themeOpen Prairies
Ending themeOpen Prairies (instrumental)
ComposerHarry Sukman
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12
Production
Running time30 minutes
Production companyWarner Bros. Television
Original release
NetworkABC
Release6 February (1974-02-06) –
8 May 1974 (1974-05-08)

The Cowboys is an American Western television series based on the 1972 motion picture of the same name. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) television network from February 6 to May 8, 1974. The series starred Jim Davis, Diana Douglas, Moses Gunn, A Martinez, Robert Carradine and Clay O'Brien. David Dortort produced the series. The television show followed the exploits of seven boys who worked on a ranch in 1870s New Mexico.

The Cowboys was conceived as an hour-long series, but ABC decided to reduce the running time to a half-hour format. The format change did not lead to increased viewers, and the show was the victim of early cancellation. As a traditional television Western, it was an aberration compared to most television trends of the 1970s (as most had ended production several years prior, and only Gunsmoke was still in production by then).

Guest stars included Cal Bellini as Wa-Cha-Ka in "The Indian Givers", Kevin Hagen as Josh Redding in "Death on a Fast Horse", and Lurene Tuttle as Grandma Jesse in "Many a Good Horse Died".

Cast

Guest stars

Each guest star made only one appearance.

Episodes

The following is a list of episodes.

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"David Done It"UnknownUnknownFebruary 6, 1974 (1974-02-06)
2"Death on a Fast Horse"UnknownUnknownFebruary 13, 1974 (1974-02-13)
3"The Long Rider"UnknownUnknownFebruary 20, 1974 (1974-02-20)
4"Many a Good Horse Died"UnknownUnknownFebruary 27, 1974 (1974-02-27)
5"The Avengers"UnknownUnknownMarch 6, 1974 (1974-03-06)
6"The Accused"UnknownUnknownMarch 13, 1974 (1974-03-13)
7"A Matter of Honor"UnknownUnknownMarch 20, 1974 (1974-03-20)
8"The Ordeal"UnknownUnknownMarch 27, 1974 (1974-03-27)
9"The Remounts"UnknownUnknownApril 3, 1974 (1974-04-03)
10"The Trap"UnknownUnknownApril 10, 1974 (1974-04-10)
11"The Indian Givers"UnknownUnknownMay 1, 1974 (1974-05-01)
12"Requiem for a Lost Son"UnknownUnknownMay 8, 1974 (1974-05-08)