I have to admit, I am a major fan of 1960's television. I grew up during this time period and I diligently watched everything that television had to offer; which was one heck of a lot of shows! This decade displayed what I considered to be some of "Television's Finest Hours". Looking back on them now, the number and variety of various programs that I watched while growing up were truly incredible. There were spy shows, westerns, variety shows, comedies, movies, drama's, etc. I, myself, had a great affinity for westerns. From "Gunsmoke" to "Have Gun Will Travel", from "Wanted Dead or Alive" to "Bonanza", I watched and loved them all (and still do!). But in this group of outstanding shows, there was one single favorite that I felt stood head-over-heals above the rest. It was "Cimarron Strip".
The first time that I was ever exposed to "Cimarron Strip" was in the Summer of 1967. This was when CBS was previewing it's new Fall line-up of television programs. One evening, while watching television with my parents, a promotional trailer for a new western series came on. Being all eyes and ears, I eagerly watched and listened to a very distinct and excitable voice (which later became known to me as the voice of announcer Dick Tufeld, who was also the voice of the robot on "Lost In Space") describe a new 90-minute western drama called "Cimarron Strip".
As the preview continued, and an entire flurry of explosive action scenes went by, I became even more captivated with interest. Next, I saw this tough but heroic looking statue of a man, dressed in a pale blue shirt and a black leather vest, and pinned upon his chest was a shiny U.S. Marshal's badge. He sat atop a black horse and gallantly rode at full stride, like no western icon that I'd ever seen before, across a broad setting which displayed a snow-capped blue mountain range that towered high above an arid sage covered desert. I could only ask myself, "who was this guy"? As this footage played, the narrator's voice dramatically stated, "Be sure to tune in each week as Stuart Whitman rides into high adventure as U.S. Marshal Jim Crown, on the "Cimarron Strip". That was it; I was hooked. It was from that point that I became (and still am) a major mega-fan of Stuart Whitman and this classic western series.
To me "Cimarron Strip" was more than just a western. Yes, it had many of the similar characteristics of other westerns, but it had much much more. The parameters of this series and it's main character Marshal Jim Crown were limitless. There were absolutely no restrictive factors or boundaries to influence where the story lines could go or what direction that Crown could take. One man, a U.S. Marshal stationed in a 10-million acre territory, assigned to deal with the problems of ranchers, settlers, townsmen, Indians, outlaws, and the U.S. Army. How big was this series? It's true potential was as big as the "Cimarron Strip" itself. Unfortunately for us, this aspect was never fully realized. A romanticized western? Sure to some degree, but "Cimarron Strip" still clarified many of the realities and hardships that were experienced by those who lived during period of 1888. But regardless of these factors, this show illustrated all of the things that we've always looked for in a great western adventure; a dashing bigger-than-life-hero, villains of the worst kind, breathtaking landscapes of grand proportion, smashing saloon brawls, blazing gunfights, daring pursuits on horseback, and in the end, justice! These were the classic stories of where good battled against evil, where right prevailed against wrong, and how the law was enforced by a U.S. Marshal by the name of Jim Crown.
Such stories today are a real rarity, as they have long since been abandon by the television industry. In fact, television today would be wise to look back on it's not-so-distant past, at shows like "Cimarron Strip", and take some serious lessons on what good entertainment was really like.
When I started developing this Web site, I really wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. In fact, I didn't even know where to start, as I am not a professional Web page designer or anything of the sort. All that I know is that I was excited about this idea and I wanted to pursue it.
Taking this idea into letter form, I decided to write to the chief source who superbly portrayed the lead role of the tough and rugged U.S. Marshal Jim Crown; that being Mr. Stuart Whitman. Not really expecting to hear a return answer, I was, I guess you could say, totally taken when I got a phone call in response to my letter from Mr. Whitman himself. Here I was talking on the phone to the western hero that I had idolized since I was 12 years old. This was a monumental moment for me! After discussing my Web site idea with Mr. Whitman, he too was equally excited. And so, the process of developing the "Cimarron Strip" Web site began.
For me, working
on this Web site has been an absolute fun learning experience.
Yes, it has involved a lot of research, time, and work, but it
has all been totally worth it. I would just like to thank Stuart
Whitman for his endorsement, support, and assistance in providing
me with information that has not only helped me to describe "Cimarron
Strip" more accurately, but it has also helped me to learn
even more about the series beyond what I previously knew (And
I thought that I knew a lot). I also appreciate the communication
time that Mr. Whitman so graciously gave during this project.
Even with his very busy schedule, Mr. Whitman was never too busy
to take my calls and discuss topics related to this project or
just for the purpose of general conversation. Last, I want to
thank Mr. Whitman and all of those involved for giving us Jim
Crown and "Cimarron Strip". This show, like many others
of it's time, gave us all some truly great entertainment.
If you are as
big a western fan as I am, but have never seen this 90-minute
epic western, then I strongly urge you to do so. You'll be glad
you did!