A QUIZ : Return of Ol’ Riders of the Purple Sage

We all know that “Maverick” started out as a TV series, running on ABC from 1957 to 1962, with numerous cast changes over the years. In those days, “adult” Western dramas ruled the airwaves, much like today’s so-called reality shows. In 1960, there were 21 Westerns on the prime-time schedule.

In Warner Bros.’ big screen version of “Maverick,” the film’s climactic poker game shows card tables sprinkled with faces familiar from past TV Westerns. Director Richard Donner said he wanted those actors in the film as “an homage to the TV cowboy, and especially to Jim Garner. It’s my way of saying ‘thank you.’ It may not be a major part, but they all brought something to the movie.”

See if you can match the “Maverick” gamblers’ names below with the show in which they appeared. Hints: there’s one giveaway and one trick question. The answers are at the bottom of column one.

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A) Clint Walker

B) Denver Pyle

C) Henry Darrow

D) Will Hutchins

E) Doug McClure

F) James Garner

G) James Coburn

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1) “The Virginian”

2) “Cheyenne”

3) “Maverick”

4) “High Chaparral”

5) “Wyatt Earp”

6) “Bronco”

7) “Sugarfoot”

Answers: A-2, B-5, C-4, D-7, E-1, F-3, G-6 (The trick question--though he was never a regular, Coburn guested as Jesse James in this series.)