In the 1950s and '60s, television Westerns were all the rage. Each of the Big Three networks (ABC, NBC, CBS) had their fair share of horse operas, with one of the biggest being Gunsmoke.

In the 1950s, it seemed like there were more cowboys on TV than had ever populated the Old West. The adults had "Gunsmoke," "Maverick" and "Have Gun-Will Travel" at night. But kid's TV time was ...