Classic Western Theme Songs Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rawhide

"Rawhide" was a popular western that ran for eight seasons from 1959-1965, airing a total of 217 episodes. It starred Eric Fleming as the tough trail boss, Gil Favor; Clint Eastwood starred as the young ramrod, second or third in command, Rowdy Yates, in what is considered to be his first important acting role. By season eight, Gil Favor was gone and Rowdy Yates was the trail boss.

The setting of the series was always a cattle drive. The challenges faced by the drovers, the people who herded the cattle as they came upon people on the trail or in a nearby town, formed the basis of the story for each episode. There was no time, however, to spend too long in one place, as the herd had to keep "rollin', rollin', rollin'", all the way from San Antonio, Texas, to Sedalia, Missouri.

The movement, of course, was better for the cattle, as it allowed them to have fresh grazing pastures, and, believe it or not, moving cattle were generally more calm than stagnant ones. There was, however, the constant problem of finding water that was on the trail boss's mind.

Answer: Rawhide

A dogie in cowboy lingo was a motherless or neglected calf that had been forced to eat prairie grass before it was ready. Originally dogies were called dough-guts because the grass would make them look pot-bellied. Over time, the term was shortened to dogie.

In the theme song, the word dogie, which should be pronounced with a long o, was pronounced with a short o, as in doggie, instead. This makes it seem as if little dogs were being herded instead of the cattle!

Did you know that the story behind "Rawhide" was based on the experiences of George C. Duffield? He was a drover in the Cattle Drive of 1866, and is known today as the only trail rider who kept a journal.

Answer: Rawhide

"Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin'

Keep movin', movin', movin'
Though they're disapprovin'
Keep them dogies movin'
Rawhide!
Don't try to understand 'em
Just rope and throw and brand 'em
Soon we'll be living high and wide.
My heart's calculatin'
My true love will be waitin'
Be waiting at the end of my ride.

Move 'em on, head 'em up
Head 'em up, move 'em on
Move 'em on, head 'em up
Rawhide!
Cut 'em out, ride 'em in
Ride 'em in, let 'em out
Cut 'em out, ride 'em in
Rawhide!

Rawhide!"

It was really important for cowboys to understand the dangers of the trail and know how the herd might react. The least thing - like a sudden sound - could cause a stampede, and since cattle have a naturally strong herding instinct, they were likely to follow the wrong leader at times. This was a job that took a lot of skill and knowledge.

The theme song for "Rawhide" was written by lyricist Ned Washington; the music was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin. Frankie Laine sang the song that was used in the opening credits for the show. Over the years it has been covered by several artists, including Johnny Cash, the Blues Brothers, and even Liza Minnelli!

As with many television theme songs, there are different versions of the song and more verses, but these are the lyrics that were heard at the beginning of the show when it first aired in 1959. A different verse was heard at the end while the credits were running.

Answer: The Rebel

"The Rebel", a show that starred Nick Adams as Johnny Yuma, ran from 1959-1961. Johnny Yuma was a young veteran of the Confederate Army who was trying to get away from his memories regarding the atrocities of war. Yuma tried to fight what he saw as injustice everywhere he traveled, standing up for the weak and downtrodden who were abused by corrupt officials. As he moved from place to place he kept a journal of his experiences.

Answer: The Rebel

Many of the locations featured in "The Rebel" were real places in 1867, which was used as the setting for the show. The action typically took place in the area around Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona; during the Civil War, Arizona was referred to as Confederate Arizona, a territory that the CSA held in name only from 1861-1865.

Johnny Yuma visited real places like Fort Griffin and Fort Concho in Texas, as well as sites like La Paz, Arizona. Just two years after the end of the Civil War, there were a lot of wounds to be healed, and there were many people who, like Johnny, were moving West and trying to come to terms with what had happened.

Answer: The Rebel

"Johnny Yuma was a rebel,
He roamed through the West.
Did Johnny Yuma, the Rebel,
He wandered alone."

The theme song, called "The Rebel" or "The Ballad of Johnny Yuma" was composed by Richard Markowitz, with lyrics by Andrew J. Fenady, who was also the show's producer. It was song by Johnny Cash, who released the song as a single in 1961, shortly before the show was cancelled. A longer version of the theme song played during the show's closing credits.

Nick Adams, the lone star of the series, also released a version of the song in 1960. He and Fenady collaborated on the premise of the series, choosing to make Johnny Yuma the central character, while bringing in guest stars for the supporting roles in different episodes.

Answer: Branded

"Branded" ran for two seasons from 1965-1966. It starred Chuck Connors as USA Cavalry Captain Jason McCord, who had been court-martialed after being falsely accused of being a coward.

In the first episode, "The Vindicator", the fictional story of the Bitter Creek Massacre was told. His unit had been sent to talk with Native Americans on a peace mission, however, they were attacked by a group of renegades. McCord was the only one who survived the massacre.

As a side note, although the Bitter Creek Massacre was a fictional event, there really was a Bitter Creek in Wyoming. The Rock Springs Massacre in 1885, which involved the killing of Chinese workers by white miners, took place there.

Answer: Branded

The story in the first episode of "Branded" clearly shows that McCord was not at fault in the Bitter Creek Massacre. In fact, it was the incompetency of his old commander and mentor, General Reed, that led to so many deaths. Even though he found evidence of the decreased mental capacity of General Reed, McCord chose to destroy it rather than tarnish Reed's reputation.

This act of bravery established the fact that McCord was indeed an honorable man, however, he was forced to prove that when confronted in every episode.

Answer: Branded

"All but one man died.
There at Bitter Creek.
And they say he ran away.

Branded, scorned as the one who ran.
What do you do when you're branded, and you know you're a man.

Wherever you go, for the rest of your life
You must prove you're a man."

The theme song was very important to the story of "Branded", as it reminded viewers weekly of the setting and backstory for the series. It was written and performed by Dominic Frontiere, composer, and Alan Alch, lyricist, who frequently collaborated to write theme songs.

In each episode of the series, Jason McCord came into contact with people who believed the story that had been told about his cowardice. As he was traveling around, trying to find someone who could help clear his name, he faced situations where he was forced to prove his honor. Both viewers and McCord knew that he was an honorable person, however, his situation was never resolved before the series ended.

Answer: Have Gun - Will Travel

"Have Gun - Will Travel" was shown from 1957-1963. It starred Richard Boone as a well-educated man who lived in San Francisco and was the president of the San Francisco Stock exchange. His business card, however, implied that he also worked as a gunfighter for hire, although in the show he seemed to prefer to use his wit and intelligence more than his gun.

The business card was used as a title card between the scenes in each show.

Answer: Have Gun - Will Travel

The line, "A knight without armor", clearly carries on the theme of a knight following the code of chivalry. The symbol on the business card was a white knight chess piece, which implied that the main character would be a knight in shining armor who would come to the rescue. While it is true that the gentleman expected to be paid well for his work when he was contacted for hire, he typically helped the poor for free.

The theme song for "Have Gun - Will Travel", also called "The Ballad of Paladin", was written by Richard Boone, Sam Rolfe, and Johnny Western, who also performed it. It was only used a few times in the closing credits of the show during season one; by season two it was used as the opening of all the episodes. Over time, the lyrics were changed.

Answer: Have Gun - Will Travel

"Have Gun Will Travel reads
the card of a man.
A knight without armor in a
savage land.
His fast gun for hire heeds
the calling wind.
A soldier of fortune is the
man called... Paladin.

Paladin, Paladin
where do you roam?
Paladin, Paladin
far, far from home."

The term Paladin was taken from a group of legendary knights that served Charlemagne in the eighth century AD. Also called the Twelve Peers, they were the elite soldiers, known for their loyalty and bravery. The use of the name for the title character of "Have Gun - Will Travel" implied that he was to be trusted as honorable and fair; his real name was never given.

And - like many westerns of the time, the story was set in the West after the Civil War; some of the episodes place the date of the series in 1875 and 1879. While Paladin was based in San Francisco, his business card made it clear that he would travel where the job took him.