Western Writers of America, an organization I didn’t know existed until today, have voted Gunsmoke the greatest television western series and Lonsome Dove the greatest television western miniseries or movie, according to this press release. WWA dates back to 1953 and currently has more than 600 members. The list of the Greatest TV Western Series, Miniseries and Movies of All Time was released today (June 18) at their annual convention.
The Rebel was voted the 20th greatest television western series of all time. Here’s the full list:
Continuing Series
1. Gunsmoke (1955-75)
2. Maverick (1957-62)
3. Rawhide (1959-66)
4. Bonanza (1959-73)
5. Have Gun, Will Travel (1957-63)
6. The Rifleman (1958-63)
7. Wagon Train (1957-65)
8. High Chaparral (1967-71)
9. Death Valley Days (1952-70)
10. The Virginian (1962-70)
11. Deadwood (2004-06)
12. The Westerner (1960)
13. Cheyenne (1955-63)
14. The Big Valley (1965-69)
15. Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958-61)
16. The Lone Ranger (1949-57)
17. The Roy Rogers Show (1951-57)
18. Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955-61)
19. The Wild, Wild West (1965-70)
20. The Rebel (1959-61)
21. Little House on the Prairie (1974-83)
22. The Young Riders (1989-92)
23. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993-98)
24. Lawman (1957-62)
25. Laredo (1965-67)
26. Cimarron Strip (1967-68)
27. Daniel Boone (1964-70)
28. Branded (1965-66)
29. Zorro (1957-59)
30. The Yellow Rose (1983-84)
31. Tales of Wells Fargo (1957-62)
32. The Lazarus Man (1996)
33. The Gene Autry Show (1950-56)
34. Alias Smith and Jones (1971-73)
35. Adventures of Brisco County Jr. (1993-94)
36. Trackdown (1957-59)
37. Kung Fu (1972-75)
38. Lonesome Dove, the Series (1994-95)
39. The Magnificent Seven (1998-2000)
40. Broken Arrow (1956-60)
41. F Troop (1965-67)
42. Sugarfoot (1957-61)
43. Guns of Will Sonnett (1967-69)
44. Wild Bill Hickok (1951-58)
45. Tales of the Texas Rangers (1955-57)
46. Stoney Burke (1962-63)
47. Sgt. Preston of the Yukon (1955-58)
48. Restless Gun (1957-59)
49. Laramie (1955-63)
50. Hec Ramsey (1972-74)Movie/miniseries
1. Lonesome Dove (1989)
2. Centennial (1978)
3. The Sacketts (1979)
4. Conagher (1991)
5. Monte Walsh (2003)
6. Davy Crockett (1954-55)
7. Last Stand at Saber River (1997)
8. Broken Trail (2006)
9. Riders of the Purple Sage (1996)
10. Into the West (2005)
11. You Know My Name (1999)
12. Skinwalkers (2002)
13. I Will Fight No More Forever (1975)
14. The Shadow Riders (1982)
15. The Good Ol’ Boys (1979)
16. Son of the Morning Star (1991)
17. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007)
18. Crossfire Trail (2001)
19. The Macahans, How the West Was Won (1976-77)
20. Rough Riders (1997)
21. Streets of Laredo (1995)
22. Return to Lonesome Dove (1993)
23. Geronimo (1993)
24. Purgatory (1999)
25. The Quick and the Dead (1987
26. A Thief of Time (2004)
27. Coyote Waits (2002)
28. The Johnson County War (2002)
29. Buffalo Girls (1995)
30. Mr. Horn (1979)
31. Kenny Rogers as the Gambler (1980)
32. Last of the Mohicans (1977)
33. The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (1987)
34. Comanche Moon (2008)
35. Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987)
36. And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself (2003)
37. The Avenging Angel (1995)
38. Crazy Horse (1996)
39. The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer (1977)
40. Desperado (1987)
41. The Jack Bull (1999)
42. The Desperate Trail (1995)
43. Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (1993)
44. The Texas Rangers (1981)
45. The Virginian (2000)
46. Wild Times (1980)
47. The Blue Hotel (1977)
48. Buffalo Soldiers (1997)
49. Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (1992)
50. Life on the Mississippi (1980)
Apparently, the organization votes on and releases a new list of the greatest western whatever every year. Last year was the 100 Greatest Western Movies; next year will be the Greatest Western Songs of All Time.
