Colt .45 (TV series)#Merchandising

{{Infobox television

| image = Colt .45 Wayde Preston 1959.jpg

| image_alt =

| caption = Wayde Preston as Christopher Colt, 1959

| alt_name = The Colt Cousins

| genre = Western

| creator = {{Plainlist|

Based on the film by
Thomas W. Blackburn

}}

| director =

| developer = Roy Huggins

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| open_theme = Performed by Hal Hopper

| endtheme =

| company = Warner Bros. Television

| composer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 3

| num_episodes = 67

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer = William T. Orr

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Roy Huggins
Harry Tatelman
Cedric Francis
Mack David
Joseph Hoffman
Oren W. Haglund (production manager)

}}

Gordon Bau (make-up)

| editor = James Moore

| camera =

| runtime = 23-25 minutes

| network = ABC

| first_aired = {{Start date|1957|10|18}}

| last_aired = {{End date|1960|09|27}}

| related = {{Plainlist|

}}

Colt .45 (also known as The Colt Cousins) is an American Western television series, originally starring Wayde Preston, which aired on ABC between October 1957 and September 1960.{{cite book|last=Brooks|first=Tim |author2=Marsh, Earle F.|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present |publisher=Ballantine Books|date=2007-10-17|edition=9|pages=273|isbn=978-0-345-49773-4}}

The half-hour program is loosely based on the 1950 Warner Bros. film of the same name, starring Randolph Scott. Colt .45 was part of an array of Westerns that William T. Orr produced for Warner Bros. and ABC in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Overview

Roy Huggins developed the series with Wayde Preston in the part of undercover government agent Christopher Colt, who takes the cover of a traveling Old West pistol salesman, hence the title of the series. Colt .45 also featured fictionalizations of actual historical characters, including Edwin Booth (brother of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln), Sam Bass, Billy the Kid, Lew Wallace, Judge Roy Bean, Buffalo Bill Cody, Ned Buntline, and Calamity Jane.

File:Donald May Colt 45 1960.jpg as Sam Colt, Jr., in 1959]]

During this period, Colt .45 was one of several ABC/WB Western productions, along with Cheyenne, Sugarfoot, Lawman, Maverick, and Bronco. Various series leads occasionally did crossover episodes on some of the other WB programs. One of the most imaginative was the "Hadley's Hunters" episode of Maverick, in which Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly) comes upon Christopher Colt's sales satchel, abandoned in a room and covered with dust, as the series had been cancelled the previous season.

In 1958, series star Wayde Preston left the series because he claimed he was made to do stunts that required a stunt man. Preston was also reportedly unhappy with the show's low budget, which caused other problems. Because of Preston's departure, producers were forced to air repeats of the series along with a few new episodes to complete the 1958–1959 season.

In 1959, Donald May assumed the lead role as Sam Colt, Jr., the cousin of Christopher Colt.{{cite book|last1=Abbott|first1=Doug |last2=Jackson|first2=Ronald |title=50 Years of the Television Western: A Pictorial History|year=2009|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=978-1-434-35925-4|page=80}} After leaving the series, Warner Bros. prevented Preston from obtaining other acting jobs. He eventually returned briefly to the series, but was demoted to a co-starring role with May.{{cite book|last1=Moore|first1=Barbara A.|last2=Bensman|first2=Marvin R. |last3=Van Dyke|first3=Jim |title=Prime-Time Television: A Concise History|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=0-275-98142-8|page=146}} Due to the casting changes, the series was eventually marketed in the United Kingdom as The Colt Cousins.

Guest stars

Series overview

{{Series overview

| color1 = #B0171F

| link1 = Colt .45 (TV series)#Season 1: 1957–58

| episodes1 = 26

| start1 = {{Start date|1957|10|18}}

| end1 = {{End date|1958|04|11}}

| color2 = #CDAD00

| link2 = Colt .45 (TV series)#Season 2: 1959

| episodes2 = 13

| start2 = {{Start date|1959|04|05}}

| end2 = {{End date|1959|06|28}}

| color3 = #000000

| link3 = Colt .45 (TV series)#Season 3: 1959–60

| episodes3 = 28

| start3 = {{Start date|1959|10|04}}

| end3 = {{End date|1960|06|21}}

}}

Episodes

=Season 1: 1957–1958=

{{Episode table|background=#B0171F|overall=|season=|title=|director=|writer=|airdate=|episodes=

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Judgment Day

| AltTitle = The Peacemaker

| DirectedBy = Douglas Heyes

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Roy Huggins;

| t = Marion Hargrove

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|10|18}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = A Time to Die

| DirectedBy = Douglas Heyes

| WrittenBy = Leo Gordon

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|10|25}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = The Three Thousand Dollar Bullet

| DirectedBy = Franklin Adreon

| WrittenBy = Eric Freiwald,
Robert Schaefer

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|11|01}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = Gallows at Granite Gap

| DirectedBy = Franklin Adreon

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Joseph Chadwick;

| t = William F. Leicester

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|11|08}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Small Man

| DirectedBy = Edward Bernds

| WrittenBy = Frederick Brady

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|11|15}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = Final Payment

| DirectedBy = Franklin Adreon

| WrittenBy = Wells Root

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|11|22}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 7

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = One Good Turn

| DirectedBy = Edward Bernds

| WrittenBy = John McGreevey

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|11|29}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 8

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = Last Chance

| DirectedBy = Edward Bernds

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Harold Shumate;

| t = Gil Doud

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|12|06}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 9

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = Young Gun

| DirectedBy = Walter Grauman

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = Daniel B. Ullman;

| ex1 = William Driskill,
Joel Rapp

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

| ex1label = {{abbr|S/T|Story and teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|12|13}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 10

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Rebellion

| DirectedBy = Walter Grauman

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Anthony Coldeway;

| t = James Gunn

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|12|20}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 11

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = The Gypsies

| DirectedBy = Alan Crosland Jr.

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Wesley Haynes;

| t = Frederick Brady

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1957|12|27}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 12

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = Sign in the Sand

| DirectedBy = Alan Crosland Jr.

| WrittenBy = Frederick Brady

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|03}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 13

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = The Mirage

| DirectedBy = Montgomery Pittman

| WrittenBy = Montgomery Pittman

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|10}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 14

| EpisodeNumber2 = 14

| Title = Blood Money

| DirectedBy = Abner Biberman

| WrittenBy = David Lang

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|17}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 15

| EpisodeNumber2 = 15

| Title = Dead Reckoning

| DirectedBy = Abner Biberman

| WrittenBy = Jack Harvey

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|24}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 16

| EpisodeNumber2 = 16

| Title = Decoy

| DirectedBy = Leslie H. Martinson

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Albert Aley,
William MacLeod Raine;

| t = James Edmiston

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|01|31}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 17

| EpisodeNumber2 = 17

| Title = Rare Specimen

| DirectedBy = Leslie H. Martinson

| WrittenBy = Gene Levitt,
Eugene Manlove Rhodes

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|02|07}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 18

| EpisodeNumber2 = 18

| Title = Mantrap

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Montgomery Pittman

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|02|14}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 19

| EpisodeNumber2 = 19

| Title = Ghost Town

| DirectedBy = Lee Sholem

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Nelson Nye;

| t = James Gunn

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|02|21}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 20

| EpisodeNumber2 = 20

| Title = The Golden Gun

| DirectedBy = Richard L. Bare

| WrittenBy = Frederick Brady

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|02|28}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 21

| EpisodeNumber2 = 21

| Title = Circle of Fear

| DirectedBy = Leslie H. Martinson

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Ben Markson;

| t = Howard Browne

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|07}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 22

| EpisodeNumber2 = 22

| Title = Split Second

| DirectedBy = Leslie H. Martinson

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Orville H. Hampton;

| t = William F. Leicester

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|14}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 23

| EpisodeNumber2 = 23

| Title = Point of Honor

| AltTitle = Woman on the Stagecoach

| DirectedBy = William J. Hole Jr.

| WrittenBy = Steve Fisher

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|21}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 24

| EpisodeNumber2 = 24

| Title = The Deserters

| DirectedBy = Leslie H. Martinson

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Norman Daniels;

| t = Tony Barrett,
Frederick Brady

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|03|28}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 25

| EpisodeNumber2 = 25

| Title = The Manbuster

| DirectedBy = Oliver Drake

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Richard Wormser;

| t = Oliver Drake

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|04|04}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 26

| EpisodeNumber2 = 26

| Title = Long Odds

| DirectedBy = Franklin Adreon

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Joseph Hoffman;

| t = David Lang

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1958|04|11}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = B0171F

}}

=Season 2: 1959=

{{Episode table|background=#CDAD00|overall=|season=|title=|director=|writer=|airdate=|episodes=

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 27

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = The Escape

| DirectedBy = Lee Sholem

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = Irwin Winehouse,
A. Sanford Wolfe

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|04|05}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 28

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Dead Aim

| DirectedBy = Lee Sholem

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Sid Harris;

| t = Wells Root

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|04|12}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 29

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = The Magic Box

| DirectedBy = George Waggner

| WrittenBy = Irwin Winehouse,
A. Sanford Wolfe

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|04|19}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 30

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = The Confession

| DirectedBy = Harold Daniels

| WrittenBy = Dwight V. Babcock

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|04|26}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 31

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = The Man Who Loved Lincoln

| DirectedBy = Arthur Ripley

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = James Barnett,
Jack Emanuel;

| t = Leonard Lee

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|05|03}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 32

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = The Sanctuary

| DirectedBy = Jodie Copelan

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Jack Emanuel;

| t = Frank Gruber,
Dean Riesner

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|05|10}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 33

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = The Saga of Sam Bass

| DirectedBy = William J. Hole Jr.

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = Irwin Winehouse,
A. Sanford Wolfe

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|05|17}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 34

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = Amnesty

| DirectedBy = William J. Hole Jr.

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = James Barnett,
Jack Emanuel;

| t = Irwin Winehouse,
A. Sanford Wolfe

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|05|24}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 35

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = The Pirate

| DirectedBy = Montgomery Pittman

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Day Keene;

| t = Finlay McDermid

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|05|31}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 36

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Law West of the Pecos

| DirectedBy = Alan Crosland Jr.

| WrittenBy = John Tucker Battle

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|06|07}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 37

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = Don't Tell Joe

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Peter Dixon;

| t = Maurice Zimm

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|06|14}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 38

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = Return to El Paso

| DirectedBy = Lee Sholem

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = Irwin Winehouse,
A. Sanford Wolfe

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|06|21}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 39

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = Night of Decision

| DirectedBy = Leslie H. Martinson

| WrittenBy = Irwin Winehouse,
A. Sanford Wolfe

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|06|28}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = CDAD00

}}

=Season 3: 1959–1960=

{{Episode table|background=#000000|overall=|season=|title=|director=|writer=|airdate=|episodes=

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 40

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = Queen of Dixie

| DirectedBy = Herbert L. Strock

| WrittenBy = Irwin Winehouse,
A. Sanford Wolfe

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|10|04}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 41

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = The Reckoning

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Carl Onspaugh

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|10|11}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 42

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = The Devil's Godson

| DirectedBy = Herbert L. Strock

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = James Barnett,
Jack Emanuel;

| t = Malcolm Stuart Boylan

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|10|18}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 43

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = The Rival Gun

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Mack David;

| t = Malcolm Stuart Boylan

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|10|25}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 44

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = The Hothead

| DirectedBy = Paul Guilfoyle

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Mack David;

| t = Milton Raison,
Dean Riesner

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|11|01}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 45

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = A Legend of Buffalo Bill

| DirectedBy = Emory Horger

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = James Barnett,
Jack Emanuel;

| t = William Driskill

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|11|08}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 46

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = Yellow Terror

| DirectedBy = Herbert L. Strock

| WrittenBy = Irwin Winehouse,
A. Sanford Wolfe

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|11|15}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 47

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = Tar and Feathers

| DirectedBy = Emory Horger

| WrittenBy = Irwin Winehouse,
A. Sanford Wolfe

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|11|22}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 48

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = Alias Mr. Howard

| DirectedBy = Herbert L. Strock

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = A. Sanford Wolfe

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|12|06}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 49

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Calamity

| DirectedBy = Paul Guilfoyle

| WrittenBy = Dwight Newton

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1959|12|13}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 50

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = Under False Pretenses

| DirectedBy = Roy Del Ruth

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Elmer Kelton;

| t = Dwight Newton

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|01|10}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 51

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = Impasse

| DirectedBy = Paul Landres

| WrittenBy = Lee Loeb,
Rudy Makoul

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|01|31}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 52

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = Arizona Anderson

| DirectedBy = George Waggner

| WrittenBy = Mack David,
Lee Loeb

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|02|14}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 53

| EpisodeNumber2 = 14

| Title = The Cause

| DirectedBy = H. Bruce Humberstone

| WrittenBy = Irwin Winehouse,
A. Sanford Wolfe

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|02|28}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 54

| EpisodeNumber2 = 15

| Title = Phantom Trail

| DirectedBy = Lew Landers

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = James Barnett,
Mack David;

| t = Nat Tanchuck

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|03|13}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 55

| EpisodeNumber2 = 16

| Title = Breakthrough

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = Kenneth Gamet

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|03|27}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 56

| EpisodeNumber2 = 17

| Title = Chain of Command

| DirectedBy = Lew Landers

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Roy Huggins;

| t = Howard Browne,
Dean Riesner

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|04|05}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 57

| EpisodeNumber2 = 18

| Title = Alibi

| DirectedBy = Lew Landers

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Edmund Morris;

| t = W. Hermanos

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|04|12}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 58

| EpisodeNumber2 = 19

| Title = Absent Without Leave

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Hugh Benson;

| t = William F. Leicester

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|04|19}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 59

| EpisodeNumber2 = 20

| Title = Strange Encounter

| DirectedBy = Herbert L. Strock

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Irving Rubine;

| t = W. Hermanos,
William F. Leicester

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|04|26}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 60

| EpisodeNumber2 = 21

| Title = Trial by Rope

| DirectedBy = Herbert L. Strock

| WrittenBy = W. Hermanos,
William F. Leicester

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|05|03}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 61

| EpisodeNumber2 = 22

| Title = The Gandy Dancers

| DirectedBy =

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = David Lang,
Edmund Morris

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|05|10}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 62

| EpisodeNumber2 = 23

| Title = Martial Law

| DirectedBy = William J. Hole Jr.

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = W. Hermanos,
Clair Huffaker

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|05|17}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 63

| EpisodeNumber2 = 24

| Title = Attack

| DirectedBy = William J. Hole Jr.

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = W. Hermanos,
Dean Riesner

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|05|24}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 64

| EpisodeNumber2 = 25

| Title = Bounty List

| DirectedBy = Lee Sholem

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = W. Hermanos,
Finlay McDermid

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|05|31}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 65

| EpisodeNumber2 = 26

| Title = Appointment in Agoura

| DirectedBy = Lee Sholem

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = W. Hermanos,
Edmund Morris;

| ex1 = William F. Leicester

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

| ex1label = {{abbr|S/T|Story and teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|06|07}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 66

| EpisodeNumber2 = 27

| Title = Showdown at Goldtown

| DirectedBy = Lee Sholem

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| s = Kenneth Perkins;

| t = W. Hermanos,
William F. Leicester

| slabel = {{abbr|S|Story by}}

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|06|14}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 67

| EpisodeNumber2 = 28

| Title = The Trespasser

| DirectedBy = Lee Sholem

| WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay

| t = Clair Huffaker

| tlabel = {{abbr|T|Teleplay by}}

}}

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1960|06|21}}

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 000000

}}

Reception and cancellation

File:Warner Brothers television westerns stars 1959.JPG series leads Will Hutchins (Sugarfoot), Peter Brown (Lawman), Jack Kelly (Maverick), Ty Hardin (Bronco), James Garner (Maverick), Wayde Preston (Colt .45), and John Russell (Lawman).]]

Upon its debut in October 1957, Colt .45 was a respectable ratings draw for ABC. It helped ABC win its timeslot against NBC and CBS.{{cite magazine|date=28 October 1957|title=Sunset Trailblazer in All-Out Race to Grab Adult Western Pull|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|page=2|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ICkEAAAAMBAJ&q=colt+.45+western+canceled&pg=PA2}}

By season two, however, behind the scenes problems caused a dip in viewership. After series star Wayde Preston left the series due to his dissatisfaction with working conditions, producers were forced to repeat episodes to fill out the second season. There were also problems with the show's sponsorship which changed repeatedly. According to author Alvin H. Marill, the choice to cast Donald May in the lead role after Preston's departure was not explained in the storyline.{{cite book|last=Marill|first=Alvin H. |title=Television Westerns: Six Decades of Sagebrush Sheriffs, Scalawags, and Sidewinders|year=2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-810-88132-7|page=46}} Wayde Preston eventually returned to the series but by then, ratings had dropped off and ABC canceled the series in 1960. The final episode aired on 27 September 1960.

Production notes

=Theme song=

The Colt .45 opening theme music was composed by Hal Hopper with lyrics by Douglas Heyes.

=Merchandising=

The TV show was adapted into a comic strip by Dan Spiegle, distributed by Dell Comics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/spiegle_d.htm|title = Dan Spiegle}}

Release notes

In January 2024, the Warner Archive announced that the complete series would be released in a Blu-ray set. It was released on March 12, 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Colt-.45-The-Complete-Series-Blu-ray/353215/ | title=Colt .45: The Complete Series Blu-ray (Warner Archive Collection) }}https://www.amazon.com/Colt-45-Complete-Various-Contributors/dp/B0CWGNYQH9

References

External links

{{IMDb title|0050006|Colt .45}}
{{epguides|Colt45|Colt .45}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120504075613/http://ctva.biz/US/Western/Colt45.htm Colt .45] at The Classic TV Archive

Category:1957 American television series debuts

Category:1960 American television series endings

Category:1950s Western (genre) television series

Category:1960s Western (genre) television series

Category:American Broadcasting Company original programming

Category:Black-and-white American television shows

Category:Cultural depictions of Abraham Lincoln

Category:Cultural depictions of Buffalo Bill

Category:Cultural depictions of Calamity Jane

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:Historical television series

Category:Television shows adapted into comics

Category:Live action television shows based on films

Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios

Category:Television series created by Roy Huggins