Laredo, with its blend of western comedy and high drama, is one of the best television westerns to be found. Laredo premiered in prime time as an episode of The Virginian and was such a big hit, with its wonderful cast, gorgeous color photography, western ambiance and tight, serio-comic scripts, that it was immediately signed for a full season.

Laredo

Season 1 Ep. 2:I See By Your Outfit

Parmalee sends Reese, Chad and Joe to Porfirio to investigate Mexican bandits but find elderly Alvar de Aveles flying a Mexican flag over the jail on Alamo Day. Reese breaks into the jail, through the roof, and talks to de Aveles. As this happens de Aveles companions, unknown to or approved by him, rob the entire town, including Chad and Joe. When they emerge from the jail Reese is knocked out and taken prisoner. Chad and Joe must stop the Mexican Bandits before they cross the border with Reese. Since everything was stolen they have to acquire boots, horses, guns, etc. along the way. After crossing the border Reese is made to walk and Aveles willingly joins him. When Chad and Joe catch up Reese gets to fight the gang’s leader, Paco Vargas.

Laredo combined action with humor to tell the tales of three Company B Texas Rangers. Reese Bennett is older then his two partners, Chad Cooper and Joe Riley. Reese is in his forties and was previously a Union Army Officer. Chad was in the Border Patrol during the Civil War but is originally from New Orleans. He joined the Rangers to search for the gunrunners who helped ambush fellow border patrolmen. Joe was a gunfighter who was at times on the wrong side of the law and joined the rangers as protection from a sheriff or two. Chad and Joe love to tease Reese about his age. They had a Gunga Din like camaraderie.

They are lead by Captain Parmalee who was stern and disciplined. He would send them on their missions and many times was not amused by the shenanigans they got into. Erik Hunter joined them in the second season. Veteran actor Claude Akins played Ranger Cotton Buckmeister in 5 different episodes but never officially became part of the cast. The pilot, “We’ve Lost A Train”, appeared as an episode of The Virginian in April of 1965.

Reese’s horse Cactus was mentioned in several episodes. Chad’s horse was Amigo, which was Peter Brown’s own horse in real life.

Cast and Crew:

Neville Brand, Peter Brown and William Smith

Director: William Witney and others
Production Company: Universal TV
Original Air Date: 1965
Audio & Video: Mono – Color

AAdditional details in:

Laredo in IMDB | Laredo in Wikipedia

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