Mixing exciting detective-cowboy thrills with historic characters, this Emmy winning western series kept the facts straight, and found ingenious ways to bring Matt Clark within sleuthing distance of the Legends of the West!

Stories of the Century

Ep. 09: The Dalton Gang

The Dalton Brothers started out as lawmen, but when one of them is killed in the line of duty, the other four turn outlaw. Matt and Frankie foil the gang’s attempt at robbing a stagecoach of its gold shipment, and the detectives lay a trap for the outlaws at the Coffeyville Bank, where the gold now sits.

Jim Davis starred as “railroad detective” Matt Clark in this 30-minute 1954 western series. Matt Clark’s partner was a sexy, feisty, competitive young woman played by Mary Castle. Matt Clark eventually got a new partner played by Kristine Miller. A female lead in an action show was never done, and it was intriguing and fun. Its surprising no show followed this innovative precedent of a male and female duo as leads. Each episode of “Stories of the Century” focused on a different real life western desperado such as Jesse James, Butch Cassidy, and Belle Starr.

Cast and Crew:

* Jim Davis – Matt Clark
* Mary Castle – Frankie Adams

# Director: William Witney

Production Company: Hollywood Television Service
Date Release: 23 January 1954 (Season 1, Episode 1)
Audio & Video: Mono – Black and White

Additional details in: IMDB
Video streaming: courtesy of www.finemoviesonline.com

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