THE VIRGINIAN

Today is the 78th birthday of James Drury, TVs Virginian. The Virginian was the first 90-minute color western TV series. It aired from 1962-1971, and was the third longest running western series in the history of television.

The TV show was an adaptation of the 1902 Owen Wister western novel, “The Virginian, A Horseman of the Plains.”

It’s interesting that in both Owen Wister’s novel and the TV show, the lead character was never given a name other than “Virginian.”

The fact that no one knew his real name added mystery to the character.

The two pictures are of James at the time of the Virginian’s TV series and today.