Rawhide

1/9/1959 – 1/4/1966 CBS
Black and White
60 minutes – 217 episodes

Jan. 1959-April 1959 Friday 8:00-9:00
May 1959-Sept.1963 Friday 7:30-8:30
Sept. 1963-Sept. 1964 Thursday 8:00-9:00
Sept. 1964-Sept. 1965 Friday 7:30-8:30
Sept. 1965-Jan.1966 Tuesday 7:30-8:30

Rawhide Cast

Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates
Eric Fleming as Gil Favor
John Ireland as Jed Colby
Sheb Wooley as Pete Nolan
Paul Brinegar as Wishbone
James Murdock as Mushy
Rocky Shahan as Joe Scarlet
Steve Raines as Jim Quince
Raymond St. Jacques as Simon Blake

Horse: (Rowdy’s) Midnight
CLICK HERE for a heartwarming story of Midnight’s rescue and life after Rawhide

Rawhide Theme Song

“Rawhide” by Ned Washington and Dimitri Tiomkin
Performed by Frankie Laine

Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rawhide!

Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Though the streams are swollen
Keep them doggies rollin'
Rawhide

Rain and wind and weather
Hellbent for leather
Wishin' my gal was by my side
All the things I'm missin'
Good vittals, love and kissin'
Are waiting at the end of my ride

CHORUS
Move 'em on, head 'em up
Head 'em up, move 'em on
Move 'em on, head 'em up
Rawhide
Count 'em out, ride 'em in
Ride 'em in, count 'em out
Count 'em out, ride 'em in
Rawhide

Keep movin', movin', movin'
Though they're disapprovin'
Keep them doggies movin'
Rawhide
Don't try to understand 'em
Just rope 'em, pull and brand 'em
Soon we'll be living high and wide
My hearts calculatin'
My true love will be waitin'
Be waitin' at the end of my ride

Hyaa!
CHORUS

Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin'

Hyaa!
Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Hyaa!
Rawhide!

Rawhide!

Tidbits

Gil Favor (Eric Fleming) was the trail boss of the cattle drive from North Texas to Sedalia, Kansas. His ramrod was a young Clint Eastwood playing Rowdy Yates. When Fleming left the show in the last season, Rowdy became the boss.

Rawhide is often compared to Wagon Train which debuted first. The cattle drive provided the same opportunity to come across many different people and situations. Even Rawhide’s whiskered cook, Wishbone (Paul Brinegar) is often confused with Wagon Train’s bushy cook, Charlie Wooster (Frank McGrath).

Did you know that Sheb Wooley, who played Pete Nolan, is also known as a country and western singer? Or that he brought you the tune, Purple People Eater?

Rawhide has one of the most easily recognized theme songs. And well it should. Composer Dimitri Tiomkin also composed the theme music for High Noon, Rio Bravo, Dial M for Murder, The Alamo and many other movies.

When you watch Rawhide now, it is interesting to see the young Clint Eastwood inasmuch as we now know all he will become.

Of historical note: When Raymond St. Jacques joined the cast in 1965 he became the first black actor to be regularly featured on a Western.

Passings

Eric Fleming drowned in Peru in 1966. John Ireland died in 1992 of leukemia. Paul Brinegar in 1995, James Murdock in 1981, Steve Raines in 1996, Raymond St. Jacques in 1990. Sheb Wooley died of leukemia in 2003.
Eric Fleming