Judge Roy Bean (TV series)

Judge Roy Bean
Genre	Western
Starring	Edgar Buchanan Jack Buetel Jackie Loughery Russell Hayden
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	39
Production
Producer	Russell Hayden
Running time	30-minute episodes
Original release
Network	Syndication
Release	September 9, 1955 (1955-09-09) – June 13, 1956 (1956-06-13)

Judge Roy Bean was a syndicated Western television series based very loosely on the life of a Texas justice of the peace. Edgar Buchanan played Roy Bean, known as "the only law west of the Pecos."[1] The series was originally broadcast during the 1955 television season.

The series was set in Langtry, Texas, and starred Buchanan as Judge Roy Bean, Jackie Loughery as his niece Letty Bean, and Jack Buetel as Jeff Taggert, Bean's deputy. Russell Hayden had a recurring role as Steve, a Texas Ranger. Hayden was also the series’ producer.[2] Guest stars included Tris Coffin, Myron Healey, X Brands, Glenn Strange and Lash LaRue.[3]

The self-appointed[4] Judge Bean held court in his combination general store and saloon[3] and often assigned Jeff Taggert to investigate crimes. Bean was an admirer of actress Lillie Langtry, and claimed that the town of Langtry was named in her honor, though the Southern Pacific Railroad had given the town the name of one of their dignitaries.[5]

There were 39 half-hour episodes, shot in color in Pioneertown, California.[4] In the mid-1950s most television stations only broadcast black-and-white programing, and during the series's original run only five stations aired Judge Roy Bean episodes in color. The remaining stations showed the syndicated series in black-and-white.[6]

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	"The Judge of Pecos Valley"	William Berke	Rik Vollaerts and R.M. Hayden	September 1, 1955 (1955-09-01)
The Judge captures a train robber and hands him over to the Texas Rangers. X Brands played Dan Wiler.
2	"Family Ties"	Derwin Abbe	Orville H. Hampton	September 8, 1955 (1955-09-08)
The Judge helps a family being forced off their land by men who know the railroad wants to buy the property.
3	"The Horse Thief"	Derwin Abrahams	Buckley Angell	September 15, 1955 (1955-09-15)
A rancher is accused of stealing horses, and townspeople want to lynch him. X Brands played Hackett.
4	"Sunburnt Gold"	Derwin Abbe	Orville H. Hampton	September 22, 1955 (1955-09-22)
Criminals are trying to make stolen gold coins look like mined gold nuggets.Russell Hayden played Steve.
5	"The Wedding of Old Sam"	Derwin Abbe	Russell Hayden & Jack Jacobs & Malvin Wald	September 29, 1955 (1955-09-29)
The Judge helps a friend and becomes involved in a marriage proposal and an impersonation. Tris Coffin played Sam, X Brands was the stage driver, and Russell Hayden played Steve.
6	"The Runaway"	Derwin Abrahams	Buckley Angell	October 6, 1955 (1955-10-06)
A boy thinks his father a coward for taking abuse from his boss in order to provide for his family. X Brands played Dallas.
7	"Slightly Prodigal"	Derwin Abrahams	George Van Marter	October 13, 1955 (1955-10-13)
Mrs. Brown comes to Langtry in search of her son, and learns he was one of the outlaws who robbed the stagecoach she was on. X Brands played Jim Brown.
8	"Black Jack"	Derwin Abbe	Orville H. Hampton	October 20, 1955 (1955-10-20)
The Judge pursues a train robber who escaped from prison and murdered the man who betrayed him. X Brands played Rev. Peter Cable.
9	"Judge Declares a Holiday"	Derwin Abrahams	Roy Erwin	October 13, 1955 (1955-10-13)
Con men come to town, arranges horse races, then leave with all money that was bet.
10	"Citizen Romeo"	Reg Browne	Orville H. Hampton	November 3, 1955 (1955-11-03)
The Judge learns of a scheme to smuggle guns to the Indians, and he encounters an unlikely pair of allies to stop the smuggling: an organ grinder and his monkey. Russell Hayden played Steve.
11	"Connie Comes to Town"	Derwin Abbe	Milton M. Raison	November 10, 1955 (1955-11-10)
When Connie Ward comes to town Letty is harassed by villains seeking to learn her whereabouts. X Brands played Daniels
12	"The Fugitive"	Derwin Abrahams	Buckley Angell	November 17, 1955 (1955-11-17)
The Judge helps a rancher who is being blackmailed by crooks wanting to steal his land. X Brands played Hickey and Russell Hayden played Steve.
13	"Letty Leaves Home"	Derwin Abrahams	Buckley Angell	November 24, 1955 (1955-11-24)
Letty wants to leave Langtry for she believes her tomboy ways are keeping her from being seen as a lady. X Brands played Klondike.
14	"Murder in Langtry"	Reg Browne	Al Frank	December 1, 1955 (1955-12-01)
The Judge helps Jeff Taggart, who is framed for murdering the horse trader who cheated him.
15	"Vinegarone"	Derwin Abrahams	Orville H. Hampton	December 8, 1955 (1955-12-08)
The Judge helps a young man who con men claim doesn’t have legal title to the silver mine he inherited. X Brands played Buck Russell Hayden played Steve.
16	"Ah Sid Cowboy"	Nate Watt	David Dixon	January 1, 1956 (1956-01-01)
The Judge helps his friend Ah Sid, who is being forced to translate a map stolen from Chinese gold miners. Sammee Tong played Ah Sid and Glenn Strange played Fallon.
17	"Checkmate"	Unknown	Orville H. Hampton	January 8, 1956 (1956-01-08)
The Judge is almost fooled by a phony death and funeral of a wanted killer. Myron Healey played Reno and Russell Hayden played Steve.
18	"Desperate Journey"	Reg Browne	Buckley Angell	January 15, 1956 (1956-01-15)
A young man seeking his birthright is accused of murder and makes a run for it.
19	"Eyes of Texas"	Reg Browne	Orville H. Hampton	January 22, 1956 (1956-01-22)
Crooked ranchers attempt to steal land from an Indian tribe, and kills an Indian brave. The Judge must prevent a massacre.
20	"The Gunman’s Bargain"	Nate Watt	Virginia M. Cooke	January 29, 1956 (1956-01-29)
John Wesley Hardin rides into Langtry just as Judge Bean receives a wanted poster on him. X Brands played Tyler
21	"The Hidden Truth"	Nate Watt	John Ward	February 6, 1956 (1956-02-06)
The Judge tries to clear an ex-convict who was innocently involved in murder and robbery. X Brands played Grover.
22	"The Judge’s Dilemma"	Nate Watt	Sloan Nibley	February 12, 1956 (1956-02-12)
The Judge goes after swindlers trying to take control of Langtry. The swindlers bring false charges of misconduct against Judge Bean. Glenn Strange played Mason and X Brands played Danning.
23	"The Katcina Doll"	Nate Watt	James L. Henderson	February 20, 1956 (1956-02-20)
A Mexican Indian village have their sacred idol stolen. Neither the Judge nor Deputy Jeff have jurisdiction across the border, but Letty agrees to help lure the criminals back to Texas. Lash LaRue played Storts.
24	"Outlaw’s Son"	Nate Watt	Oliver Drake	February 27, 1956 (1956-02-27)
The Judge helps an outlaw’s son choose between right and wrong after his father is murdered. Lash LaRue played Matt Logan, X Brands played Ben Logan and Russell Hayden played Steve.
25	"The Reformer"	Nate Watt	Buckley Angell	March 6, 1956 (1956-03-06)
The Judge confronts a female reformer determined to remake Langtry to her liking. Bernadene Hayes played Dolly Mason, Lash LaRue played Duke Castle and X Brands played Jonas.
26	"The Travelers"	Reg Browne	Charles R. Mariion	March 13, 1956 (1956-03-13)
The Judge and Jeff Taggert go after a killer, and they are joined by a rancher who wants a lynching. Bernadene Hayes played Mrs. Atkins.
27	"The Elopers"	Thor L. Brooks	Unknown	March 20, 1956 (1956-03-20)
Sharon intends to marry Adam over the objections of her wealthy father.
28	"Spirit of the Law"	Reg Browne	Bea Lisse	April 3, 1956 (1956-04-03)
The Judge goes after twin brothers who give each other alibis for their holdups. Lash LaRue played Todd Malone and Will Malone.
29	"Bad Medicine"	Reg Browne	Bea Lisse	April 3, 1956 (1956-04-03)
The Judge suspects that Doc Malone’s Medicine Show is hiding a killer. Russell Hayden played Steve.
30	"The Defense Rests"	Reg Browne	Buckley Angell	April 10, 1956 (1956-04-10)
Deputy Jeff Taggert’s brother is accused of robbing a bank, and the deputy is suspected of being involved with the crime. Lash LaRue played the bank cashier.
31	"Deliver the Body"	Nate Watt	Buckley Angell	April 17, 1956 (1956-04-17)
Sheriff Blade arrives to arrest Del Randall on what the Judge considers trumped up charges. Judge Bean and Jeff Taggert put Del in jail to protect him.
32	"The Hypnotist"	Nate Watt	Sloan Nibley	April 24, 1956 (1956-04-24)
Letty is hypnotized to recall past events connected to the legend of the Haunted Hills. Russell Hayden played Steve.
33	"Terror Rides the Trail"	Nate Watt	Oliver Drake	May 1, 1956 (1956-05-01)
Russell Hayden played Steve.
34	"Border Raiders"	Reg Browne	Buck Angell	May 8, 1956 (1956-05-08)
The Judge and Jeff Taggert go after a band of marauding Apaches led by a white man. Tris Coffin played Kenyon, Glenn Strange played Tom Holman and Russell Hayden played Steve.
35	"The Cross-Draw Kid"	Reg Browne	Oliver Drake	May 15, 1956 (1956-05-15)
The Judge and Jeff Taggert take on the richest man in the valley over water rights. Tris Coffin played Jim Sabine and Glenn Strange played King Lonagan.
36	"Four Ladies From Laredo"	Thor Brooks	Buckley Angell	May 22, 1956 (1956-05-22)
Four beautiful ladies come to Langtry and the Judge and Jeff Taggert go courting, instead of paying more attention to a local robbery. A Texas Ranger is suspicious of the women’s behavior. Russell Hayden played Steve, the Texas Ranger.
37	"Luck o’ the Irish"	Thor Brooks	John Ward	May 291, 1956 (1956-05-291)
Pat O’Hara and his much younger bride comes to town. Pat’s drinking and gambling gets him involved with the town’s rowdies.
38	"The Refugee"	Reg Browne	Unknown	June 5, 1956 (1956-06-05)
Glenn Strange played Nolan.
39	"Lone Star Killer"	Reg Browne	Buckley Angell	June 13, 1956 (1956-06-13)
When a Texas Ranger is murdered the Judge and Jeff Taggert vow to bring the killer to justice. Lash LaRue played Bass.

Streaming

37 of the 39 episodes are available for streaming on Tubi.

Reception

Joseph Landau of the Louisville, Kentucky The Courier-Journal stated that "the only similarity between Judge Roy Bean of television and the real Roy Bean is the TV boys got the name right."[5]

References

1. Judge Roy Bean Subject of New Television Show, The Sedalia Democrat (Sedalia, Missouri), October 30, 1955, page 13
2. Marill, Alvin H., Television Westerns: Six Decades of Sagebrush, Sheriffs, Scalawags, and Sidewinders, page 44, Scarecrow Press, 2011
3. Rowan, Terry, Character-Based Film Series, Part 3, page 125, Lulu Books, 2016
4. Summers, Neil and Crowley, Roger M., The Official TV Western Round-Up Book, page 85, The Old West Shop Publishing, 2002
5. Joseph Landau, Judge Roy Bean’s Name Is About The Only Fact The TV Writers Retain, The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY), May 13, 1956, page 74
6. Sneak Preview, Billboard, March 31, 1956, page 9