AS SEEN ON TV: BAT MASTERSON

BAT MASTERSON

AS SEEN IN:
'Bat Masterson'
'The Guns Of Paradise'
'Gambler 4: Luck Of The Draw'

AS PLAYED BY:
Gene Barry

William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a figure of the American Old West known as a buffalo hunter, U.S. Army scout, avid fisherman, gambler, frontier lawman, U.S. Marshal, and sports editor and columnist for the New York Morning Telegraph.

'Bat Masterson' is an American Western television series which showed a fictionalized account of the life of real-life marshal/gambler/dandy Bat Masterson. The title character was played by Gene Barry and the half-hour black and white shows ran on NBC from 1958 to 1961.

Back when the West was very young
There lived a man named Masterson
He wore a cane and derby hat
They called him Bat
Bat Masterson!

A man of steel, the story says
But women's eyes all glanced his way.
A gambler's game he always won
His name was Bat
Bat Masterson!

Refrain

The trail that he blazed is still there
No one has come since to replace his name
and those with too ready a trigger,
forgot to figure on his lightning cane.

Now in the legend of the West
One name stands out above the rest
The man who had the fastest gun,
His name was Bat
Bat Masterson!

(All from Wikipedia)

Gene Barry went on to star in 'Burke's Law', 'Amos Burke, Secret Agent', 'The Name Of The Game', 'The Adventurer' and once again in 'Burke's Law'. Earlier he was in the final season of 'Our Miss Brooks'. And he was nominated for the Tony Award for his performance in the hit 1980s Broadway musical "La Cage aux Folles".

Mr. Barry died Wednesday of congestive heart failure at Sunrise Assisted Living in Woodland Hills, according to his son, Michael.

In 2002, the year of duos for the TV Crossover Hall of Fame, Gene Barry's portrayal of Bat Masterson was inducted, along with Wyatt Earp - as played by Hugh O'Brian.

A tip of the derby to you, Sir.

BCnU.....

For an excellent fan site dedicated to Gene Barry, visit here. My thanks to them for the pictures I nicked. (I did a favor for them once, so I hope they'll forgive me....)