Were they showing the older Ward Bond episodes, or the later John McIntyre ones? Those were still good, but I remember most fondly the earlier ones.

I can remember the last Ward Bond episode, completed by John Ford after he died, in honor of their many years together. Frank McGrath did the "Wagons Ho" for that one, as the visuals had been shot, but it hadn't been dubbed yet; and there was a silhouette appearance by John Wayne, in remembrance of his longtime friend. I'd love to see some of those old episodes again.

Movie stars didn't do much television in those days, but they considered Wagon Train a showcase, because it had such a huge, loyal audience on Wednesday nights. Bette Davis herself did at least two, playing in one a woman taking her charge of dance-hall girls west. I believe that was "The Elizabeth McQueeny Story."

And I've always wished I could find a recording of the original opening theme. It was written by Jerome Moross, and was later replaced by the instrumental one also by him now available on several different TV theme collections. There was a male vocalist singing "Roll along, Wagon Train..." I always thought the replacement was wimpy by comparison.