Wagon Train: The Complete Color Season Coming to DVD

EUGENE, OR (September 11, 2008) - This fall, fans of classic television and the celebrated Western drama will delight in the debut of WAGON TRAIN as a special edition 16-DVD set. Timeless Media Group has painstakingly restored and re-mastered all 32 90-minute episodes of the series' only season filmed in color, as well as 16 best-loved episodes from the seasons filmed in black and white, for this exceptional limited release. WAGON TRAIN: THE COMPLETE COLOR SEASON is housed in handsome collector's packaging, and includes newly produced interviews with actors Robert Fuller ("Cooper Smith") and Denny Scott Miller ("Duke Shannon"). Other than a handful of sub-quality public domain episodes, "Wagon Train" has never before been available on DVD. The WAGON TRAIN: THE COMPLETE COLOR SEASON 16-DVD will be available at www.timelessvideo.com and other online retailers on November 4 for $119.98 SRP.

Inspired by John Ford's classic 1950 film, Wagon Master, "Wagon Train" debuted on NBC in 1957, running for five seasons before jumping to ABC for the final three seasons. It was only during the seventh season that the show was extended to 90 minutes, and shot in color, returning to its original format for the eighth and final season. Consistently popular with viewers, the show was propelled to the top of the ratings during the 1961-62 season, beating out "Gunsmoke" for the number one slot throughout the year. "Wagon Train" differed from the field awash with other Western-genre series ("Tales of Wells Fargo," "Sugarfoot," etc.) with its significantly higher weekly production budget, truly quality writing and top-name guest star appeal. The long list of notable visiting cast members includes Shelly Winters, Lou Costello, Jane Wyman, Barbara Stanwyck, Ronald Reagan, Peter Falk, Suzanne Pleshette, Bruce Dern, Rhonda Fleming, Burgess Meredith, Neville Brand, Annette Funicello and many more.

In addition to the revolving door of bright Hollywood stars, the recurring "Wagon Train" cast featured an impressive group of actors and gave the show stability. In addition to Fuller and Miller, Ward Bond (Major Seth Adams), Robert Horton (Flint McCullough), Terry Wilson (Bill Hawks), Frank McGrath (Charlie Wooster ), John McIntire (Christopher Hale) and Michael Burns (Barnaby West) all played prominent characters throughout the classic series' run.

Each of "Wagon Train's" 284 episodes revolved around characters and personalities who were journeying to California's Pacific shores by Conestoga wagon from the banks of the Mississippi in the face of great odds. The main cast of characters conducted the train through perils and adventures associated with the landscapes and inhabitants of the American West. The recurring c ast's interrelationships, problems and camaraderie, as well as the enticing star power of guest appearances, kept audiences "on board" the "Wagon Train" week after week.