{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television |image = 26 Men Poster.jpg |caption = |genre = Western |director = {{Plainlist| * Franklin Adreon * Joseph Kane * Reg Browne * Oliver Drake }} |starring = {{Plainlist| * Tristram Coffin * Kelo Henderson }} |theme_music_composer = {{Plainlist| * Russell Hayden * Hal Hopper }} |composer = {{Plainlist| * Al Sack * Gordon Zahler }} |country = United States |language = English |num_seasons = 2 |num_episodes = 78 |list_episodes = |executive_producer = Russell Hayden |producer = {{Plainlist| * William Dennis * Russell Hayden }} |editor = {{Plainlist| * Tom Biggart * Reg Browne * Frank Capacchione * Everett Dodd * Axel Hubert Sr. * Roy V. Livingston }} |cinematography = {{Plainlist| * Buddy Harris * John Mathew Nickolaus Jr. * Kenneth Peach * J.D. Weiler }} |runtime = 25 minutes |company = Russell Hayden Productions |network = Syndication |first_aired = {{Start date|1957|11|01}} |last_aired = {{End date|1959|06|30}} }}
'''''26 Men''''' is a syndicated American Western television series about the Arizona Rangers, a law-enforcement group limited to 26 active members.<ref name="tt">{{cite book|last1=McNeil|first1=Alex|title=Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present |date=1996|publisher=Penguin Books USA, Inc.|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-14-02-4916-8|pages= 870–871|edition=4th}}</ref> By March 1958, the program was carried on 158 stations in the United States.<ref name="r">{{cite news |last1=Stern |first1=Harold |title=26 Men Based on Fact |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80262137/26-men/ |access-date=June 26, 2021 |work=The Record |date=March 15, 1958 |location=New Jersey, Hackensack |page=37|via = Newspapers.com}}</ref> The program was also broadcast on ATN-7 in Australia<ref name="smh">{{cite news |title=More Western Series |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80246808/the-sydney-morning-herald/ |access-date=June 25, 2021 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=June 16, 1958 |page=15|via = Newspapers.com}}</ref> and on ZBM-TV in Bermuda.<ref>{{cite news |title=Film Clips |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1957/1957-12-23-BC.pdf#page=54 |access-date=June 26, 2021 |work=Broadcasting |date=December 23, 1957 |page=64}}</ref>
==Synopsis and background == The series is set in the Arizona Territory in the first decade of the 20th century.<ref name="smh" /> The rangers were part of the group established by the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1901.<ref name="tt" /> The number of members was limited to 26 "to avoid vigilantism".<ref name="st">{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987' |date=1989 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc. |isbn=0-7864-1198-8 |page=101}}</ref> Information from government archives and newspapers provided the basis of the plots of episodes.<ref name="hsb">{{cite news |title='26 Men' - the Story of Arizona |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80247714/26-men/ |access-date=June 25, 2021 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=August 2, 1958 |page=74|via = Newspapers.com}}</ref>
==Critical response== A review in the trade publication ''Variety'' said that the premiere episode had "clean action and plot situations", making it different from the era's trend toward adult Westerns.<ref name=review>{{cite magazine |date=October 16, 1957 |page=52 |title=26 Men |magazine=Variety |url=https://archive.org/details/variety208-1957-10/page/n209/mode/1up?view=theater |accessdate=March 31, 2023}}</ref> It commended the work of Tris Coffin and Kelo Henderson and the pacing of the direction but noted that production values appeared weaker than those of Western programs on networks.<ref name="review" />
== Cast == === Main === * Tris Coffin as Captain Thomas H. Rynning * Kelo Henderson as ranger Clint Travis.
=== Guest stars === [[File:26 Men (The Recruit) scene.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Tex Palmer, Hal Hopper, Don Haggerty and William Murphy in ''26 Men'', 1957]] {{castlist| * Rico Alaniz * Rayford Barnes * Baynes Barron * Robert Blake * Edgar Buchanan * Mason Alan Dinehart * William Fawcett * Richard Garland * Don Haggerty * Ron Hayes * Tom Hennesy * Robert Karnes * DeForest Kelley * Lash LaRue * Forrest Lewis * Jackie Loughery * Jeanne Carmen as Lili Mae Turner * Walter Maslow * Doug McClure * William Murphy * Leonard Nimoy * Gregg Palmer * Tex Palmer * Denver Pyle * Maudie Prickett * Richard Reeves * Kim Spalding * Glenn Strange * Dub Taylor * Carol Thurston * Gregory Walcott * Patrick Waltz * Grant Withers }}
==Episodes== ===Series overview=== {{Series overview
| color1 = #c6a778 | link1 = #Season 1 (1957–58) | episodes1 = 39 | start1 = {{Start date|1957|10|15}} | end1 = {{End date|1958|07|15}}
| color2 = #441d0e | link2 = #Season 2 (1958–59) | episodes2 = 39 | start2 = {{Start date|1958|10|07}} | end2 = {{End date|1959|06|30}} }}
===Season 1 (1957–58)=== {{Episode table|background=#c6a778|overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate=|episodes= {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 1 |EpisodeNumber2 = 1 |Title = The Recruit |DirectedBy = Reg Browne |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|15}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 2 |EpisodeNumber2 = 2 |Title = Trouble at Pinnacle Peak |DirectedBy = Reg Browne |WrittenBy = Sloan Nibley |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|22}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 3 |EpisodeNumber2 = 3 |Title = The Wild Bunch |DirectedBy = Reg Browne |WrittenBy = Buckley Angell |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|10|29}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 4 |EpisodeNumber2 = 4 |Title = Border Incident |DirectedBy = Reg Browne |WrittenBy = Joe Richardson |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|05}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 5 |EpisodeNumber2 = 5 |Title = Destination Nowhere |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = Dwight V. Babcock |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|12}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 6 |EpisodeNumber2 = 6 |Title = Incident at Yuma |DirectedBy = Reg Browne |WrittenBy = Ed Repp |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|19}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 7 |EpisodeNumber2 = 7 |Title = The Slater Brothers |DirectedBy = Oliver Drake |WrittenBy = Terence Maples & Sam Roeca & Tom Hubbard |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|11|26}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 8 |EpisodeNumber2 = 8 |Title = Dead Man in Tucson |DirectedBy = Reg Browne |WrittenBy = Tom Hubbard & Sam Roeca |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|03}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 9 |EpisodeNumber2 = 9 |Title = Man on the Run |DirectedBy = Oliver Drake |WrittenBy = Sam Roeca & Tom Hubbard & Will George |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|10}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 10 |EpisodeNumber2 = 10 |Title = The Big Rope |DirectedBy = Oliver Drake |WrittenBy = John K. Butler |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|17}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 11 |EpisodeNumber2 = 11 |Title = Valley of Fear |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = Sloan Nibley |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|24}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 12 |EpisodeNumber2 = 12 |Title = Indian Gunslinger |DirectedBy = Reg Browne |WrittenBy = Frank Graves |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1957|12|31}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 13 |EpisodeNumber2 = 13 |Title = Trail of Darkness |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = Joe Richardson |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|01|07}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 14 |EpisodeNumber2 = 14 |Title = Trade Me Deadly |DirectedBy = Oliver Drake |WrittenBy = Buckley Angell |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|01|14}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 15 |EpisodeNumber2 = 15 |Title = Violent Land |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|01|28}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 16 |EpisodeNumber2 = 16 |Title = Panic at Bisbee |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|02|04}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 17 |EpisodeNumber2 = 17 |Title = Insurrection |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = Dwight V. Babcock |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|02|11}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 18 |EpisodeNumber2 = 18 |Title = Slaughter Trail |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|02|18}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 19 |EpisodeNumber2 = 19 |Title = Gun Hand |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|02|25}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 20 |EpisodeNumber2 = 20 |Title = Cattle Embargo |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|03|04}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 21 |EpisodeNumber2 = 21 |Title = Badge to Kill |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|03|11}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 22 |EpisodeNumber2 = 22 |Title = Montezuma's Cave |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|03|18}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 23 |EpisodeNumber2 = 23 |Title = Sundown Decision |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|03|25}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 24 |EpisodeNumber2 = 24 |Title = The Parrish Gang |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|04|01}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 25 |EpisodeNumber2 = 25 |Title = Hoax at Globe |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|04|08}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 26 |EpisodeNumber2 = 26 |Title = The Bounty Hunter |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|04|15}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 27 |EpisodeNumber2 = 27 |Title = Apache Water |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|04|22}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 28 |EpisodeNumber2 = 28 |Title = Legacy of Death |DirectedBy = Oliver Drake |WrittenBy = Oliver Drake |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|04|29}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 29 |EpisodeNumber2 = 29 |Title = Chain Gang |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|05|06}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 30 |EpisodeNumber2 = 30 |Title = The Bells of St. Thomas |DirectedBy = Oliver Drake |WrittenBy = Oliver Drake |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|05|13}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 31 |EpisodeNumber2 = 31 |Title = Hondo Man |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|05|20}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 32 |EpisodeNumber2 = 32 |Title = The Vanquisher |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = Fonville McWhorter, Jr |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|05|27}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 33 |EpisodeNumber2 = 33 |Title = The Ranger and the Lady |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|06|03}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 34 |EpisodeNumber2 = 34 |Title = Idol in the Dust |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|06|10}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 35 |EpisodeNumber2 = 35 |Title = Runaway Stage |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|06|17}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 36 |EpisodeNumber2 = 36 |Title = Wayward Gun |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|06|24}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 37 |EpisodeNumber2 = 37 |Title = Hole Up |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|07|01}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 38 |EpisodeNumber2 = 38 |Title = Unholy Partners |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|07|08}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 39 |EpisodeNumber2 = 39 |Title = Killer's Trail |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|07|15}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#c6a778 }} }}
===Season 2 (1958–59)=== {{Episode table|background=#441d0e|overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate=|episodes= {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 40 |EpisodeNumber2 = 1 |Title = The Glory Road |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|10|07}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 41 |EpisodeNumber2 = 2 |Title = Shadow of Doubt |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|10|14}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 42 |EpisodeNumber2 = 3 |Title = Man in Hiding |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|10|21}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 43 |EpisodeNumber2 = 4 |Title = Cross and Double Cross |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|10|28}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 44 |EpisodeNumber2 = 5 |Title = The Last Rebellion |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|11|04}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 45 |EpisodeNumber2 = 6 |Title = Brief Glory |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|11|11}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 46 |EpisodeNumber2 = 7 |Title = Dog Eat Dog |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|11|18}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 47 |EpisodeNumber2 = 8 |Title = Judge Not |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|11|25}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 48 |EpisodeNumber2 = 9 |Title = My Brother's Keeper |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|12|02}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 49 |EpisodeNumber2 = 10 |Title = Run No More |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|12|09}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 50 |EpisodeNumber2 = 11 |Title = The Manhunt |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|12|16}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 51 |EpisodeNumber2 = 12 |Title = The Avenger |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|12|23}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 52 |EpisodeNumber2 = 13 |Title = False Witness |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|12|30}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 53 |EpisodeNumber2 = 14 |Title = The Torch |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|01|06}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 54 |EpisodeNumber2 = 15 |Title = Trail of Revenge |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|01|13}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 55 |EpisodeNumber2 = 16 |Title = The Hellion |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|01|20}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 56 |EpisodeNumber2 = 17 |Title = Ranger Without a Badge |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|01|27}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 57 |EpisodeNumber2 = 18 |Title = The Showdown |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|02|03}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 58 |EpisodeNumber2 = 19 |Title = The Long Trail Home |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|02|10}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 59 |EpisodeNumber2 = 20 |Title = Death in the Dragoons |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|02|17}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 60 |EpisodeNumber2 = 21 |Title = Ricochet |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|02|24}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 61 |EpisodeNumber2 = 22 |Title = House Divided |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|03|03}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 62 |EpisodeNumber2 = 23 |Title = Profane Masquerade |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|03|10}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 63 |EpisodeNumber2 = 24 |Title = Dead or Alive |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|03|17}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 64 |EpisodeNumber2 = 25 |Title = The Has Been |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|03|24}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 65 |EpisodeNumber2 = 26 |Title = The Unwanted |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|03|31}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 66 |EpisodeNumber2 = 27 |Title = Live and Let Die |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1958|04|07}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 67 |EpisodeNumber2 = 28 |Title = Trial at Verde River |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|04|14}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 68 |EpisodeNumber2 = 29 |Title = Scorpion |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|04|21}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 69 |EpisodeNumber2 = 30 |Title = The Last Kill |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|04|28}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 70 |EpisodeNumber2 = 31 |Title = Redskin |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|05|05}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 71 |EpisodeNumber2 = 32 |Title = Cave-In |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|05|12}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 72 |EpisodeNumber2 = 33 |Title = Terror in Paradise |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|05|19}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 73 |EpisodeNumber2 = 34 |Title = Fighting Man |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|05|26}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 74 |EpisodeNumber2 = 35 |Title = Tumbleweed Ranger |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|06|02}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 75 |EpisodeNumber2 = 36 |Title = The Tiger |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|06|09}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 76 |EpisodeNumber2 = 37 |Title = Abandoned |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|06|16}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 77 |EpisodeNumber2 = 38 |Title = Bandit Queen |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|06|23}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 78 |EpisodeNumber2 = 39 |Title = Refuge at Broken Bow |DirectedBy = |WrittenBy = |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1959|06|30}} |ShortSummary= |LineColor=#441d0e }} }}
==Production== Russell Hayden was the producer<ref>{{cite news |date=June 13, 1981 |title=Russell (Lucky) Hayden, Romantic Film Cowboy |page=16 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/13/obituaries/russell-lucky-hayden-romantic-film-cowboy.html |access-date=June 25, 2021}}</ref> of the ABC Film Syndication series. Reg Browne was the director, Sloane Nibley was the writer, and Oliver Drake was the adapter.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=August 19, 1957 |title=George T. (2-gun) Shupert calls it a Western, son! |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/50s/1957/Billboard%201957-08-19.pdf#page=10 |magazine=Billboard |page=10 |access-date=June 25, 2021}}</ref> The theme song was written by Hal Hopper.<ref name="st" />
Facilities of Cudia City Studios, in Phoenix, Arizona, were expanded to handle filming of ''26 Men''.<ref name="hsb" /> When the series filmed on location, local residents often filled some roles in the cast.<ref name="st" /> It was "reportedly the first TV series ever to be filmed completely in Arizona."<ref>{{cite news |date=September 2, 1957 |title='26 Men' Filming begins |page=81 |work=Broadcasting |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1957/1957-09-02-BC.pdf#page=81}}</ref>
=== Sponsors === As a syndicated program, ''26 Men'' had different sponsors in different parts of the United States. They included H. P. Hood and Sons (a dairy) for all of New England; Mrs. Smith's Pie Company and Freihofer Baking Company (alternating weekly) in four cities in Pennsylvania; Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company in Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Buffalo; and Standard Oil of Texas in eight markets in Texas and New Mexico.<ref>{{cite news |title=ABC Film's '26 Men' Racks Up $500,000 in Advance Sales |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1957/1957-07-22-BC.pdf#page=62 |access-date=June 25, 2021 |work=Broadcasting |date=July 22, 1957 |page=62}}</ref>
==Release==
=== Home media === Timeless Media Group released a 3-disc best-of set, featuring 20 episodes from the series on DVD in Region 1 on April 12, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/26-Men-The-Best-Of/15220 |title=26 Men - TMG Release a 3-DVD Set about the Old West's Arizona Rangers |accessdate=2012-05-01 |author=David Lambert |date=April 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916125238/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/26-Men-The-Best-Of/15220 |archivedate=2011-09-16 }}</ref>
UK television network Talking Pictures TV began a re-run of series 1 from Wednesday 9 October 2024
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:26 Men}} Category:1957 American television series debuts Category:1959 American television series endings Category:Television series set in the 1900s Category:Black-and-white American television shows Category:English-language American television shows Category:First-run syndicated television programs in the United States Category:Television shows set in Arizona Category:Television shows filmed in Arizona Category:Television series by CBS Studios Category:1950s Western (genre) television series