September Scrapbook 2017 The High Chaparral

I thought it was about time that I pay homage to

my all time favorite television western series

The High Chaparral.

Thanks to INSP I can watch "The High Chaparral"

every weekday morning and on Saturday afternoons too!

In the mid 1870's,
  Civil War veteran-turned-ranch owner,
"Big John" Cannon, his wife, Annalee,

 and son, William "Billy Blue" Cannon,
 along with John's younger brother, Buck, 
 arrived in Arizona Territory where they

purchased a run down hacienda
   in the middle of hostile Apache land. 

I had a copy of this book when I was a kid.

I often wonder now what happened to it!

 Big John, (played by Leif Erickson,) 
is determine to  reorganize

the ranch, which he agrees to call,
 "The High Chaparral"
 at the suggestion of

his lovely wife, Annalee.
 (played by Joan Caulfield).

"I christen thee the High Chaparral"
- Annalee Cannon

  However, Mrs. Cannon is still unnerved 
living in her new home surrounded 
by the untamed desert landscape,

 especially after she, her husband,

son, and brother-in-law witnessed 
the burning of a neighboring family's home

 by the Apaches.
  The Indians also took captive
 the children of the rancher,

which Annalee believes she hears crying
 one night outside at the High Chaparral.

Although one of the Cannon's ranch hands,
 a Mexican cowboy named

Vaquero, tries to warn her that the noise
 she is hearing might be Apaches, a still

  unconvinced Annalee believes it might be a child
 crying out in the dark and opens the

window of her bedroom to look out, 
only to be fatally struck down moments

later by an Apache arrow.

Although grief-stricken by the loss of his wife,
 in order to remain at the High Chapparal, 
Big John soon takes another wife, 
the young and beautiful Victoria Montoya
,(played by Linda Cristal)
 the  only daughter of a wealthy and powerful

 Mexican landowner, Don Sebastian Montoya 
(played by Frank Silvera).

John and Victoria Cannon

 The marriage seals a bargain
 made between Big John and Don Sebastian and is

first perceived as a "marriage of convenience"
 which later blossoms into true love.

Victoria's rebellious but fun-loving brother,
 the handsome ladies man, Manolito, 
(played by Henry Darrow)
also comes to live at the High Chaparral
 at first to keep an eye on his sister, but, is later

warmly accepted as a member of the Cannon family.

Meanwhile, Billy Blue, called "Blue Boy"
 (played by Mark Slade)
  is still grieving over the loss of his mother 
and at first resents his father
 bringing another woman into Annalee's house.

  But as time goes on, Blue learns 
that his beautiful stepmother is not only as strong-willed

   as himself, but gentle and compassionate,
and a kindred spirit, who encourages 

 him to fulfill his dream to be an artist.

Mark Slade later left the series and actor
Rudy Ramos was cast as young half-breed
Indian boy, Wind, who comes to live
and work at the High Chaparral.

Each week saw the Cannons protecting their home and ranch from renegade

Apaches, outlaws, Mexican revolutionaries, and sometimes hostile neighbors,

while opening their doors and showing hospitality to 

 a wounded Apache shaman, Victoria's exasperating, yet comical

 father Don Sebastian Montoya, ten little Apache children

on the run from hostile Pimas, a troubled young woman aspiring to be a nun,
 and many others in need of  shelter or assistance.

I always loved the way that John Cannon, although often gruff in manner,

was actually a kind and decent man, and a more than generous employer who 

demanded respect and loyalty from his ranch hands, and yet, he

 truly cared about the men working for him.

I also love that from the beginning of the series, John Cannon, unlike the

other ranchers in the area, was determine to live in peace with the Apaches.

He believed that the Arizona Territory was large enough for both the white

settlers and the various tribes to co-exist without conflict, and although

it was not easy, the local Indian leaders came to respect the name of

John Cannon who agreed to share land and cattle with them.

My favorite episode of "The High Chaparral" is the

Thanksgiving story entitled, "For What We Are About To Receive".

"Talking Turkey"

A clip from "For What We Are About To Receive"

This unique western series first premiered on September 10, 1967

and lasted for four seasons, the last episode airing on  March 12, 1971.

The original cast of The High Chaparral from left to right:

Back row: Mark Slade (Blue); Linda Cristal (Victoria); Leif Erickson (Big John),

Cameron Mitchell (Buck); and Henry Darrow (Manolito).

Front row: Rodolfo Acosta (Vaquero); Robert Hoy (Joe Butler); 

Robert Contreras (Pedro); Ted Markland (Reno); Don Collier (Sam Butler);

and Jerry Summers (Ira)