Zane Grey Theatre: A Threat of Violence
1st Pilot for Black Saddle 
May 23 1959 Fri CBS

Produced by Hal Hudson
Written by John McGreevey
Directed by Robert Gordon
Production Executive: Frank Baur
Editorial Supervisor: Bernard Burton
Director of Photography, Guy Roe, A.S.C.

Chris Alcaide ........ Clay Culhane

Starring:
Cesar Romero .......... Carlos Gandara
Lyle Bettger .......... Sheriff Griff Evans

Jorja Curtright ...... Felicia Cheney
Harry Lauter ......... Hake Morris
Alex Gerry ........... James Ballinger
Bruce Cowling ...... Verg Cheney
Jess Kirkpatrick ... William Newman
Jason Johnson ........ Dr. Harris

Synopsis: Clay Culhane frontier lawyer comes to the aid of a Mexican vaquero accused of killing his wife.

 

Backstory:  
The original pilot for a proposed series titled "Black Saddle" that starred veteran character actor Chris Alcaide, aired on the recurring western serial "Zane Grey Theatre." Writer John McGreevey wrote the outline for a proposed series about a famous gunfighter almost killed in a gunfight. As a result, the gunfighter decides to become a lawyer to fight injustice. McGreevey got together with producer Hal Hudson and produced the script titled: A Threat Of ViolenceEventually the show was produced as part of "Zane Grey Theatre" as a proposed series pilot. Veteran character actor, Chris Alcaide was picked to play the part of Clay Culhane, the gunfighter turned lawyer. After the episode aired in May 1958,  the poor ratings did not warrant a television series. However with the boom of the television western in the 50s, the producers convinced  the network to go ahead with the new series.  PETER BRECK was selected to play the part of Clay Culhane. Peter's success as the star of Black Saddle would eventually lead to his role as fiery rancher NICK BARKLEY in the classic 60s television western THE BIG VALLEY.