The Legend of Jesse James is a 34-episode
western television series starring
Christopher Jones in the tile role of notorious
outlaw Jesse James which aired on
ABC from September 13, 1965, to May 9, 1966.
Allen Case joined Jones as Jesse's brother,
Frank James.
The series portrays James as a
19th century Robin Hood in
Missouri, who robbed trains and banks to repay local residents whose property had been confiscated by
railroad barons or greedy Northern bankers. The series depicts the barons as demanding that Mrs. James sell them her
ranch. Other cast members included
Ann Doran as
Zerelda James Samuel, the mother of Jesse and Frank James;
Robert J. Wilke as
Marshal Sam Corbett, the lawman who vainly pursued the Jameses;
John Milford as
Cole Younger, a member of the gang who served a long prison sentence, and
David Richards as
Jim Younger, Cole's brother.
[Alex McNeil, Total Television, New York: Penquin Books, 1996, 4th ed., pp. 474-475]
