Broken Arrow (TV show) Information

Broken Arrow is a Western series which ran on ABC-TV in prime time from 1956 through 1958 on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern time. Repeat episodes were shown by ABC on Sunday afternoons during the 1959"60 season. Selected repeats were then shown once again in prime time (on Sunday evenings) during the summer of 1960.

Synopsis

Broken Arrow told a fictionalized account of the historical relationship between Indian agent Tom Jeffords, played by John Lupton, and the Chiricahua Apache chief Cochise, portrayed by Michael Ansara.

The series was based on the novel Blood Brother by Elliott Arnold, which was made into the movie Broken Arrow in 1950. The television pilot aired on May 1, 1956 on CBS's The 20th Century-Fox Hour, with Lupton in the title role. The series, which began on September 25, 1956, was produced by TCF Television Productions, the TV division of 20th Century-Fox and was filmed at 20th Century-Fox Studios. The series was syndicated under the title Cochise.

Broken Arrow was one of the few westerns to portray Native Americans in a positive light, but Michael Ansara found the role unchallenging. Ansara told TV Guide magazine in a 1960 interview: "Cochise could do one of two things"stand with his arms folded, looking noble; or stand with arms at his sides, looking noble."

Robert F. Simon appeared as Ben Slade in the Broken Arrow pilot. In 1957, Simon guest starred as General Everitt in the episode entitled "Ghost Face". Gilman Rankin, of the western series Tombstone Territory, guest starred as Tawanga in the 1957 episode "The Doctor". Gregg Palmer appeared as Lieutenant Savage in the 1957 episode "White Savage". Chris Alcaide appeared twice on the series as Brown Eagle in "Passage Deferred" (1956) and as John Brett in "Hired Killer" (1958). Robert Knapp appeared as Lieutenant Neal in the episode, "Son of Cochise" (1957).

James Philbrook appeared as Clem Harrison in the episode "Manhunt" (1958). Phyllis Avery played an unnamed teacher in another Broken Arrow episode.

Cultural references

• The Blackfoot Indians would use a broken arrow to signal that they would cease fighting.