How the West Was Not: Classic TV Westerns and Their Myths

By Christopher Robinson

What is it about those old cowpokes and gunslingers that captivate us so much? How the West Was Not takes a witty, myth-busting look at the classic TV Westerns that shaped America's idea of the frontier separating the "cold, hard facts" from the way the West was... not.

From gunfighters who diagnose bullet wounds at twenty paces, to saloons packed with patrons but strangely empty of horses (and outhouses ), author and Western Magazine Digest senior editor Christopher Robinson unpacks the beloved tropes of the genre with humor and genuine affection. The book then rides through the golden age of televised Westerns Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Virginian, Rawhide, Have Gun - Will Travel, Maverick, and more before touring legendary filming locations like Iverson Movie Ranch, Old Tucson, and the notorious Spahn Ranch.

Packed with behind-the-scenes trivia, character-actor profiles, a rare interview with The Virginian's James Drury, and a "Cowboy Top 20," this is a must-read for anyone who ever kicked up their boots to watch a small-screen showdown.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1968732659
• ISBN13: 9781968732653
• Release Date: July 2026
• Publisher: Heritage Book Publishing
• Length: 90 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"