Hugh O'Brain - TV's Wyatt Earp Sings

 

Pale Horse

Hugh O'Brain

TV's Wyatt Earp Sings

ABC-Paramount ABC-204

1957

From the back cover: Generally regarded as among the most versatile actors in motion pictures and television today, it seems remarkably strange that Hugh O'Brian has harbored no particular ambition nor had he nurtured a burning desire for a career as a thespian. Like the famed Western pioneer he so successfully portrays in his regular television series. Marshal Wyatt Earp. Hugh's early hopes were to follow a legal career. Fortunately, talent holds a cherished place in the esteem and affection of millions of fans throughout the entire country.

Born in Rochester, New York, Hugh led somewhat of a nomadic existence throughout his early years, attending the New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illnois, then the Kemper Military School in Missouri and, finally, the University of Cincinnati, where he majored in political science and minored in English. Always a leader, the lad's most active extracurricular interests in high school and college were student government and, of course, athletics. Completing his high school course in 3 1/2 years, Hugh was well enough engrossed in his college work when he enlisted in the Marine Corps for a four-year hitch in 1943. This was following the lead of his father, who had retired from the Corps as a Captain. At 18, then, Hugh became the youngest drill instructor in the history of the Marine Corps! In 1945, he was awarded a fleet appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, but suddenly decided that his initial hopes to become a lawyer outweighed a military career. Accordingly, he finished his hitch, came to California with his family and prepared to enter Yale in the Fall of 1948.

It was just about this time that Fate intervened in the form of an invitation for Hugh to join a Little Theatre group to assume one of the leading roles when the original actor for the part fell ill. Accepting the invitation, the ex-Marine was pleasingly surprised to note the unanimous critical approval and reviews, and was convinced to continue acting rather than return to college. Within a few months, he joined a much larger Little Theatre group, playing leading roles in a series of ten plays, receiving both professional and public accolade. This led to his being engaged as an apprentice in Summer Stock at Santa Barbara, where the talented youngster appeared with such stellar players as Martha Scott, Wendell Corey, Sylvia Sidney and Edna Best. At the end of the season, Hugh had had an enviable background of training and was considered well-equipped to assume almost any job.

His next move was to secure a wholesale clothing license and to go to work selling men's clothing by sample out of a suitcase. At night, he continued his acting by performing, gratis, in the first live television shows presented on the west coast. During the day, Hugh made it a point to concentrate his solicitations for clothes orders in the area frequented by actors, agents, directors an producers, and, as he had hoped, it was in this way that he met a leading agent who thought highly enough of the enterprising young actor to arrange an interview with the famed actress-producer, Ida Lupino. After the innumerable tests and interviews, Miss Lupino indicated that she was greatly pleased with his ability, and Hugh O'Brian began his screen career with her production company.

In 1951, Hugh was signed by Universal-International Studios, where he played leading roles in eighteen pictures over a period of three years, leaving in 1954 to become a free-lance actor. He appeared in three major productions for 20th Century Fox, and became much sought after by independent producers and directors. To further his now well-rounded experience, Hugh was happy to accept the offer from Loretta Young to star in a number of her television presentations, with roles running a gamut from comedy to heavy drama.

It was just about this time that the producers of the ABC-TV series, "The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp," were conducting their search for an actor to play the leading role. It was Stuart Lake, the creator of the Wyatt Earp series – and a friend of the true-life Earp, who was impressed with Hugh O'Brian startling resemblance to Wyatt Earp as a young man and Lake insisted that O'Brian was the "only man for the role." With his speed and agility, stemming from his athletic participations in such sports as football, basketball, tennis, golf, wrestling, swimming, tack and field and bicycling, Hugh had more than his looks and acting ability to qualify him for the part. With the uncanny speed associated with Wyatt Earp's legendary exploits, Hugh's studying dancing (durning his experimental years in dramatics) to develop grace and freedom of movement stood him in good stead during his test for the role of one of the greatest figures in American history in the matter of law enforcement.

Still regarded as one of show-business's most eligible bachelors, Hugh hardly has time, these days, to concentrate on any romantic campaign. What with the "Wyatt Earp" series still continuing its amazing ratings week after week, the constant offers for him to appear as a guest star on other television programs, his personal endeavor in working with the Thalians, the actor's group devoted to helping mentally disturbed children (and Hugh is the first president of the Thalians), it would be hardly likely that O'Brian would be able to devote the time and attention to a home as he would like. Moreover, with the results of this album, it would be a safe bet to assume that much of Hugh O'Brian's future schedules will be taken up with recording. Listen to this new facet of O'Brian versatility, and see if you don't approve.

About Ken Darby

Ten of the songs included in this album are the product of the fertile musical resource of Ken Darby, for years considered to be one of the foremost vocal directors in Hollywood. Besides composing the music for the TV series, "The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp," Mr. Darby is kept constantly busy with his famed Ken Darby Chorus and arranging for many of the top-budgeted motion pictures to come out of the film capitol. Beginning with "The Wizard Of Oz" in 1939, his credits include a number of Walt Disney feature productions, including "Song Of The South," and more than sixty-five 20th Century-Fox musical productions, most recent of which were: River Of No Return: and "Bus Stop," both starring Marilyn Monroe; "Bernardine," which marked the screen debut of Pat Boone; and "An Affair To Remember," starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Mr. Darby is distinguished as a recipient of filmdom's highest honor, the award of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences for his work, as associate musical director with Alfred Newman, in scoring the music for "The King And I.'

A member of ASCAP since 1946, Ken Darby has written the music and/or lyrics for a great many songs, the first of which was his musical setting for the poem, "Twas The Night Before Christmas."

Mr. Darby receives sole credit for the music and lyrics on six of the selections contained herein, and has collaborated on four others. One of these, "I'm Walkin' Away," contains the first writing effort of Hugh O'Brian Sings, himself.

An affable good-natured personality, Mr. Darby is intensely devoted to his work, and is insistent upon sharing whatever credit should be given in the acclaim of his finished works. Of the project, "Hugh O'Brian Sings," he says.

"This album is a result of long hours of rehearsing and consideration of you, the listener. Both Hugh and I hope you will find in it something new and fresh in both song and singing style. We both want to thank all who helped us so generously with their time and talents. We also wish to acknowledge, gratefully, the cooperation and assistance of the producers of "The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp," Mr. Robert Fisk and Mr. Lou Edelman.

From Billboard - September 16, 1957: TV's Wyatt Earp is shrewdly showcased in his LP debut, via excellent backing and production, and wise selection of material – all in the folksy or western groove. O'Brian Sings should appeal to both his young fans and his older admirers. Package is backed by heavy personal promotional push by the video star.

Legend Of Wyatt Earp

The Bushwhacker Country

Down In The Meadow

The Buntline Special 

Roll Out The Wagon

Same To You

Pale Horse

One Silver Dollar

Don't Move

On Boot Hill

Timothy (I Came To Town)

I'm Walin' Away