Joanna Moore – The Rifleman Obituary – The Rifleman Death -Kung Fu was “The First Martial Arts TV Western.
It’s often been said that Kung Fu was “the first martial arts tv western.” Of course, tv westerns have been using martial arts, at least in certain episodes, almost since the beginning. “Wanted Dead or Alive” (“Black Belt”), “Have Gun Will Travel” (“The Hatchet Man”), “The Rifleman” (“The Queue” and “The Sixteenth Cousin”), “Laramie” (“Day Of The Dragon”), and “Wagon Train” (“The Sakae Ito Story”), all have had at least one or two episodes with a guest Asian martial arts character. (Even “F-Troop” had an episode titled “From Karate With Love.”)
The following blog/article attempts to clear up some of the mythology and set the record straight regarding the creation of the “Kung Fu” TV series.
For any fans of “Kung Fu,” as well as Bruce Lee, and for that matter, for those who have actually seen the relatively recent Cinemax series “The Warrior,” read on, and you be the judge.
