[April 16, 2025] Growing up and limited to one well-used black and white television, we kids had limited screen time that moms today would envy. One show we did get to see was Hopalong Cassidy. The show aired from 1939 to 1952, so we were watching reruns. We learned some useful cowboy values.
The character Cassidy was portrayed as a clean-cut, sarsaparilla-drinking cowboy hero who never shot first but could shoot a pistol out of the bad guy’s hand and from the hip. This characterization differed from the original 1904 fictional cowboy who was rude, dangerous, and rough-talking and acted as a contrast between the two.
Cassidy was a kid’s hero, and we looked up to him and tried to copy his way of talking and behavior as best we could. That was the beginning of learning how to be a good cowboy. Those values included defending the honor of women, helping save the underdog from the dastardly powerful, and being a loner if need be.
We spent Saturday evenings waiting for the show to start, sometime after we finished washing, drying, and putting away the supper dishes and mom’s pots and pans. Now, with our household chores complete and approved, we could then sit on the floor, only a few feet away from the screen. We didn’t know about radiation or its harmful effects (our doctor said it was safe). The television was small and fuzzy, and reception depended upon the position of the tinfoil on the rabbit-ear antenna.
We learned about guns. But we also learned, in error, that the good guy never ran out of ammunition, that he rarely missed a shot, always rescued a beautiful woman, and if shot, would only be ”winged” in the shoulder and never show any blood. They always killed or captured the bad guys, but only after a wild chase and shootout.
The bad guys were not just terrible shots. Still, they were also stupid, rude, heavy whiskey drinkers, unshaven, gunslinger wannabes that made it easy to identify, even when hiding behind a mask. In a gunfight you could expect him to stand up at some point where the good cowboy could get off a highly accurate shot, toppling the not-good guy. And the bad guys would fall for old tricks, like when Cassidy put his hat up on a stick, and they would shoot it.
The town sheriff had no particularly useful skills and the local judge was corrupt, as often was the case. Women in these Western towns came in two varieties. The first is the bosomy, scantily-clad, aggressive saloon girl with a pretty face and hidden STDs hanging on the arms of rough whiskey drinkers. The second is the school marm, meek voiced, skinny introvert with just the right makeup and sweet-talking action to attract the good guys. Only one needs a good cowboy.
I believe that the worthy value for men to protect and defend women is deeply embedded in all young boys who grew up with these television cowboy shows, yet they are now in their 70s or older. Yeah, I get it. There are other factors at play, like being a practicing Christian.
Give a boy a hero who rides a white horse, provides protection for a cattle drive through dangerous lands, can shoot two six-shooters accurately, and whips five bad guys in a fistfight, and you have a recipe for attracting them to cowboy values.
And they will take those values wherever they go.
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Thanks Gen. Satterfield. I’ve researched and found many of these Cassidy b&w shows and started watching them. 🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️
Wellington, let us know what you think after seeing a few of Hopalong Cassidy tv shows. Thanks!!!!!
Cassidy, what a real man and it right for kids to learn good things and values from him.
Mr. John, yeah. But Cassidy and those”cowboys” showed us how to be self-reliant, manly skills, smart about people, stoic, and best of all that being a good Christian was the pathway to the right kind of life where you gave value wherever you were. This is what television and movies no longer aspire. Today the media congratulates criminals and sexual deviancy. That is wrong and we need to get back on track quickly or we will fall as a nation.
“Give a boy a hero who rides a white horse, provides protection for a cattle drive through dangerous lands, can shoot two six-shooters accurately, and whips five bad guys in a fistfight, and you have a recipe for attracting them to cowboy values. And they will take those values wherever they go.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield. This is how you ram home a point.
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Gen. Satterfield is over the target today. 🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
I’m late getting on this site today, but here to add my two cents worth. I love the old b&w cowboy shows and where we how they handled themselves when in trouble. Gen. Satterfield is also correct that there are some wrong lessons, like getting shot is no big deal, it ain’t.
Ah ha … thx Nick. Good to finally seeing you in the chat. Here’s another, “bad guys are terrible shots.”
Remember the story of Sisyphus which illustrates ancient Greek views on divine authority, mortal limitations, and the consequences of challenging the natural order. His punishment has become a universal symbol of endless, futile labor, inspiring philosophers, writers, and artists throughout history. I have another idea that says that humans MUST be pushing against the boulder, always toiling away, else we become lazy, unemployed, and will atrophy away at sitting. Get engaged in hard work. That is the result of assuming great responsibility.
“Cowboy values” is a great subject and aligns perfectly with the theme of this website which is the “pursuit of responsibility.” Now that path in life will not be easy or pleasant at all times but at the end of the day, you will be more satisfied with your life, a better person for it and mentally stable.
I think so too, Eye Cat. Pursue responsibility. That is the right path in life.
Yeah, I too thought “gee” great idea.
HOPALONG IS DA MAN
Yeah, thinking the same.