Zane Grey Week -- Riders on Television -- June 8, 2021

Motion Picture News, 21-May-1921

Zane Grey was a popular Western novelist in the first half of the Twentieth Century. I had read about movies made from his stories, so I took a few novels out from the Anza Branch Library. It turns out that he was not a very good writer, but he did produce interesting characters and descriptions.

I thought I might join with producer Benjamin B Hampton and have a Zane Grey Week.

One of the books that I read was his most popular, Riders of the Purple Sage. It introduced Lassiter, a classic Western hero. Aside from some startling anti-LDS business, Riders of the Purple Sage has a good story. 

listal.com

The fifth and to-date last production of Riders of the Purple Sage appeared on TNT (Turner Network Television) on 21-January-1996. If I had known it was going to be shown, I would have tried to watch it. Ed Harris would be good as Lassiter. The film was shot in Utah and Arizona. The villainous religious group was not identified as Mormon, but there were some heavy hints. Fox had nothing to do with it. 

I would not be surprised to learn that another remake is being planned.

Publishers Weekly, 21-May-1921

Tomorrow: The Man of the Forest

Zane Grey Week -- June 2-9, 2021

June 02, 2021: Zane Grey Week
June 03, 2021: Zane Grey Week -- Fighting Blood
June 04, 2021: Zane Grey Week -- Riders of the Purple Sage and Others
June 05, 2021: Zane Grey Week -- Tom Mix Takes Over
June 06, 2021: Zane Grey Week -- Riders as a Talkie
June 07, 2021: Zane Grey Week -- Another George Plays Lassiter
June 08, 2021: Zane Grey Week -- Riders on Television
June 09, 2021: Zane Grey Week -- The Man of the Forest