Russ Tamblyn and Ruta Lee reunite with host Rob Word and co-host RJ Word for a spirited look back at Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and the Golden Age of Hollywood. From barn-raising dance tales to gun-slinging stories with Glenn Ford, the duo trades memories that sparkle with studio-lot magic. Hear how a shovel dance saved a Western, why Michael Kidd’s choreography still dazzles, and what makes on-set camaraderie endure. This episode has nostalgia, laughter, and pure movie lore in one brisk ride. Tune in now and saddle up for timeless Hollywood legends, Russ and Ruta!
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36:06
Tommy Cook
Tommy Cook, the irrepressible kid who first saddled up as “Little Beaver” in Republic’s 1940 serial The Adventures of Red Ryder, swings by A Word on Westerns to relive a Hollywood journey spanning radio days, serial cliffhangers, and big-screen showdowns. Joining host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word, Tommy reveals how directors William Witney and John English guided him through action-packed stunts and shares fond memories of sidekicks like Don “Red” Barry. Tune in now!
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24:50
Ryan O'Neal
Ryan O’Neal: From Peyton Place to Wild Rovers Academy Award nominee Ryan O’Neal, star of classics like Love Story, Paper Moon, and Barry Lyndon, strides into A Word on Westerns with tales of his big-screen adventures and a lifelong passion for film history. Joining host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word, O’Neal recalls his early days as a budding actor on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, how boxing with a young Clint Eastwood nearly materialized, and his unlikely kinship with character actor Henry Brandon—best known as Chief Scar in The Searchers—who became a family friend and a key influence on Ryan’s Hollywood dreams. He also takes listeners behind the scenes of Blake Edwards’ Wild Rovers (1971), where he co-starred with screen legend William Holden. Along the way, O’Neal reveals never-before-heard anecdotes about Holden’s uproarious sense of humor, including the jaw-dropping fate of the actor’s Stalag 17 Oscar—supposedly tossed into the Bay of Naples. From his father’s work on the Randolph Scott Western Return of the Bad Men to O’Neal’s own reflections on stardom, this candid conversation roams from comedic tangles with Barbra Streisand to the rough-and-tumble sets of the Western heyday.
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26:16
Pepe Serna
Veteran character actor Pepe Serna, celebrated for his roles in Scarface and The Jerk, joins host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word to reflect on a multifaceted career that has taken him from comedic hits to iconic Westerns. Raised in Texas and starting out in improv troupes, Serna shares how his early love of storytelling led him to memorable frontier roles and collaborations with legends like Henry Hathaway, Gregory Peck, and Lawrence Kasdan. Between surviving Hathaway’s on-set intensity in Shoot Out, portraying a quick-witted cowboy in Silverado, and contributing to powerful projects like Ballad of Gregorio Cortez and Conagher, Serna offers a candid view of the grit and camaraderie behind each Western. He also touches on the enduring importance of self-expression—both in his motivational outreach and his colorful artwork. Whether you know him best as a scene-stealer in modern classics or as a versatile player in the Old West, don’t miss this spirited conversation with an actor whose range and resilience mirror the frontier itself.
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34:03
Michael Beck
On this episode of A Word on Westerns, host Rob Word and producer/co-host RJ Word welcome Michael Beck, best known for his cool, stoic performance in Walter Hill’s cult classic The Warriors. Yet before and after crossing bats with the “Baseball Furies,” Beck rode west, exploring iconic tales of rugged heroes and flawed legends. From Triumphs of a Man Called Horse, where he played the son of Richard Harris’s legendary character, to portraying Jim Bowie opposite Sam Elliott’s Sam Houston in Gone to Texas, Beck sheds light on stepping into the boots of real-life American heroes. He recalls enduring tough on-location shoots in Mexico and Texas, contending with the relentless heat, and capturing the essence of frontier figures who are both epic and deeply human. Whether you know him from the electrifying streets of The Warriors or simply love delving into the thrills and tribulations of western cinema, saddle up for an engaging conversation that spans Michael Beck’s early stage experiences, the classic TV westerns he grew up on, and the excitement of bringing history’s boldest legends to life.
With a special emphasis on the Western genre, A WORD ON WESTERNS is a podcast devoted to preserving and documenting the rich history of film, television, and related media. Hosted by television veteran Rob Word—joined by his son, producer and entertainer RJ Word—this award-winning interview series brings you in-depth conversations with the filmmakers, performers, and creative minds who shaped some of our most cherished screen classics. Many of these engaging discussions originate from the legendary Autry Museum in Los Angeles, California, offering authentic insights and firsthand stories that continue to keep the spirit of the West alive.
Österreich