After arriving at his new home, Mark
discovered that the only place within miles to buy
supplies was a trading post run by a Wall Street
savvy Native
American businessman named Chief Hawkeye (J.
Carroll Naish).
Hawkeye sold authentic Indian
trinkets (made in China) at the trading post as
well as at the souvenir stand set up across from
the reservation desk at the Guestward Ho. A
beautiful Indian maiden named Pink Cloud (Jolene
Brand) assisted Hawkeye in selling his wares.
When not profiting off the locals, Chief
Hawkeye was dreaming of ways
he could regain control of his ancestral lands stolen by the White man.
Besides the conniving antics of Hawkeye, Bill Hooten had two
other problems. First, his wife wanted to move back to Manhattan.
She freaks out when she hears a coyote howl.
The other problem was the lack of customers. Despite a modest
rate of $25 a day, the Hooten's struggled to attract clients to the
ranch. One stumbling block was the Flying Horse Dude Ranch, a rival
dude ranch.
Of course, Hawkeye was anxious to making the Hooten's dude ranch
profitable. After all, without customers there wouldn't be anyone to
buy all of his cheap and questionable merchandise.
Also on hand to help run the Hooten's dude ranch were Lonesome
(Earle Hodgins), the foreman, and Rocky (Tony Montenaro, Jr.).
Theme Song Lyrics
(by Earle H. Hagen & Arthur
Hamilton)
Guestward Ho!
Over the Mountains, Guestward Ho!,
Over the Plains, Guestward Ho!
Under a sun so hot that it can rattle your brains,
Together we roam like a stage
Over rattlesnake and sage
Guestward Ho!
Guestward Ho!
Guestward Ho!, over the mighty river
Faithfully on we go,
Climb with those dragging feet
Guestward Ho!
Bury the mountains, Guestward Ho!
Bury the Hills, Guestward Ho!
Bury whatever threatens our family’s pioneer plans,
And so with spunk and with romance,
We’ll live out our western dance,
Guestward Ho!,
Guestward Ho!
Memorabilia
TRIVIA NOTE: The 39 episode series
was based on the book "Guestward Ho"
(Vanguard Press, 1956) written by
Barbara C. Hooton and
Patrick Dennis (author of Auntie Mame).
"The bars are down and the horseplay never lets
up as Barbara holds the fort for eager widows
and willing husbands, vacation-happy maidens and
pleasure bent cowboys...all proving that the
West was never wilder." - Book Blurb, 1960
edition
The series was originally conceived as a
vehicle for Vivian Vance (Ethel Mertz of I
Love Lucy fame) who shot a pilot for the
show in 1958 for CBS.
J Carroll Naish, an Irishman known for his
ability to play multiple ethnic roles,
had previously appeared as Chief
Sitting Bull in the feature film "Annie Get Your
Gun (1950).
Comic Guy Marks also played a Native American
character named Pink Cloud on the western spoof
RANGO starring Tim Conway.
Joanne Dru was the sister of Peter Marshall, the
host of the game show HOLLYWOOD SQUARES.
A Chicago Tribune review
stated "You'll laugh, you'll hoot....you'll like
Guestward Ho!"
Obituaries: Joanne Dru: 09/10/1996; J. Carroll
Naish: 01/24/1973;
External Links
Back to Top
