The Wild Wild West : Synopsis, Pictures, Photos, Trivia, Filming Locations

The mysteries of the West stage two special agents of President Grant, James West and Artémus Gordon. Their adventures feed on old myths from the West by giving them a strange tone often fantastic and anachronistic.

The mysteries of the West (The Wild Wild West in English) was an American television series broadcast between 1965 and 1969. The series featured James West and Artemus Gordon, two secret agents of the American government working for President Ulysses S. . West and Gordon traveled in the American West aboard a train specially fitted out for their mission, using high-tech gadgets to fight criminals and criminals who threatened America's peace and security.

The mysteries of the West was a mixture of genres, combining elements of the Wild West, Science Fiction and Spy. The series was very popular at the time of its broadcast, partly thanks to its starry cast, with Robert Conrad in the role of West and Ross Martin in that of Gordon. The series was also praised for its innovative special effects and light humor.

Despite its success at the time, the mysteries of the West was canceled after four seasons due to high production costs and a drop in audience. However, the series continued to be disseminated in syndication and has become a classic of popular culture. She also inspired several remakes and adaptations, including a film adaptation in 1999 with Will Smith and Kevin Kline in the roles of West and Gordon.

The Night of the Sabatini Death contains several "Gilligan's Island" (1964) in-jokes. Both Jim Backus (Mr. Howell) and Alan Hale Jr. (the Skipper) are cast in the episode. At the end of the episode, when Hale's character departs on a vacation, he claims to be going off to a "deserted island." A bit of the Gilligan's Island theme is played in the background.

Charles Aidman was added to the cast to fill in while Ross Martin was off the show for a short time while recovering from a mild heart attack.

Rory Calhoun was originally cast to play Jim West.

We find out that Miguelito Loveless' middle name is Quixote.

Jim's birthday is 2 July 1842 and he was named after his father's brother.

Ross Martin was only seen from the waist up in "The Night of the Juggernaut," because he'd broken his leg while filming it.

Jim and Artie had two different trains. The first was a dark-paneled model used in the seasons the show was filmed in B&W. The second was a more functional model decorated in green and gold. It's this train, which houses the unique gadgets associated with the show, that most people remember.

Jim West was a captain in the army before he joined the Secret Service.

The series was ultimately canceled due to CBS being uncomfortable with the "excessive" violence of the series, rather than declining ratings.

Though Richard Markowitz wrote the theme, he wasn't credited for it on any episode of the series (or on the 1999 movie).

The name of Jim and Artemis's rail car was The Nimrod.

Miguelito means "little Michael".

Robert Conrad did all his own "fight choreography" - including the stunts - until he almost killed himself when one of them backfired. In "The Night of the Fugitives", West was supposed to sail off a balcony, grab a chandelier, and land on a bad guy below... only the timing was off, and he landed on his neck and head instead.

Robert Conrad (5'8") wore 3" heels as Jim West and the CBS casting office had orders not to hire any women over 5'6" for the show.

Ross Martin read the script. Then he did a pen and ink drawing of the character he was going to play, down to the last detail, glasses, mustached, clothes, posture, shoes, etc. Then he brought sketch to make-up man Don Schoenfeld, and together they molded his face until it looked like the drawing.

The only episode whose title doesn't begin with "The Night..." is "Night of the Casual Killer."

Filming locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

California, USA

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Republic Studios/CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Ave., Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA

• Creation date: 2003/07/01 by MANNIX