Communications was a strategic element in the development of the west. One TV series that delved deep into these stories was “Union Pacific”. The syndicated “Union Pacific” debuted on most stations Sept. 27, 1958. The California National b/w half hour series starred noted Broadway actor Jeff Morrow (who’d arrived in Hollywood in 1950) as Bart McClelland, operations head of the UP—assigned to lay track from Omaha to Cheyenne. Character player Judson Pratt co-starred as work foreman Billy Kincaid. For a brief respite at end of track was Golden Spike gambling hall hostess Georgia, played by lovely Susan Cummings, a veteran of many western films and TV episodes. Morrow battled greedy financiers, scheming politicians, outlaws, Indians, even the weather as he pushed track westward. Created by Robert A. Cinader and produced by George M. Cahan, “Union Pacific”, with so many westerns on the tube in ‘58, failed to catch a large audience and only ran for 38 episodes until June 13, ‘59. Cinader (1924-1982) and Cahan (1919-1991) had created and produced “Boots and Saddles” the previous year. As a director, Cahan earlier helmed episodes of “Cisco Kid” and “Cowboy G-Men”. Cinader went on to create and produce “Adam 12”, “Dragnet ‘67” and “Emergency”. Jeff Morrow, born 1/13/07 in Brooklyn, NY, studied drama in New York, eventually doing much work on Broadway before and after WWII. He also worked extensively on radio where he made over 2,000 broadcasts, including the role of Dick Tracy for two years before coming to Hollywood in ‘50. Morrow, 86, died in Canoga Park, CA, Dec. 26, 1993. Stage trained Judson Pratt, born Dec. 6, 1916, also arrived in Hollywood in ‘50. He died Feb. 9, ‘02, at 85.
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“Union Pacific”
Beautiful redheaded Susan Cummings