The Big Valley

The Big Valley was a television Western which ran on ABC from 1965 to 1969. It was created by A.I. Bezzerides and Louis F. Edelman. The producer was Levy-Gardner-Laven. Associate producer Lou Morheim performed the same function on the 1960 film The Magnificent Seven. The stirring theme was composed by George Duning. Paul Henreid, of Casablanca fame, directed a number of episodes. Four Star Television produced the series.

It starred Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria Barkley, the widowed matriarch of the wealthy, influential Barkley family living in 19th century Stockton in California's central valley. Richard Long played Jarrod Thomas Barkley, her eldest son and a respected attorney. Hot-tempered younger son Nick Barkley, who managed the family ranch, was portrayed by Peter Breck. 

Linda Evans played Audra, Victoria's only daughter. In the first episode, Lee Majors was introduced as Heath, the third, and illegitimate son of Victoria's late husband; Heath gradually gained acceptance from the rest of the Barkley clan. The youngest Barkley son was Eugene, a medical student studying at Berkeley, played by Charles Briles who was drafted. He was seen sporadically in only five first season episodes and then written out. Only once was his name ever mentioned again. The regular cast was rounded out by Napoleon Whiting, as Silas, the Barkleys' majordomo.

Dell Comics published a short-lived comic book for six issues in 1966-69. (the last issue reprinted the first, and came out two years after issue #5). All issues had photo covers.