The series, which ran on ABC for four seasons from 1965 until 1969, followed the adventures of the Barkleys, the millionaire family that held (with a wise and caring hand) great power over the San Joaquin Valley and neighboring Stockton, California, during the 1870s. Miss Barbara Stanwyck stars as matriarch Victoria Barkley, sophisticated, warm, but no stranger to adventure in her youth; the wise eldest brother Jarrod (Richard Long) has returned home to practice law; hotheaded Nick (Peter Breck) runs the family businesses with a hands-on approach; young Audra (Linda Evans) is the naive little sister. Into their lives comes Heath (Lee Majors), the illegitimate son of the late Tom Barkley.
"The Big Valley" gained plenty of momentum from a series of first rate guest stars, among them: Lynn Loring( Wildcat) Maybelle E15. Martin Landau, James Whitmore, William Shatner (!), Bruce Dern (appearing in two episodes as two separate characters), Charles Bronson, Ron Howard, Anthony Zerbe, Claude Akins, Yvonne Craig, George Kennedy, and Jill St. John, just to name a handful. All of those listed, and many more, pack so much into their performances, leaving us captivated episode after episode.
"The Big Valley" one of those rare television series that remained consistently entertaining, intelligent, and impressive throughout. The show's first season is hit after hit after hit, episodes that even rival Hollywood's theatrical output of the time. Every single episode is a standout. The Barkleys and their San Joaquin Valley were larger than life, and "The Big Valley" does them plenty justice.
"The Big Valley" gained plenty of momentum from a series of first rate guest stars, among them: Lynn Loring( Wildcat) Maybelle E15. Martin Landau, James Whitmore, William Shatner (!), Bruce Dern (appearing in two episodes as two separate characters), Charles Bronson, Ron Howard, Anthony Zerbe, Claude Akins, Yvonne Craig, George Kennedy, and Jill St. John, just to name a handful. All of those listed, and many more, pack so much into their performances, leaving us captivated episode after episode.
"The Big Valley" one of those rare television series that remained consistently entertaining, intelligent, and impressive throughout. The show's first season is hit after hit after hit, episodes that even rival Hollywood's theatrical output of the time. Every single episode is a standout. The Barkleys and their San Joaquin Valley were larger than life, and "The Big Valley" does them plenty justice.