#OTD in 1955, Tales of the Texas Rangers originally aired on the CBS network and continued for three seasons.

Tales of the Texas Rangers was a 3-season series that ran from 1955-1959 starring Willard Parker and Harry Lauter, who play Texas Rangers navigating different scenarios from the 1840s-1950s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_Texas_Rangers

Intended to be a Western in typical fashion, reflecting on the glory of the Old West, the show follows Rangers Pearson and Morgan, who appeared in a different setting each week, using crime-solving scenarios appropriate to the period.

The show was inspired by a radio program that aired from 1950-1952, with Joel McCrea in the role of Ranger Pearson.

Captain Manuel T. “Lone Wolf” Gonzaullas, who was said to have killed 30 people over his 31-year tenure as a Texas Ranger, was a consultant on the show, just as he had been for the radio show.

Placing a former Texas Ranger and known murderer in the role of consultant for the show, obviously gave the show a bias towards the Ranger force, and a perception that would be passed on to young, impressionable viewers.

During the opening and closing credits “These are the Tales of the Texas Rangers” is played to the tune of “The Eyes of Texas are Upon You,” and “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” both songs with problematic lyrics and origins.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/ut-austin-eyes-of-texas-song-racist/

Popular portrayals of Texas Rangers as upholders of the law as well as the facilitators of peace in the West, such as in this show, contributed to the myth of the Texas Rangers as the protectors of the border and virtuous law enforcers.