Series Description

The Big Valley TV show was a 60 minute western action series on ABC about a strong-willed widow who was the leader of the Barkley family on their huge ranch in a Big Valley, circa 1870. They had built a dynasty in the old west and there was a never-ending list of those who wanted to take away what they'd worked so hard to build. The bad guys saw an easy target but, little did they know just how tough the Barkley's could be!

Big Valley Cast

Barbara Stanwyck .... Victoria Barkley
Richard Long .... Jarrod Barkley
Lee Majors .... Heath Barkley
Peter Breck .... Nick Barkley
Linda Evans .... Audra Barkley

Big Valley Trivia:

The Big Valley TV show was the only western ever built around a strong, leading female charachter. Barbara Stanwyck was nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe award in 1966, 1967, and 1968 for her role on The Big Valley! In 1966, she won the Emmy! Her fellow nominees for that award were "Anne Francis" for her role on "Honey West" and "Barbara Parkins" for her role on "Peyton Place".

Heath Barkley (Lee Majors) was an illegitimate son of Victoria's deceased husband Tom, but is accepted by her as a full member of the family.

A couple of the horses' names were mentioned during The Big Valley's run. Victoria Barkley rode a horse named "Misty Girl" and Nick Barkley's horse was "Coco".

Barbara Stanwyck's first job in show business was at age 17 as a chorus girl. That career lasted nearly 60 years and resulted in 93 movies and numerous TV appearances!

The Barkley ranch was located in the San Joaquin Valley in California. It was 30,000 acres in size!

The Big Valley TV show had one thing going for it that had nothing to do with script quality, acting ability, etc. The competition in its time slot was two comedies. CBS was airing "Green Acres" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show". NBC was broadcasting "The Chrysler Theatre" hosted by Bob Hope. Those were all good shows but the only alternative to comedy was The Big Valley!

Richard Long (Jarrod) played the role of one of Ma and Pa Kettles sons in the movies.

The exterior of the Barkley's home on The Big Valley was also used as the Wilkes' Plantation exterior in the movie "Gone With The Wind".