Sunday evenings brought us the show, “The Rebel,” starring Nick Adams as an intense, angry, principled young confederate veteran who roamed the West. Johnny Yuma tried to find his place in the World. He was a bitter young man on the losing side of a war. As he roamed from place-to-place he kept a journal. He wore parts of his Confederate uniform to remind us of his background. He enforced his own brand of law with a double-barrel shotgun. It was based on ethics, high morals, and principles.
I liked the 30 minute black-and-white show and the character seemed a worthy role model. The show ran three seasons from 1959 through 1961, smack in our upper-classman years at Rogers.
The actor, Nick Adams, was an admirer of John Wayne and reportedly consulted Wayne for advice. In addition, Adams studied the Civil War to help bring intensity to the role.
Nick Adams was fast friends with Elvis Presley and wanted Presley to sing the theme song of the show. Apparently, the show’s producer had other ideas and used Johnny Cash instead. Whenever I heard the lyrics on the TV, I knew I was soon to start another week at Rogers, but first, had a great 30 minutes of entertainment coming. Little did I realize that I was to ultimately spend my for-real senior years in North Carolina, in Rebel territory.
Johnny Yuma was a rebel
He roamed through the west
Did Johnny Yuma, the rebel
He wandered alone
He got fightin' mad
This rebel lad
He packed no star
As he wandered far
Where the only law
Was a hook and a draw
The rebel, Johnny Yuma
[Repeat 1st verse]
He searched the land
This restless lad
He was panther quick
And leather tough
If he figured that
He'd been pushed enough
The rebel, Johnny Yuma
[Repeat 1st verse]
Fightin' mad
This rebel lad
With a dream he'd hold
'Til his dyin' breath
He'd search his soul
And gamble with death
The rebel, Johnny Yuma
- Ed Mauget