I well remember the excitement I felt when the TV movie "Then Came Bronson" (TCB) aired in March 1969. During a period of tumult and societal change in the U.S., TCB sounded a call for reexamination of cultural assumptions concerning the "American Dream" by the young and not-so-young alike. Less hard edged and overtly anti-establishment than "Easy Rider," TCB--as a TV pilot and later a series--nevertheless inspired many of us to view our motorcycling (I rode a Triumph Bonneville and still do) as more than recreation. It was also the best revenge!

--Dr. Bruce

I was young when the first episode aired (12). I couldn't wait for it to come on each week. Bronson and I connected in some unexplainable form that I could't put into words. I remember watching him cruise up the PCH and hearing the sound of that Harley and thinking "thats what I want to do". Well I moved from California to the Ozark mountains 30 years ago, but I never forgot that dream. I have ridden every make of Japanese bike, several Triumphs, and countless others, but now I have my Harley Sportster! and last year I made the trek back to California to ride up the PCH (Hwy-1). I was bronson just for 3 wonderful weeks!. I met people from all walks of life, listened to the David Nelson Band (formerly New Riders of The Purple Sage) play behind a micro-brewery in Sebastapol, visited some REAL old hippies in Willits, and rode through the Sierra Nevada mountain range, onto camp out in the Arizona dessert. And I owe it all to a connection I made with a man on the television they called Bronson, and his trusty Harley. Where can we find VHS of the series? [Editor's note: They show up on eBay from time to time. Check our links.]

--Trip

I was in highschool when the pilot two hour tv movie "Then Came Bronson" was shown. I'd never heard "Way-farin' Stranger" before (actually sung by Michael Parks and Bonny Bedalia). The song and the show captured the national moment as perfectly as anything of that era. I had a friend named Neel Sherrill who based his life on the tv show that followed as only a highschool kid could: he bought the bike, he got the leather jacket, and he wore the black stocking cap tilted forward like no one before or since.

There's a very wistful coda to the story for me. Neel Sherrill later moved to Colorado and was murdered by a biker over an altercation involving a female at a biker bar. (That was in 1980 about two weeks before the murder of John Lennon). Neel was still in his twenties and didn't even know the idiot woman in question had an ex-boyfriend. The ex-boyfriend murdered both my friend and the girl. The murderer was then given less than five years in prison. Thankyou, Colorado, you're a classy state. But that said, I'm still haunted by "Then Came Bronson", a child of that moment in time that was its perfect emobdiment.

--Wayfarin Stranger

My favorite show: Nice motorcycle but that wasn't the most imortant thing about the show for me -- it was the meaning behind the episodes, freedom, self discovery, doing the right thing, he was a rebel against the establishment. He was for equality, human and civil rights. The show was against gratuitous violence and the writing was interesting and intelligent -- wow no wonder it got cancelled! I hope it comes out on DVD soon!

--Vegasguitars

This was a time of unrest on all levels; the "us against them" mentallity permiated the generations, tearing the guts out of the family nucleus that we desperately deep-down wanted to survive. This "attitude"was ever presently reflected on "the Tube", with little or no leeway, until TCB aired.

I remember an episode where Bronson befriends an old lady; there was a part in there where (if I'm rembering correctly) he even shares a dance with her. My mother watched some of these programs with me (a rare treat for both of us to share) as this was a show that somehow seemed to "reach across" both generations, and I remember her being brought to tears by this episode. It touched me to put this moment away in my "memory box" as something to be treasured for life. I hope to someday be able to view the re-runs of this show on TV-LAND or something; hopefully with my children(and/or grandchildren).

--Outlaw

Amazing how a 1-year TV show from another century (remember the 20th?) can have ripples into the next millenium. Yes, I too now have a red Sportster and ride it (to wherever I end up, I guess). Life's a trip, isn't it? I live near San Francisco and one day I'll head across that same bridge. [Editor's note: It seem quite clear to me that someone is really missing the boat by not releasing this series on DVD. I'm not a fan but TCB has a large and loyal fanbase even after 35 years! Fan-recorded DVDs of this show can be found on eBay, but this really ought to be officially released.]

--Mark the Day

Your Liberal Hollywood bias as represented in your description regarding TCB lost you a customer... "and an administration that, UNTIL LATELY, was unrivaled for corruption, venality, and malevolence towards the citizenry". Dream on.

You won't post it but you will read it and continue to loose elections.

[Editor's notes:

1. I'm not in Hollywood.
   
2. I'm not biased (unlike your favorite news channel: Faux News).
   
3. You never were my customer nor would I want you to be.
   
4. I have never lost an election (nor have I stolen any by bribing the son of a Supreme Court justice with a job in my administration). The tragedy that was the (stolen) election of Bush Jr. will one day be seen for what it is.
   
5. You have no idea when the article was written (it does not say), so you truly cannot with any certainty say which recent corrupt administration the author is referring to. It can, however, be assumed from you have written that when something is written about a corrupt and uncaring administration, you assume it must be about Bush Jr. That makes you biased in a most peculiar way.
   
6. Lastly, I don't mind printing the mindless meanderings of morons like yourself. See?

--No Lear Jet Liberal

The most influential TV shows to me, as a boy, began with "77 Sunset Strip" (Edd "Kookie" Byrnes was super-kool, dig that crazy Rod he drove), "Route 66" (as a result I bought my first Vette at age 16 in 1969 and still drive them today), "The Many Loves of Dobbie Gillis" (Maynard; like wow Man!) and by the time I was in my last yr of High School "Then Came Bronson" gave me that beckoning for adventure and the interest in those wonderful machines (both 2 and 4 wheel).

My best friend's Dad then owned the local Harley dealership so Brian was very knowledgeable of motorcycles and rode a new '69 Sportster XLCH. Although he pointed out that whenever Bronson was in some motorcycle competition his Sportster suddenly turned into a smaller, more manageable Harley 175 (built by Italy's Aerromecchi and imported by Harley) I never let that lessen the spirit of adventure in that TV program. My favorite episode would have to be about the old motorcyclist (Keenan Wynn); "Well, it's a sikkle, aint it?"

Please release the 26 episodes, and the pilot on DVD in 2007

The public demands it!

Then Came Bronson was the best television series ever, and LONG overdue in a home viewing format!