That '50s TV Show Where a Con Man Named Trump Promised to Build a Wall

Friday A/V Club: Are we living in a remake?

Remember that TV western from the '50s where a con man named Trump promised to build a wall that would protect a Texas town from obliteration? No? Well, someone posted some scenes from it on YouTube, and Snopes says it's legit.

The actor who plays this Trump—Walter Trump—doesn't bear much physical or vocal resemblance to the fellow now preparing to be inaugurated, but he does sound a little Donaldesque when he declares, "I am the only one. Trust me. I can build a wall…"

The show was Trackdown, and this installment—called "The End of the World"—apparently aired originally on May 9, 1958. Sadly, the full episode doesn't appear to be online. Someone, somewhere, please rectify that.

(For past editions of the Friday A/V Club, go here.)

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

This has to be fake. REASON = FAKE NEWS

[colorblindkid]

Please stop citing Snopes as a legitimate fact checking site.

[Colonel Slanders]

This show, "Trackdown" is broadcast mornings on a network known as H & I (Heroes and Icons). Among other Westerns and Cop shows (They HAVE to have cop shows on a Heroes network don't they?), they have all 5 Star Trek incarnations.

[R C Dean]

Nice nom de comment.

[Fist of Etiquette]

They have Hunter? They have Hill Street Blues?? THEY HAVE THE COMMISH???

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

How about Sea Hunt starring the great Lloyd Bridges?

[Colonel Slanders]

Sea Hunt is on a channel called "This"

[Colonel Slanders]

They do.

[Fuck You - Cut Spending]

And this particular episode was aired on the morning of 1/8/2017, which is probably why it is suddenly an internet thing.

[AddictionMyth]

America was inoculated to con men and their flim flam scams with shows like Scooby Doo - "And I would have gotten away with it if not for those meddling kids." Also I recall a line "Truth, justice, and the American Way." I don't recall what show that was from. I always took that at face value and it's funny to think that some kids scoffed. Anyway yes, there is no doubt that Trump was influenced by this show early on. Why he identified with the villain is beyond me, but hey whatever. I like when the sheriff asked "How much time do I have left?"

[Call Me Conrad]

It was from Superman. The intro refers to his "never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way."

Back when all that stuff meant something.

[Juice]

Planet Krypton was all about the American way.

[Call Me Conrad]

I guess you pick up a few things in Smallville. Certainly wouldn't get that from Metropolis.

[Groovus Maximus]

Gee, Jesse....Snopes? #Areyoufuckingkiddingme? Are you seriously trying to one up Reason's very own blog physical embodiment of a Participation Trophy, Robby "Froot Sooshi & Horses" Soave?

Here's the IMDB entry for Lawrence Dobkin 1960 appearance as, "Walter Trump," on Trackdown, complete with an episode synopsis and User Reviews.

You're welcome.

[Groovus Maximus]

[correction] 1957-1958 are the years Trackdown originally ran.[/correction]

[AddictionMyth]

#Areyoufuckingkiddingme

[Jesse Walker]

[correction] 1957-1958 are the years Trackdown originally ran.[/correction]

It was 1957-59.

[Jesse Walker]

Here's the IMDB entry for Lawrence Dobkin 1960 appearance as, "Walter Trump," on Trackdown, complete with an episode synopsis and User Reviews.

It was 1958 and that's the wrong link. But yes, I did look at the IMDb page (Snopes linked to it) and other sources, including a couple that appeared too early to have been faked after Trump entered the race.

Snopes is pretty much the best of the debunking sites, and the various efforts I've seen to discredit it are not convincing.

[AddictionMyth]

Why are you arguing? I think it's kind of funny and I think it's kind of sad.

[Groovus Maximus]

It was 1958 and that's the wrong link.

Correct on the date, yes. However, there are *two* links in the sentence. Try hovering again.-)

[Jesse Walker]

However, there are *two* links in the sentence. Try hovering again.-)

Oops, missed that. Quick, someone factcheck me.

[Groovus Maximus]

It's on Snopes.

Seriously, that was an Epic Troll just to get you into the Comments, since you have been missed wading into The Commentariat, Jesse. I just Joe'z Law'd myself on the1960 date, then went with the second mistake to further troll. For Realzies. *grins*

Snopes can be useful, agreed, but it also has a tendency to go Full Metal Obi Wan, i.e. "....What I said was true....From a Certain Point of View...."

[Jesse Walker]

Seriously, that was an Epic Troll just to get you into the Comments, since you have been missed wading into The Commentariat, Jesse. I just Joe'z Law'd myself on the1960 date, then went with the second mistake to further troll. For Realzies. *grins*

Well maybe I just cited Snopes to troll you. YOU CAN'T PROVE I DIDN'T.

[LoneWaco]

He wasn't fact checking you. He was laughing at you for considering snopes authoritative.

[LoneWaco]

So you would rate the asertion that Snopes is the opinion of a $500 an hour online granny hooker as MOSTLY FALSE?

[AddictionMyth]

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together. 😉

[Princess Trigger]

South Park did already did it.