"The Day They Hanged Bret Maverick" was the first episode of Maverick's second season, and marked the first use of Paul Francis Webster's familiar lyrics for the show's iconic theme song:

Who is the tall, dark stranger there?

     Maverick is the name.

Riding the trail to who-knows-where.

     Luck is his companion, gambling is his game.

Smooth as a handle on a gun.

     Maverick is the name.

Wild as the wind in Oregon,

     Blowing up a canyon, easier to tame.

Riverboat, ring your bell. Fare thee well, Annabelle.

     Luck is the lady that he loves the best.

Natchez to New Orleans, living on jacks and queens,

     Maverick is the legend of the West.[1]

As familiar as the lyrics have become, it is surprising now to look back and realize that the entire first season only gave us only instrumental versions of the Maverick theme. This episode's rendition was a rather pokey version, simulating the clip-clop percussion of a trotting horse, but it established a major element of not only Maverick lore, but of the Maverick lifestyle.[1]

Another interesting element of the episode is Bret Maverick's grave marker, which appears to give us the date of his birth. The date of April 7 was selected, based on James Garner's own birthday. At the time of the filming of the episode, Garner had just turned 30, so the writers projected back from 1876 to arrive at 1847 for the year of Bret's birth, suggesting he was 29 — at least to the townsfolk of Hallelujah.[1] Neither the day nor the year can be correct, however, for reasons discussed in Wild Cards.[2] The date of Bret's hanging, September 21, was based on the scheduled date of the episode's first airing, September 21, 1958.[1]

MAVERICK

Season 2, Episode 28

ORIGINAL AIRDATE
September 21, 1958[3]

WRITER & DIRECTOR
Douglas Heyes

PRODUCER

Roy Huggins

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

William T. Orr

CAST

CREW

James Garner

Whitney Blake

Ray Teal

Jay Novello

Robert Griffin

John Cliff

Burt Mustin

Hal Hopper

Roy Erwin

Emile Avery (uncredited)[4]

Harold Stine

Howard Campbell

James Moore

Carl Pingitore

Oren W. Haglund

Samuel F. Goode

William Wallace

Gordon Bau

Rusty Meek

Bret Maverick

Molly Sharp

Chick Tucker

Oliver Poole

Mayor

Cliff Sharp

Henry

Stanley

Claude

stagecoach driver

Barfly

Director of Photography

Art Director

Supervising Film Editor

Film Editor

Production Manager

Sound

Set Decorator

Makeup Supervisor

Assistant Director