# Rural Purge Canceled Western Shows

> CBS canceled rural Western shows during 1970s TV shift.
- Title: Rural Purge Canceled Western Shows · SlashFilm | Shortify
- Summary: CBS canceled rural Western shows during 1970s TV shift. CBS canceled Western shows like Gunsmoke and Bonanza during the 1970s rural purge.
- Keywords: cbs, gunsmoke, bonanza, rural purge, the high chaparral, the virginian, leif erickson, james drury, alias jones and smith, little house on the prairie, maverick, james garner
- Source: SlashFilm — https://slashfilm.com/2295386/western-shows-canceled-70s-rural-purge
- Author: Joe Roberts
- Published: 2026-10-27T16:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: cbs, gunsmoke, bonanza, rural purge, the high chaparral, the virginian, leif erickson, james drury, alias jones and smith, little house on the prairie, maverick, james garner
## Rural Purge Begins
CBS canceled rural Western shows during 1970s TV shift.
## Gunsmoke Canceled
Gunsmoke ended its 20-year run in 1975 after CBS canceled it.
## Rural Comedy Surge
CBS aired rural comedies like The Beverly Hillbillies and The Andy Griffith Show in the 1960s.
## Fred Silverman's Role
CBS programming chief Fred Silverman canceled rural shows after they lost younger viewers.
## The High Chaparral
The High Chaparral ended in March 1971 after CBS canceled it.
## Rural Purge Impact
Western shows like The Virginian and Bonanza were canceled during the rural purge.
## Key takeaway

CBS canceled Western shows like Gunsmoke and Bonanza during the 1970s rural purge.