Centennial

1978 - 1979

Only the Rocks Live Forever

1st October 1978

Episode 1

A feisty Quebec trapper meets Arapaho Chief Lame Beaver in his travels throughout the American West. Thus beginning a series of relationships that create a timeline of adventures from the late 1700's to the 20th century. On a trip to St. Louis to sell his wares, he encounters the wealthy silversmith Herman Bockweiss (Raymond Burr) and enters a partnership with him to bring guns and silver to the Indians. He agrees to marry Bockweiss' daughter Lise (Sally Kellerman) and leaves shortly thereafter to return to his trapping trade. He encounters and saves the life of his future partner, Alexander McKeag (Richard Chamberlain), a Scotsman attempting to escape his past. They make their way to an Arapaho camp where McKeag, who has been injured, is tended by Chief Lame Beaver's daughter, Clay Basket (Barbara Carrera). They fall in love, but she instead marries Pasquinel at her father's request. Accompanied by Clay Basket, the partners set out in search of Pasquinel's true desire - gold.

The Yellow Apron

8th October 1978

Episode 2

In spite of mounting tensions between the races, Pasquinel, McKeag and the Indians continue a profitable releationship in trading. Clay Basket bears Pasquinel two sons, Jacques and Marcel, while back in St. Louis, Lise gives birth to Pasquinel's daughter, Lisette. Pasquinel continues his obsessive search for Lame Beaver's gold, while McKeag and Clay Basket are secretly in love with each other, but her honor in marriage to Pasquinel won't allow her to reveal it to McKeag.

The Wagon and the Elephant

28th October 1978

Episode 3

1845: In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, young Mennonite Levi Zendt heads out west with his bride-to-be Elly Zamm. On the wagon train and in St. Louis they meet young English writer Oliver Seccombe and Army Captain Maxwell Mercy - who is married to Lisette, Pasquinel's daughter. McKeag weds Clay Basket and adopts her half-breed daughter Lucinda. While on the wagon train, guide Samuel Purchase tries to rape Elly, causing Levi and Elly to leave it, meeting McKeag and later establish the settlement of the town Centennial.

For as Long as the Water Flows

4th November 1978

Episode 4

Driven by the grief over his wife's death, Levi boards himself up in the desolate cabin once used by McKeag and Pasquinel in their early trapping days. Clay Basket and McKeag soon send their daughter Lucinda to bring him to their home. Eventually, Levi and Lucinda fall in love and marry. Meanwhile, Hans Brumbaugh arrives from Germany to seek gold.

The Massacre

11th November 1978

Episode 5

1861: War sweeps the country, the Civil War in the North and South, in the West the Pasquinel brothers, Jacques and Marcel are raiding and murdering soldiers and homesteaders. Colonel Frank Skimmerhorn, an officer in the Wyoming militia arrives in Centennial with intent on killing all Indians.

The Longhorns

3rd December 1978

Episode 6

Representing a group of British investors, Oliver Seccombe arrives in Centennial with money to start a cattle ranch. He hires John Skimmerhorn to get some men and launch a large cattle drive to the West's largest cattle ranch, the Venneford. Skimmerhorn hires R.J. Poteet, an experienced trail boss, who picks a handful of seasoned drovers and young trail hands.

The Shepherds

10th December 1978

Episode 7

The late 1800's, Hans Brumbaugh leads the farmers in the war against the wealthy ranchers and cattlemen led by Oliver Seccombe. Messmore Garrett settles in Centennial with thousands of sheep and more competition against the cattlemen. The new sheriff, Dumire can't stop the fight from both sides. Charlotte Buckland, the daughter of one of the Venneford Ranch's British owners, arrives in America and falls in love with Seccombe.

The Storm

14th January 1979

Episode 8

Mervin Wendell, his wife Maude and son Philip, a theatrical / professional con man comes to Centennial. Jim Lloyd is in love with Levi Zendt's beautiful, but wild daughter Clemma and pursues her. Meanwhile, the British investors have sent Scottish accountant Finlay Perkin to the Venneford Ranch to do an audit. Not able to understand Seccombe's accounting or spendage of running a cattle ranch, he accuses him of thief.

The Crime

21st January 1979

Episode 9

The Wendells easily con the people of Centennial, while blackmailing Reverend Holly. The Wendell son, Philip idolizes Sheriff Dumire, who is investegating the disappearance and possible murder of a traveling businessman, carrying a briefcase full of money. Newly widowed Charlotte Seccombe, returns to England briefly, but returns to run the Venneford Ranch. Meanwhile, Hans Brumbaugh, with the help of Japanese laborers has built his farm into a successful potatoe farm.

The Winds of Fortune

28th January 1979

Episode 10

Charlotte Seccombe and Jim Lloyd fall in love, while Zendt's troubled daughter Clemma returns. The notorious Pettis gang arrive for a showdown with Sheriff Dumire. Hans Brumbaugh's Japanese laborers quit him to follow after their own dreams of owning their own farms.

The Winds of Death

3rd February 1979

Episode 11

Early 1900's, Mervin Wendell has become a real estate tycoon by selling promises on land that barely produces any growth to young naive families from the East. While Charlotte Lloyd takes up the Mexican residents' cause at defending their rights.

The Scream of Eagles

4th February 1979

Episode 12

1978: Historian Professor Lew Vernor and writer Sidney Enderman arrive to do a article on Centennial. Paul Garrett, the current owner of the Venneford Ranch and a direct descendant of Pasquinel, tells them the history of the town. Morgan Wendell, son of Philip is running for the newly formed office of Commissioner of Resources and Priorities for the State of Colorado. When it is realized that Wendell is running only for the money and power, Garrett is persuaded to run against him.

Top Cast

Robert Conrad•Richard Chamberlain•Raymond Burr

Action & Adventure Drama Western

The economic and cultural growth of town of Centennial, Colorado, through the intertwining lives of the brave men and women inhabiting it. Spanning two centuries from the settling of the area in the 1700s, to the late 1970s.

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Full Cast

Robert Conrad Image

Robert Conrad

Pasquinel

Richard Chamberlain Image

Richard Chamberlain

Alexander McKeag

Raymond Burr Image

Raymond Burr

James Clark

Sally Kellerman Image

Sally Kellerman

Lise Bockweiss

Barbara Carrera Image

Barbara Carrera

Clay Basket

Richard Crenna Image

Richard Crenna

Colonel Frank Skimmerhorn

Donald Pleasence Image

Donald Pleasence

Sam Purchas

Alex Karras Image

Alex Karras

Hans Brumbaugh

Lynn Redgrave Image

Lynn Redgrave

Charlotte Buckland Seccombe

Chad Everett Image

Chad Everett

Major Maxwell Mercy

Stephanie Zimbalist Image

Stephanie Zimbalist

Elly Zendt

Brian Keith Image

Brian Keith

Sheriff Axel Dumire

Dennis Weaver Image

Dennis Weaver

R.J. Poteet

Mark Harmon Image

Mark Harmon

Captain John McIntosh

Cliff DeYoung Image

Cliff DeYoung

John Skimmerhorn

Gregory Harrison Image

Gregory Harrison

Levi Zendt

Pernell Roberts Image

Pernell Roberts

General Asher

Timothy Dalton Image

Timothy Dalton

Oliver Seccombe

Andy Griffith Image

Andy Griffith

Professor Lewis Vernor

David Janssen Image

David Janssen

Narrator

Lois Nettleton Image

Lois Nettleton

Maude Wendell

Cristina Raines Image

Cristina Raines

Lucinda McKeag Zendt

Anthony Zerbe Image

Anthony Zerbe

Mervin Wendell

Merle Haggard Image

Merle Haggard

Cisco Calendar

William Atherton Image

William Atherton

Jim Lloyd

Stephen McHattie Image

Stephen McHattie

Jacques 'Jake' Pasquinel

Robert Vaughn Image

Robert Vaughn

Morgan Wendell

Jesse Vint Image

Jesse Vint

Amos Calendar

Sharon Gless Image

Sharon Gless

Sidney Endermann

Glynn Turman Image

Glynn Turman

Nate Person

Adrienne La Russa Image

Adrienne La Russa

Clemma Zendt

Full Crew

Richard Caffey

Supervising Producer

Jacques R. Marquette

Director of Photography

Alex Beaton

Producer

George E. Crosby

Producer

Howard Alston

Producer

Duke Callaghan

Director of Photography

John Wilder Image

John Wilder

Executive Producer

Ronald W. Browne

Director of Photography

Charles W. Short

Director of Photography

James Michener

Novel

Malcolm R. Harding

Producer

John Wilder Image

John Wilder

Creator

John Addison Image

John Addison

Original Music Composer

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