<Tr> <Th> Audio format </Th> <Td> Monaural </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Original release </Th> <Td> October 8, 1958 (1958 - 10 - 08)--June 1, 1961 (1961 - 06 - 01) </Td> </Tr> <P> Bat Masterson is an American Western television series which showed a fictionalized account of the life of real - life marshal / gambler / dandy Bat Masterson . The title character was played by Gene Barry and the half - hour black - and - white shows ran on NBC from 1958 to 1961 . The series was produced by Ziv Television Productions . Bat is a nickname for Masterson's first name, Bartholemew . </P> <P> The show took a tongue - in - cheek outlook, with Barry's Masterson often dressed in expensive Eastern clothing and preferring to use his cane rather than a gun to get himself out of trouble . Masterson was also portrayed as a ladies' man who traveled the West looking for women and adventure . </P>

Who played bat masterson on the tv show