<P> The Western was the most popular Hollywood genre , from the early 20th century to the 1960s . Western films first became well - attended in the 1930s . John Ford 's landmark Western adventure Stagecoach became one of the biggest hits in 1939 and it made John Wayne a mainstream screen star . Westerns were very popular throughout the 1950s and 1960s . Many of the most acclaimed Westerns were released during this time -- including High Noon ( 1952 ) , Shane ( 1953 ) , The Searchers ( 1956 ) , and The Wild Bunch ( 1969 ) . Classic Westerns such as these have been the inspiration for various films about Western - type characters in contemporary settings , such as Junior Bonner ( 1972 ) , set in the 1970s , and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada ( 2005 ) , which is set in the 21st century . </P>
<P> The Western was the most popular Hollywood genre , from the early 20th century to the 1960s . Western films first became well - attended in the 1930s . John Ford 's landmark Western adventure Stagecoach became one of the biggest hits in 1939 and it made John Wayne a mainstream screen star . Westerns were very popular throughout the 1950s and 1960s . Many of the most acclaimed Westerns were released during this time -- including High Noon ( 1952 ) , Shane ( 1953 ) , The Searchers ( 1956 ) , and The Wild Bunch ( 1969 ) . Classic Westerns such as these have been the inspiration for various films about Western - type characters in contemporary settings , such as Junior Bonner ( 1972 ) , set in the 1970s , and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada ( 2005 ) , which is set in the 21st century . </P>
during what decade did the genre of the western become established
during what decade did the genre of the western become established
1960s
1960s