As a 33-year-old stuntman on the set of the 1960s TV show "The Wild Wild West," Richard Cangey never thought that 30 years later he would write a behind-the-scenes book about the hit western.

But when he read another book detailing "The Wild Wild West," he found only one chapter about the stunts, something that he and his coworkers worked on to make realistic for viewers.

So Cangey, a Mahoningtown native, looked back on the diary he had kept during the four years he worked on the show and the following four years during his friendship with "Wild Wild West" star Robert Conrad.

From that diary came a behind-the-scenes look at the show that aired from 1965 to 1969, including stories about the fun the cast and crew had as "The Wild Wild West" gained popularity.

Cangey's involvement on "The Wild Wild West" began while working on another show of the 1960s, "Big Valley." From the contacts he made on "Big Valley," Cangey, now 63, got the call to work on "The Wild Wild West." "That call would change my whole life," writes Cangey in his book's introduction.

Hired first as star Robert Conrad's stand-in, he was later promoted to stuntman, and through their work together, Conrad and Cangey became close friends.

And through that friendship, Cangey may have indirectly changed the tempo of the show.

One day on the set of "The Wild Wild West," Cangey, a boxer, was throwing punches with some of the other stuntmen when Conrad asked him to teach him to box. Martial arts had been used on the show for the first season, but after Conrad found a'liking for the sport, boxing became a mainstay. During the last three seasons, fighters such as heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson made guest appearances on the show.

Now, 30 years later, Ted Turner has purchased reruns of "The Wild Wild West" that will run for three more years.

Last year, close to the book's completion, Cangey told Conrad about the project, and at first, the star of "The Wild Wild West" was angry, thinking the book would turn out to be an expose instead of an account of behind-the-scenes fun.

But once Conrad read a portion of the manuscript, he fully endorsed his friend's work, and said he looked forward to seeing the completed project.

Cangey knew only one man would be suitable to write the forward for "Inside The Wild Wild West" --- his friend Conrad.

Cangey says he paced the floor for three weeks, working up the courage to call Conrad and ask him to write the opening. When he finally made the call, Conrad's wife, Lavelda, said her husband had been pacing the floor for three weeks hoping Cangey would ask him to write the forward to "Inside The Wild Wild West."

One thousand copies of "Inside The Wild Wild West" were printed in May 1996, and later that year 2,000 more were rolled off the presses. Cangey says when he returns to his Cypress, Californian home, he'll order another 5,000 copies.

Once finished, "Inside The Wild Wild West" sold ONLY over the Internet at WWW.INSIDEWEST.COM until Cangey collaborated with friend Jim DoVidio to distribute the book in Wal-Mart stores. Cangey's book was introduced at the Wal-Mart in Texas City, Texas, where DoVidio, also a Mahoningtown native, now resides.

Throughout his career, Cangey also worked on shows such as "Romper Room," "Mission: Impossible," "Baretta," "Mannix," "Shaft," and "The Joey Bishop Show." He and his wife of 43 years, Mary, moved to California in 1959. They have four children, one who lives in Washington, and three who live in California near their parents.

However, spending time with their children and seven grandchildren may be more of a journey for the Cangeys.

"I want to come home," Cangey said. "I hate California. It's not home. It's been a great life. I have no complaints, but I'm looking forward to coming home."

by Amy Clingensmith for New Castle News