Just a few decades ago, stunt work in television was severely lacking on multiple fronts. Not only was there little concern on set for the safety of the stuntmen and women who were risking their lives for art, but these workers were hardly paid what they deserved for risking life and limb.

Frank McGrath, himself a seasoned stuntman, wasn't concerned about rocking the boat, and frequently discussed the rotten underbelly of the television industry, exposing the dubious treatment of stunt performers.

"Do you know what stuntman pay was before we got organized?" asked McGrath during an interview with the Herald and Review. "I made five dollars a day - and the hard way, compared to today. In the old days, there was no padded gear for our falls; no perfection of the pulled punch. In fistfight scenes, we actually had to hit hard, and it was every man for himself. Yet things were so tough that even actors would plead to do their own stunts for that extra five bucks."

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Stunt work isn't for everyone, though McGrath said that he pursued it as a career to someday become a full-time actor.

"Some [stuntmen] are just daredevils, to begin with, bored unless they're living dangerously," said McGrath. "Me? I want to be an actor. And now I am, with co-star billing, yet."

McGrath was able to make that dream a reality when he began starring in the popular series, Wagon Train. Not only did the series and the transition to acting save his body, but they also saved his wallet. "I'm financially secure now for the first time in my life," said the actor. "I never thought I'd be...I'm a grandfather, and only another man my age can tell you what a relief it is to see old age coming without having to depend on your kids for support."