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New Orleans Menace
Episode 10
Writer: Cyril Hume
Director: Arnold Laven
Original Air Date 12/02/1958

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Galvan DeLeon as Guitar Player

Galvan DeLeon guest-starred in one episode of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying a guitar player in "New Orleans Menace" (episode 10).  He also had a minor part in the Oscar-winning musical war romance "South Pacific" (1958), starring Rossano Brazzi and Mitzi Gaynor.

Jerry Oddo as Schuette

Jerry Oddo appeared in more than 20 movies and television shows in a brief six-year career.  He played the minor part of a Wade henchman in the western action adventure "3:10 to Yuma" (1957), starring Glenn Ford, Van Heflin and Felicia Farr.  He guest-starred in many popular television shows, including "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (1954–1990), the Disney adventure series "Zorro" (1957–1959), the crime dramas "M Squad" (1957–1960), "The Lawless Years" (1959–1961) and "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), and the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966).

Oddo made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Schuette in "New Orleans Menace" (episode 10).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), starring Dick Powell, "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring John McIntyre and Ward Bond, and "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts.

Michael Pate as Xavier
Michael Pate

Michael Pate, born Edward John Pate, was an Australian character actor of radio, film and television, as well as an accomplished writer, director and producer.  He appeared in more than 160 movies and television shows during his 55-year career.  Prior to acting, Pate worked as a writer and broadcaster for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, collaborating with George Ivan Smith on "Youth Speaks."  He spent the latter part of the 1930s working primarily in radio drama.  He also worked as a theatrical and literary critic, in addition to enjoying brief success as an author of short stories.  When World War II broke out, Pate enlisted in the Australian Army and served with the South West Pacific Area command.  As part of the 1st Australian Army Amenities Entertainment Unit, known as "The Islanders," he entertained Australian troops in various combat areas.

After the war ended, Pate not only resumed his work in radio, but ventured into films.  He had his first leading role in the adventure drama "Sons of Matthew" (1949), in which he portrayed Shane O'Riordan.  His other endeavors included adapting, producing and directing the plays "Dark of the Moon" and "Bonaventure" in 1950.  Later that year, he appeared in the American adaptation of "Bonaventure" for Universal Pictures, entitled "Thunder on the Hill" (1951), in which he performed opposite Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth.  He appeared in many other films, portraying Browning in the action comedy "Ten Tall Men" (1951), starring Burt Lancaster; Talon in the horror film "The Strange Door" (1951), starring Charles Laughton and Borris Karloff; Flavius in the historical drama "Julius Caesar" (1953), starring Marlon Brando, James Mason and John Gielgud; Vittorio the Chiricahua Apache Chief in the action drama "Hondo" (1953), starring John Wayne; Sir Locksley in the adventure comedy "The Court Jester" (1956), starring Danny Kaye; Sir Ratcliffe in the historical drama "Tower of London" (1962), in which he had a starring role opposite Vincent Price; Lt. Reginald Evans in the biographical war drama "PT 109" (1963), starring Cliff Robertson; and Sierra Charriba in the Sam Peckinpah war film "Major Dundee" (1965), starring Charlton Heston and Richard Harris.  Later in his career, Pate wrote and directed the internationally acclaimed film adaptation of Colleen McCullough's "Tim" (1979), starring Piper Laurie and Mel Gibson, which garnered him the Best Screenplay Award from the Australian Writers Guild.

Pate guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 90s, including the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), the crime dramas "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964) and "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the adventure series "Route 66" (1960–1964), the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), the espionage adventure "The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964–1968), the campy superhero series "Batman" (1966–1968), the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), and the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973).  He also had several recurring TV roles, including Salvador Quintana in the Disney adventure series "Zorro" (1957–1959); Chief Crazy Horse in "Branded" (1965–1966), starring THE RIFLEMAN's Chuck Connors; Chief Vittoro in the western "Hondo" (1967); and Detective Sgt. Vic Maddern in the drama "Matlock Police" (1971–1976).

Pate made five appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Xavier in "New Orleans Menace" (episode 10), Brad Davis in "The Second Witness" (episode 23), Pete Morgan in "The Visitor" (episode 58), Mogollan in "The Mescalero Curse" (episode 106), Sanchez in "The Executioner" (episode 132).  He guest-starred in nearly all of the other notable westerns of the 1950s through 70s, including "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954–1959), "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961)

Hope Summers as Hattie Denton, Owner of the General Store
Hope Summers as Hattie Denton, Owner of the Genera

Hope Summers was an American actress of the stage, radio, film and television.  Her acting career began in the 1930's, when she worked primarily in community and stock theater and radio.  Her career was most active in the 1950's and 1960's, when she appeared in numerous films and television shows.   Her film credits include "Zero Hour!" (1957), "Inherit the Wind" (1960), "Spencer's Mountain" (1963), "The Hallelujah Trail" (1965), "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" (1966), "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968), "Rosemary's Baby" (1968), "Charley Varrick" (1973) and her last movie, "Foul Play" (1978).

Summers began working in television in the 1950's, guest-starring in a wide variety of genres, but especially Westerns.  Her television credits include "The Loretta Young Show" (1956–1959), "Maverick" (1957) and "Wagon Train" (1957), "Gunsmoke" (1958–1963), "Dennis the Menace" (1959), "Petticoat Junction" (1963) and "The Phyllis Diller Show" (1966).  She played numerous memorable recurring roles in many hit television series, including "Hawkins Falls: A Television Novel" (1950).  Her best-known role was Clara Edwards, Aunt Bee's gossipy neighbor, in "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960-1968) and its spin-off, "Mayberry R.F.D." (1968–1971).  Summers appeared in 16 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN as Hattie Denton, owner of the General Store.  Hattie was first introduced in "Eight Hours to Die" (episode 6).  Her last regular television role was playing Olive in "Another Day" (1978).

Akim Tamiroff as Tiffauges

Tamiroff was a Russian actor of Armenian descent.   Born in Tblisi, Georgia, he was trained in Moscow Art Theatre drama school and arrived in the U.S. in 1923 on a tour with a troupe of actors.  He decided to stay and managed to develop a career in Hollywood where his thick Russian accent and versatility as a character actor brought him many different roles.  In a film and television career spanning more than 40 years, his film role playing The Boss in the politically satirical comedy "The Great McGinty" inspired the cartoon villain Boris Badenov on "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show."

Tamiroff's film debut came in 1932 in an uncredited role in "Okay, America!"  He performed in several uncredited roles until 1935, when he co-starred in "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer." The following year, he was cast in the title role in "The General Died at Dawn," for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  He appeared in the 1937 musical "High, Wide and Handsome" and the 1938 proto-noir "Dangerous to Know" opposite Anna May Wong—a film frequently cited as his best role.

In the following decade, he appeared in numerous films, including "The Buccaneer," "The Great McGinty," "The Corsican Brothers," "Tortilla Flat" "Five Graves to Cairo," "His Butler's Sister," "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls," for which he received another Oscar nomination and won the 1944 Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actor.  In later years, Tamiroff appeared in "Touch of Evil," the original screen version of "Ocean's Eleven" and "Topkapi."  Tamiroff appeared in one episode of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying the villain, Tiffauges, in "New Orleans Menace" (episode 10).

Harlan Warde as John Hamilton, President of the North Fork Bank
Harlan Warde as John Hamilton, President of the No

Harlan Warde was an American actor who appeared in 180 films and television series over a 40 year career.  Most of his early film roles were uncredited.  He appeared in 18 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying John Hamilton, President of the North Fork Bank.  His character debuted in "The Safeguard" (episode 8).   Warde had recurring roles in other television series, many in the Western genre.  Among his many other TV credits, he also appeared in "Dragnet" ( 1954), "You Are There" (1953–1956), "Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre" (1955 1957), "Perry Mason" (1958–1966), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), "Bonanza" (1962–1972), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969) and "The Fugitive" (1966 1967).


A New Orleans arch-criminal named Tiffauges, having been run out of Louisiana, is passing through the North Fork area with his entourage.  Spotting the McCain ranch, he decides it would make a ranch for himself and tells McCain he wants to buy it.  When Lucas says it's not for sale, Tiffaughes threatens harm to Mark unless he gets the ranch.