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A Sporting Chance
Episode 128
Writer: Arthur Browne, Jr.
Director: Gene Nelson
Original Air Date 01/29/1962

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Al Collins as Pete

Albert Richard "Jazzbeaux" Collins was an American disc jockey, radio personality and recording artist.  He adopted the nickname "Jazzbo" from a clip-on bowtie and later changed it to the francophile spelling.  He got his start on radio in the 1940s in Salt Lake City and in the 50s, began working occasionally in television, guest-starring as a character actor in several television shows, including "The Real McCoys" (1957–1963) and "The Untouchables" (1959–1963).  In 1957, he hosted the "Tonight! America After Dark" show for five weeks between Steve Allen's departure and Jack Paar's arrival.  In the early 1960s, Collins hosted a morning TV program "The Al Collins Show," which aired on San Francisco's KGO-TV.  Collins made one guest appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Pete in "Sporting Chance" (episode 128).  Collins also had an uncredited role as a party guest in the comedic film "Do Not Disturb" (1965), starring Doris Day.  Over his 50-year career, Collins became friends with many jazz legends, and during the last four decades of his life, he was master of ceremonies at countless jazz festivals.

James Luisi as Chuley Carr

James Luisi was an American stage, film and television actor, as well as a professional basketball player.  He appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows during a career spanning nearly 40 years.  He attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights, New York, on a basketball scholarship and served in the Army during the Korean War.  He then played guard for the Baltimore Bullets for two seasons (1953–1954).  Luisi then decided to shift his focus from sports to acting and enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, eventually landing roles on Broadway.  His stage credits include performances in the musicals "Do I Hear a Waltz?" (1965) and "Sweet Charity" (1966).

Luisi played a few memorable film roles, including the lead role of Sgt. Vince De Carlo in the horror thriller "Killer's Delight" (1978), also starring Susan Sullivan and John Karlen; George Benson in the drama "Norma Rae" (1979), starring Sally Field and Beau Bridges; and Roy in the biographical drama "Star 80" (1983), starring Mariel Hemingway, Eric Roberts and Cliff Robertson.  He is perhaps best-remembered for his portrayal of Lt. Doug Chapman in the crime drama "The Rockford Files" (1974–1980), a role that he reprised in the TV movies "The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits… " (1996) and "The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play" (1996).  He received an Emmy Award for his portrayal of George Washington in the miniseries "First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington" (1975).

Luisi guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1960s through the 80s, many in the police-action/crime and legal genres, including "Adam-12" (1968–1975), "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972–1977), "Kojak" (1973–1978), "Cannon" (1971–1976), "Ironside" (1967–1975), "Police Story" (1973–1977), "Starsky and Hutch" (1975–1979).  Luisi appeared in other genres, as well, including the Aaron Spelling series "Fantasy Island" (1977–1984), the anthology series "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (1954–1990) and the action adventure series "The A-Team" (1983–1987).  He also played a few recurring roles, including Harry Foreman in the drama "Harris and Company" (1979) and Lieutenant Gilbert Garcia in the primetime soap opera "Knots Landing" (1979–1993).  Luisi made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Chuley Carr in "Sporting Chance" (episode 128).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts, and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness.

Arthur Malet as Jeremy Pennebroke

Arthur Malet is a British film and television actor.  He has appeared in more than 120 movies and television shows during a career spanning 40 years.  He has had several memorable film roles, including Mr. Dawes Junior in the Disney musical "Mary Poppins" (1964), starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke; the graveyard keeper in the horror thriller "Halloween" (1978), starring Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis; and Tootles in the Steven Spielberg homage to Peter Pan, "Hook" (1991), starring Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams, Julia Roberts and Bob Hoskins.

Malet guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 90s, including the suspense series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), the medical dramas "Ben Casey" (1961–1966) and "Dr. Kildare" (1961–1966), the family comedies "The Donna Reed Show" (1958–1966) and "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960–1968) , the crime drama "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the adventure drama "The Fugitive" (1963–1967), the espionage series "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964–1968) and "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973), the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), the police drama "Mod Squad" (1968–1973), the family drama "The Waltons" (1971–1981), the cowboy cop in New York serial "McCloud" (1972–1977), the action crime series "Charlie's Angels" (1976–1981) and the police procedural "21 Jump Street" (1987–1991).  He has also had a few recurring roles, including Carl in the drama "Casablanca" (1983), Bobby in the comedy "Easy Street" (1986–1987) and Ryan in the primetime soap opera "Dallas" (1987–1991).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Jeremy Pennebroke in "Sporting Chance" (episode 128).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Rawhide" (1959–1966), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "The Virginian" (1962–1971) and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).

Joan Taylor as Milly Scott, Owner of the General Store
Joan Taylor as Milly Scott, Owner of the General S

Joan Taylor was an American actress born to a family in the entertainment business.  Her mother, Amelia Berky, was a vaudeville dancer and singer in the 1920s.  Her father operated a movie theater, which inspired in her an abiding interest in the movies from an early age.  Taylor came to Hollywood in 1946 and worked on the stage at the Pasadena Playhouse for four years.  Discovered by Victor Jory when she played Regina in "Another Part of the Forest," she was contracted to Paramount Studios where she appeared in several Western pictures.  She guest-starred in numerous television series in the 1950s and early 60s, retiring from acting in 1962.

Taylor appeared in 18 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN between 1960 and 1962, playing Milly Scott, Owner of the General Store, which she bought from Hattie Denton.  An attractive young woman who figured as a love interest for Lucas McCain, her character was introduced in "Miss Milly" (episode 84).


Marshal Torrance is astonished when a dapper little man arrives on the stage and announces that he has come to kill Lucas McCain.  When questioned, he explains that he wants to establish a reputation and can think of no better way to do it than to dispose of the Rifleman.  Lucas at first flatly refuses to be drawn into a duel, but a notorious gunman arrives in town and complicates the situation.  Lucas not only ends up in the gunfight, but finds himself defending the man who planned to kill him.