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Tinhorn
Episode 134
Writer: Julius Adelman and Paul Mazursky
Director: Lawrence Dobkin
Original Air Date 03/12/1962

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Barbara Eiler as Mary Phillips

Barbara Eiler was an American actress who primarily worked in television.  She appeared in more than 40 movies and television shows in a career spanning 15 years.  She began acting in radio as a teenager, starring in "The Life of Riley" and "The Dennis Day Show."  She garnered a few film roles, including the World War II drama "The Deep Six" (1959), starring Alan Ladd, and the sci-fi thriller "The Bubble" (1966), starring Michael Cole (star of the hit series "The Mod Squad").  Eiler guest-starred in the crime dramas "Dragnet" (1951–1959), starring Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday, "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1957–1960), starring David Janssen as a suave private eye, and "Thriller" (1960–1962), hosted by Boris Karloff, as well as "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (1954–1990), hosted by Walt Disney, and the long-running family comedy "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (1952–1966).  Eiler made one guest appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Mary Phillips in "Tin Horn" (episode 134).  She guest-starred in several other popular western series, including "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "Wanted" Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965) and "The Virginian" (1962–1971).

Fats as the Piano Man

Fats made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying the piano man in "Tin Horn" (episode 134).

Gary Gadson as Henry, a Cowboy

Gary Gadson made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Joe in "Tin Horn" (episode 134).

Jim Hayward as Tucker

Jim Hayward was an American film and television actor.  He appeared in 120 movies and television shows in a career spanning nearly 20 years.  He guest-starred in many popular shows of the 1950s and 60s, including the comic book hero action series "Adventures of Superman" (1952–1958), the anthology series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), the crime dramas "Dragnet" (1951–1959), "M Squad" (1957–1960) and "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), the family comedies "I Love Lucy" (1951–1957) and "Mister Ed" (1958–1966), the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), and the comedies "Petticoat Junction" (1963–1970) and "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962–1971).  Hayward also made uncredited appearances in several films, including the romantic drama "Beloved Infidel" (1959), starring Gregory Peck and Deborah Kerr, the westerns "Decision at Sundown" (1957), starring Randolph Scott, "Vengeance Valley" (1951), starring Burt Lancaster, and "The Big Sky" (1952), starring Kirk Douglas, the family comedy "Father of the Bride" (1950), starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett and Elizabeth Taylor, and the war drama "The Red Badge of Courage" (1951), starring Audie Murphey and Bill Mauldin.

Hayward made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Tucker in "Tin Horn" (episode 134).  He also guest-starred in many other westerns of the 1950s and 60s, including "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), "Fury" (1955–1960), "Maverick" (1957–1962), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954–1959), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), "The Deputy" (1959–1961), "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), "The Roy Rogers Show" (1951–1957), "The Texan" (1958–1960), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), and "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961).

Grant Richards as John Keeler
Grant Richards as John Keeler in Tinhorn

Grant Richards was an American actor whose career spanned the 1930's through the early 1960's.  He had numerous television credits and was a voice-over regular on the popular 1930's radio series "Gangbusters," which featured weekly episodes based on actual crime incidents.  Each program ended with various descriptions of wanted criminals, many of whom were later arrested due to avid listener participation.   Richards appeared in three episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Reed Barns in "The Apprentice Sheriff" (episode 11), Dave Chester in "Gunfire" (episode 126), and John Keeler in "Tinhorn" (episode 134).

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).

Larry Thor as Jessie Phillips

Larry Thor, born Arnleifur Lawrence Thorsteinson, was a Canadian actor who worked primarily in radio and television.  He appeared in more than 70 movies and television shows during a 20-year career.  While working for CBS radio, Thor served as an announcer in "The Adventures of Rock Jordan" (1948–1953) and "The Green Lama" (1949), in addition to portraying detective Danny Clover in "Broadway Is My Beat" (1949–1954).

Thor guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the detective drama "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), the crime drama "M Squad" (1957–1960), the nautical action adventure "Sea Hunt" (1958–1961), the family comedies "Leave It to Beaver" (1957–1963) and "My Three Sons" (1960–1972), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the sitcom "Gilligan's Island" (1964–1965), the espionage thrillers "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964–1968) and "I Spy" (1965–1968) and the police drama "Mod Squad" (1968–1973).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Jessie Phillips in "Tin Horn" (episode 134).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring John McIntyre and Ward Bond; "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), starring Hugh O'Brian; and "Rawhide" (1959–1966), starring Clint Eastwood.

Grace Lee Whitney as Rose

Grace Lee Whitney, born Mary Ann Chase, but also known as Ruth Whitney and Lee Whitney, is an American actress and vocalist.  She has appeared in more than 70 television shows and movies in a career spanning 60 years.  She began her career as an entertainer in music, opening in clubs for major acts, including Billie Holiday and Buddy Rich.  Her first film role was Laura Lambert in the western "Mystery Range" (1947).  Several of her early roles were uncredited.  Although a familiar face in TV westerns such as "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961) and "The Virginian" (1962–1971), Whitney also made numerous TV appearances in other genres, including "Star Trek" (1966–1969), playing the recurring role of Yeoman Janice Rand.  In addition to the television series, Whitney reprised her role as Rand in some of the "Star Trek" movies.  She made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Rose in "Tinhorn" (episode 134).

Stephen Wootton as Willie

Stephen Arthur Wootton is an American actor who has worked primarily in television.  He has appeared in 30 movies and television shows during a decade-long career.  He guest-starred in several popular television shows of the 1950s and 60s, including the family comedy "I Love Lucy" (1951–1957), the superhero series "Adventures of Superman" (1952–1958), the anthology series "Playhouse 90" (1956–1960) and the family comedy "Leave It to Beaver" (1957–1963).  Wootton made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Willie in "Tin Horn" (episode 134).  He guest-starred in several other westerns, including "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), hosted by Robert Taylor; "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone; "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), starring Gene Barry; and "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), starring Hugh O'Brian.


Lucas' friends all label him a "tinhorn" gambler when he suddenly develops the habit of playing all night-poker in the local saloon.  What they don't know is that a good friend of Lucas's has lost the deed to his ranch in a poker game, and Lucas is trying to get proof that the game is crooked.