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The Anvil Chorus
Episode 154
Writer: Arthur Browne, Jr.
Director: Arnold Laven
Original Air Date 12/17/1962

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Norman Alden as Duff

Norman Alden is an American character actor.  He has appeared in more than 200 television shows and movies in a career spanning 50 years.  Following his service in World War II, Alden attended Texas Christian University (TCU), where he began developing his skills as an actor.  He made several appearances in the comedy series "Hennesey" (1959–1962), which starred Jackie Cooper, Abby Dalton and Henry Kulky.  In addition to being a guest star, Alden also had a recurring role in the comedic western "Rango" (1967), playing the part of Captain Horton.  Alden made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Duff in "The Anvil Chorus" (episode 154).  Alden guest-starred in other westerns, including "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954–1959), and he had a recurring role in "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), in which he portrayed Johnny Ringo.

Michael Harris as Ed Bundy

Michael Harris was an American actor whose filmography was limited to performances in THE RIFLEMAN.  He appeared in an uncredited role in "The Sister" (episode 9), played a cowhand in "The Challenge" (episode 28) and portrayed Ed Bundy in "The Anvil Chorus" (episode 154).

Joe Higgins as Nils Swenson
Joe Higgins as Nils Swenson

Joe Higgins was an American actor working primarily in television and commercials from the 1960's through the 1980's.  His acting career began at age nine and while attending the University of Dayton in Ohio, he worked in radio.  He became a prolific character actor who often portrayed a sheriff in commercials, public service announcements and in print ads.  He won the CLIO award on two occasions for his acting in commercials.  His portrayal as a sheriff, "You in a heap o' trouble, boy!," in a series of memorable Dodge car commercials in the 1970's became his iconic signature role.

Higgins appeared in four episodes of THE RIFLEMAN playing different characters, and he played the semi-regular character, Nils Swenson, the Blacksmith, in 16 episodes.  He played recurring roles on other television series in addition to THE RIFLEMAN, including "Arrest and Trial" and later, he co-starred again with Chuck Connors in "Flipper" and "Geronimo."

Steve Marlo as Stagg
Steve Marlo

Steve Marlo made four appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Doke Marvin in "The Patsy" (episode 41), The Domino Kid in "The Hero" (episode 59), Sgt. Will in "The Assailants" (episode 149), Stagg in "The Anvil Chorus" (episode 154).  An alumnus of Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio, New York, Marlo had a prolific career on the stage.  He won the Pulitzer Prize and Drama Critic's Award for his role in "Picnic."  Marlo also had many screen credits in film and television.  He appeared in "The Bob Cummings Show," "Law of the Plainsman," "Ben Casey," "Death Valley Days," "Combat!," "Bonanza," "Mission: Impossible," "Star Trek," "The F.B.I.," "Land of the Giants," "Emergency," "Eight Is Enough," "Falcon Crest," among many other TV series.  He also was a dialogue coach.

William "Bill" Meigs as Sam Benson

William "Bill" Meigs was an American television and film actor.  He appeared in 19 movies and television shows during a 30-year career.  Among a handful of film roles, he had uncredited parts in the classic western "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957), starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, and the sci-fi horror "The Navy Vs. the Night Monsters" (1966), starring Mamie Van Doren.  He played Capt. Rand Treadway in "The Glory Guys" (1965), a feature produced by Levy-Gardner-Laven Productions, directed by Arnold Laven and Sam Peckinpah (uncredited), and starring Harve Presnell and a young James Caan.  He guest-starred in a few popular television shows, including the crime drama "Barnaby Jones" (1973–1980).  Meigs made three appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Colonel Cushman in "The Sheridan Story" (episode 16), Deputy Phil Rogers in "The Second Witness" (episode 23) and Sam Benson in "The Anvil Chorus" (episode 154).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), starring Clint Walker, and "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone.

Olan Soule as the Hardware Clerk

Olan Soule, born Olan Evart Soule, was an American stage, radio, film and television actor.  He appeared in more than 230 movies and television shows during a career spanning more than 40 years.  He got his start performing on stage in Chicago, eventually making his way into radio, where he spent 11 years on the daytime drama "Bachelor's Children."  He was noted for his ability to provide voices that belied his modest outward appearance.

Soule had roles in several memorable films, including Johnson in the thriller "The Towering Inferno" (1974), starring Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, William Holden and Faye Dunaway; as well as minor parts in the sci-fi drama "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951), starring Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal; the comedy "Monkey Business" (1952), starring Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Marilyn Monroe and Charles Coburn; the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "North by Northwest" (1959), starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason; and the drama "The Cincinnati Kid" (1965), starring Steve McQueen.

Soule provided the voice for Batman in the animated series "Super Friends" (1980–1983).  He guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 80s, including the family comedy "I Love Lucy" (1951–1957), the action crime drama "Highway Patrol" (1955–1959), the suspense anthology series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), the private detective series "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the crime drama "Arrest and Trial" (1963–1964), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the adventure drama "The Fugitive" (1963–1967) and the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973).

Soule made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying the hardware clerk in "The Anvil Chorus" (episode 154).  He guest-starred in many other westerns, including "Maverick" (1957–1962), starring Jack Kelly and James Garner; "The Deputy" (1959–1961), starring Henry Fonda; "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen; "Rawhide" (1959–1966), starring Clint Eastwood; "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness; and "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), starring Barbara Stanwyck.

Adam Williams as Platt
Adam Williams

Adam Williams was an American actor with over 120 television credits in the 1950s through the 1970s.  He made six guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying different characters in each episode.  He played Jake Pardee in "The Challenge" (episode 28), Corporal Troc in "The Prisoner" (episode 101), Jax in "The Score is Even" (episode 105), Russell Ganaway in "The Executioner" (episode 142), which he also wrote, Platt in "The Anvil Chorus" (episode 154), and Jeb Sherman in "Old Man Running" (episode 166).


Nils, the blacksmith, volunteers as acting deputy when Micah is called out of town.  His newfound authority soon goes to Nils' head and he begins giving orders and invoking new rules that have the townspeople alternately amused and exasperated.  Things come to a head when some outlaws arrive in town, and Lucas and Mark have to help Nils out of a dangerous situation.