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Requiem At Mission Springs
Episode 164
Writer: Margaret Armen
Director: Arthur Nadel
Original Air Date 03/04/1963

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Joe E. Benson as Prison Guard

Joe E. Benson became an actor as a side career.  He appeared in a single move, "Redneck Zombies" (1989) and guest–starred in one episode of "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), portraying the deputy in "The Case of the Crippled Cougar" (1962).  Benson had known Chuck Connors personally, and according to the producers, they hired him on the star's recommendation. Benson appeared in 34 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, mostly playing uncredited parts.  In a small number of episodes, Benson played credited roles, including Mills in "The Actress" (episode 94), Merar in "The Score is Even" (episode 105) and a prison guard in "Requiem at Mission Springs" (episode 164).

Patricia Blair as Lou Mallory, Owner of the General Store and the Madera House Hotel
Patricia Blair as Lou Mallory with Chuck Connors a

Patricia Blair was an American television actress whose career was active primarily in the 1950s and 1960s.   The Texas-born beauty began her career as a teenage model who went on to apprentice in summer stock before being discovered by Warner Bros.  She began acting in films under the names Patricia Blake and Pat Blake.   She appeared in a few films, including "Jump Into Hell" (1955), "Crime Against Joe" (1956) and "The Black Sleep" (1956), which reunited screen icons of the horror film genre Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Basil Rathbone and John Carradine.   She also appeared in the suspense thriller "City of Fear" (1959), starring Vince Edwards.  She portrayed the Fashion Narrator in the Robert Redford romantic western "The Electric Horseman" (1979), co-starring Jane Fonda.

In 1962, Blair replaced actress Joan Taylor in a semi-regular role as Lou Mallory, Chuck Connor's love interest in the last season of THE RIFLEMAN.  Blair played the attractive red-haired, fiery Irish businesswoman, whose character was savvy Landowner and Owner of the General Store and the Madera House Hotel.  Blair's character of Lou Mallory appeared in 17 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN; she debuted in the title role of episode 145.  Blair also made guest television appearances on "The Bob Cummings Show" (1955–1959), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), and she co-starred in "Daniel Boone" (1964–1970), playing wife Rebecca Boone opposite Fess Parker.   She also had a recurring role as Goldy in the western adventure series "Yancy Derringer" (1958–1959). 

Dean Fredericks as Rance

Dean Fredericks, born Frederick Joseph Foote, was an American film and television actor.  He appeared in 40 movies and television shows in slightly more than a decade.  He served in the military during World War II, for which he received a Purple Heart.  He began acting in the early 1950s and worked under various names, including "Fred Foote" and "Norman Fredric," before finally settling on "Dean Fredericks."  While working on the set of the TV series "The Court of Last Resort" (1957–1958), he was discovered by Milton Caniff, the comic strip creator who later tapped him to play the title role in the TV version of "Steve Canyon" (1958–1960).  Fredericks made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Phil Carver in "Squeeze Play" (episode 152) and Rance in "Requiem at Mission Springs" (episode 164).  He also guest-starred in several other westerns, including "Maverick" (1957–1962), starring James Garner, "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), starring Clint Walker, "The Deputy" (1959–1961), starring Henry Fonda, "Rawhide" (1959–1966), starring Clint Eastwood, and "The Virginian" (1962–1971), starring James Drury and Doug McClure.

Dal Jenkins as Smiley

Dal Jenkins appeared in more than 30 movies and television shows during a two-decade career.  He had a small number of film roles, including Sambo in the western "Will Penny" (1968), starring Charlton Heston, Joan Hackett and Donald Pleasance; and minor parts in the George Stevens biblical epic "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965), starring Max von Sydow, Dorothy McGuire and Charlton Heston leading an ensemble cast, and the comedy crime caper "Pushing Up Daisies" (1963).  He also guest-starred in several popular television shows, including the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), the superhero parody "Batman" (1966–1968) and the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Smiley in "Requiem at Mission Springs" (episode 164).  He guest-starred in several other popular westerns of 1950s and 60s, including "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone; "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts; and "Rawhide" (1959–1966), starring Clint Eastwood.

George Lindsey as Dove

George Lindsey was an American actor who worked primarily in television, appearing in almost 40 movies and television shows during his 50-year career.  He attended Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri, and Florence State College, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in bioscience (the college is now the University of North Alabama, where he promoted the George Lindsey Film Festival since 1998).  Before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, Lindsey was a public high school teacher at Hazel Green High School in Hazel Green, Alabama.  He served in the Air Force and initially tried to break into show business in New York.  He is best-known for his role as Goober, the lovable bumpkin cousin of Gomer Pyle portrayed by Jim Nabors in the family comedy "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960–1968), a role that he has reprised in various other shows, including the Andy Griffith spin-off series, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." (1964–1969) and the series continuation "Mayberry R.F.D." (1968–1971), as well as the series reboot "The New Andy Griffith Show" (1971).

Lindsey used his celebrity to support philanthropic interests, including raising more than $1-mln over a period of 17 years for the Alabama Special Olympics through the George Lindsey Celebrity Weekend and Golf Tournament, which was held in Montgomery.  He also raised $50,000 for the Alabama Association of Retarded Citizens.  In addition to his philanthropy, Lindsey served as the head coach of winter games for the Minneapolis, Minnesota Special Olymics National Competition.  His home state of Alabama dedicated the "George Lindsey Highway" in Birmingham in his honor.  He recevied the Minnie Pearl Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and the first ICON Award presented by the Nashville Associations of Talent Directors in 2007.

Lindsey guest-starred in several popular television shows of the 1950s through the 80s, including the Disney anthology series, "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (1954–1990), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series, "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the sci-fi adventure series "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" (1964–1968), the comedy variety hour "Hee Haw" (1969–1993) and the Aaron Spelling series "Fantasy Island" (1977–1984).  He has also provided his voice for a few Disney characters, including Lafayette in "The AristoCats" (1970) and Trigger in "Robin Hood" (1973).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Dove in "Requiem at Mission Springs" (episode 164).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Daniel Boone" (1964–1970), starring Fess Parker, and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness.

Ralph R. Moody as Doc Burrage
Ralph Moody

Ralph Moody was an American actor who appeared in over 50 movies and 100 television shows.  Often cast in Westerns as indians, his many television credits include "The Lone Ranger" (1949 1950), "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1955–1959), "Dragnet" (1952 1959), "The Texan" (1959), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1958–1961), "Perry Mason" (1958–1964), "Gunsmoke" (1959–1966), "Dragnet 1967" (1967–1970) and "Bonanza" (1960 1971).

Moody appeared in 12 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Jonathan Dodd in "The Visitor" (episode 58), Roy Merrick in "The Spoiler" (episode 61), and Eban Muchen in "The Hangman" (episode 76).  Moody also played the recurring character of Doc Burrage in nine episodes, including "Six Years and a Day" (episode 91), "The Actress" (episode 94), "Dark Day at North Fork" (episode 100), "The Mescalero Curse" (episode 106), "Man From Salinas" (episode 130), "Quiet Night, Deadly Night" (episode 146), "Mark's Rifle" (episode 150), "Conflict" (episode 155), "Requiem at Mission Springs" (episode 164).


Mark is injured in an accident, which leaves his legs paralyzed.  When the doctor suggests that warm mineral baths may help him to recover, Lucas and Lou take Mark out to the old Mission Springs.  Their treatment, however, is interrupted by the arrival of a gang of escapees form Yuma Prison and Lucas must fight against overwhelming odds to save their lives at the same time that Mark is fighting his own battle to get well.