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The Mind Reader
Episode 40
Writer: Robert C. Dennis
Director: Don Medford
Original Air Date 06/30/1959

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Robert Bice as Joe Hallager
Robert Bice

Robert Bice made five guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying different characters in each episode.  He played Joe Hallager in "The Mind Reader" (episode 40), Ben Smith in "The Coward" (episode 53), The Warden of New Mexico Territory in "Seven" (episode 79), and Len Richards in "Deadly Image" (episode 138).

John Carradine as James Barrow McBride
John Carradine

John Carradine was an American actor who had an extremely prolific film career, while simultaneously maintaining a stage career in classic leading roles.  Tall and gaunt, with a distinctive sonorous baritone voice, Carradine became a venerable film icon, with over 300 film credits and more than 100 television credits in a career that spanned 65 years.  Born the son of a reporter/artist and surgeon, he grew up in Pougkeepsie, New York.  He attended Christ Church School, and studied sculpture at Graphic Art School.  As a young man, he roamed the South selling sketches.   He made his acting debut in "Camille" in New Orleans theater in 1925.  Two years later, he went to Los Angeles where he worked in local theater.  He applied as scenic designer to Cecil B. DeMille, who rejected his designs but gave him voice work in several films.  His film debut was in the role of Peter Richmond in "To Able David."

Carradine was the prot ég é and close friend of John Barrymore.  Usually cast in supporting roles, he appeared in many movie classics, including 10 John Ford films, among them, "Stagecoach" (1939), "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940), and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962).  He also portrayed Aaron in "The Ten Commandments" (1956).

Carradine was frequently cast in horror and western genre films.  He made two guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Abel Gross in "The Photographer" (episode 18) and James Barrow McBride in "The Mind Reader" (episode 40).  Near the end of his life, Carradine claimed to have appeared in more movies than any other actor, surpassing the record set by Donald Crisp, the Oscar winning actor and director who had started in silent films and had appeared in numerous one and two reel films, many of them lost.  He was the father of sons Chris, David, Keith and Robert Carradine.

James Chandler as Rancher

James Chandler was an American film and television actor who appeared in nearly 70 movies and television shows in a career spanning more than 30 years.  During the 1950s through the 70s, Chandler guest-starred in various popular crime dramas, including "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), "Bourbon Street Beat" (1959–1960) and "Perry Mason" (1957–1966).  He made two guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying the rancher in "The Mind Reader" (episode 40) and Harvey Andrews in "The Silent Knife" (episode 89).  Chandler also appeared in many of the other classic western TV series of the period, including "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), "Laramie" (1959–1963), "Bonanza" (1959–1973) and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).

John Harmon as Eddie Halstead, Hotel Clerk at the Hotel Madera/California House
John Harmon as Eddie Halstead, Hotel Clerk at the

John Harmon was an American actor who appeared in over 250 roles in film and television from the 1930's through the 1970's.  His early roles were mostly uncredited, but he was cast in a wide variety of genres and played many different kinds of characters.  Harmon appeared in 15 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN as Eddie Halstead Hotel Clerk at the Hotel Madera.  The character of Halstead was first introduced in episode 7, "Duel of Honor."

Michael Landon as Billy Mathis
Michael Landon

Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director and producer, whose prolific career spanned 35 years.  He appeared in two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, playing Will Fulton in "End of a Young Gun" (episode 3) and Billy Mathis in "The Mind Reader" (episode 40).  Over three decades, he went on to star in three popular NBC TV series.  He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in "Bonanza," Charlie Ingalls in "Little House on the Prairie," and Jonathan Smith in "Highway to Heaven."  Landon was nominated for a Golden Globe award in 1979 for his role in "Little House on the Prairie."  He produced, wrote and directed many of the series' episodes, including the short-lived production, "Father Murphy," which starred his friend and "Little House" co-star Merlin Olsen.  In 1976, Landon wrote and directed an autobiographical movie, "The Loneliest Runner," and was nominated for two Emmys.  He also hosted the annual long-running NBC coverage of the "Tournament of Roses Parade" with Kelly Lange. The Western Writers of America honored Landon with a Bronze Wrangler Award in 1971 for "Bonanza" and again in 1981, with a Spur Award for Best Script for "May We Make Them Proud," a 1974 episode of "Little House on the Prairie."

Vic Perrin as Osborne

Vic Perrin was an American actor who worked primarily in television, often doing voice acting.  He appeared in more than 120 movies and television shows in a career spanning nearly 40 years.  He began his career in radio, providing his voice for many shows, including various roles as "heavies" in the radio version of "Gunsmoke", for which he also authored at least one script.  He continued his voice work in television, lending his voice to various popular shows, including the animated series "Jonny Quest" (1964–1965), "Scooby Doo, Where Are You!" (1969–1972) and "Challenge of the SuperFriends" (1978), and also the sci-fi series "Star Trek" (1966–1969).  He also served as the narrator in Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of "Spartacus" (1960); however, he is best remembered for his role as the "Control Voice" in the sci-fi anthology "The Outer Limits" (1963–1965).  Perrin made appearances in many television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including "Adventures of Superman" (1952–1958), the crime dramas "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), "Dragnet" (1951–1959), "M Squad" (1957–1960), "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), "The Untouchables" (1959–1963) and "Adam-12" (1968–1975), the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series, "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973), and the western adventure series "Kung Fu" (1972–1975).  Perrin also had a few film roles, including the character Little Harry Goubenek in the noir film "The System" (1953), starring Frank Lovejoy, and Bar-M Rider in the western "Riding Shotgun" (1954), starring Randolph Scott.

Perrin made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Ed Osborne in "The Mind Reader" (episode 40).  He guest-starred in several other westerns of the 1950s and 60s, including "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), starring Dick Powell, "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon" (1955–1958), for which he provided the narration, "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen, "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring John McIntyre and Ward Bond, "The Deputy" (1959–1961), starring Henry Fonda, "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), starring Dale Robertson, "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone, "The Virginian" (1962–1971), starring James Drury, "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness, and "Rawhide" (1959–1966), starring Clint Eastwood.

Sue Randall as Lucy

Sue Randall, born Marion Burnside Randall, was an American actress, appearing in nearly 60 movies and television shows during a career of 12 years.  She graduated with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York.  In her only movie role, she played Ruthie Saylor in the romantic comedy "Desk Set" (1957), starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.  Randall is best-remembered for her portrayal of Alice Landers in the family comedy "Leave It to Beaver" (1957–1963).

She guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1960s and 70s, including the anthology series "Playhouse 90" (1956–1960), the private detective series "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), the macabre anthology series "Thriller" (1960–1962), the nautical action adventure "Sea Hunt" (1958–1961), the crime drama "Arrest and Trial" (1963–1964), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the adventure drama "The Fugitive" (1963–1967) and the espionage thriller "I Spy" (1965–1968).  She made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Lucy in "The Mind Reader" (episode 40).  She guest-starred in several other westerns, including "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "The Virginian" (1962–1971) and "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975).

Steve Ritch as Joe Hyatt

Steven Ritch was an American film and television actor.  He appeared in more than 40 movies and television shows in just over a decade.  He guest-starred in many popular shows of the 1950s, including the nautical action-adventure series "Sea Hunt" (1958–1961), starring Lloyd Bridges as an intrepid scuba diver, and the crime drama "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.  Ritch made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Joe Hyatt in "The Mind Reader" (episode 40).  Ritch guest-starred in many other popular westerns, including "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), starring Clayton Moore, "Broken Arrow" (1956–1960), in which he had a recurring role as Nukaya, "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954–1959), starring Lee Aaker and James Brown, "The Deputy" (1959–1961), starring Henry Fonda, and "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring Ward Bond and later John McIntire as the wagon master.

William Schallert as Fogarty

William Schallert is a prolific American film, television and voice actor.  He has appeared in 360 movies and television shows during a career spanning more than 60 years.  He is the son of the late Edwin Schallert, a former drama editor of the "Los Angeles Times" and the dean of West Coast critics.  After graduating from UCLA, Schallert began working with the Circle Theater, where he would eventually become one of the owners.  He was also the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1979 to 1981.  He remains actively involved the Guild and has said that he has no plans to retire.  He is best known for his portrayal of Martin Lane in the family comedy "The Patty Duke Show" (1963–1966).

Schallert has appeared in numerous films, including playing several uncredited parts in classic films, including a gas station attendent in the adventure drama "Mighty Joe Young" (1949), starring Terry Moore and Ben Johnson; a Union soldier in the war drama "The Red Badge of Courage" (1951), starring Audie Murphy and Bill Mauldin; a messenger on screen in the musical comedy "Singin' in the Rain" (1952), starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds; an ambulance attendant in the sci-fi horror "Them!" (1954), starring James Whitmore and Edmund Gwenn; a Union lieutenant in the romantic drama "Band of Angels" (1957), starring Clark Gable and Yvonne De Carlo; Doctor Arthur Bramson in the sci-fi thriller "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1957), starring Grant Williams; Harry in the western drama "Lonely Are the Brave" (1962), starring Kirk Douglas; Judge Herman Spicer in the western "Hour of the Gun" (1967), starring James Garner, Jason Robards and Robert Ryan; and Horn in the dramatic comedy "Teachers" (1984), starring Nick Nolte.

Schallert has guest-starred in many popular television shows in virtually every major genre, including the family comedies "Leave It to Beaver" (1957–1963), "Father Knows Best" (1954–1960), "The Donna Reed Show" (1958–1966) and "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960–1968), the Disney adventure series "Zorro" (1957–1959), the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), the crime dramas "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), "The Untouchables" (1959–1963) and "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series, "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the nautical adventure series "Sea Hunt" (1958–1961), the horror series "Thriller" (1960–1962), the suspense series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), the medical drama "Dr. Kildare" (1961–1966), the legal dramas "Perry Mason" (1957–1966) and "Ironside" (1967–1975), the family dramas "Lassie" (1954–1974) and "Little House on the Prairie" (1974–1983), the war drama "Combat!" (1962–1967), the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973), the iconic sci-fi series "Star Trek" (1966–1969), the western action adventure series "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969) and "Kung Fu" (1972–1975), the comedy "Maude" (1972–1978), the crime action adventure "Magnum, P.I." (1980–1988), and most recently, the romantic comedy "How I Met Your Mother" (2005–present) and the dramatic comedy "Desperate Housewives" (2004–present).  His credits as a voice actor include the animated series "Smurfs" (1981–1990) and "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" (2002–present).

Schallert has also played many recurring roles, including Herbert in the comedy "Hey, Jeannie!" (1956–1957), Justinian Tebbs in the western "The Adventures of Jim Bowie" (1956–1958), Major Karl Richmond in the adventure series "Steve Canyon" (1958–1960), Lieutenant Manny Harris in the Raymond Chandler crime drama "Phillip Marlowe" (1959–1960), Mr. Leander Pomfritt in the family comedy "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959–1963), Admiral Hargade in

Charles Seel as the Storekeeper

Charles Seel, born Charles Frederick Seel, was an American film and television actor.  He appeared in 130 movies and television shows during a career spanning nearly 40 years.  He had several film roles, most of them minor, including uncredited roles in the family comedy "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" (1960), starring Doris Day and David Niven; the romantic comedy "Donovan's Reef" (1963), starring John Wayne; and the action drama "Winning" (1969), starring Paul Newman; as well as the part of a bellhop in the Michael Crichton sci-fi thriller "Westworld" (1973), starring Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin and James Brolin.

Seel guest-starred in a wide variety of popular television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the crime dramas "Dragnet" (1951–1959), "M Squad" (1957–1960), "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), "Mannix" (1967–1975) and "Adam-12" (1968–1975), the suspense series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), the drama anthology series "The Loretta Young Show" (1953–1961), the family comedy "My Three Sons" (1960–1972), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series, "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), the espionage adventure series "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964–1968), the classic sci-fi series "Star Trek" (1966–1969), the legal drama "Ironside" (1967–1975), and the medical drama "Marcus Welby, M.D." (1969–1976).  He also had a few recurring roles, including the bartender in the western "Tombstone Territory" (1957), Mr. Krinkie in the family comedy "Dennis the Menace" (1959–1963), and Tom Pride in the western "The Road West" (1966–1967).

Seel made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Barney the storekeeper in "The Boarding House" (episode 22), a role that he reprised in "The Mind Reader" (episode 40).  He guest-starred in many other westerns, including "Hopalong Cassidy" (1952–1954), "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), "The Deputy" (1959–1961), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "Laramie" (1959–1963), "The Guns of Will Sonnett" (1967–1969), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).


When rancher John Hallager is shot to death by an unknown killer, young Billy Mathis is picked up and jailed on suspicion of the murder.  Billy has been seeing Hallager's daughter against the old man's will, and the whole town knows there was bad blood between them.  Lucas believes in Billy's innocence, but with no other suspects, it appears that the boy will be convicted, until a traveling showman—a flamboyant ex-actor—arrives in town claiming he has the ability to read minds and turns up an unexpected clue.