Episode 63
Writer: Pat Fielder
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Original Air Date 03/01/1960
Cast
Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain
Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain
Guest Cast
James Anderson, sometimes billed as Kyle James, was an American television and film actor. He appeared in more than 100 television shows and movies during his 30-year career, although virtually all of his early roles were uncredited. He was typecast as the brutish villain and is best-remembered for his portrayal of Bob Ewell in "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962). Anderson made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, playing the role of Johnny Denver in "The Grasshopper" (episode 63). He also guest-starred in "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954–1959), "Yancy Derringer" (1958–1959) and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).
Joe Bassett, born Joseph George Bassett, was an American film and television actor who appeared in 48 television shows and movies in a 13-year career. Many of his acting roles were in westerns, including "Tales of the Texas Rangers" (1955–1959), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965) and "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961). Bassett made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Nat Gilkey in "Duel of Honor" (episode 7) and Sammy Morody in "The Grasshopper" (episode 63).
Richard Devon made seven guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying different characters in each episode. He played Jethroe in "Blood Brothers" (episode 35), Austin Stark in "The Spiked Rifle" (episode 49), Walt Ryerson in "The Grasshopper" (episode 63), Jack Adams in "Miss Milly" (episode 84), Ben Macowan in "The Silent Knife" (episode 89), Gus Potter in "The Stand-In" (episode 114), and Lovett, the Gunslinger, in "The Most Amazing Man" (episode 151).
Joe Haworth was an American film and television actor, in addition to being a notable Hollywood photographer. Born into an acting family, Haworth appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows during his 40-year career. Most of his movie roles were uncredited; although, he appeared in many film classics, including the noir film "Thieves' Highway" (1949), the war dramas "Gung Ho!: The Story of Carlson's Makin Island Raiders" (1943), which was his film debut, "Red Badge of Courage" (1951) and "The Caine Mutiny" (1954). He also appeared in the action-adventure film "3:10 to Yuma" (1957), and Stanley Kubrick's Oscar-winning film based on the novel of the same name, "Spartacus" (1960). Haworth also appeared in the western "The Royal Mounted Rides Again" (1945), in which he replaced Addison Randall, who was killed on the first day of filming.
In television, Haworth proved to be quite a versatile actor, guest-starring in many popular series of the 1950s through the 70s, including the comedy "The Abbott and Costello Show" (1952–1953), the action series "Highway Patrol" (1955–1959), "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (1954–1990), the crime dramas "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1957–1960) and "M Squad" (1957–1960), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series "Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973), and the long-running family drama "Little House on the Prairie" (1974–1983).
Haworth made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Marshal Bennett in "End of a Young Gun" (episode 3) and Davis in "The Grasshopper" (episode 63). Haworth guest-starred in several other popular westerns of the 1950s and 60s, including "My Friend Flicka" (1955–1958), starring Frank Ferguson, "Alias Smith and Jones" (1971–1973), starring Ben Murphy and Pete Duel, "Sky King" (1951–1962), starring Kirby Grant and Gloria Winters, "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), starring Clayton Moore, "Annie Oakley" (1954–1956), starring Gail Davis, "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen, "The Deputy" (1959–1961), starring Henry Fonda, "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon, and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness.
Arthur Hunnicutt was an American stage, film and television actor who appeared in 90 movies and television shows during a career spanning more than 30 years. He attended Arkansas State Teachers College, but left before graduating for lack of funds. He eventually made his way to New York, where he soon began performing on Broadway. In stage productions, he established a persona for which he would be typecast, playing grizzled country characters. He played Davy Crockett in the historical western "The Last Command" (1955) and co-starred with Marjorie Main ("Ma" Kettle), playing Sedgewick "Pa" Kettle in "The Kettles of the Ozarks" (1955). He received an Oscar nomination in the category of "Best Supporting Actor" for his role as Zeb Calloway in the western "The Big Sky" (1952), in which he appeared opposite Kirk Douglas. Among his other notable films roles were his portrayal of Mitt Duffield in the western "Broken Arrow" (1950), starring James Stewart; Bill Porter in the war drama "The Red Badge of Courage" (1951), starring Audie Murphy, Bill Mauldin and Douglas Dick; Wade Carlton in the adventure film "Harry and Tonto" (1974), starring Art Carney; and Uncle Jesse Hags in the action film "The Moonrunners" (1975), in which he co-starred with James Mitchum and Kiel Martin.
Hunnicut guest-starred in several popular television shows, including the family comedy "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960–1968), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), the anthology series "The Outer Limits" (1963–1965), the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969) and the crime drama "Adam-12" (1968–1975).
Hunnicutt made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Nathaniel Cameron in "The Grasshopper" (episode 63). He guest-starred in several other westerns, including "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), starring Clint Walker; "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen; "Laramie" (1959–1963), starring John Smith and Robert Fuller; "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring John McIntyre and Ward Bond; "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts; and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness. In his later years, Hunnicutt served as the honorary mayor of Northridge, California.
Renny McEvoy was an American film and television actor. He appeared in more than 70 movies and television shows during a career spanning nearly 30 years. He had a few roles in notable films, including Johnny Leeweather in the Cecil B. DeMille World War II film "The Story of Dr. Wassell" (1944), starring Gary Cooper, Laraine Day, Signe Hasso and Dennis O'Keefe; and an uncredited role in the comedy "Let's Make It Legal" (1951), starring Claudette Colbert, Macdonald Carey, Zachary Scott, Barbara Bates and Marilyn Monroe.
McEvoy guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 60s, including the crime drama "Dragnet" (1951–1959), the action adventure series "Adventures of Superman" (1952–1958), the anthology series "Four Star Playhouse" (1952–1956), "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (1954–1990) and "The Loretta Young Show" (1953–1961), the detective drama "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), the family sitcom "The Donna Reed Show" (1958–1966) and the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966). He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Burke in "The Grasshopper" (episode 63). He also guest-starred in the westerns "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring John McIntyre and Ward Bond, "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts, and "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), starring Barbara Stanwyck.
Stuart Randall was an American film and television actor. He appeared in nearly 140 movies and television shows during his 20-year career. He had many film roles, including the sheriff in the western "Bells of Coronado" (1950), starring Roy Rogers; an uncredited role as Detective McGill in the drama "This Woman Is Dangerous" (1952), starring Joan Crawford; Pemberton in the western "Pony Express" (1953), starring Charlton Heston; an uncredited role as Joseph's elder in Cecile B. DeMille's Bible epic "The Ten Commandments" (1956), starring an ensemble cast led by Charlton Heston; the sheriff in "College Confidential" (1960), starring Steve Allen; and an uncredited role as McAlester in the western "True Grit" (1969), starring John Wayne and Kim Darby.
Although Randall worked primarily in the western genre, he also appeared in other notable television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the superhero action series "Adventures of Superman" (1952–1958) and the legal crime dramas "Perry Mason" (1957–1966) and "Ironside" (1967–1975). He also had several recurring roles, including Sheriff Art Sampson in the western "Cimarron City" (1958–1960), starring George Montgomery; Rupe Prentice in the western "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), starring Hugh O'Brian; Sheriff Mort Corey in the western "Laramie" (1959–1963), starring John Smith and Robert Fuller; and Lens Briggs in the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974). Randall made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Curge Palmer in "The Gaucho" (episode 14) and Marshal Dixon in "The Grasshopper" (episode 63). He guest-starred in nearly all of the other iconic westerns, including "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "The Restless Gun" (1957–1959), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "Maverick" (1957–1962), "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), and "Bonanza" (1959–1973).
Arthur Space, born Charles Arthur Space, was an American stage, film and television actor. He appeared in more than 260 movie and television shows during a career spanning 40 years. He got his start in summer stock theater and eventually made the transition to Broadway. He had roles in several memorable films, including Mr. Brown in the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's "Tortilla Flat" (1942), starring Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, John Garfield and Frank Morgan; and Donald Hall in the biographical drama "The Spirit of St. Louis" (1957), starring James Stewart and Murray Hamilton; as well as minor parts in the noir film "The Woman in the Window" (1944), starring Edward G. Robsinson and Joan Bennett; and the drama "A Star Is Born" (1944), starring Judy Garland, James Mason and Jack Carson; however, he is probably best-remembered for his recurring television role as Doc Weaver in the family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974).
Space guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the superhero series "Adventures of Superman" (1952–1958), the suspense anthology series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), the family comedy "Leave It to Beaver" (1957–1963), the Disney adventure series "Zorro" (1957–1959), the crime drama "M Squad" (1957–1960), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), the crime drama "Ironside" (1967–1975) and the family drama "The Waltons" (1971–1981).
Space made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying the conductor in "The Grasshopper" (episode 63). He guest-starred in many other westerns, including "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), starring Dick Powell; "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen; "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), starring Gene Barry; "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), starring Hugh O'Brian; "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), hosted by Robert Taylor; "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone; "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts; and "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), starring Barbara Stanwyck.
Lucas and Mark go on a train trip and find themselves held at gunpoint by a prisoner being transported on the same train. A plague of grasshoppers strands the train, and the prisoner takes advantage of the emergency to escape from the lawman-escort. Lucas, with the help of an old buffalo hunter, finds a way to outwit the criminal.