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Lariat
Episode 67
Writer: Pat Fielder
Director: Don Medford
Original Air Date 03/29/1960

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Richard Anderson as Lariat Jones
Richard Anderson

Richard Anderson is an American actor whose career in film and television spanned more than fifty years.  He first became interested in acting at an early age, appearing in high school plays, and after serving in the Army, he began doing summer stock, radio work and playing bit parts in movies.  He performed comedy scenes modeled on a "screen test" format for a TV series called "Lights, Camera, Action" (1950).  Shortly thereafter, MGM offered him a contract.  Anderson went on to have a prolific television career with roles in genres ranging from detective dramas to westerns, including a recurring role in the last season of "Perry Mason" (1964–1966), playing police Lt. Steve Drumm, and also "Zorro," "Death Valley Days," "I Spy," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "The Fugitive," "The Big Valley," and many others.  In the 1970's he appeared in "Gunsmoke," "Ironside," and "The Love Boat," and in the 1980's he guest starred on "Charlie's Angels" and on "Dynasty."  Anderson is best known for his role as Oscar Goldman, boss to Lee Majors' "Six Million Dollar Man" and Lindsay Wagner's "Bionic Woman."

Richard Anderson made six guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, playing a different role in each episode.  He played Tom Birch in "One Went To Denver " (episode 25), the title role of Lariat Jones in "Lariat" (episode 67), Duke Jennings in "Miss Bertie" (episode 90), Jason Gowdy in " Flowers By the Door " (episode 92), Harry Chase in "Milly's Brother" (episode 140), and Griff in "The Bullet" (episode 163).

Steve Conte as Doyle Black

Steve Conte was an Italian-American actor who worked primarily in television.  He had more than 70 acting credits in a career spanning nearly 40 years.  He appeared in various low-budget horror films, including "Teenage Zombies" (1959), "Terror of the Bloodhunters" (1962) and "Face of the Screaming Werewolf" (1964).  Among the numerous television shows in which he guest-starred, Conte appeared in several westerns, sometimes multiple times, including "The Gene Autry Show" (1952–1955), "Death Valley Days" (1955–1957) "Broken Arrow" (1956–1958) and "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954–1959).  Conte made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Doyle Black in "Lariat" (episode 67).

Beverly Ann Englander as Miss Carlisle, the dance-hall girl
Beverly Ann Englander as Miss Carlisle the dance-h

James Flavin as Morody

James Flavin was a prolific American film, stage and television actor, appearing in nearly 500 movies and television shows in a career spanning almost 45 years.  Most of his many early film roles were uncredited.  Following his resignation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, he relocated to Portland, Maine, where he made a living as a taxi driver.  He was eventually discovered by a summer stock casting agent and managed to make his way into serious acting.  He guest-starred in virtually every genre in television, including the immensely popular family comedies "I Love Lucy" (1951–1957), "Mister Ed" (1961–1965) and "The Brady Bunch" (1969–1974), the crime dramas "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), "The Roaring 20s" (1960–1962) and "Man with a Camera" (1959–1960), as well as the legal drama "The Public Defender" (1954), the adventure series "The Adventures of Falcon" (1954) and "The Adventures of McGraw" (1957–1958), and Rod Serling's anthology series "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964).  Flavin also appeared in many of the classic variety shows of the Golden Age of Television, including "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" (1950–1958), "The Jack Benny Program" (1950–1965), as well as the anthology drama of the same era, "The Loretta Young Show" (1953–1961).

Flavin made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Morody in "Lariat" (episode 67).  It was one of the few screen roles he had in a western.  Finley's last role was portraying President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the TV movie "Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident" (1976).

Dayton Lummis as Jake Shaw

Dayton Lummis was a prolific American character actor of stage, film and television.  He appeared in nearly 140 movies and television shows during a career spanning 30 years.  He studied theater arts at the Martha Oatman School in Los Angeles and made his Broadway debut in 1943.  He is best-remembered for his portrayals of authority figures in anthology series and westerns.  He had several memorable film roles, including Messala in the historical drama "Julius Ceasar" (1953), starring Louis Calhern, Marlon Brando and James Mason; General Douglas MacArthur in the biographical war drama "The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell" (1955), starring Gary Cooper and Rod Steiger; Judge Groat in the Alfred Hitchcock noir film "The Wrong Man" (1956), starring Henry Fonda and Vera Miles; and Eddington in the film adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' satirical novel "Elmer Gantry" (1960), starring Burt Lancaster and Jean Simmons, as well as minor parts in notable films, including the biographical crime drama "Compulsion" (1959), starring Orson Welles and Dean Stockwell; and the Stanley Kubrick historical action adventure "Spartacus" (1960), starring Kirk Douglas.

Lummis guest-starred in a variety of anthology series, including "Four Star Playhouse" (1952–1962), "The Loretta Young Show" (1953–1961), "G.E. True Theater" (1953–1962) and "Playhouse 90" (1956–1961).  He guest-starred in several other popular television shows of the 1950s through the 60s, including the crime dramas "Dragnet" (1951–1959), "M Squad" (1957–1960), "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964) and "Arrest and Trial" (1963–1964), the family comedy "I Love Lucy" (1951–1957), the family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), the suspense series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962) and the horror series "Thriller" (1960–1962).  He also had a few recurring roles, including Dr. Hillary Tyson in the family sci-fi "Rocky Jones, Space Ranger" (1954) and Marshal Andy Morrison in the western "Law of the Plainsman" (1959).

Lummis made two appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Jake Shaw in "Lariat" (episode 67) and Colonel Craig in "The Illustrator" (episode 88). He guest-starred in several other westerns, including "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), hosted by Robert Taylor, "Laramie" (1959–1963), starring John Smith and Robert Fuller, "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), starring Clint Walker, "The Virginian" (1962–1971), starring James Drury, "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.

George Macready as Matt Wymerman
George Macready

George Macready was an American stage, film and television actor whose career spanned nearly 30 years.  He graduated from Brown University and worked briefly as a newspaperman in New York.  Attracted to the theater, on the advice of the Polish classical stage director Richard Boleslawski, Macready pursued an acting career.  Later, he claimed a common lineage with the 19th century Shakespearean thespian, William Macready.  His distinctive to-the-manor born diction, refined features, aristocratic bearing and prominent scar on his right cheek were affects well-suited to playing urbane but vaguely sinister characters.

Macready made his Broadway debut in 1926 in "The Scarlet Letter."  He continued to work on Broadway until 1958, appearing in 15 plays—mostly in dramatic roles, but also making some comedic turns.  Macready's first film credit was playing a schoolteacher in the 1942 World War II drama, "Commandos Strike at Dawn."  He appeared in numerous films, including "The Seventh Cross" and "The Missing Juror"(both in 1944), "Counter-Attack" and "My Name Is Julia Ross" (both in 1945).  His best role during the 1940's was the mysterious and malevolent Ballin Mundson in "Gilda" (1946), starring Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford.

Beginning in 1954, Macready appeared in numerous television series, ranging from westerns to crime and science fiction genres.  He made two appearances on THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Judge Zephonias Burton in "Eight Hours to Die" (episode 6) and Matt Wymerman in "Lariat" (episode 67).  His performance in Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" (1947), in which he plays French General Paul Mireau, is regarded as Macready's best work.   The film is a semi-fictionalized account of military brutality and mutiny in the French Army during World War I .

Bill Quinn as Sweeney, the Bartender
Bill Quinn as Sweeney, the Bartender

Bill Quinn was an American actor whose early career began in the 1920's in silent films and ended with the 1989 science fiction film, "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier."  Perhaps, his best-known role was Mr. Ranseleer, Archie Bunker's blind friend in "All In The Family" (1971-1978).  He also was a regular character in the Carroll O'Connor spin-off, "Archie Bunker's Place."  Quinn's other television credits include roles in "The Odd Couple" (1970-1975), "McHale's Navy" (1962-1966), and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-1977), in which he play Mary Richard's father.  In 1971, he appeared in Universal Pictures' "How to Frame a Figg" starring Don Knotts.  Quinn was a regular character in THE RIFLEMAN, appearing in 40 episodes as Sweeney, the Owner/Bartender of the North Fork Saloon.

Garry Walberg as Card Player, Friend of the Colonel

Garry Walberg is an American actor who has worked primarily in television.  He has appeared in nearly 100 movies and television shows during his 40-year career.  His few film roles include Adolph in the crime drama "Gangster Story" (1959), starring Walter Matthau; Martin Tilford in the western "Charro!" (1969), starring Elvis Presley; an uncredited role in the film adaptation of Michael Crichton's "The Andromeda Strain" (1971), starring Arthur, James Olson and Kate Reid; and Lt. Gen. Walton H. Walker in the biographical drama "MacArthur" (1977), starring Gregory Peck.  Walberg guest-starred in numerous popular television shows of the 1950s through the 80s, including the crime dramas "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), "M Squad" (1957–1960), "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), "Ironside" (1967–1975), "Police Story" (1973–1977) , "Kojak" (1973–1978), "Mannix" (1967–1975), the mystery whodunit "Murder, She Wrote" (1984–1996), the medical dramas "Dr. Kildare" (1961–1966) and "Ben Casey" (1961–1966), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the family comedy "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959–1963), the war drama "Combat!" (1962–1967), the classic sci-fi series "Star Trek" (1966–1969), the adventure series "The Fugitive" (1963–1967), the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), and the undercover cop series "Mod Squad" (1968–1973).

Walberg also had recurring roles is several TV series, playing Police Sgt. Sullivan in the drama "Johnny Staccato" (1959); Sgt. Edward Goddard in the primetime soap opera "Peyton Place" (1964–1969); Mr. Guffy in the family drama "The Waltons" (1971–1981); Speed in the comedy "The Odd Couple" (1970–1975), a role that he reprised in the TV movie "The Odd Couple: Together Again" (1993); and Lt. Frank Monahan in the medical forensic drama "Quincy M.E." (1976–1983).

Walberg made one (uncredited) appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying a friend of the Colonel in "Lariat" (episode 67).  He guest-starred in several other westerns of the 1950s through the 70s, including "Rawhide" (1959–1966), starring Clint Eastwood, "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, "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), hosted by Robert Taylor, "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts, and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness.

Harlan Warde as John Hamilton, President of the North Fork Bank
Harlan Warde as John Hamilton, President of the No

Harlan Warde was an American actor who appeared in 180 films and television series over a 40 year career.  Most of his early film roles were uncredited.  He appeared in 18 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying John Hamilton, President of the North Fork Bank.  His character debuted in "The Safeguard" (episode 8).   Warde had recurring roles in other television series, many in the Western genre.  Among his many other TV credits, he also appeared in "Dragnet" ( 1954), "You Are There" (1953–1956), "Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre" (1955 1957), "Perry Mason" (1958–1966), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), "Bonanza" (1962–1972), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969) and "The Fugitive" (1966 1967).


Lariat Jones, an old friend of Lucas', arrives in North Fork to open a gambling casino.  Lucas knows Lariat is an honest gambler, but has misgivings about two strangers who have gone into partnership with Lariat.  Tempers flare in the casino over accusations of card cheating. Gunplay ensues, but Lucas comes to the rescue of his friend.