Episode 74
Writer: Pat Fielder and Arthur Browne, Jr.
Director: Don Medford
Original Air Date 05/17/1960
Cast
Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain
Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain
Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance
Guest Cast
Claude Akins was an American actor of stage, film and television. He appeared in over 100 movies and 180 television shows in a career spanning more than 40 years. He served in the US Army Signal Corps during World War II and was stationed in Burma and the Philippines. Prior to his military service, Akins attended Northwestern University where he studied theater and upon returning home from his last deployment, he rekindled his interest in art and drama, appearing in his first film role in "From Here to Eternity" (1953). Akins was broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, with a deep baritone voice and dark wavy hair. Gregarious, likeable and friendly, he was never short of work. He was equally adept at playing sneering cowardly villains and portraying hard-nosed cops. Akins is best remembered for his television role as Sheriff Lobo in the 1970's series "B.J. and the Bear" and later a spin-off series, "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo."
He quickly began notching up roles in TV shows, including "Dragnet," "My Friend Flicka" and "Zane Grey Theatre." He also turned in several strong cinematic performances, playing Mack in the excellent "The Defiant Ones" (1958), gunfighter Joe Burdette in the landmark western "Rio Bravo" (1959), Sgt. Kolwicz in "Merrill's Marauders" (1962) and Earl Sylvester in the gripping "The Killers" (1964). In the early 1970's Akins appeared in several supernatural TV films, playing "no-nonsense" sheriffs in both "The Night Stalker" and "The Norliss Tapes." He was virtually unrecognizable underneath his simian make-up as war-mongering General Aldo in "Battle for the Planet of the Apes" (1973). Akins continued staring in films and television until the time of his death from cancer in 1994.
Akins appeared in many classic western series, including "The Big Valley," "Gunsmoke," "The Virginian" and "Rawhide." He also appeared in three episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, playing Floyd Doniger in "The Safe Guard" (episode 8), Tom Benton in "Meeting at Midnight" (episode 74) and Bletch Droshek in "Strange Town" (episode 81).
Chris Alcaide made ten appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying different characters in each episode. He is best known for his roles in westerns, having appeared in over 400 television western programs. Alcaide, a veteran character actor of great range and talent appeared in a wide variety of projects, including "The Glass Menagerie," "The Wild One" with Marlon Brando, "Assassination" with Charles Bronson and "Kid Galahad" with Elvis Presley. Other movie credits include "The Miami Story," "Gunslinger," "Miami Expose," "The 49th Man," "Massacre Canyon" and "Rock All Night."
Richard Alexander was an American actor who worked in film and television for nearly 50 years. Most of his roles were uncredited, but he appeared in numerous films, including "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930), "Flash Gordon" (1936, 1938), "Zorro Rides Again" (1937) and "Requiem for a Gunfighter" (1965). He also made numerous television appearances, frequently in Westerns, including "The Lone Ranger" (1950–1953), "The Gene Autry Show" (1950), "Dick Tracy (1950), "Hopalong Cassidy" (1952), "Death Valley Days" (1952) and his final role in "Petrocelli" (1971).
Alexander appeared in four episodes of THE RIFLEMAN and was one of seven actors to play Nels/Nils Swenson/Swensen/Svenson, usually also listed in the credits as the Blacksmith. He appeared in "The Deserter" (episode 65), "Smoke Screen" (episode 68), "Meeting at Midnight" (episode 74) and "The Martinet" (episode 83).
Frank Dekova was an Italian-American stage, film and television actor. Originally a teacher, Dekova joined a Shakespearean repertory group and was eventually discovered by the legendary film director Elia Kazan. He appeared in nearly 140 movies and television shows in a career spanning more than 30 years. Dekova guest-starred in various popular TV shows, including the adventure series "Route 66" (1960–1964), starring Martin Milner; the crime drama "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), starring Robert Stack; the frontier farce starring Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch, "F Troop" (1965–1967), in which he had a recurring role as Chief Wild Eagle; and the iconic western family drama starring Melissa Gilbert, "Little House on the Prairie" (1974–1983).
Dekova made two guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Chief Hostay in "The Indian" (episode 21) and Carl Miller in "Meeting at Midnight" (episode 74). He guest-starred in numerous other westerns, almost always playing the role of a Native American chieftan. He appeared in "The Restless Gun" (1957–1959), starring John Payne; "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), in which he had a recurring role as Tobeel; "The Deputy" (1959–1961), starring Henry Fonda; "Rawhide" (1959–1966), starring Clint Eastwood; "Maverick" (1957–1962), starring James Garner; and "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), starring Clint Walker.
John Milford was an American actor, whose long career, primarily in television, included more than 164 acting roles spanning five decades. His first big break came with an uncredited appearance in the 1956 Oscar awarding winning film "Marty," starring Ernest Borgnine. Milford appeared in every television genre, from crime dramas, including "The F.B.I." (1965–1974) and "Mannix" (1967–1975), among many others, to sci-fi adventures, including "The Six Million Dollar Man" (1974–1978) and its spin-off "The Bionic Woman" (1976–1978). He appeared in many of the most popular series of their eras, including the sci-fi thriller "The Invaders" (1967–1968), sci-fi mini-series "The Planet of the Apes (1974), the family dramas "Little House on the Prairie" (1974–1983) and "Highway to Heaven" (1984–1989), and the sci-fi mystery "The X-Files" (1993–2002).
Milford played recurring roles in several series, including Ike Clanton for one season in "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961), Sgt. Kagey in "The Lieutenant" (1963–1964), Lt. Paul Hewitt in "The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" (1969–1972), and a co-starring role as Captain Dempsey in the action comedy "Enos" (1980–1981). In addition to the Wyatt Earp series, Milford appeared in many of the most popular western series of the 1950s through '70s, including "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "The Virginian" (1962–1971) and "The Big Valley" (1965–1969).
John Milford made eleven appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Ross Porter in "The Blowout" (episode 43), Dub in "The Coward" (episode 53), Jonas Winters in "The Horsetraders" (episode 60), Bro Hadley in "A Time for Singing" (episode 64), Morgan in "Meeting at Midnight" (episode 74), Marsh Watson in "The Pitchman" (episode 80), Hadley in "Baranca" (episode 82), Jack Solby in "Dark Day at North Fork" (episode 100), Reade in "The Clarence Bibs Story" (episode 104), Jess Grady in "The Journey Back" (episode 115) and Lt. Price in "The Assailants" (episode 149). Milford also appeared in two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN spin-off "Law of the Plainsman" (1959–1960).
Milford ran the Chamber Theatre on Cahuenga Blvd. West in Hollywood, where he helped many young actors get a start in the entertainment industry. He is also credited with the original design for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Ian Murray made appearances in seven episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, playing the recurring character of Harley Hannabury in six, including "The Challenge" (episode 28), "Blood Brothers" (episode 35), "Obituary" (episode 44), "The Fourflusher" (episode 72), "Meeting at Midnight" (credited as "Old Man")(episode 74), and "The Illustrator" (episode 88). He played a Townsman in "The Hangman" (episode 76).
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.
Lucas helps an old friend, a Federal Agent disguised as a wanted criminal, to infiltrate a gang of bank robbers and recover a large amount of stolen money.