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The Woman from Hog Ridge
Episode 78
Writer: Calvin J. Clements
Director: William Claxton
Original Air Date 10/04/1960

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Lane Bradford as Martin

Lane Bradford was an American television and film actor.  He appeared in more than 250 movies and television shows in a career spanning nearly 35 years.  A familiar face in western B movies and television series, many of his film roles in the 1940s and 50s were uncredited.  Bradford made his television debut in the crime drama series "Craig Kennedy, Criminologist" (1952).  He also appeared in "The Untouchables" (1959–1963) and "Perry Mason" (1957–1966).  Bradford guest-starred in most of the major western series of the 1950s and 60s, appearing mulitple times in many of them, including "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954–1959), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), "Cheyenne" (1955–1963) "Bonanza" (1959–1973), and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Martin in "Woman from Hog Ridge" (episode 78).

Robert F. Hoy as Lester

Robert "Bobby" F. Hoy was an American film and television actor, as well as a director and stuntman.  He appeared in more than 160 movies and television shows during a career spanning nearly 60 years.  After serving in the United States Marines during World War II, Hoy decided to pursue a career in show business.  He worked as a stunt double for many acclaimed actors, including Charles Bronson, Tony Curtis, Audie Murphy, Tyrone Power, Jay Silverheels and David Janssen.  In 1961, Hoy co-founded the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures.

Hoy appeared in numerous films, often playing minor parts or doing stunt work, including the musical drama "A Star Is Born" (1954), starring Judy Garland and James Mason; the biographical war drama "To Hell and Back" (1955), starring Audie Murphy; Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of "Spartacus" (1960), starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier and Jean Simmons; the Blake Edwards adventure comedy "The Great Race" (1965), starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood; the westerns "Nevada Smith" (1966), starring Steve McQueen, and "The Gambler:  The Adventure Continues" (1983), starring Kenny Rogers, as well as William A. Frakers "The Legend of the Lone Ranger" (1981).  He appeared in several Clint Eastwood pictures, including "The Outlaw Josey Wales" and "The Enforcer" (both 1976) and "Bronco Billy" (1980)

Hoy guest-starred in many popular television shows, including the action adventure "Sea Hunt" (1958–1961), the anthology series "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (1954–1990), the crime drama "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), the war drama "Combat!" (1962–1967), the espionage thrillers "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964–1968) and "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973), the science fiction cult classic "Star Trek" (1966–1969), the western action adventure "Kung Fu" (1972–1975), the police drama "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972–1977), the Aaron Spelling fantasy series "Fantasy Island" (1977–1984), the medical mystery "Quincy M.E." (1976–1983), the family drama "Little House on the Prairie" (1974–1983) and the primetime drama "Dallas" (1978–1991).

Hoy's most famous role was the recurring character of Joe Butler in the western series "The High Chaparral" (1967–1971).  He made three appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Lester in "Woman from Hog Ridge" (episode 78), Dabbs in "The Promoter" (episode 87) and a member of Wade's gang in "Which Way Did They Go?" (episode 167).  He guest-starred in many other westerns, the genre for which he was best-known and most fondly remembered, including "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone; "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), starring Dick Powell; "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen; "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), starring Gene Barry; "Branded" (1965–1966), starring THE RIFLEMAN's Chuck Connors; and "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts.  Toward the end of his life, Hoy was honored with a Golden Boot Award by the Motion Picture and Television Fund for making significant contributions to the western genre.  He made his final television appearance in the crime drama "NCIS" (2003– ).

Jim Hurst as Sylvester

Jim Hurst appeared in six television shows in five years.  He guest-starred in the private detective series "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964) and made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Sylvester in "Woman From Hog Ridge" (episode 78).  He guest-starred in a few other westerns, including "Bronco" (1958–1962), starring Ty Hardin; "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), starring Clint Walker; "The Virginian" (1962–1971), starring James Drury; and "Branded" (1965–1966), starring THE RIFLEMAN's Chuck Connors.

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.

Jan Stine as Johnny

Jan Stine, born Jan Russell Stine, was an American actor who primarily worked in television.  He appeared in nearly 30 movies and television shows during his brief career.  He guest-starred in several popular shows of the 1950s and 60s, including the comedy "The Real McCoys" (1957–1963), the family comedy "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959–1963), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966) and the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974).  Stine made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Johnny in "Woman from Hog Ridge" (episode 78) and Gorwin Morgan in "The High Country" (episode 122).  He guest-starred in a few other westerns, including "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), starring Dick Powell; "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen; and "The Virginian" (1962–1971), starring James Drury.

Charles Tannen as Josh Moore, Storekeeper at the Hardware Store
Charles Tannen

Charles Tannen, born Charles David Tannen, was an American television and film actor who appeared in more than 200 movies and television shows during his 30-year career.  He had uncredited roles in numerous films, including the romantic drama "The Dark Angel" (1935), starring Fredric March and Merle Oberon; the biographical drama "Young Mr. Lincoln" (1939), starring Henry Fonda; the crime drama "The Street with No Name" (1948), starring Mark Stevens and Richard Widmark; the landmark sci-fi drama "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951), starring Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal; and the sci-fi horror film "The Fly" (1958), starring David Hedison and Vincent Price.  Although his uncredited roles outnumber the credited ones, Tannen was cast in significant parts in several Henry Fonda films, including Charles Ford in the westerns "Jesse James" (1939) and "The Return of Frank James" (1940), and Joe in the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940).

Tannen guest-starred in many television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the family comedy "Father Knows Best" (1954–1960), the crime drama "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), the family comedy "Mister Ed" (1958–1966), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series, "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), and the comedy "Petticoat Junction" (1963–1970).  Tannen made six guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Barney the barber in "The Boarding House" (episode 22), the bartender in "Sins of the Father" (episode 70), Josh Moore in "The Jailbird" (episode 73) and "Woman from Hog Ridge" (episode 78), Mr. Penn in "Miss Milly" (episode 84), and Jack Carson in "The Actress" (episode 94).  He guest-starred in many other westerns, including "The Roy Rogers Show" (1951–1957), "Maverick" (1957–1962), "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), "Laramie" (1959–1963), "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), "Cheyenne" (1955–1963) and "Rawhide" (1959–1966).

Dee J. Thompson as Ma Boyle

Dee J. Thompson appeared in 35 movies and television shows during a 20-year career.  She portrayed Donna in the romantic comedy "The Glass Bottom Boat" (1966), starring Doris Day, Rod Taylor and Arthur Godfrey.  She guest-starred in several popular television shows of the 1950s and 60s, including the crime drama "Dragnet" (1951–1959), the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), the comedy "Hazel" (1961–1966), the suspense anthology series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962) and the family comedy "My Three Sons" (1960–1972).  She had a recurring role playing Agnes in the Imogene Coca comedy "Grindl" (1963–1964).  Thompson made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Ma Boyle in "Woman from Hog Ridge" (episode 78).  She also guest-starred in the westerns "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness, and "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), starring Barbara Stanwyck.


Lucas tries to stop two young men from stealing a horse and is forced to shoot it out with them.  One thief is killed, the other is captured.  Shortly thereafter, the Matriarch of a backwoods clan appears in town, backed by her tough and imposing family of boys.  She announces that the two thieves were her sons, and she is in town to get the man who killed one of them and captured the other.  It looks as though Lucas will have to defend himself against the whole family, but Mark unexpectedly supplies the solution.