My Cart
Return to Season 3 Index

The Promoter
Episode 87
Writer: Philip Saltzman
Director: Dick Moder
Original Air Date 12/06/1960

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Dabbs Greer as Jack Scully
Dabbs Greer

Dabbs Greer was an American actor who had a prolific career spanning more than 50 years.   A highly recognizable character actor—the quintessential everyman—he played a wide range of supporting roles in film and television.  Originally from Missouri, his southern accent lent authenticity to the rural characters he often portrayed, especially in Westerns.  Frequently cast as a minister, his most memorable role may have been Reverend Alden in "Little House on the Prairie" (1974–1983).

Greer made his film debut in the 1938 feature "Jesse James."  He appeared in the 1958 film noir "I Want to Live" and reprised a similar role in the 1999 film, "The Green Mile," in which he played the Tom Hank's character, Paul Edgecomb, as an elderly man.  

Greer appeared in several recurring roles in popular television series in the 1950's and 1960's, including THE RIFLEMAN, in which he guest-starred eight times: he portrayed Marcus Trimble in "Outlaw's Inheritance" (episode 38), Sam Elder in "Boomerang" (episode 39), Brett in "Panic" (episode 47), Farley Steele Weaver in "The Jailbird" (episode 73), Jack Scully in "The Promoter" (episode 87), Finny in "The Wyoming Story, Parts I and II" (episodes 96 and 97), and Taylor, a prison guard in "The Stand-In" (episode 114).

Greer's recurring roles in other popular TV series included "Hank" (1965–1966), in which he played track coach Ossie Weiss, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir" (1968-–1970), as Sheriff Norris "Norrie" Coolidge, and in"Gunsmoke" (1955–1975) as storekeeper Wilbur Jonas.

Robert F. Hoy as Dabbs

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– ).

Jack Lester as Black Hat Murphy

Jack Lester, born Jack Lester Swineford, was an American actor who worked primarily in radio and television.  He appeared in 40 movies and television shows during a career spanning more than 60 years.  He guest-starred in a few popular television shows of the 1950s and 60s, including the action crime drama "Highway Patrol" (1955–1959), starring Broderick Crawford, and the dramatic anthology series "The Loretta Young Show" (1953–1961).  He also provided voices in the animated family feature "The Last Unicorn" (1982).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Black Hat Murphy in "The Promoter" (episode 87).  He guest-starred in several other westerns, including "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness, "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), starring Dick Powell, "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), starring Dale Robertson, "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), starring Gene Barry, and "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts.

Denny Miller as Reuben Miles

Denny Miller, born Dennis Linn Miller, is an American actor who has worked primarily in television.  He has appeared in nearly 100 movies and television shows in a career spanning nearly five decades.  He guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1960s through the 90s, including the medical drama "Ben Casey" (1961–1966), the adventure drama "The Fugitive" (1963–1967), the sitcoms "Gilligan's Island" (1964–1965) and "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965–1970), the espionage thrillers "I Spy" (1965–1968) and "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973), the police drama "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972–1977), the crime drama "Barnaby Jones" (1973–1980), the science fiction series "Battlestar Galactica" (1978–1979), the fantasy drama "Fantasy Island" (1978–1984), the action crime drama "Charlie's Angels" (1976–1981), the action adventure "The Fall Guy" (1981–1986) and the murder mystery "Murder, She Wrote" (1984–1996).

Miller also had several recurring roles, including Duke Shannon in the western "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), Mike McCluskey in the sitcom "Mona McCluskey" (1965–1966), Max Flowers in the soap opera "Dallas" (1978–1991) and Sheriff Owen Kearney in the western "Lonesome Dove: The Series" (1994–1995).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Reuben Miles in "The Promoter" (episode 87).  He has guest-starred in several other westerns, including "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone, "Laramie" (1959–1963), starring John Smith and Robert Fuller, "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), hosted by Robert Taylor, "The Virginian" (1962–1971), starring James Drury, and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness.

Ollie O'Toole as John Crabtree

Ollie O'Toole was an American television and film actor.  He appeared in nearly 90 movies and television shows in a career spanning more than 30 years.  He guest-starred in many popular shows, including "The Adventures of Superman" (1952–1958), the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), the family comedies "Dennis the Menace" (1959–1963), "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960–1968) and "Mister Ed" (1958–1966), the iconic crime drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), and the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973).

O'Toole made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying John Crabtree in "The Promoter" (episode 87).  He also guest-starred in numerous other westerns, including "Maverick" (1957–1962), starring James Garner, "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), starring Gene Barry, "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), starring Hugh O'Brian, "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone, "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness, and "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon.


A fast-talking con man makes his living by provoking gunfights and betting on his youthful, dull-witted traveling companion (whose talent is his prowess with a six-shooter) to win the fights.  He wrongfully calls out Lucas for a gunfight that he does not know is fixed.