Checkmate (1962)

 

Despite a novel concept for its era--a detective agency that attempts to prevent premeditated crimes rather than solve them after the fact--and a roster of guest stars that included many Hollywood heavyweights, including Jack Benny in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Game" (January 3, 1962), Eleanor Parker in "The Renaissance of Gussie Hill" (January 17, 1962), Patricia Neal in "The Yacht Club Gang" (January 30, 1962), Walter Pidgeon in "Death Beyond Recall" (February 7, 1962), George Sanders in "The Sound of Nervous Laughter" (February 14, 1962), Dana Andrews in "Trial by Midnight" (March 28, 1962), and Celeste Holm in "So Beats My Plastic Heart" (April 11, 1962), Checkmate failed to sustain its ratings success from Season 1 and was canceled after only 2 seasons and 70 episodes. As late as March 31 TV Guide reported that the program would likely return to a Saturday night time slot on CBS next season to make way for new sit-com The Beverly Hillbillies on Wednesday night, but the May 5 issue of TV Guide noted that CBS had been unable to find new time slots for Checkmate and Hennesey and that both would be offered for syndication. Yet the July 14 edition featured a cover story on lead actor Anthony George, who vented about his frustrations in being upstaged by co-stars Sebastian Cabot and Doug McClure. In our post on the 1961 episodes, we touched on McClure's unhappiness with his character's depiction in the early episodes of the series, while several episodes shone the spotlight on Sebastian Cabot in being centered around revenge plots against his character. The introduction of a fourth Checkmate investigator played by Jack Betts also tended to push George or McClure out of the picture for much of the episodes in which character Chris Devlin appeared, such as the final episode "Side by Side" (June 20, 1962) in which McClure's Jed Sills shows up only in a gratuitous scene with Cabot after returning from vacation. In short, no one seemed happy in having to share screen time with the other two co-stars.

This struggle between stars may have dimmed the show's long-term popularity, but George's nondescript Don Corey character could also be to blame. We mentioned in our previous post on the show that he is matched up with a former flame in one 1961 episode in an attempt to add some depth to the character, but largely he is fairly straight-laced and serious, making him hard to warm up to as one does to Cabot's avuncular Hyatt or McClure's boyish Sills. While Hyatt gets to flirt with a Zsa Zsa-like European celebrity in "Will the Real Killer Please Stand Up?" (May 23, 1962) and just happens to be hanging out in a monastery when it is taken hostage by a pair of escaped ex-cons in "A Chant of Silence" (March 21, 1962), Sills is the one most often called on to go undercover in order to flush out a prospective killer, and his character is burnished thereby because several of these assignments have a comic undertone. In "The Sound of Nervous Laughter" he takes a bit part in a theatrical production when the play's leading man is threatened, and his brief stage performance subjects him to ribbing by his two colleagues. In "An Assassin Arrives Andante" (February 21, 1962) he shows up at a serious music conservatory, where the cello teacher is in peril, as a beatnik-tongued bongo student, and in "Ride a Wild Horse" (April 4, 1962) he has to join a rodeo as a bronco rider when the star of the show is being stalked, forcing him to take a ride on a bucking horse to keep up appearances. He also works as a gym teacher in a settlement home for disadvantaged youth, pretends to be a young man in search of answers in a hobo camp, poses as a student auditing a judge's law school night class, and takes up residence in an arts commune when its proprietor has a near fatal accident and receives a threatening package in the mail. While Don Corey may be the face of the serious research detective, Sills is more often placed in the center of the action, which certainly enhances screen time for McClure.

While McClure had earlier complained that his character came off as a flirtatious jerk in Season 1, two 1962 episodes place him in professionally compromising situations but never portray them as an ethical problem. In his stay at the arts commune in "So Beats My Plastic Heart" to identify which of proprietor Laraine Whitman's artists is trying to kill her, Sills quickly falls in love with poet Hope Anthony, even though she is one of the prime suspects. Though she eventually turns out not to be the perpetrator, Sills quickly dismisses any suspicion of her once he becomes romantically involved. Likewise in "Down the Gardenia Path" (June 6, 1962) he immediately exonerates Vicki Angelo for her involvement in a blackmail scheme because he has fallen in love with her, even though there is no evidence to clear her at this point. Instead, he simply tells his colleagues that he has a hunch that she is not the type to engage in such a crime. What he doesn't know is that she is involved in such a scheme, though under duress. But there are no repercussions or even a discussion about Sills' lack of professional judgment in getting involved with suspects. Cabot's character Carl Hyatt is also easily swayed by a pretty face when he is charmed by European celebrity Maria Richards in "Will the Real Killer Please Stand Up?," and bids her adieu wistfully as she is led away to prison seemingly not the least bit disturbed by the fact that she hired an assassin to kill three brothers in order to steal their inheritance. Perhaps part of Checkmate's failure was due to having its morally upright character Don Corey come off as a bore while its two colorful characters, Hyatt and Sills, are ethically challenged.

Still, in addition to trailblazing the criminal profiling genre, Checkmate occasionally delivered superior stories or interesting angles over its run. One of the better episodes for 1962 is "Death Beyond Recall," which offers an unusual plot wherein a renowned defense attorney pays for his own assassination when he thinks that a bar association investigation will ruin his career but then changes his mind and can't undo the hit because the only man who knows who the assassin is has himself been killed. "The Yacht Club Gang" employs the familiar who-will-do-it mystery formula from an ensemble cast but is lifted by the performance of Steve Franken, channeling his Chatsworth Osborne character from The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis to portray quirky and brilliant rich kid Dunc Tomlinson. But perhaps the best episode in terms of believability is "Rendezvous in Washington" (May 9, 1962) in its stark depiction of marital infidelity. While protagonist Frederic Haley is shown to be a man of compassion in putting aside his very successful career in industry to seek the position of Overseas Director at a large philanthropic organization so that he can better the lives of impoverished residents of underdeveloped nations, he has a blind spot when it comes to his marriage, hiring Checkmate to protect his mistress Pauline Spencer after apparent threats to her life and rationalizing the relationship by saying that he and his wife haven't been close in some time and that he plans to divorce and remarry once he is approved for the Director position. However, it should be clear to all concerned that something isn't right if having his affair publicized would jeopardize his approval by the organization's board of directors. Hyatt, who has known Haley and his wife for years, says he is saddened by the news that their marriage is failing, but he also says he will not pass judgment on Haley's actions. Yet after the Pauline's assailant turns out to be his college-age son Ted, who has become disillusioned after learning his father is just like the fathers of his fellow students from broken homes, Pauline is the one who breaks off the relationship, correctly recognizing that Haley needs to attend to his son and his philanthropic work, not a romance that puts all that in jeopardy. Too often movies and TV programs attempt to justify marital infidelity by portraying the scorned partner as evil, indifferent, or in some other way unworthy of the straying partner's loyalty. This is not an argument against divorce per se, but an argument in favor of being honest with one's partner if one feels the marriage isn't working. Though Haley never seems to get the message in this episode, Pauline perhaps understands that a life with him means that some day she could be the scorned wife. Such a mature conclusion to a tangled subject was rare in 1962. Had Checkmate had the courage to tackle issues like this one more often, and found a way to balance the competing interests of its three stars, perhaps it could have had a run more like The Defenders instead of petering out after only 2 seasons.

The Actors

For the biographies for Anthony George, Doug McClure, and Sebastian Cabot, see the post for Checkmate 1960. For the biography for Jack Betts, see the post for Checkmate 1961.

Notable Guest Stars

Season 2, Episode 12, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Game": Jack Benny (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Jack Benny Program) plays comedian Jack Bowen. Tina Louise (starred in God's Little Acre, For Those Who Think Young, The Wrecking Crew, and The Stepford Wives and played Ginger Grant on Gilligan's Island and Julie Grey on Dallas) plays Pioneer Bowl PR manager Jo Ann Dunn. Otto Kruger (appeared in Treasure Island, Dracula's Daughter, Saboteur, Murder, My Sweet, and High Noon) plays business tycoon George Emory. Edward Mallory (Bill Riley on Morning Star and Bill Horton on Days of Our Lives) plays photographer Arthur Cole. Bill Idleson (played Babcock on The Bill Dana Show and wrote screenplays for multiple episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle, USMC, and The Odd Couple as well as many other programs) plays bellhop Harold. Robert Karnes (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Lawless Years) plays police Lt. March. Dick Wilson (Dino Barone on McHale's Navy and George Whipple in Charmin toilet paper commercials) plays a hotel desk clerk. Norman Leavitt (Ralph on Trackdown) plays a parade float Indian.

Season 2, Episode 13, "The Star System": Elizabeth Montgomery (shown on the far right, starred in Johnny Cool, Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?, and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini and played Samantha Stephens on Bewitched) plays temperamental movie star Vicky Page. Jack Lord (shown on the near right, played Stoney Burke on Stoney Burke and Det. Steve McGarrett on Hawaii Five-O) plays independent film director Ernie Chapin. Emile Genest (Napoleon Plouffe on La famille Plouffe and Charles Gougier on Monsieur le ministre) plays Vicky's director Felix Landaur. Carole Eastman (wrote the screenplays for The Shooting, Five Easy Pieces, and The Fortune) plays starlet Julie Emhart. Russ Conway (Fenton Hardy on The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure, Gen. Devon on Men Into Space, and Lt. Pete Kile on Richard Diamond, Private Detective) plays movie studio boss Bernard Hoffman. John Bryant (Dr. Carl Spaulding on The Virginian) plays Vicky's co-star. Gail Bonney (Goodwife Martin on Space Patrol and Madeline Schweitzer on December Bride) plays casting director Grace Canfield. Ted Bessell (Thomas DeWitt on It's a Man's World, Frankie on Gomer Pyle: USMC, Donald Hollinger on That Girl, Mike Reynolds on Me and the Chimp, Harry Jenkins on Good Time Harry, and Gen. Oliver Mansfield on Hail to the Chief) plays the assistant director.

Season 2, Episode 14, "The Renaissance of Gussie Hill": Eleanor Parker (shown on the far left, starred in Of Human Bondage, The Man With the Golden Arm, Return to Peyton Place, and The Sound of Music and played Sylvia Caldwell on Bracken's World) plays women's spa employee Marion Bannion. Herschel Bernardi (shown on the near left, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Peter Gunn) plays her former boyfriend Ned Hazly. Harriet E. MacGibbon (Margaret Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies) plays her employer Countess D'Olan. Cliff Norton (appeared in McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, and The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! and played Boss on It's About Time and Isaac Meyer on General Hospital) plays strip club manager Jinx. Larry J. Blake (played the unnamed jailer on Yancy Derringer and Tom Parnell on Saints and Sinners) plays a hotel clerk. Annette Cabot (Sebastian Cabot's daughter) plays a spa attendant.

Season 2, Episode 15, "A Very Rough Sketch": Keir Dullea (shown on the right, starred in David and Lisa, The Thin Red Line, Bunny Lake Is Missing, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and De Sade and played Dr. Mark Jarrett on Guiding Light, Devon on The Starlost, and Dr. Steven Meye on The Path) plays volatile art student Eddie Phillips. Dina Merrill (daughter of investment icon E.F. Hutton, starred in Desk Set, Operation Petticoat, BUtterfield 8, The Sundowners, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, and The Player and played Calamity Jan on Batman and Estelle Modrian on Hot Pursuit) plays art teacher Laura Hammond. Robert Ellenstein (appeared in 3:10 to Yuma, Too Much Too Soon, and North by Northwest) plays settlement home manager Rudy Pasada. Dan Sheridan (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Lawman) plays Eddie's uncle Al McDowell. Eve McVeagh (starred in High Noon, The Glass Web, and Tight Spot and played Miss Hammond on Petticoat Junction) plays Eddie's aunt Bess McDowell. Martin Dean (Junior on Dick Tracy) plays a basketball player at the settlement home.

Season 2, Episode 16, "The Yacht Club Gang": Patricia Neal (shown on the left, Oscar and Tony winner, starred in The Fountainhead, The Day the Earth Stood Still, A Face in the Crowd, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Hud) plays yacht club manager Fran Davis. John Baragrey (appeared in The Creeper, Pardners, and The Fugitive Kind and played James Blair on Dark Shadows) plays prominent attorney Mitchell Kane. John Astin (appeared in That Touch of Mink, The Wheeler Dealers, Move Over, Darling, Viva Max, and Freaky Friday and played Harry Dickens on I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, Gomez Addams on The Addams Family, Rudy Pruitt on The Phyllis Diller Show, Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Sherman on Operation Petticoat, Ed LaSalle on Mary, Buddy Ryan on Night Court, Radford on Eerie, Indiana, and Prof. Albert Wickwire on The Adventures of Briscoe County, Jr.) plays fired lawyer Jim Poole. Steve Franken (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) plays Kane's client's son Dunc Tomlinson. Paul Tripp (host of children's shows Mr. I. Magination and On the Carousel and co-creator of Tubby the Tuba) plays yacht club board member Dean Phillips. George N. Neise (Capitan Felipe Arrellanos on Zorro, Dr. Nat Wyndham on Wichita Town, and Colonel Thornton on McKeever & the Colonel) plays yacht club member George. 

Season 2, Episode 17, "Death Beyond Recall": Walter Pidgeon (shown on the right, starred in How Green Was My Valley, Mrs. Miniver, Madame Curie, Forbidden Planet, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Funny Girl) plays prominent defense attorney John Baker. Mary LaRoche (appeared in Run Silent, Run Deep, Gidget, Bye Bye Birdie, and The Swinger and played Barbara Scott on Karen) plays his wife Martha. Kent Smith (starred in Cat People, This Land Is Mine, Hitler's Children, Curse of the Cat People, Nora Prentiss, The Spiral Staircase, and The Fountainhead and played Dr. Robert Morton on Peyton Place and Edgar Scoville on The Invaders) plays his law partner Charles Ainslee. Stafford Repp (Chief O'Hara on Batman) plays mobster Thomas Malloy. Elaine Edwards (starred in The Bat, The Purple Gang, Three Blondes in His Life, and Pamela, Pamela, You Are...) plays Malloy's girlfriend Gloria Del Ray. Allen Emerson (Doug on The New Loretta Young Show) plays a reporter.

Season 2, Episode 18, "The Sound of Nervous Laughter": George Sanders (shown on the left, Oscar winner, starred in The Lodger, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, All About Eve, Ivanhoe, Village of the Damned, and A Shot in the Dark and played The Saint in 5 feature films and The Falcon in 4 feature films) plays washed-up actor Richard Gilmore. John Emery (appeared in Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Blood on the Sun, Spellbound, The Woman in White, and Rocketship X-M) plays his director Lawrence Price. Ross Elliott (Freddie the director on The Jack Benny Program and Sheriff Abbott on The Virginian) plays talent scout Jerry Brunson. George Cisar (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Dennis the Menace) plays a hotel manager.

Season 2, Episode 19, "An Assassin Arrives Andante": Werner Klemperer (shown on the right, starred in Five Steps to Danger, Operation Eichmann, and Judgment at Nuremberg and played Col. Klink on Hogan's Heroes) plays Music Conservatory owner Franz Leder. Richard Conte (appeared in A Walk in the Sun, 13 Rue Madeleine, Call Northside 777, Ocean's 11, and Lady in Cement and played Jeff Ryder on The Four Just Men) plays cello teacher Victor Ragar. Signe Hasso (appeared in Heaven Can Wait (1943), The House on 92nd Street, and To the Ends of the Earth) plays Ragar's wife Marta. Noah Keen (Det. Lt. Carl Bone on Arrest and Trial) plays Marta's first husband Paul Delorio. 

Season 2, Episode 20, "Remembrance of Crimes Past": Angie Dickinson (shown on the left, starred in Rio Bravo, Ocean's Eleven (1960), Point Blank, Sam Whiskey, and Big Bad Mama and played Sgt. Suzanne Anderson on Police Woman, Cassie Holland on Cassie & Co., and Josie Ito on Wild Palms) plays convicted spy Karen Vale. Anne Seymour (appeared in All the King's Men, The Gift of Love, The Subterraneans, and Fitzwilly and played Lucia Garrett on Empire and Beatrice Hewitt on General Hospital) plays wayward girls' home owner Mrs. Creighton. Joyce Van Patten (appeared in I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!, Mame, The Bad News Bears, St. Elmo's Fire, and The Falcon and the Snowman and played Janice Turner Hughes on As the World Turns, Clara Kershaw on Young Dr. Malone, Claudia Gramus on The Good Guys, Iris Chapman on The Mary Tyler Moore Hour, Helen Marsh on All My Children, and Maureen Slattery on Unhappily Ever After) plays women's home resident Marcia James. Warren Stevens (starred in The Frogmen, The Barefoot Contessa, Deadline U.S.A., and Forbidden Planet, played Lt. William Storm on Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers, and was the voice of John Bracken on Bracken's World) plays Karen's former boyfriend John Lawrence. Stuart Nisbet (Bart the bartender on The Virginian) plays conspirator George Vesey. 

Season 2, Episode 21, "The Heart is a Handout": Myron McCormick (shown on the right, starred in No Time for Sergeants and The Hustler) plays hobo camp kingpin Doc Walters. Dabbs Greer (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Gunsmoke) plays hobo evangelist Hokey. Harry Dean Stanton (appeared in Kelly's Heroes, Dillinger, Cool Hand Luke, Repo Man, Pretty in Pink, Alien, Paris, Texas and played Jake Walters on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) plays a hobo folk singer. Gage Clarke (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Gunsmoke) plays Walter's family executor Harry Williams. Sean McClory (Jack McGivern on The Californians and Myles Delaney on Bring 'Em Back Alive) plays traveling salesman Stamper.

Season 2, Episode 22, "Brooding Fixation": Scott Marlowe (Nick Koslo on Executive Suite, Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives, and Michael Burke on Valley of the Dolls) plays son of recently deceased industrialist Daniel Brack. Mary Astor (shown on the left, starred in Beau Brummel, Don Juan, The Great Lie, The Maltese Falcon, and Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte) plays his mother Esther. Frank Overton (starred in Desire Under the Elms, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Fail-Safe and played Major Harvey Stovall on 12 O'Clock High) plays his uncle Martin. Olive Sturgess (Carol Henning on The Bob Cummings Show) plays Daniel's girlfriend Felice O'Neill. Ford Rainey (the biography section for the 1961 post on Window on Main Street) plays Felice's father Paul. Maurice Manson (Frederick Timberlake on Dennis the Menace, Josh Egan on Hazel, and Hank Pinkham on General Hospital) plays a Brack board member.

Season 2, Episode 23, "A Chant of Silence": James Coburn (shown on the right, starred in The Magnificent Seven, Charade, Our Man Flint, and In Like Flint and played Jeff Durain on Klondike and Gregg Miles on Acapulco) plays escaped convict Gresch. Nick Adams (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Rebel) plays his partner Weiler. Alan Napier (appeared in The House of the Seven Gables, Lassie Come Home, Joan of Arc, Marnie, The Loved One, and Batman: The Movie and played Gen. Steele on Don't Call Me Charlie and Alfred the butler on Batman) plays monastery abbot Fr. Dunne. Brendan Dillon (Mr. Bemis on The Virginian and Tommy Kelsey on All in the Family) plays monastery priest Fr. Thomas.

Season 2, Episode 24, "Trial by Midnight": Dana Andrews (shown on the left, starred in Tobacco Road, The Ox-Bow Incident, Laura, The Best Years of Our Lives, Elephant Walk, and Airport 1975) plays renowned judge Leland McIntyre. Lori March (Jennifer Alden on Three Steps to Heaven, Lenore Bradley on The Brighter Day, Amy Stanton on The Doctors, Valerie Ames on The Secret Storm, Lillian Hayes on Search for Tomorrow, Mrs. Henson on The Edge of Night, Mildred Canfield on Texas, and Barbara Gilbert on Another Life) plays his wife Evelyn. Philip Abbott (starred in Sweet Bird of Youth and played Arthur Ward on The F.B.I., Dr. Alex Baker on General Hospital, and Grant Stevens on The Young and the Restless) plays accountant Lawrence Dresher. Carolyn Craig (appeared in Giant, House on Haunted Hill, and Studs Lonigan) plays one of McIntyre's students Joanna Leigh. John McLiam (appeared in Cool Hand Luke, In Cold Blood, Sleeper, The Missouri Breaks, and First Blood) plays plumber Lee R. Anderson. Kim Hamilton (Dr. Tracy Adams on General Hospital and Penelope Wade on Days of Our Lives) plays law student Miss Williams. Joe Scott (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Mr. Lucky) plays law student Wilson. Paul Geary (Johnny Ramos on Slattery's People and Jody Varner on The Long, Hot Summer) plays a medical intern. Stan Jones (voiced Lex Luthor and was the narrator on Challenge of the Superfriends, Cadbury and Mr. Rich on The Richie Rich/Scooby Doo Show, Riffraff and Wordsworth on Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats, and Scourge on The Transformers) plays McIntyre's court clerk.

Season 2, Episode 25, "Ride a Wild Horse": David Janssen (shown on the right, starred in To Hell and Back, Hell to Eternity, King of the Roaring '20's, The Green Berets, and The Shoes of the Fisherman and played Richard Diamond on Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Dr. Richard Kimble on The Fugitive, Jim O'Hara on O'Hara, U.S. Treasury, and Harry Orwell on Harry O) plays rodeo rider Len Kobalsky. Suzanne Lloyd (Raquel Toledano on Zorro) plays his girlfriend Marcy Lowell. Robert Colbert (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Maverick) plays her brother Phil. Donald "Red" Barry (played Red Ryder in the movie serial The Adventures of Red Ryder, and played Lt. Snedigar on Surfside 6, The Grand Vizier and Tarantula on Batman, Capt. Red Barnes on Police Woman, and Jud Larabee on Little House on the Prairie) plays rodeo manager Kyle Horgan. Tom Reese (starred in Taggart, The Money Trap, and Murderers' Row and played Sgt. Thomas Velie on Ellery Queen) plays rodeo clown Bucky Tate. Ed Peck (Officer Clark on The Super, Coach Cooper on Semi-Tough, Police Capt. Dennis McDermott on Benson, and Police Officer Kirk on Happy Days) plays horse handler Ernie. Charles Macaulay (appeared in Head, Blacula, Airport '77, Raise the Titanic, Splash, and 6 Perry Mason TV movies and played Elliot Kincaid #2 on Days of Our Lives) pays wealthy blue-blood Alan Butler. Roy Engel (Doc Martin on Bonanza, the police chief on My Favorite Martian, and President Ulysses S. Grant on The Wild, Wild West) plays a police deputy.

Season 2, Episode 26, "So Beats My Plastic Heart": Celeste Holm (shown on the left, starred in Gentlemen's Agreement, All About Eve, The Tender Trap, High Society, and Tom Sawyer (1973) and played Celeste Anders on Honestly, Celeste!, Abigail Townsend on Nancy, Molly Hayden on Jessie, Anna Rossini on Falcon Crest, Isabelle Alden on Loving, Hattie Green on Promised Land, and Frances Robinson on The Beat) plays arts commune owner Laraine Whitman. Susan Oliver (Ann Howard on Peyton Place) plays poet Hope Anthony. Lee Phillips (starred in Peyton Place and The Hunters, and played Ellery Queen on The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen; also directed 60 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show and multiple episodes of Peyton Place, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Doris Day Show, and The Waltons) plays novelist Joe Meade. Phillip Pine (Elliot Kincaid on Days of Our Lives) plays painter Harry Clark. Doris Singleton (Caroline Appleby on I Love Lucy, Susie on Angel, and Margaret Williams on My Three Sons) plays Laraine's sister-in-law Mavis Woods Long. William Phipps (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays artist John Lee.

Season 2, Episode 27, "In a Foreign Quarter": Tod Andrews (Maj. John Singleton Mosby on The Gray Ghost) plays psychologist Dr. James Low. Nobu McCarthy (appeared in The Geisha Boy, Love With the Proper Stranger, The Karate Kid, Part II, and Pacific Heights) plays his wife Helen. James Hong (shown on the right, played Barry Chan on The New Adventures of Charlie Chan, Frank Chen on Jigsaw John, and Doctor Chen Ling on Dynasty) plays import shop owner Louis Quong. 

Season 2, Episode 28, "Referendum on Murder": Dan O'Herlihy ("Doc" Sardius McPheeters on The Travels of Jamie McPheeters, "Boss" Will Varner on The Long, Hot Summer, Lt. Col. Max Dodd on Colditz, The Director on A Man Called Sloane, and Andrew Packard on Twin Peaks) plays newspaper editor Stephen Jordan. Bethel Leslie (appeared in 15 episodes of The Richard Boone Show and played Dr. Maggie Powers on The Doctors, Claudia Conner on All My Children, and Ethel Crawford on One Life to Live) plays his wife Cynthia. Frank Maxwell (Duncan MacRoberts on Our Man Higgins, Henry Coleman on The Young Marrieds, Col. Garraway on The Second Hundred Years, Capt. Nye on Felony Squad, and Dan Rooney on General Hospital) plays associate editor Alex Wismer. Dorothy Green (shown on the left, appeared in The Big Heat, Face of a Fugitive, It Happened at the World's Fair, and Tammy and the Millionaire and played Lavinia Tate on Tammy and Jennifer Brooks on The Young and the Restless) plays Jordan's former girlfriend Mildred Cowl. Oliver McGowan (Harvey Welk on Empire) plays lobbyist Julian Hartman. 

Season 2, Episode 29, "The Someday Man": Don Taylor (starred in The Naked City, Father of the Bride, Father's Little Dividend, Flying Leathernecks, and Stalag 17 and directed Ride the Wild Surf, Tom Sawyer (1973), Damien: Omen II, and The Final Countdown as well as multiple episodes of Steve Canyon, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, M Squad, Checkmate, and The Farmer's Daughter) plays former football star Chip Damion. Julie Adams (shown on the right, starred in The Creature From the Black Lagoon and played Martha Howard on The Jimmy Stewart Show, Ann Rorchek on Code Red, and Eve Simpson on Murder, She Wrote) plays his wife Jean. Sandy Kenyon (Des Smith on Crunch and Des, Shep Baggott on The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, and Reverend Kathrun on Knots Landing) plays Damion's health-club accountant George Diedrich. Ron Randell (starred in Pacific Adventure, Bulldog Drummond at Bay, Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back, Lorna Doone, and Kiss Me Kate, was the host for The Vise, and played Capt. Frank Hawthorn on O.S.S.) plays big-time investor Perry Fields. George Petrie (Nathan Wade on Search for Tomorrow, Freddie Muller on The Honeymooners, Don Rudy Aiuppo on Wiseguy, Harv Smithfield on Dallas, and Sid on Mad About You) plays mob enforcer Jack Pennell. Lillian Bronson (Mrs. Drake on Date With the Angels) plays janitor's wife Mrs. Greenhouse. Robert Stevenson (bartender Big Ed on Richard Drum and Marshal Hugh Strickland on Stagecoach West) plays gangster Ira Sandler.

Season 2, Episode 30, "Rendezvous in Washington": MacDonald Carey (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Lock Up) plays wealthy industrialist Frederic Haley. Kathleen Crowley (Terry Van Buren on Waterfront and Sophia Starr on Batman) plays translator Pauline Spencer. Anna Lee (starred in King Solomon's Mines, How Green Was My Valley, Flying Tigers, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Sound of Music, and In Like Flint and played Lila Quartermaine on General Hospital) plays Haley's wife Louise. Peter Helm (younger brother of actress Anne Helm) plays their son Ted. Maxine Stuart (see the biography section for the 1962 post on Dr. Kildare) plays Louise's sister Dianne Cartwright. William Allyn (associate producer of Peyton Place) plays society columnist Joel Drake.

Season 2, Episode 31, "The Bold and the Tough": Edward Binns (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Brenner) plays ranch owner Harl Stoner. Paul Birch (Erle Stanley Gardner on The Court of Last Resort, Mike Malone on Cannonball, and Capt. Carpenter on The Fugitive) plays his brother Ed. Emily McLaughlin (Dr. Eileen Seaton on Young Dr. Malone and nurse Jessie Brewer on General Hospital) plays Ed's wife Sue. Earl Holliman (appeared in Forbidden Planet, Giant, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and The Sons of Katie Elder and played Sundance on Hotel de Paree, Mitch Guthrie on Wide Country, Lt. Bill Crowley on Police Woman, Matthew Durning on P.S. I Luv U, Darden Towe on Delta, and Frank Dominus on NightMan) plays cut-throat investor Jack Quentin. Ellen Burstyn (shown on the right, starred in For Those Who Think Young, The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, and Same Time, Next Year and played Dr. Kate Bartok on The Doctors, Julie Parsons on Iron Horse, Ellen Brewer on The Ellen Burstyn Show, Dolly DeLucca on That's Life, Bishop Beatrice Congreve on The Book of Daniel, Nancy Davis Dutton on Big Love, and Evanka on Louie) plays Quentin's secretary Margo. Stanley Adams (Lt. Morse on Not for Hire and Gurrah on The Lawless Years) plays meatpacker Cholly Luke. Harry Carey, Jr. (starred in Red River, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Mister Roberts, and The Searchers and played Bill Burnett on The Adventures of Spin and Marty) plays ranch foreman Phil Cassidy.

Season 2, Episode 32, "Will the Real Killer Please Stand Up?": Stefan Schnabel (appeared in The Iron Curtain, Diplomatic Courier, and Dracula's Widow and played Firebeard on Tales of the Vikings) plays inheritor Anton Szorny. Milton Selzer (Parker on Get Smart, Jake Winkelman on The Harvey Korman Show, Abe Werkfinder on The Famous Teddy Z, and Manny Henry on Valley of the Dolls) plays his brother Wladyslaw. Oscar Beregi, Jr. (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Untouchables) plays a train conductor. Larry Ward (Dr. Randy Hamilton on The Brighter Day and Marshal Frank Ragan on The Dakotas) plays assassin Mr. Trent. Don C. Harvey (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Rawhide) plays cowboy Frank Smith.

Season 2, Episode 33, "Down the Gardenia Path": Ilka Chase (shown on the right, appeared in Now, Voyager, The Big Knife, and Ocean's 11 and played Margaret on The Trials of O'Brien) plays convention manager Mary Milburn Reed. Don Dubbins (appeared in The Caine Mutiny, Tribute to a Bad Man, From the Earth to the Moon, and The Prize and played William Kennerly, Jr. on Peyton Place) plays her assistant Paul McGill. Susan Kohner (daughter of Lupita Tover, starred in Imitation of Life, The Gene Krupa Story, and Freud) plays one of her hostesses Vicki Angelo. Joe De Santis (appeared in Deadline - U.S.A., I Want to Live!, Al Capone, and Madame X) plays Vicki's father Joe. Harvey Stephens (starred in Maid of Salem, Swing High, Swing Low, and Abe Lincoln in Illinois) plays convention speaker Bryson Jennings. Orville Sherman (Mr. Feeney on Buckskin, Wib Smith on Gunsmoke, and Tupper on Daniel Boone) plays convention attendee Ozzie. Annette Cabot (see "The Renaissance of Gussie Hill" above) plays a convention hostess.

Season 2, Episode 34, "Side by Side": Ed Nelson (Michael Rossi on Peyton Place, Ward Fuller on The Silent Force, and Sen. Mark Denning on Capitol) plays record label A&R man Chuck Palmer. Buddy Ebsen (Sheriff Matthew Brady on Corky and White Shadow, Sgt. Hunk Marriner on Northwest Passage, Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, Barnaby Jones on Barnaby Jones, and Roy Houston on Matt Houston) plays 1940s popular singer Pete O'Mara. Paul Carr (Bill Horton on Days of Our Lives, Casey Clark on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Dr. Paul Summers on The Doctors, Ted Prince on Dallas, and Martin Gentry on The Young and the Restless) plays O'Mara's duo partner Johnny Kay. Judith Braun (wife of blacklisted screenwriter Walter Bernstein) plays O'Mara's wife Barbara. Charles Seel (Otis the Bartender on Tombstone Territory, Mr. Krinkie on Dennis the Menace, and Tom Pride on The Road West) plays recording engineer Georgie Prince. Barbara Dane (shown on the left, renowned activist folk singer) plays an auditioning gospel singer. Robert B. Williams (postman Mr. Dorfman on Dennis the Menace  and Barney on Hazel) plays nightclub owner Willie Ralston. Eddie Quillan (starred in The Grapes of Wrath, Mandarin Mystery, Mutiny on the Bounty, and Hi, Good Lookin'! and played Eddie Edson on Julia and Poco Loco on Hell Town) plays barber Willie.

Thriller (1961)

As noted in our post on the 1960 episodes of Thriller, the series has been criticized for its lack of consistent focus and tone, changing from week to week between horror stories that may involve the supernatural, to standard crime dramas, to roaring '20's gangster fare. In Alan Warren's book This Is a Thriller, he lays out some of the problems behind the scenes, which were also documented at the time though in less detail in a May 6, 1961 TV Guide article, that contributed to the series' problems--most notably a clash in ideology between creator and executive producer Hubbell Robinson and his chief producer Fletcher Markle. The series was panned in early reviews and ratings were poor, which caused promoters to grumble. Robinson's strategy to turn things around was to fire Markle and replace him with William Frye, a TV veteran who had helmed such series as Climax! and the esteemed Playhouse 90, and Maxwell Shane of Checkmate. Frye and Shane took over in the fall of 1960 and narrowed the show's focus down to two types of stories--so-called "chiller" fare, overseen by Frye, and crime dramas, overseen by Shane. Warren opines that this still gave viewers a case of thematic whiplash from week to week, but the quality of material was demonstrably better, particularly after Frye hired proven writers such as Robert Bloch (whose many credits include the novel Psycho on which the Hitchcock film is based), made a deal with horror promoter Forrest J. Ackerman to access his recently acquired trove of Weird Tales pulp magazines for story ideas, and hired more compatible directors such as Ida Lupino to film individual episodes. As Warren also relates, the show became perhaps too successful in that it began to outdraw Alfred Hitchcock Presents, prompting that show's namesake to stipulate that his continued involvement with NBC would require that Thriller be taken off the air for a year, which was tantamount to cancellation.

At its best the series lived up to Stephen King's assessment of it being the best horror series ever produced for television. However, some of the episodes cited by Warren as being amongst the series' best have their flaws. In "The Ordeal of Dr. Cordell" (March 7, 1961) research scientist Dr. Frank Cordell is testing the effect of certain gases in work for the military but due to an accidental explosion he turns into a psychotic killer whenever he hears bells, though after his killing sprees he has no recollection of his crimes. First he kills his landlord's parakeet, which has a bell in its cage, and then a lost female student at the university where he works because she just happens to be wearing bell-shaped earrings. Later he chases down another female student who rings a hand bell at a cheesy pep rally. Besides the irrational premise of having the sound of bells switch on a homicidal maniac, the story goes to great lengths to insert extremely unlikely triggers into the plot to set the killer in motion. Another episode favored by Warren is "Pigeons From Hell" (June 6, 1961), which has a few Hitchcockian scenes reminiscent of The Birds­ (which wouldn't be released until 1963) but ultimately revolves around a presumed-dead voodoo practitioner who has remained hidden in an abandoned mansion for decades. When a pair of carefree travelling young brothers ditch their car nearby and spend the night in the mansion, they become prey for the voodoo priestess. The main problem with this episode is the overwrought acting of Brandon de Wilde, playing the brother who manages to escape the voodoo killer. His attempts to portray a terrified witness to unbelievable atrocities are just not convincing.

Other episodes are sometimes plagued by plot inconsistencies, such as in "Portrait Without a Face" (December 25, 1961) in which an arrogant, blackguard painter is killed with a crossbow before starting on his last work, yet the painting slowly takes shape in his inimitable style to depict his assassin. Cataloguer Arthur Henshaw, sent by the painter's New York-based gallery, admits to the painter's widow that he is an excellent copyist and has been filling in the painting himself in order to get the killer to reveal himself. But after the real killer returns to the scene of the crime in an attempt to destroy the painting before his identity can be revealed, then falls to his death, the painting miraculously fills in his face in the unfinished portion left blank by Henshaw. In other words, what at first appeared to be a supernatural wonder turns out to have a rational explanation, which is then subverted in the final scene. Another painting-themed episode "The Grim Reaper" (June 13, 1961) tries a similar plot twist as accountant Paul Graves convinces his rich, mystery-writer aunt that a 19th century French painting she purchased is cursed, driving her to drink to calm her nerves, which precipitates a fatal fall down the stairs. Graves then confesses to his aunt's husband, after tricking him into taking a poison pill, that he faked the blood that appeared to suddenly materialize on the painted grim reaper's scythe, but after the husband dies and Graves inherits his aunt's estate, he is trapped in the room with the painting and later found with his throat slashed, as if by a scythe. Both of these episodes at first suggest a supernatural explanation for a series of unusual events, then undermine the supernatural element with a rational explanation before turning the tables once more and destroying the comfort of the rational. The final twist in these episodes seem a bit tacked on, as if the producers felt an obligation to end on a chilling note for the story to live up to its billing as a Thriller.

However, where these fall short, others are truly exceptional, particularly "The Merriweather File" (February 14, 1961) in which a lawyer comes to the aid of his next-door neighbor, a wife who appears to be the intended victim of a philandering husband who blames her for the death of their only child some years ago. The lawyer also tries to act as defense lawyer for the accused husband, but the evidence is stacked against him and he is sentenced to be executed, while his female alleged accomplice is sentenced to a lengthy jail term. Only a year later after he has married the executed man's wife does the lawyer learn from the police detective after a confession by the jailed accomplice that, while the executed man had planned to have his wife killed, she managed to kill the assassin herself and then framed her husband for the murder, a chilling revelation for a man who thought he had married an innocent, helpless victim. Another particularly pleasing episode is "A Good Imagination" (May 2, 1961) in which Edward Andrews plays a cuckolded husband who exacts revenge on his wife's lovers in imaginative ways drawn from his love of classic literature. However, when he fools a handyman lothario into thinking he had sealed his wife into a basement wall a la Poe's "Cask of Amontillado" and driving the handyman mad, he fails to anticipate, after he later actually seals her in the wall himself, that the sheriff will bring the handyman back to see his wife alive just to convince him that he has not really killed her, thereby forcing him to come up with an uncomfortable explanation. Besides the unexpected ending (unless you consider that a 1961 television show would never allow a killer to get off scott-free), Andrews' portrayal of bookish Frank Logan is a delight, as he taunts his victims for their indiscretions almost like a cat worries its prey before killing it.

Phyllis Thaxter is equally devious, though with less wit, as the greedy cousin many times removed in "The Last of the Sommervilles" (November 6, 1961), convincing her clueless cousin to knock off their rich aunt before making him think they have been found out so that she can lure him into a swampy bog where he will meet his own death. Eliminating her chief rival for her aunt's estate, she in essence bequeaths it to her lover, the aunt's attorney, who is next in line according to the aunt's will. However, this is another episode with a somewhat tacked-on ending when the aunt's physician (played by Karloff) merely narrates that the guilty couple met their own death not much later when they missed a turn in the road and ended up in the bog themselves. Again, killers cannot go unpunished in a 1961 TV series, but it would have gone down better had their final come-uppance been depicted as a natural evolution of the plot rather than as a narrated postscript.

Still, despite any such minor peccadilloes, this episode is a prime example of the series' favorite theme -- inheritance and the greed it can inspire. No fewer than 12 of the 37 episodes of those aired in 1961, or nearly one third, revolve around inheritance. What makes inheritance such a compelling story line is perhaps the difficulty in pulling off the perfect murder and getting away with it. Laws prohibit the passing of property of a murder victim to his or her killer, and life insurance policies likewise have provisions to prevent incentivizing crime. Actual crime statistics show that the most common causes for homicide are those committed in the act of robbery or as the result of some kind of argument, both of which involve a passionate, spur-of-the-moment response to unanticipated events. But pulling off a murder in order to inherit an estate requires cold calculation and clever covering of one's tracks. As viewers we are intrigued by the perpetrators' cunning and may even applaud their audacity while also weighing what we may have done or not done in the same situation. We may even be a little disappointed when they are inevitably caught in the final act, exposing that perhaps we viewers are not quite as righteous as we would like to think. Getting us to recognize this potential darkness within ourselves is Thriller's greatest accomplishment and makes it deserving of the esteem bestowed by those like Stephen King.

The Actors

For the biography of Boris Karloff, see the 1960 post of Thriller.

Notable Guest Stars

Season 1, Episode 16, "The Hungry Glass": William Shatner (shown on the left, starred in The Brothers Karamazov, Judgment at Nuremberg, Kingdom of the Spiders, and The Kidnapping of the President and played David Koster on For the People, Dr. Carl Noyes on Dr. Kildare, Capt. James T. Kirk on Star Trek, Jeff Cable on Barbary Coast, Sgt. T.J. Hooker on T.J. Hooker, Walter H. Bascom on TekWar, Denny Crane on The Practice and Boston Legal, and Dr. Edison Milford Goodson III on $#*! My Dad Says) plays photographer Gil Thrasher. Joanna Heyes (wife of screenwriter, director, and producer Douglas Heyes) plays his wife Marcia. Russell Johnson (starred in It Came From Outer Space, This Island Earth, and Johnny Dark and played Marshal Gib Scott on Black Saddle, Professor Roy Hinkley on Gilligan's Island, and Assistant D.A. Brenton Grant on Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law) plays their real estate agent Adam Talmadge. Elizabeth Allen (Laura Deane on Bracken's World, Martha Simms on The Paul Lynde Show, Capt. Quinlan on CPO Sharkey, and Victoria Bellman on Texas) plays his wife Liz. Donna Douglas (Barbara Simmons on Checkmate and Elly Mae Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies) plays vain former resident Laura Belman. Clem Bevans (appeared in Sergeant York, Saboteur, The Yearling, Mourning Becomes Electra, and Harvey) plays checker-player Obed.

Season 1, Episode 17, "The Poisoner": Murray Matheson (Felix Mulholland on Banacek)  plays writer, painter, and critic Thomas Edward Griffith. Sarah Marshall (starred in The Long, Hot Summer, Lord Love a Duck, and Dave and played Evelyn Winslow on Miss Winslow and Son) plays his wife Frances Abercrombie. David Frankham (appeared in Return of the Fly, Master of the World, and King Rat and played Reverend Daniels on The Bold and the Beautiful) plays her attorney Mr. Proctor. Maurice Dallimore (Willie Shorthouse on Fair Exchange) plays Griffith's Uncle George. Sam Edwards (starred in Captain Midnight, Twelve O'Clock High, and The Beatniks and played Hank the hotel clerk on The Virginian and Mr. Bill Anderson on Little House on the Prairie) plays wedding guest Charles Larrimore. Richard Peel (Mr. Withers on Family Affair) plays police detective Justin.

Season 1, Episode 18, "Man in the Cage": Guy Stockwell (Chris Parker on Adventures in Paradise) plays gun smuggler Noel Hudson. Philip Carey (shown on the right, starred in I Was a Communist for the FBI, Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison, Calamity Jane, Mister Roberts, Dead Ringer, and Three For Texas and played Lt. Michael Rhodes on Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers, Philip Marlowe on Philip Marlowe, Capt. Edward Parmalee on Laredo, and Asa Buchanan on One Life to Live) plays his brother Daryl. Theodore Marcuse (starred in Hitler, The Cincinnati Kid, and Harum Scarum and played Von Bloheim on Batman) plays mobster Arthur Upshaw. Diana Millay (Laura Collins on Dark Shadows) plays his niece Ellen. Barry Gordon (Dennis Whitehead on The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Charlie Harrison on Fish, Gary Rabinowitz on Archie Bunker's Place, Roger Hightower on A Family for Joe, and was the voice of Donatello on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) plays young hustler Slip Slip. Booth Colman (Prof. Hector Jerrold on General Hospital and Dr. Felix Burke on The Young and the Restless) plays a hotel clerk. Robert Stevenson (bartender Big Ed on Richard Drum and Marshal Hugh Strickland on Stagecoach West) plays bartender Phil Barrister. Lilyan Chauvin (Madame Dussolier on Cafe Amercain) plays his wife. Al Ruscio (Paul Locatelli on Shannon, Sal Giordano on Life Goes On, and Frank Ruscio on Joe's Life) plays hustler Allah el Kazim. Pedro Regas (Buffalo Running Schwartz on Pat Paulsen's Half a Comedy Hour) plays his accomplice Gilali.

Season 1, Episode 19, "Choose a Victim": Susan Oliver (Ann Howard on Peyton Place) plays wealthy inheritor Edith Landers. Vaughn Taylor (starred in Jailhouse Rock, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Psycho, and In Cold Blood and played Ernest P. Duckweather on Johnny Jupiter) plays her uncle Philip. Henry Hunter (Doctor Summerfield on Hazel) plays his friend Larry Kirt. Larry Blyden (Joe Sparton on Joe & Mabel and Harry Burns on Harry's Girls)plays beach bum Ralphie Teal. Guy Mitchell (popular singer backed by Mitch Miller who appeared in Those Redheads From Seattle, Red Garters, and The Wild Westerners and played George Romack on Whispering Smith) plays police Det. Hazlett. Henry Corden (Carlo on The Count of Monte Cristo, and Babbitt on The Monkees and did voicework on The Flintstones, Jonny Quest, The Atom Ant Show, The Banana Splits Adventure Hour and Return to the Planet of the Apes) plays his partner Det. Sid Benajain. Billy Barty (Babby on Peter Gunn, Sparky the Firefly on The Bugaloos, Sigmund Ooze on Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Inch on Ace Crawford, Private Eye, and the voice of Dweedle on Wildfire) plays carnival small person Sam.

Season 1, Episode 20, "Hay-Fork and Bill-Hook": Kenneth Haigh (appeared in Saint Joan, Cleopatra, and Robin and Marian and played Joe Lampton on Man at the Top) plays Scotland Yard Det. Insp. Harry Roberts. Audrey Dalton (appeared in Titanic (1953), Separate Tables, and Kitten With a Whip) plays his wife Nesta. Alan Napier (shown on the left, appeared in The House of the Seven Gables, Lassie Come Home, Joan of Arc, Marnie, The Loved One, and Batman: The Movie and played Gen. Steele on Don't Call Me Charlie and Alfred the butler on Batman) plays Dark Woods Constable Evans. Doris Lloyd (starred in Waterloo Bridge, Tarzan the Ape Man, Oliver Twist, and The Time Machine) plays his mother. Alan Caillou (Jason Flood on Tarzan and The Head on Quark) plays Chief Constable Sir Wilfred. J. Pat O'Malley (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Frontier Circus) plays a pub patron. Richard Peel (see "The Poisoner" above) plays a mine-sweeping soldier.

Season 1, Episode 21, "The Merriweather File": Bethel Leslie (appeared in 15 episodes of The Richard Boone Show and played Claudia Conner on All My Children and Ethel Crawford on One Life to Live) plays besieged wife Ann Merriweather.  Ross Elliott (Freddie the director on The Jack Benny Program and Sheriff Mark Abbott on The Virginian) plays her husband Charles. James Gregory (shown on the right, see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Lawless Years) plays her next-door neighbor, attorney Howard Yates. Edward Binns (starred in 12 Angry Men, North by Northwest, Heller in Pink Tights, and Judgment at Nuremberg and played Roy Brenner on Brenner and Wally Powers on It Takes a Thief) plays police Lt. Giddeon. K.T. Stevens (Vanessa Prentiss on The Young and the Restless) plays dead hustler's girlfriend Virginia Grant. Bernard Fein (Pvt Gomez on The Phil Silvers Show) plays private investigator I.L. Gluckman. Richard Reeves (Mr. Murphy on Date With the Angels) plays a police patrolman.

Season 1, Episode 22, "The Fingers of Fear": Nehemiah Persoff (shown on the near left, starred in The Wrong Man, Al Capone and Some Like It Hot) plays homicide Lt. Jim Wagner. Kevin Hagen (shown on the far left, John Colton on Yancy Derringer, Inspector Dobbs Kobick on Land of the Giants, and Dr. Hiram Baker on Little House on the Prairie) plays his partner Sgt. Spivak. Robert Middleton (Barney Wales on The Monroes) plays dishwasher Orbach. H.M. Wynant (Frosty on Batman and Ed Chapman on Dallas) plays diner cook Sid. Thayer Roberts (Thomas on The Living Bible) plays doll owner Mr. Merriman. Ted de Corsia (Police Chief Hagedorn on Steve Canyon) plays Police Commissioner Putnam. Michael Burns (Howie Macauley on It's a Man's World and Barnaby West on Wagon Train) plays young fisherman Jody Matthews. John Zaremba (Special Agent Jerry Dressler on I Led 3 Lives, Dr. Harold Jensen on Ben Casey, Admiral Hardesy on McHale's Navy, Dr. Raymond Swain on The Time Tunnel, and Dr, Harlem Danvers on Dallas) plays his father. Richard Travis (Rodger Barnett on Code 3 and Thompson on The Grand Jury) plays suspect Mr. Carter. Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr. (Luis Valdez on Viva Valdez) plays leather tradesman Mr. Martinez. Dick Wessel (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Riverboat) plays film projectionist Mr. Zimmer. Robert Stevenson (see "Man in the Cage" above) plays psychologist Dr. Lascoe. Morgan Brittany (Kate Simpson on Glitter and Katherine Wentworth on Dallas) plays young, unwitting Merriman accomplice Doris Carlyle. Angela Greene (Tess Trueheart on Dick Tracy) plays her mother. Sam Gilman (Sam Grafton on Shane) plays police Officer Pat Dutton.

Season 1, Episode 23, "Well of Doom": Ronald Howard (Sherlock Holmes on Sherlock Holmes, Stephen Britten on Mary Britten, M.D., Wing Commander Hayes on Cowboy in Africa, and Dr. John Dartington on The Lotus Eaters) plays inheritor of the Hadwick estate Robert Penrose. Torin Thatcher (appeared in Great Expectations, The Crimson Pirate, The Robe, Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, and Witness for the Prosecution) plays his housekeeper Jeremy Teal. Billy Beck (Lt. Trask on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, the photo editor on Lou Grant, Charles on Falcon Crest, and Nick Pappasmearos on Son of the Beach) plays his chauffeur Cyril. Henry Daniell (appeared in The Philadelphia Story, Jane Eyre, Song of Love, Lust for Life, and Witness for the Prosecution) plays wronged land-owner Squire Moloch. Richard Kiel (starred in The Phantom Planet, Eegah, The Longest Yard, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, and Pale Rider and played Moose Moran on Barbary Coast) plays his assistant Master Styx. 

Season 1, Episode 24, "The Ordeal of Dr. Cordell": Robert Vaughn (starred in Teenage Cave Man, The Magnificent Seven, The Towering Inferno, and Bullitt and who played Capt. Ray Rambridge on The Lieutenant, Napoleon Solo on The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Harry Rule on The Protectors, Harlan Adams on Emerald Point N.A.S., Gen. Hunt Stockwell on The A-Team, and Albert Stroller on Hustle) plays gas researcher Dr. Frank Cordell. Kathleen Crowley (Terry Van Buren on Waterfront and Sophia Starr on Batman) plays his associate Dr. Lois Walker. Robert Ellenstein (appeared in 3:10 to Yuma, Too Much Too Soon, and North by Northwest) plays their boss Dr. Brauner.  Russ Conway (Fenton Hardy on The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure, Gen. Devon on Men Into Space, and Lt. Pete Kile on Richard Diamond, Private Detective) plays homicide Lt. Boutaric. Marlo Thomas (shown on the right, played Stella Barnes on The Joey Bishop Show and Ann Marie on That Girl) plays university student Susan Baker. 

Season 1, Episode 25, "Trio for Terror": Terence de Marney (Case Thomas on Johnny Ringo and Counsellor Doone on Lorna Doone) plays rich Uncle Julian. Reginald Owen (appeared in A Christmas Carol (1938), Mrs. Miniver, Woman of the Year, National Velvet, and Mary Poppins) an old hussar. Peter Brocco (Peter the waiter on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show) plays a casino major domo. Michael Pate (starred in Face to Face, Julius Caesar, Hondo, and Tower of London and played Chief Vittoro on Hondo and Det. Sgt. Vic Maddern on Matlock) plays serial strangler Shanner. John Abbott (appeared in The Woman in White, Madame Bovary, The Merry Widow, and Gigi) plays stone statue artist Kriss Milo. Richard Peel (see "The Poisoner" above) plays a police inspector. Noel Drayton (Mr. Hardcastle on Family Affair) plays his superintendent. 

Season 1, Episode 26, "Papa Benjamin": John Ireland (starred in Red River, All the King's Men, I Shot Jesse James, and Spartacus and played John Hunter on The Cheaters, Jed Colby on Rawhide, and Lyman Shackleford on Cassie & Co.) plays jazz pianist and composer Eddie Wilson. Jeanne Bal (Pat Baker on Love and Marriage) plays his wife and band singer Judy. Robert H. Harris (Jake Goldberg on Molly and Raymond Schindler on The Court of Last Resort) plays his manager Jerry Roberts. Jester Hairston (appeared in The Alamo, In the Heat of the Night, Lady Sings the Blues, and I'm Gonna Get You Sucka and played Wildcat on That's My Mama and Rolly Forbes on Amen) plays voodoo cult leader Papa Benjamin. 

Season 1, Episode 27, "Late Date": Larry Pennell (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Ripcord) plays beach resident Larry Weeks. Edward Platt (shown on the left, appeared in Rebel Without a Cause, Written on the Wind, Designing Woman, and North by Northwest and played the Chief on Get Smart) plays his brother Jim. Jody Fair (appeared in High School Confidential, Hot Rod Gang, The Brain Eaters, and Sex Kittens Go to College) plays Jim's step-daughter Helen. Steve Mitchell (Fred Starkey on The New Phil Silvers Show) plays Helen's boyfriend Gordon. Stuffy Singer (Donnie Henderson on Beulah and Alexander Bumstead on Blondie) plays Larry's acquaintance Art Brinkerhoff. Richard Reeves (see "The Merriweather File" above) plays a truck driver. Stuart Randall (Sheriff Art Sampson on Cimarron City, Al Livermore on Lassie, and Sheriff Mort Corey on Laramie) plays police Sgt. Crowell.

Season 1, Episode 28, "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper": John Williams (appeared in Dial M for Murder, Sabrina, To Catch a Thief, and Witness for the Prosecution and played Nigel French on Family Affair) plays British Jack the Ripper investigator Sir Guy. Donald Woods (John Brent on Tammy and Craig Kennedy on Kennedy, Criminologist) plays psychologist Dr. John Carmody. Ransom M. Sherman (Herbert Dunston on Father of the Bride) plays the Washington, D.C. police commissioner. Adam Williams (appeared in Flying Leathernecks, The Big Heat, Fear Strikes Out, and North by Northwest) plays artist Hymie Kralik. Gloria Blondell (sister of Joan Blondell, played Honeybee Gillis in The Life of Riley and was the voice of Gloria on Calvin and the Colonel) plays murder victim's neighbor Maggie Radevik. J. Pat O'Malley (see "Hay-Fork and Bill-Hook" above) plays a street singer.

Season 1, Episode 29, "The Devil's Ticket": MacDonald Carey (shown on the right, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Lock Up) plays artist Hector Vane. Joan Tetzel (appeared in Duel in the Sun, The File on Thelma Jordon, and Joy in the Morning) plays his wife Marie. John Emery (appeared in Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Blood on the Sun, Spellbound, The Woman in White, and Rocketship X-M) plays a demonic pawnbroker. Robert Cornthwaite (Professor Windish on Get Smart and Howard Buss on Picket Fences) plays pawnbroker Mr. Spengler. Patricia Medina (Margarita Cortazar on Zorro) plays artist model Nadja. Hayden Rorke (starred in Father's Little Dividend, When Worlds Collide, and Pillow Talk and played Steve on Mr. Adams and Eve, Col. Farnsworth on No Time for Sergeants, Dr. Alfred Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie and Bishop on Dr. Kildare) plays psychiatrist Dr. Frank.

Season 1, Episode 30, "Parasite Mansion": Pippa Scott (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Mr. Lucky) plays school teacher Marcia Elizabeth Hunter. Jeannette Nolan (starred in Macbeth (1948), The Big Heat, Tribute to a Bad Man, and The Reluctant Astronaut, did voicework for Psycho, The Rescuers, and The Fox and the Hound, and played Annette Devereaux on Hotel de Paree and Holly Grainger on The Virginian) plays cursed Harrod family matriarch Granny. James Griffith (Deputy Tom Ferguson on U.S. Marshal) plays her nephew Victor. Tom Nolan (Jody O'Connell on Buckskin, Officer Hubbell on Jessie, and Mick on Out of This World) plays his brother Rennie. Beverly Washburn (starred in Old Yeller and played Kit Wilson on Professional Father and Vickie Massey on The New Loretta Young Show) plays their sister Lollie. 

Season 1, Episode 31, "A Good Imagination": Edward Andrews (shown on the right, appeared in The Harder They Fall, Elmer Gantry, The Absent-Minded Professor, Son of Flubber, Advise and Consent, and The Glass Bottom Boat and played Cmdr. Rogers Adrian on Broadside and Col. Fairburn on The Doris Day Show) plays bookseller Frank Logan. Patricia Barry (Kate Harris on Harris Against the World, Lydia McGuire on Dr. Kildare, Adelaide Horton Williams on Days of Our Lives, Peg English on All My Children, and Sally Gleason on Guiding Light) plays his unfaithful wife Louise. Britt Lomond (Captain Monastario on Zorro and Johnny Ringo on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays her brother Arnold Chase. Ken Lynch (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Checkmate) plays private detective Joe Thorp. Mary Grace Canfield (Amanda Allison on The Hathaways, Harriet Kravitz on Bewitched, and Ralph Monroe on Green Acres) plays Logan's sales clerk Celia Perry. Ed Nelson (Michael Rossi on Peyton Place and Ward Fuller on The Silent Force) plays cabin handyman George Parker. William Allyn (associate producer of Peyton Place) plays playboy Randy Hagen. Jim Bannon (Red Ryder in 4 feature films and the TV series Red Ryder, Sandy North on The Adventures of Champion, Sheriff Tom Tynes on Casey Jones, and was the announcer on Ethel and Albert) plays a rural sheriff.

Season 1, Episode 32, "Mr. George": Gina Gillespie (Tess on Law of the Plainsman and Mimi Scott on Karen) plays young heir Priscilla. Virginia Gregg (starred in Dragnet, Crime in the Streets, Operation Petticoat and was the voice of Norma Bates in Psycho and was the voice of Maggie Belle Klaxon on Calvin and the Colonel) plays her aunt Edna Leggett. John Qualen (appeared in The Three Musketeers(1935), His Girl Friday, The Grapes of Wrath, Angels Over Broadway, Casablanca, Anatomy of a Murder, and A Patch of Blue) plays a streetcar conductor. Joan Tompkins (Trudy Wagner on Sam Benedict, Mrs. Brahms on Occasional Wife, and Lorraine Miller on My Three Sons) plays Priscilla's late guardian's sister Laura Craig. 

Season 1, Episode 33, "The Terror in Teakwood": Guy Rolfe (appeared in Ivanhoe, King of Kings, and Taras Bulba and played Charles Atkinson on The Widow of Bath and The Emperor on William Tell) plays world-renowned pianist Vladimir Vicek. Hazel Court (shown on the left, starred in Devil Girl From Mars, The Curse of Frankenstein, The Raven, and The Masque of the Red Death and played Jane Starrett on Dick and the Duchess, Liz Woodruff on 12 O'Clock High, and Norma Hobart on Dr. Kildare) plays his wife Leonie. Charles Aidman (narrator on the 1985-87 version of The Twilight Zone) plays her former suitor Jerry Welch. Linda Watkins (Robin Crosley on One Life to Live) plays newspaper critic Sylvia Slattery. Bernard Fein (see "The Merriweather File" above) plays a stage manager.

Season 1, Episode 34, "The Prisoner in the Mirror": Henry Daniell (see "Well of Doom" above) plays notorious illusionist and criminal Count Alexander Cagliostro. Lloyd Bochner (Chief Inspector Neil Campbell on Hong Kong and Cecil Colby on Dynasty) plays university professor Harry Langham. Jack Mullaney (Johnny Wallace on The Ann Sothern Show, Lt. Rex St. John on Ensign O'Toole, Dr. Peter Robinson on My Living Doll, and Hector on It's About Time) plays his assistant Fred Forrest. Marion Ross (shown on the right, played Nora on Life With Father, Susan Green on The Gertrude Berg Show, Marion Cunningham on Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi, Emily Heywod/Hayward on The Love Boat, Sophie Berger on Brooklyn Bridge, Beulah Carey on The Drew Carey Show, and the voice of Mrs. Lopart on Handy Manny) plays Langham's fiance Kay Forrest. Peter Brocco (see "Trio for Terror" above) plays renowned scholar Prof. Thibault. David Frankham (see "The Poisoner" above) plays 1910 Paris illusionist Marquis Robert de Chantenay. Frieda Inescort (appeared in Pride and Prejudice (1940), A Place in the Sun, and The Alligator People and played Emily Van Buren on Waterfront) plays his mother.

Season 1, Episode 35, "Dark Legacy": Harry Townes (starred in The Brothers Karamazov, Screaming Mimi, and Sanctuary) plays sorcerer Radan Asparos and his nephew Mario. Richard Hale (starred in Abilene Town, Kim, San Antone, Red Garters, and To Kill a Mockingbird) plays Radan's cousin Lars Eisenhart. Doris Lloyd (see "Hay-Fork and Bill-Hook" above) plays Radan's cousin Edith Pringle. Ned Glass (MSgt. Andy Pendleton on The Phil Silvers Show, Sol Cooper on Julia, and Uncle Moe Plotnick on Bridget Loves Bernie) plays nightclub manager Vince Fennaday. Henry Silva (starred in Johnny Cool, The Manchurian Candidate, Cinderfella, and Ocean's Eleven) plays Mario's friend Tony Wolfe. 

Season 1, Episode 36, "Pigeons From Hell": Brandon de Wilde (starred in The Member of the Wedding, Shane, All Fall Down, and Hud and played Jamison Francis McHummber on Jamie) plays young drifter Timothy Branner. David Whorf (assistant director on Batman, Peyton Place, The Felony Squad, The F.B.I., Cannon, The Streets of San Francisco, and Spenser: For Hire) plays his brother Johnny. Crahan Denton (appeared in The Parent Trap, Birdman of Alcatraz, and To Kill a Mockingbird) plays rural Sheriff Buckner. Guy Wilkerson (played Panhandle Perkins in 22 westerns) plays local resident Howard. 

Season 1, Episode 37, "The Grim Reaper": William Shatner (see "The Hungry Glass" above) plays accountant Paul Graves. Natalie Shafer (shown on the left, appeared in The Snake Pit, Callaway Went Thataway, and Anastasia and played Lovey Howell on Gilligan's Island) plays his aunt, mystery writer Beatrice Graves. Elizabeth Allen (see "The Hungry Glass" above) plays her secretary Dorothy Lyndon. Paul Newlan (Police Capt. Grey on M Squad and Lt. Gen. Pritchard on 12 O'Clock High) plays investigating police Sgt. Bernstein. Robert Cornthwaite (see "The Devil's Ticket" above) plays Beatrice's attorney Mr. Phillips.  Henry Daniell (see "Well of Doom" above) plays 1848 Parisian painter's father Pierre Radin.

Season 2, Episode 1, "What Beckoning Ghost?": Judith Evelyn (appeared in Rear Window, Hilda Crane, Giant, The Brothers Karamazov, and The Tingler and played The Woman on Windows) plays concert pianist Mildred Adler Beaumont. Tom Helmore (appeared in The Tender Trap, Designing Woman, Vertigo, and The Time Machine) plays her younger husband Eric Beaumont. Adele Mara (wife of Maverick producer Roy Huggins who appeared in Wake of the Red Witch, Sands of Iwo Jima, and The Big Circus) plays her sister Lydia. Frank Wilcox (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Untouchables) plays a detective.

Season 2, Episode 2, "Guillotine": Alejandro Rey (shown on the right, played Carlos Ramirez on The Flying Nun and Capt. Luis Rueda on Dallas) plays condemned killer Robert Lamont. Robert Middleton (see "The Fingers of Fear" above) plays the executioner Monsieur de Paris. Gregory Morton (Mr. Wainwright on Peyton Place and Walter Williams on Ben Casey) plays the prison director. Peter Brocco (see "Trio for Terror" above) plays his assistant. Marcel Hillaire (appeared in Sabrina, Seven Thieves, and Murderer's Row and played Inspector Bouchard on Adventures in Paradise) plays the prison barber. Gaylord Cavallaro (Det. Sgt. Steve Wall on The Pursuers) plays cab driver Francois Triniteaux.

Season 2, Episode 3, "The Premature Burial": Sidney Blackmer (starred in Kismet (1930), Little Caesar, The Count of Monte Cristo, Heidi (1937), High Society, and Rosemary's Baby and played Dr. Morgan Granger on Ben Casey) plays prematurely buried Edward Stapleton. Patricia Medina (see "The Devil's Ticket" above) plays his fiance Victorine Lafourcade. Boris Karloff (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Thriller) plays his physician Dr. Thorne. William D. Gordon (Joe Travis on Riverboat and wrote or adapted teleplays for Thriller, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Fugitive, Ironside, and CHiPs) plays Thorne's colleague Dr. March. Scott Marlowe (Nick Koslo on Executive Suite, Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives, and Michael Burke on Valley of the Dolls) plays artist Julian Boucher. J. Pat O'Malley (see "Hay-Fork and Bill-Hook" above) plays the Stapleton butler.

Season 2, Episode 4, "The Weird Tailor": George Macready (Martin Peyton on Peyton Place) plays black magic practitioner Mr. Smith. Gary Clarke (Dick Hamilton on Michael Shayne, Steve Hill on The Virginian, and Capt. Richards on Hondo) plays his son Arthur. Henry Jones (Dean Fred Baker on Channing, Owen Metcalf on The Girl With Something Extra, Judge Jonathan Dexter on Phyllis, Josh Alden on Mrs. Columbo, Homer McCoy on Gun Shy, B. Riley Wicker on Falcon Crest, and Hughes Whitney Lennox on I Married Dora) plays tailor Erik Borg. Sondra Blake (former wife of Robert Blake, played Erlene on Days of Our Lives) plays his wife Anna. Stanley Adams (Lt. Morse on Not for Hire) plays Borg's creditor Mr. Schwenk. Abraham Sofaer (starred in Christopher Columbus, Quo Vadis, and Elephant Walk) plays car salesman Nicolai. Diki Lerner (appeared in Singin' in the Rain, Li'l Abner, Irma la Douce, The Swinger, and Easy Come, Easy Go) plays clothing dummy Hans.

Season 2, Episode 5, "God Grante That She Lye Stille": Sarah Marshall (see "The Poisoner" above) plays condemned witch Elspeth Clewer and her lone surviving relative Lady Margaret Clewer. Henry Daniell (see "Well of Doom" above) plays presiding Judge John Weatherford and his descendant Vicar Weatherford. Ronald Howard (see "Well of Doom" above) plays local physician Dr. Stone. Victor Buono (shown on the far right, appeared in Robin and the 7 Hoods, Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and The Silencers and played King Tut on Batman and Dr. Schubert on Man From Atlantis) plays psychologist Dr. Van de Velde. 

Season 2, Episode 6, "Masquerade": Tom Poston (shown on the far left, starred in Zotz!, Soldier in the Rain, and The Happy Hooker and played Mr. Sullivan on On the Rocks, Cliff Murdock on The Bob Newhart Show, Damon Jerome on We've Got Each Other, Franklin Delano Bickley on Mork & Mindy, George Utley on Newhart, Ringo Prowley on Good Grief, Floyd Norton on Grace Under Fire, and Clown on Committed) plays honeymooner Charlie Denham. Elizabeth Montgomery (shown on the near left, starred in Johnny Cool, Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?, and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini and played Samantha Stephens on Bewitched) plays his wife Rosamond. John Carradine (starred in Stagecoach, The Grapes of Wrath, House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, The Ten Commandments, and Sex Kittens Go to College and played Gen. Joshua McCord on Branded) plays spooky mansion owner Jed Carta. Jack Lambert (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Riverboat) plays his son Lem. 

Season 2, Episode 7, "The Last of the Sommervilles": Phyllis Thaxter (starred in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, The Sea of Grass, The Breaking Point, and Superman) plays attendant niece Ursula Sommerville. Martita Hunt (starred in Great Expectations, Anna Karenina, Anastasia, Becket, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Bunny Lake Is Missing) plays her eccentric, rich Aunt Celia. Boris Karloff (see "The Premature Burial" above) plays Celia's physician Dr. Farnham. 

Season 2, Episode 8, "Letter to a Lover": Ann Todd (shown on the right, starred in The Seventh Veil, The Paradine Case, The Passionate Friends, and Breaking the Sound Barrier and played Ann Teviot in Ann and Harold and Astrid Linderman in Maelstrom) plays beleaguered wife Sylvia Lawrence. Murray Matheson (see "The Poisoner" above) plays her husband Andrew. Brendan Dillon (Mr. Bemis on The Virginian and Tommy Kelsey on All in the Family) plays postman Coggins. Richard Peel (see "The Poisoner" above) plays police Sgt. Lathrop.

Season 2, Episode 9, "A Third for Pinochle": Edward Andrews (see "A Good Imagination" above) plays hen-pecked husband Maynard Thispin. Ann Shoemaker (appeared in Alice Adams, Stella Dallas, My Favorite Wife, and Above Suspicion) plays his wife. Doro Merende (appeared in Our Town, The Man With the Golden Arm, and Kiss Me, Stupid and played Aunt Iris Flower on Bringing Up Buddy) plays nosy neighbor Melba Pennaroyd. Vito Scotti (shown on the left, played Jose on The Deputy, Capt. Gaspar Fomento on The Flying Nun, Gino on To Rome With Love, and Mr. Velasquez on Barefoot in the Park) plays prospective astronaut Buddy Welsh. Ken Lynch (see "A Good Imagination" above) plays a police lieutenant. Barbara Perry (Thelma Brockwood on The Hathaways) plays Maynard's girlfriend Babs Dawson. Burt Mustin (Foley on The Great Gildersleeve, Mr. Finley on Date With the Angels, Gus the fireman on Leave It to Beaver, Jud Fletcher on The Andy Griffith Show, and Justin Quigley on All in the Family) plays a train redcap.

Season 2, Episode 10, "The Closed Cabinet": Doris Lloyd (see "Hay-Fork and Bill-Hook" above) plays reanissance-era matriarch Dame Alice. David Frankham (see "The Poisoner" above) plays her modern-day descendant Alan Mervyn. Olive Sturgess (Carol Henning on The Bob Cummings Show) plays his girlfriend Eve Bishop. 

Season 2, Episode 11, "Dialogues With Death": Boris Karloff (see "The Premature Burial" above) plays morgue attendant Pop Jenkins and southern aristocrat Col. Jackson Beauregard Finchess. Ed Nelson (see "A Good Imagination" above) plays newspaper reporter Tom Ellison and Finchess' relative Daniel LeJean. William Schallert (shown on the right, see the biography section for the 1960 post on TheMany Loves of Dobie Gillis) plays psychologist Dr. John McFarland. Norma Crane (appeared in Tea and Sympathy, They Call Me Mr. Tibbs!, and Fiddler on the Roof and played Rayola Dean on Mister Peepers) plays Lejean's wife Nell. Estelle Winwood (starred in Quality Street, This Happy Feeling, The Notorious Landlady, and Dead Ringer and played Aunt Hilda on Batman) plays Finchess' sister Emily.

Season 2, Episode 12, "The Return of Andrew Bentley": Terence de Marney (see "Trio for Terror" above) plays sorceror Amos Wilder. John Newland (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1960 post on One Step Beyond) plays his nephew Ellis Corbett. Antoinette Bower (Fox Devlin on Neon Rider) plays his wife Sheila. Philip Bourneuf (appeared in Joan of Arc, Chamber of Horrors, and Pete 'n' Tillie and played Dr. Wickens on Dr. Kildare) plays Wilder's physician Dr. Weatherbee. Oscar Beregi, Jr. (appeared in Ship of Fools, The Incredible Mr. Limpet, and Young Frankenstein and played Joe Kulak on The Untouchables) plays the town minister Rev. Burkhardt.

Season 2, Episode 13, "The Remarkable Mrs. Hawk": Joan Van Vleet (starred in East of Eden, I'll Cry Tomorrow, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Cool Hand Luke, and I Love You, Alice B. Toklas) plays pig farmer Mrs. Cissy Hawk. John Carradine (see "Masquerade" above) plays hobo Jason Longfellow. Bruce Dern (shown on the right, starred in The Wild Angels, Hang 'Em High, Support Your Local Sheriff!, Silent Running, Coming Home, and Nebraska and played E.J. Stocker on Stoney Burke and Frank Harlow on Big Love) plays his accomplice Johnny Norton. Paul Newlan (see "The Grim Reaper" above) plays local lawman Sheriff Tom Ulysses Willetts. 

Season 2, Episode 14, "Portrait Without a Face": John Newland (see "The Return of Andrew Bentley" above) plays painter Robertson Moffat. Jane Greer (starred in Dick Tracy (1945), Out of the Past, The Big Steal, The Prisoner of Zenda, and Down Among the Sheltering Palms and played Charlotte Pershing on Falcon Crest and Vivian Smythe Niles on Twin Peaks) plays his wife Ann. Katherine Squire (Emma Simpson on The Doctors) plays her Aunt Agatha. Robert Webber (appeared in The Sandpiper, The Silencers, The Dirty Dozen, 10, Private Benjamin, and S.O.B. and played Alexander Hayes on Moonlighting) plays gallery cataloguer Arthur Henshaw. George Mitchell (Cal Bristol on Stoney Burke) plays local lawman Pete Browning. Alberta Nelson (appeared in Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, Bikini Beach, Pajama Party, Beach Blanket Bingo, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, and The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini and played Lori the waitress on Peyton Place) plays his wife Marie. Gage Clarke (Mr. Botkin on Gunsmoke) plays family physician Dr. Josiah Grant. John Banner (shown on the left, played Bovaro on Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, Hans on The Baileys of Balboa, Sgt. Hans Georg Schultz on Hogan's Heroes, and Uncle Latzi on The Chicago Teddy Bears) plays art expert Prof. Martin Vander Hoven.