The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1962)

 

It's been 6 years since our post on the 1961 episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and the biggest news since then, actually from 3 years ago, is that the entire series has been issued on DVD by MPI, both as a complete series box set and as individual seasons. Finally we are able to view all the episodes rather than the random selections included in various incomplete anthology box sets and posted to YouTube, and the episodes on the DVD sets have been remastered, providing much better video quality. The DVD sets also include several commercials and sponsor messages featuring one or more of the Nelsons, providing an even better feel for what it was like viewing the program during its initial broadcast.

As for the content of the show itself, the episodes from 1962 pretty much continue to run over the same themes and format from previous seasons. The show was clearly running on fumes as they recycle Ricky singing his new single "Young World" at the end of three episodes, and the final show of 1962, "The Game Inventors" (December 27, 1962), runs so short that Harriet has to come on at the end of the story to admit they are short and that they will fill the remaining time by replaying video segments of two of Ricky's most popular hits--"Hello, Mary Lou" and "Travelin' Man," which is actually played twice--once in front of a staged audience of thrilled teenagers, and a second time with a video montage of Ricky visiting the girl he has in every port. In the plots themselves, the Nelsons continue to have a "failure to communicate," which leads to myriad problems but no consequences. In "The Fraternity Pin" (January 4, 1962) Rick retrieves Wally's fraternity pin from the jewelers but then decides to give it to his current girlfriend Norma Lane, partly because everyone expects him to and partly because he doesn't know where his own pin is, and he figures Wally won't need his pin back right away. He and Wally then have to bend over backwards making up excuses about why Wally can't give his pin to his girlfriend Ginger, and Rick finally realizes he really isn't ready to commit to a relationship but is bailed out yet again when Norma confesses that she isn't either. In "The Special Cake" (January 18, 1962), David's wife June wonders if he remembers the anniversary of their first date, but rather than ask him directly, she talks it over with Harriet, who tells her that she and Ozzie have a tradition of her baking a special cake when it is their anniversary, thereby sparing him the embarrassment of not remembering the day while reminding him when he sees the cake. So this is the approach June adopts, knowing that Dave is aware of the tradition, only he doesn't catch on right away, and there is confusion and hurt feelings until he figures it out. The pattern of avoiding direct communication because it is uncomfortable extends to Dave's boss Mr. Kelly in "Losing Miss Edwards" (November 29, 1962) when Kelly thinks his secretary Miss Edwards is spending too much time away from the office, but rather than telling her this himself, he delegates the assignment to Dave, who is clearly the wrong man for the job. Dave continues avoiding the task, fearing he will offend Miss Edwards, while Kelly keeps hounding him to get it over with. When Miss Edwards then hands in her resignation, before Dave has said anything about Kelly's displeasure, Kelly blames Dave for handling the communication poorly. Then, rather than pressing Miss Edwards about why she is quitting--she tells them she feels she just needs a change, thereby also choosing not to communicate her real reason for leaving--Dave takes Ozzie's somewhat chauvinistic advice that women need to feel they are appreciated (implying that men don't). Dave and Kelly start complimenting her, letting her have extra time for personal matters, etc., but they don't completely win her back until they recruit a fake applicant for her job, and have the applicant intentionally do poorly on a typing and dictation test in order to make Miss Edwards decide she can't abandon them to this obviously unqualified replacement. Of course, Miss Edwards is completely aware of the game they are playing and tells them so when she agrees to stay on after all.

Even though Dave has settled down in his marriage to June, Rick continues to have a new girlfriend almost every week. Norma Lane makes it through a couple of episodes ("The Fraternity Pin" and "The Randolphs' Niece" [January 25, 1962]). He moves on to Sandy in "Lending Money to Wally" (March 8, 1962), but she is quickly replaced by Joan Carlyle in "The Client's Daughter" (March 29, 1962), only to have her jettisoned for Paula Benson the next week in "The Student Nurse" (April 5, 1962). Paula reappears in "The Apartment" (October 11, 1962) after Rick has met and presumably dated an unnamed librarian in "Rick and the Maid of Honor" (September 27, 1962) after worrying that former girlfriend Roberta Jackson wants him to get married. Then in "Rick and the Sculptress" (October 18, 1962) he is dating Roberta again while being tempted by the titular sculptress Lory West. But they are both a distant memory in "Rick Sends a Picture" (November 15, 1962) because he is reunited with childhood friend Lois James (played by Pamela Austin, who also played the unnamed librarian). That lasts all of one week because he is dating Gloria Taylor in "Rick, the Host" (November 22, 1962), who fares no better when he gets Dave to use Pamela Hale as his fake job applicant in "Losing Miss Edwards" so that Rick can get in good with Pamela. As we've noted before, the theme of having a different girl in every port (as in his hit song "Travelin' Man") is particularly ironic since the real-life Ricky Nelson was a serial philanderer.

But despite most of the episodes dealing with the minor troubles of Rick, Dave, their friends, or pint-sized neighbor Barry, the most poignant and best-written episodes are those dealing with aging parents Ozzie and Harriet. In "The Lonesome Parents" (March 15, 1962), we get a surprisingly realistic portrait of parents with adult children who have lives of their own and often go several days without spending time with their elders. While younger son Rick is busy attending college, spending time at his fraternity house (even though he lives at home), and dating his new girlfriend of the week, elder son Dave is now married, working for a law firm, and shares an apartment with his wife June. Harriet begins the episode writing a letter to her own mother, who lives in another town, but every time she tries relaying what Rick is up to, he announces a change in plans so that she finally gives up and throws the letter in the trash. She then tells Ozzie they haven't heard from Dave in a while, and when they go to the malt shop that evening for dessert, they discover that apparently everyone else there knows more about what has been going on with Dave and June than they do. In typical Nelson fashion, rather than directly communicating with Dave, Harriet begins to wonder if they have offended him and he is deliberately keeping his distance. Much of the rest of the episode continues this pattern of making speculative assumptions based on circumstantial factors rather than taking a direct approach. Finally, Harriet is able to pin down a date for Dave and June to come over for dinner but feels that perhaps they should do something different on the assumption that Dave and June must be bored with their usual routine for their visits, so Harriet suggests having a Japanese-themed evening, cooking on the hibachi in the fireplace and wearing kimonos while sitting on the floor. Just before Dave and June show up, she decides the idea is silly, and they are about to abandon it, but Dave and June see the kimonos, find out about the Japanese motif, and are game for the idea. However, the next evening Harriet gets a phone call from her mother, asking why she hasn't heard from her in so long, and Harriet remembers she never finished the letter she started at the beginning of the episode, ironically bringing us full circle to show that even aging parents can get so busy with their own concerns that they forget to check in with their parents. The episode is noteworthy for its rare depiction of the lives and worries of empty-nest parents and the way people of any age can take observations about another person's behavior to construct completely inaccurate explanations for the cause of that behavior.

A few weeks later, "Little Handprints in the Sidewalk" (April 19, 1962) dramatizes the tension between aging parents' sentimental hanging on to mementos of their children's youth and the practicality of what to do with those mementos. In this case, Ozzie and Harriet decide to repair their front sidewalk after Ozzie trips over a damaged portion of it, but one panel contains Dave and Rick's handprints from when the cement was laid 17 years earlier. Harriet decides she wants to keep that panel, but after the contractor they hire removes it, they can't decide where to put it--she rejects putting it right in the living room where it is the first thing someone will see when they enter the home, but she also feels uncomfortable when Ozzie and Rick haul the heavy slab up into the attic, perched right above Ozzie and Harriet's bed. Joe Randolph earlier offers to take the slab off Ozzie's hands, saying he can use it for a boat anchor, which Ozzie finds impertinent. But when he can't find a suitable place for it at home, Ozzie relents and lets Joe take it away, only to have Harriet suddenly decide it could be placed over a muddy patch by the back porch. However, Joe returns to tell him the slab never made it out to the marina because he dropped it in a muddy spot by his back patio--face down, meaning the handprints are now lost permanently. The upshot is that despite the sentimental attachment that Harriet feels for the reminder of what her boys were like when they were young, she and Ozzie ultimately have to accept there is no place for a physical reminder of that time in their current home, forcing them to let go of the physical past. The episode would have been perfectly fine had it ended there, but instead another segment is tacked on in which Ozzie forgets that the contractor has laid fresh cement right outside the front door and then trips and falls into it before suggesting to Harriet that they take his imprint and make a coffee table out of it, which she wisely rejects. Ozzie then turns to the camera and breaks the fourth wall by shrugging and throwing up his hands to the audience. This mugging for the camera is used at the end of quite a few 1962 episodes, as if begging for one final laugh, including by cook Mrs. Murry in "The Fraternity Cook" (February 8, 1962), Ozzie talking directly to the camera from a hospital bed in "Operation Barry" (February 15, 1962), Rick shrugging to the camera in "Making Wally Study" (February 22, 1962), Barry speaking to the camera about his best birthday ever in "Barry's Birthday" (April 12, 1962), Rick giving a knowing look to the camera at the end of "Rick and the Maid of Honor," Ozzie smirking at the camera at the end of "The Apartment" (October 11, 1962), Roberta winking at the camera while dancing with Rick in "Rick and the Sculptress," Rick's girlfriend's little brother Ronnie shrugging at the camera at the end of "Rick Sends a Picture," restaurant owner Tony turning to the camera and throwing up his hands at the end of "Rick, the Host," Rick saying they like to end each episode with a strange twist in "An Old Friend of June's" (December 13, 1962), and Ozzie once again saying to the camera that even when you win, you lose at the end of "The Game Inventors." Though breaking the fourth wall has a long history in television, particularly on The Jack Benny Program, its use on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet seems, as mentioned above, tacked on, not organic to the rest of each episode, nor a basic premise to show the artificiality of television.

Speaking of connections to The Jack Benny Program, one final trivial note on the 1962 episodes involves the eventual stage name of iconic comedian Rodney Dangerfield. In "Rick Sends a Picture," Rick strikes up a dating relationship with former childhood friend Lois James but accidentally sends her a photo of himself inscribed "To my best girl" intended to go to his grandmother. Lois thinks Rick is in love with her and reciprocates with a photo of herself, but when she overhears Wally tell his friends about the pickle Rick is in over the photo, she is hurt and angry and refuses to see or talk to him. So Wally decides to get Rick a chance to explain by setting up a "blind" date with Lois using connections at Ginger's sorority, but in order not to let Lois know that Rick is her date, he has to choose an alias, and he chooses Rodney Dangerfield.  According to real-life Dangerfield biographer Michael Seth Starr, the name was first used by Jack Benny in a 1941 radio show and again later in the 1950s. By 1962 the real Rodney Dangerfield had been using his birth name Jack Roy but had found no success and even left the business for a while. When he decided to try a comeback, he thought it best to use a different name to avoid scaring off prospective audience members who might have seen his act as Jack Roy (though according to an article on cracked.com, he was also trying to avoid being spotted by the FBI after being indicted in a home-repair loan scam), so he told George McFadden, owner of the Innwood Lounge in Manhattan, to bill him under another name and left it up to McFadden to pick the name. McFadden chose Rodney Dangerfield, though Dangerfield himself later said he had no idea where he got it. Whether McFadden chose the name from Benny or Ozzie and Harriet isn't clear, but Ozzie Nelson surely was aware of Benny and his work, and Ricky's alias in this episode must have come from Benny. The parallels between Benny's show and Ozzie and Harriet don't end there. Both series started out on radio--Benny in 1932, the Nelsons in 1944--both presented a fictionalized version of real-life show business stars, and as described above both broke the fourth wall, though Benny's antics were more daring than simply winking at the camera at the end of a self-contained story. Benny's portrayal of himself was also more daring--showing him as a self-absorbed, miserly entertainer, whereas the fictionalized version of Ozzie Nelson is just an unemployed husband and father who dispenses bad advice and gets into arguments with his friends. The Nelsons' world on Ozzie and Harriet is markedly more artificial and circumscribed by television sit-com conventions. Still, it offers a comfortable medium between rule-breakers like Benny and the rigid confines of formulaic sit-coms such as Father Knows Best and The Donna Reed Show.

The Actors

For the biographies of Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Hilliard Nelson, David Nelson, Ricky Nelson, Skip Young, Lyle Talbot, Mary Jane Croft, Constance Harper, and Jack Wagner, see the 1960 post on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. For the biographies of June Blair, Joe Flynn, Barry Livingston, Frank Cady, Roberta Shore, and James Stacy, see the 1961 post on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

Charlene Salerno

Little has been written about Charlene Salerno, who appeared 39 times on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet between 1960 and 1965, playing Wally's girlfriend Ginger in all but one of those. She was born November 19, 1938 in Los Angeles and had a brief career as a child actor, appearing in uncredited parts in two feature films--The Gay Sisters in 1942 and The Adventures of Mark Twain in 1944. Apparently, the Salerno family were friends with Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, which led to Charlene being cast as Ginger in a semi-recurring role from Season 8 through the remainder of the series. She had only one other acting credit during that time, appearing in a 1961 episode of Insight. What she did after the cancelation of Ozzie and Harriet has not been published, but she died of breast cancer at the age of 47 on March 5, 1986.

Charley Britt

Charles William Britt was born in Augusta, Georgia on March 20, 1938. From an early age, Britt was a stand-out athlete, competing in baseball, basketball, golf, track, and especially football. At North Augusta High School, he was an All-State and All-Southern quarterback and defensive back who helped lead his team to an undefeated season his senior year. His play earned him a football scholarship to the University of Georgia, where he was teammates with Fran Tarkenton and future college football coach Pat Dye. After his college career, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams as a defensive back and played for the team from 1960-63. While living in Los Angeles, he met Ricky Nelson, who recruited Britt and other local football players as ringers to help Nelson finally beat Elvis Presley and his Memphis Mafia teammates in a running series of competitive football games. While other members of the Rams, like linebacker Marlin McKeever, had occasional extra parts on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Britt's friendship with Nelson won him a semi-recurring role as fraternity brother Charley beginning in 1961 through the duration of the series, appearing 26 times in the role. Britt even lived with Nelsons during part of this period.

In 1963 Britt married actress Pamela Austin, who also appeared in multiple episodes of the series, and the couple had a son Beau before divorcing after little more than a year. In 1964, Britt played for the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers before retiring from professional football. He had a single appearance playing an unnamed dancer in a 1967 episode of The Lucy Show but then pursued a career as a newscaster, first in the Los Angeles area before returning home to North Augusta, where he was the news anchor and covered The Masters golf tournament. Beginning in 2023 he was a guest columnist for the local newspaper, The North Augusta Star. As of December 2025, he was still living at age 87 in North Augusta with his wife Tonya.

Notable Guest Stars

Season 10, Episode 12, "The Fraternity Pin": Cheryl Holdridge (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1961 post on Leave It to Beaver) plays Rick's current girlfriend Norma Lane. Henry Hunter (Doctor Summerfield on Hazel and Mr. Abbott on Days of Our Lives) plays a jewelry store owner.

Season 10, Episode 13, "The Backyard Pet Show": Kim Tyler (Kyle Nash on Please Don't Eat the Daisies) plays Barry's friend Kim. Laurie Nelson (shown on the right, niece of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson) plays kitten owner Laurie. Richard Gittings (Bob Anderson on Days of Our Lives) plays neighborhood father Dick. Russ Thompson (host of Armed Forces Radio kids show Let's Pretend With Uncle Russ) plays neighborhood father Russ.  Gil Smith (award-winning commercial photographer, son-in-law of Ricardo Montalban, played Joey McDonald on Dennis the Menace and Steve Lindsey on Peter Loves Mary) plays a boy at the pet show.

Season 10, Episode 15, "The Randolphs' Niece": Linda Evans (shown on the left, played Audra Barkley on The Big Valley, Marty Shaw on Hunter, and Krystle Carrington on Dynasty) plays the Randolphs' niece Shirley. Cheryl Holdridge (see "The Fraternity Pin" above) returns as Rick's girlfriend Norma Lane.

Season 10, Episode 16, "A Lamp for Dave and June": Stanley Farrar (shown on the right, appeared in The Beatniks and played Dr. Talmadge on The Real McCoys) plays lamp shop owner Mr. Peters. Sarah Selby (see the biography section for the 1962 post on Gunsmoke) plays Dave and June's landlord Mrs. Howard. Janet Waldo (see the biography section for the 1962 post on The Jetsons) plays lamp shop customer Mrs. Lee.

Season 10, Episode 17, "The Fraternity Cook": Sarah Selby (shown on the left, see "A Lamp for Dave and June" above) plays the fraternity cook Mrs. Murry. Jimmy Hawkins (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Donna Reed Show) plays fraternity brother Jimmy. Vera Marshe (appeared in Monsieur Verdoux, Danger Street, and The Space Children and played Mrs. Franklin on Meet Corliss Archer) plays the first fraternity cook job applicant.

Season 10, Episode 18, "Operation Barry": Kim Tyler (shown on the right, see "The Backyard Pet Show" above) returns as Barry's friend Kim. Janet Waldo (see "A Lamp for Dave and June" above) plays Barry's mother Ann.

Season 10, Episode 19, "Making Wally Study": Jimmy Hawkins (see "The Fraternity Cook" above) returns as fraternity brother Jimmy. David Lewis (Senator Ames on The Farmer's Daughter, Warden Crichton on Batman, and Edward L. Quartermaine on General Hospital) plays the college dean. Lori Saunders (shown on the left, played Bobbie Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, and The Beverly Hillbillies, Betsy on Dusty's Trail, and Cynthia Harris on The Young and the Restless) plays a girl at the drive-in.

Season 10, Episode 20, "Lending Money to Wally": Jimmy Hawkins (see "The Fraternity Cook" above) returns as fraternity brother Jimmy. Lori Saunders (see "Making Wally Study" above) plays Jimmy's girlfriend Linda. Brian Davies (appeared in Up From the Beach, American Gigolo, and The Age of Innocence and played Scott Edgar on One Life to Live and Dick Hamilton on All My Children) plays freshman student Pete. Bob Jellison (shown on the right, played Waldo Binney on The Life of Riley and Bobby the Bellboy on I Love Lucy) plays a restaurant waiter.

Season 10, Episode 22, "The Client's Daughter": Edmon Ryan (appeared in Mystery Street, The Breaking Point, The Americanization of Emily, and Topaz and played Judge Alexander on Days of Our Lives) plays Mr. Kelly's client George Carlyle. Joan Staley (shown on the left, Playboy Playmate who appeared in Cape Fear, Roustabout, Valley of the Dragons, Johnny Cool, and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken and played Tiger on The Lively Ones, Hannah on 77 Sunset Strip, and Roberta Love on Broadside) plays his daughter Joan. Pat McCaffrie (Chuck Forrest on Bachelor Father and Dr. Edgar Harris on Outlaws) plays a drunk in the restaurant.

Season 10, Episode 23, "The Student Nurse": Nina Shipman (appeared in Blue Denim, The Oregon Trail, and High Time) plays Charley's hospital nurse Paula Benson. Dorothy Abbott (shown on the right, played Ann Baker on Dragnet) plays the nursing school receptionist. Dorothy Ford (appeared in Love Laughs at Andy Hardy, 3 Godfathers, and Jack and the Beanstalk and played Queen Riva on Space Patrol) plays another nurse at the hospital. Barbara Eiler (wife of Ozzie's brother Don Nelson) plays the dean of the Nursing School.

Season 10, Episode 24, "Barry's Birthday": Janet Waldo (shown on the left, see "A Lamp for Dave and June" above) returns as Barry's mother Ann. Kim Tyler (see "The Backyard Pet Show" above) returns as Barry's friend Kim. Gil Smith (see "The Backyard Pet Show" above) plays one of Barry's friends.

Season 10, Episode 25, "Little Handprints in the Sidewalk": Ben Bennett (shown on the right, half of the comedy team Bennett & Patterson, appeared in Operation Bottleneck and It Happened in Athens and played the court clerk on Days of Our Lives) plays sidewalk repairman Mr. Hayes.

Season 11, Episode 1, "Rick and the Maid of Honor": Jimmy Hawkins (shown on the left, see "The Fraternity Cook" above) returns as fraternity brother Jimmy. Lori Saunders (see "Making Wally Study" above) returns as his fiance Linda. Pamela Austin (starred in Hootenanny Hoot, Kissin' Cousins, and The Perils of Pauline) plays an assistant librarian.

Season 11, Episode 2, "Mrs. Bradford's Recipe": Enid Markey (shown on the right, appeared in The Cup of Life, Civilization, The Yankee Way, Tarzan of the Apes (1918), The Romance of Tarzan, Snafu, and The Boston Strangler and played Aunt Violet Flower on Bringing Up Buddy) plays Mr. Kelly's long-time client Mrs. Bradford. Howard Smith (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Hazel) plays notoriously touchy Judge Turner.

Season 11, Episode 3, "The Apartment": Nina Shipman (shown on the left, see "The Student Nurse" above) returns as Rick's girlfriend Paula Benson.

Season 11, Episode 4, "Rick and the Sculptress": Lory Patrick (shown on the right, see the biography section for the 1961 post on Tales of Wells Fargo) plays sculptress Lory West. Brian Davies (see "Lending Money to Wally" above) plays Ginger's cousin Brian Mayfield. Roberta Shore (see "Rick and the Maid of Honor" above) returns as Rick's date Roberta Jackson.

Season 11, Episode 5, "The Trip to Mexico": Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez (shown on the left, played Pedro Vasquez on The Texan) plays a Mexican street vendor selling maracas. Ben Bennett (see "Little Handprints in the Sidewalk" above) plays a travel agent. Pat McCaffrie (see "The Client's Daughter" above) plays a cab driver.

Season 11, Episode 6, "The Tigers Go to a Dance": Ronnie Dapo (appeared in -30-, The Music Man, and Kisses For My President and played Flip Rose on Room for One More and Andy on The New Phil Silvers Show) plays Ronnie, a boy who backs out of going to the dance. Pat Thompson (son of actor Russ Thompson) plays Barry's friend and Tiger member Pat. Gil Smith (shown on the right, see "The Backyard Pet Show" above) plays Tiger member Jimmy Dugan. Kim Tyler (see "The Backyard Pet Show" above) returns as Barry's friend Kim. Janet Waldo (see "A Lamp for Dave and June" above) plays dance hostess Janet. Laurie Nelson (see "The Backyard Pet Show" above) plays dance attendee Laurie.

Season 11, Episode 7, "The Women's Club Play": Barbara Stuart (shown on the left, played Bessie on The Great Gildersleeve, Alice on Pete and Gladys, Bunny on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Peggy Ferguson on The McLean Stevenson Show, Marianne Danzig on Our Family Honor, and Alice on Huff) plays women's club member Mary Snyder. Janet Waldo (see "A Lamp for Dave and June" above) plays women's club member Janet. Cheerio Meredith (Emma Brand on The Andy Griffith Show and Lovey Hackett on One Happy Family) plays women's club member Mrs. Gregory.

Season 11, Episode 8, "Rick Sends a Picture": Pamela Austin (shown on the right, see "Rick and the Maid of Honor" above) plays Rick's English-class mate Lois James. Ronnie Dapo (see "The Tigers Go to a Dance" above) plays her younger brother Ronnie. Barbara Eiler (see "The Student Nurse" above) plays a camera shop clerk. Stuffy Singer (national and world handball champion, played Donnie Henderson on Beulah and Alexander Bumstead on Blondie) plays fraternity brother Stuffy. Mikki Jamison (first wife of musician Jimmy Griffin of the group Bread, played Jean Reed on Adam-12) plays Lois' sorority sister Betty Wilson.

Season 11, Episode 9, "Rick, the Host": Vicki Trickett (shown on the left, appeared in Pepe, Gidget Goes Hawaiian, and The Three Stooges Meet Hercules) plays Rick's latest girlfriend Gloria Taylor. Stuffy Singer (see "Rick Sends a Picture" above) returns as fraternity brother Stuffy. Don Orlando (appeared in Park Row, Kansas City Confidential, and The Broken Land and played Pinto on The Adventures of Tugboat Annie) plays restaurant owner Tony.

Season 11, Episode 10, "Losing Miss Edwards": Rachel Stephens (shown on the right, appeared in Hound Dog Man, One Foot in Hell, and Richie Rich) plays secretarial job applicant Pamela Hale. Ben Bennett (see "Little Handprints in the Sidewalk" above) plays an elevator operator.

Season 11, Episode 11, "An Old Friend of June's": Dick Sargent (shown on the left, starred in Bernardine, Operation Petticoat, and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken and played Dick Cooper on One Happy Family, Lt. Maxwell Trotter on Broadside, Terrance Ward on The Tammy Grimes Show, the second Darrin Stephens on Bewitched, and Richard Preston on Down to Earth) plays June's old friend George Radcliffe. Joan Staley (see "The Client's Daughter" above) plays Dave's temporary secretary Joan McWhorter.

Season 11, Episode 12, "The Game Inventors": Mack Williams (shown on the right, appeared in Command Decision, Destination Big House, and Cape Fear) plays game manufacturer Mr. Harris. Stuffy Singer (see "Rick Sends a Picture" above) returns as fraternity brother Stuffy.

 

Tales of Wells Fargo (1962)

 

In our post on the 1961 episodes, we covered the changes made to the program for Season 6 in an attempt to recapture its early-life appeal and compete with other higher profile westerns that had entered the market, in particular Bonanza, and how these changes had not had the intended effect of increasing viewership. Nothing of significance changed in the latter 2/3 of Season 6, the episodes that aired in 1962. The series continued to rely on shopworn plots already used on every other western series of the era, a device so obvious that even reviewers on imdb.com have complained about it, most notably for the episode "Don't Wake a Tiger" (May 12, 1962). And the expanded cast introduced at the beginning of Season 6 to appeal to a wider demographic was used less and less as the season progressed, with some characters not appearing at all in several consecutive episodes. Many of the final episodes have Jim Hardie on the road or stuck in some remote location away from his horse farm and neighbors. The last time we see the character of Mary Gee is in episode 24, "Chauncey" (March 17, 1962), meaning she misses the last 10 episodes of the series. In fact, we see more of Wells Fargo clerk Sam Whipple (played by Phil Chambers) than we do of Mary Gee.

But speaking of the episode "Chauncey," it is perhaps the lone episode centered on the character of Tina Swenson, who somehow falls in love with a psychopath "poetic" drifter and refuses to heed the warnings of her mother and Hardie about the young man's instability. While it's not completely unbelievable that an educated young woman might be attracted to a man who talks about metaphysical subjects rather than just farming, is able to paint pictures, if crudely at that, and talks about achieving his dreams through sheer willpower, Chauncey Evans is clearly brutish in grabbing whatever he wants and a little too smooth in coming up with excuses for the lies he keeps spinning to keep others at bay. As Hardie and the law get closer to pinning the murder of a Wells Fargo agent in another town on him, he grows more desperate, and the story devolves into a Snidely Whiplash-style melodrama with Chauncey kidnapping Tina and driving her to the iconic house used in Hitchcock's Psycho, if there was ever any doubt about Chauncey's mental state. Reviewers on imdb.com have lauded this episode for its early, if oversimplified and sensationalized, examination of mental illness, but newly popular medical series such as The Eleventh Hour and Ben Casey were already offering a more measured, if still sensationalized, view of mental issues. More interesting in this Tales of Wells Fargo episode is the treatment of Tina's too-easy willingness to ignore Chauncey's obvious red flags in her desperation to find a lover. This form of mental imbalance is far more common and at times harder to recognize. Certainly Tales of Wells Fargo wasn't the first television show to examine romantic abuse, but it still deserves credit for broaching a female-centered problem in a genre almost exclusively devoted to unreal male action heroes.

Another episode that deserves a modicum of praise is the series finale "Vignette of a Sinner" (June 2, 1962). It, too, revolves around a woman choosing a romantic partner for all the wrong reasons--this time out of a misplaced sense of loyalty to her father. Rachel Whitman plans to marry banker Les Caldwell because he loaned her late father $30,000 to try to keep his renowned horse farm afloat, but even the loan was not enough to save the farm, and Rachel doesn't realize that since then Caldwell has resorted to embezzlement, robbery, and attempted murder to make back the money he loaned. Enter Jim Hardie, who with a little prodding from Jeb Gaines, is immediately smitten with Rachel when she demonstrates she can ride a jumping horse. Even after learning of Caldwell's crimes, Rachel sticks by him, thinking she has no other choice when he is seriously wounded exchanging gunfire with his hired safe-cracker. Caldwell, of course, must pay for his crimes and dies from the gunshot wound, but Hardie does not see any flaws in Rachel for abetting his attempt to evade the law, and at episode's end, he asks her to stay after she boards a stagecoach bound for Kentucky, her original home. This is a significant change for Hardie, whom we have earlier seen reject an attempted reunion with former lover Ella Congreve, who chose a life on the stage rather than becoming Hardie's housewife, in "Return to Yesterday" (January 13, 1962).  It would have been a fitting ending to the series to have Rachel accept Hardie's invitation to stay, suggesting that perhaps he would settle down with her on his horse farm, a mutual interest for the couple, possibly even retiring from Wells Fargo to do so. But this was not the era of tidy series finales, as would be later seen on programs such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show or M*A*S*H. So instead we have Rachel tell Hardie that after what has just happened, she needs time to recover, but also adds that one day she may be ready, leaving the door open just a tiny sliver that they may eventually wind up together. Given that Hardie is a man who typically gets what he is after, we can conjecture that after thinking things over, if he still wants her, he will find a way to make it happen. But the final image we get is her stagecoach driving away with Hardie standing there watching her go. That's about the closest we can get to having a series wrapped up in a meaningful way circa 1962.

One final note: Tales of Wells Fargo seemed to get more coverage in the pages of TV Guide after it was dead in the water than it had the previous two years. The April 21, 1962 issue featured a two-page photo spread about Dale Robertson's office at Revue Studios, decorated as if it were a set for the program. Given that the show would air only until June 2 of that year, and the same issue reported renewals for shows such as Bonanza and Laramie, as well as the cancellation of Thriller, surely the days of Tales of Wells Fargo were already numbered by late April. And yet, this is the kind of photo feature that could have been shot and written at any time and then run in the magazine whenever there was a particularly slow news week. The June 2, 1962 edition of the magazine contained a feature story on actress Lory Patrick, who played Tina Swenson, mentioning that Tales of Wells Fargo "won't be around next season," but then adding that Revue was keeping her under contract to guest star on "prestige shows" as well as all the Revue-produced shows in the upcoming season. Though Patrick appeared on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Wide Country, Alcoa Premiere, It's a Man's World, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Laramie, and Wagon Train in late 1962 and 1963, her career slowed down dramatically thereafter and was over by 1967. Dale Robertson by this time had moved on to star in another western series, Iron Horse, trading his stagecoach on Tales of Wells Fargo for a train.

The "Notable Guest Stars" section below contains screen grabs for all the episodes included on the Timeless Media Group box set for the final season, which does not include all the episodes from that season. The remaining episodes can be found on the Starz streaming service, which requires a paid subscription. However, there is a problem viewing these episodes with the Firefox browser, which is why these episodes have no screen grabs below.

The Actors

For the biography of Dale Robertson, see the 1960 post on Tales of Wells Fargo. For the biographies of William Demarest, Virginia Christine, Mary Jane Saunders, Lory Patrick, and Steve Darrell see the 1961 post on Tales of Wells Fargo.

Notable Guest Stars

Season 6, Episode 15, "Moneyrun": Michael Ansara (shown on the left, husband of actress Barbara Eden, appeared in Julius Caesar, The Robe, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Harum Scarum, played Cochise on Broken Arrow and Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart on The Rifleman and Law of the Plainsman, and voiced General Warhawk on Rambo) plays renegade Mexican army commander Col. Peralta. Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr. (Luis Valdez on Viva Valdez and Hernandez on General Hospital) plays Mexican army commander Col. Navarro. George Dolenz (father of Micky Dolenz, appeared in The Strange Death of Adolf Hitler, Vendetta, Scared Stiff, and The Last Time I Saw Paris and played Edmond Dantes/The Count of Monte Cristo on The Count of Monte Cristo) plays deposed Mexican Governor Rafael De Lopa. Vinton Hayworth (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Lawman) plays Wells Fargo executive Ben Travers. Frank Gerstle (Dick Gird on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp and voiced Raseem on The Banana Splits Adventure Hour)  plays his agent Tim. Phil Chambers (Sgt. Myles Magruder on The Gray Ghost and Jason the hotel clerk on The Andy Griffith Show) plays telegraph clerk Sam.

Season 6, Episode 16, "Return to Yesterday": Dianne Foster (shown on the right, starred in Night Passage, The Last Hurrah, and The Deep Six) plays world renowned singer Ella Congreve. Addison Richards (starred in Boys Town, They Made Her a Spy, Flying Tigers, and The Deerslayer and played Doc Calhoun on Trackdown, Doc Landy on The Deputy¸ and John Abbott on Ben Jarrod) plays her father Simon. Yvette Vickers (starred in Reform School Girl, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, and Attack of the Giant Leeches) plays her assistant Agnes Jenkins. Lew Gallo (Major Joseph Cobb on 12 O'Clock High and directed multiple episodes of That Girl, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Love American Style, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and The New Mike Hammer) plays hotel bellhop Harry Bowen. Phil Tully (Charlie the bartender on The Deputy) plays hotel detective McGuire. Jason Robards, Sr. (father of Jason Robards, Jr.) plays Simon's physician Dr. Ira P. Strickland. Phil Chambers (see "Moneyrun" above) returns as Wells Fargo clerk Sam.

Season 6, Episode 17, "Reward for Gaine": John Doucette (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Lock Up) plays Jeb's brother Sgt. Gaine. John Anderson (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays his U.S. Army commander Col. Bledsoe. Steven Terrell (Tom on The Pride of the Family) plays one of Gaine's soldiers Trillby. Robert Karnes (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Lawless Years) plays Beldsoe's adjutant Cpl. Lark. Linda Dangcil (Sister Ana on The Flying Nun, Elena on Villa Alegre, and voiced Carmen Alonso and Raya on Jem) plays Indian chief's daughter Feather.

Season 6, Episode 18, "Assignment in Gloribee": Patricia Owens (starred in The Happiest Days of Your Life, Sayonara, The Fly, and Hell to Eternity) plays journalist Katherine Ann Murdock. Rod Cameron (shown on the right, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Coronado 9) plays ex-con Nathan Chance. George Kennedy (starred in Charade, The Sons of Katie Elder, The Dirty Dozen, Cool Hand Luke, and The Naked Gun and played MP Sgt. Kennedy on The Phil Silvers Show, Father Samuel Cavanaugh on Sarge, Bumper Morgan on The Blue Knight, and Carter McKay on Dallas) plays his robbery partner Hawk. Stafford Repp (Lt. Ralph Raines on The Thin Man, Brink on The New Phil Silvers Show, and Chief O'Hara on Batman) plays wealthy cattle buyer Major Shankford. Leonard P. Geer (Ollie on The Adventures of Spin and Marty) plays bounty hunter Jeelo Curran. Gilman Rankin (Deputy Charlie Riggs on Tombstone Territory) plays rancher Jake.

Season 6, Episode 19, "Incident at Crossbow": Sean McClory (shown on the left, played Jack McGivern on The Californians and Myles Delaney on Bring 'Em Back Alive) plays ex-con bank robber Con Toole. Hal Baylor (Jenkins on Rawhide and Mercury on Batman) plays his henchman Hondo. Dan Sheridan (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Lawman) plays stagecoach driver Sam Storey. Michael Forest (starred in Ski Troop Attack, Atlas, and The Glory Guys and was the voice of Capt. Dorai on Street Fighter II: V and Olympus on Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue) plays gambler Duke Tolliver. Robert Sampson (Sgt. Walsh on Steve Canyon, Father Mike Fitzgerald on Bridget Love Bernie, and Sheriff Turk Tobias on Falcon Crest) plays New Jersey farmer Arthur King. Joyce Meadows (Lynn Allen on The Man and the Challenge and Stacy on Two Faces West) plays his fiance Flo Healey. Russell Thorson (Det. Lt. Otto Lindstrom on The Detectives and William Kennerly on Peyton Place) plays waystation operator Jug Perry. Robert B. Williams (see the biography section for the 1962 post on Hazel) plays lawman Marshal Charlie Dodge.

Season 6, Episode 20, "Portrait of Teresa": Arthur Franz (shown on the right, starred in Flight to Mars, The Member of the Wedding, and The Caine Mutiny and played Bill Winters on World of Giants and Hugh McLeod on The Nurses) plays painter Mel Akins. Simon Oakland (starred in Psycho, West Side Story, and Follow That Dream and played Inspector Spooner on Toma, Tony Vincenzo on Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Brig. Gen. Thomas Moore on Black Sheep Squadron, and Sgt. Abrams on David Cassidy - Man Undercover) plays small village strongman Podario. Rico Alaniz (Mr. Cousin on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays his henchman Lopez. Roberto Contreras (Pedro on The High Chapparal) plays another henchman Antonio. William Fawcett (Clayton on Duffy's Tavern, Marshal George Higgins on The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, and Pete Wilkey on Fury) plays stagecoach driver Charlie. Hal Needham (Hollywood's highest-paid stuntman who invented numerous stunt devices, was a double for Richard Boone and Burt Reynolds, and directed Smokey and the Bandit, Hooper, and Cannonball Run) plays a rowdy cattle drover.

Season 6, Episode 21, "Hometown Doctor": Richard Long (shown on the left, starred in The Stranger, Criss Cross, All I Desire, and as Tom Kettle in 4 Ma and Pa Kettle features, and played Red Randolph on Bourbon Street Beat and 77 Sunset Strip, Jarrod Barkley on The Big Valley, Professor Everett on Nanny and the Professor, and Ernie Paine on Thicker Than Water) plays Dr. Jeremy Wilson, son of the deceased Gloribee physician. Lillian Bronson (Mrs. Drake on Date With the Angels) plays one of his father's patients Missee Blake. Ken Scott (appeared in The Three Faces of Eve, Woman Obsessed, Beloved Infidel, and Desire in the Dust and played Det. Vincent Polk on McCloud) plays cattle trail boss Stringer. Paul Sorenson (Andy Bradley on Dallas) plays one of his drovers Ace. George D. Wallace (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays another drover Cross. Hank Patterson (see the biography section for the 1962 post on Gunsmoke) plays stagecoach driver Sid. Roy Barcroft (Col. Logan on The Adventures of Spin and Marty and Roy on Gunsmoke) plays cattle mogul Sam Rogers.

Season 6, Episode 22, "The Traveler": Jack Warden (starred in From Here to Eternity, 12 Angry Men, and Run Silent, Run Deep and played Matt Gower on The Asphalt Jungle, Major Simon Butcher on The Wackiest Ship in the Army, Lt. Mike Haines on N.Y.P.D., Morris Buttermaker on The Bad News Bears, and Harry Fox, Sr. on Crazy Like a Fox) plays ex-con school teacher Brad Axton. Ken Mayer (Maj. Robbie Robertson on Space Patrol) plays his former partner Sunderman. Warren J. Kemmerling (Judge Rense on How the West Was Won) plays his other former partner Morgan. Celia Kaye (see the biography section for the 1962 post on The New Loretta Young Show) plays his daughter Julie. Tyler McVey (Simon Peter on The Living Christ Series and Maj. Norgrath on Men Into Space) plays Wells Fargo agent Max Andrews. Hank Patterson (see "Hometown Doctor" above) plays returns as stagecoach driver Sid. Phil Chambers (see "Moneyrun" above) returns as the Wells Fargo office clerk and telegrapher. Debbie Megowan (Dorine Peters on My Three Sons) plays Axton's sick pupil Cindy Reeves. Dorothy Lovett (played Judy Price in 5 Dr. Christian feature films, Dr. Robinson McKay on The Seeking Heart, and Edie on The Donna Reed Show) plays her mother.

Season 6, Episode 23, "Winter Storm": Dan Duryea (shown on the right, starred in The Little Foxes, The Pride of the Yankees, Scarlet Street, and Winchester '73 and played China Smith in China Smith and The New Adventures of China Smith and Eddie Jacks on Peyton Place) plays Oregon lawman Marshal Blake. R.G. Armstrong (Police Capt. McAllister on T.H.E. Cat and Lewis Vendredi on Friday the 13th) plays ghost-town resident Hanson. James Beck (appeared in The Bonnie Parker Story, Paratroop Command, Hound-Dog Man, and The Outsider and played Sgt. Highton on Hondo) plays one-armed former soldier Eddy Pierce. Gale Garnett (Grammy-winning popular singer who appeared in Tribute, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding) plays Nez Perce squaw Ruth.

Season 6, Episode 24, "Chauncey": Burt Brinckerhoff (Charles Shannon on Dr. Kildare and directed multiple episodes of Lou Grant, Nine to Five, Remington Steele, ALF, and 7th Heaven) plays violent drifter Chauncey Evans. Andy Albin (Andy Godsen on Julia) plays his Uncle Joe. Phil Chambers (see "Moneyrun" above) returns as Wells Fargo clerk Sam Whipple. Donald Elson (Fred on Little House on the Prairie) plays Willow Creek lawman J.C. Clegg.

Season 6, Episode 25, "Who Lives by the Gun": Judith Evelyn (appeared in Rear Window, Hilda Crane, Giant, The Brothers Karamazov, and The Tingler and played The Woman on Windows) plays small-town mining company owner Emily Callan. Bart Patton (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Riverboat) plays her son Jeff. Paul Birch (Erle Stanley Gardner on The Court of Last Resort, Mike Malone on Cannonball, and Capt. Carpenter on The Fugitive) plays local lawman Sheriff Maxon. John Archer (father of Anne Archer, former husband of Marjorie Lord, appeared in White Heat, Ten Thousand Bedrooms, Blue Hawaii, and How to Frame a Figg) plays saloon owner Grant Reynolds. Kathie Browne (Angie Dow on Hondo and was Darren McGavin's second wife) plays saloon girl Peggy. John Alderson (Sgt. Bullock on Boots and Saddles and Wyatt Earp on Doctor Who) plays Emily Callan's right-hand man Gage. John Mitchum (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Riverboat) plays the saloon bartender.

Season 6, Episode 26, "To Kill a Town": Buddy Ebsen (see the biography section for the 1962 post on The Beverly Hillbillies) plays Hardie's outlaw prisoner Lou Reese. 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 his pursuer Normalie Hall. Harry Lauter (Ranger Clay Morgan on Tales of the Texas Rangers, Atlasande on Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, and Jim Herrick on Waterfront) plays Hall's hired gunman Pete. Peter Helm (brother of actress Anne Helm) plays hot-headed young gunslinger Jason Moore. Joan Staley (Playboy Playmate who appeared in Cape Fear, Roustabout, Valley of the Dragons, Johnny Cool, and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken and played Tiger on The Lively Ones, Hannah on 77 Sunset Strip, and Roberta Love on Broadside) plays hotel chambermaid Clarissa. Olan Soule (Aristotle "Tut" Jones on Captain Midnight, Ray Pinker on Dragnet (1952-59), Cal on Stagecoach West, the Hotel Carlton desk clerk on Have Gun -- Will Travel, and Fred Springer on Arnie and voiced Batman on The All-New Super Friends Hour, Challenge of the Superfriends, The World's Greatest SuperFriends, and Super Friends) plays the New Madrid storekeeper. Roy Wright (Shipwreck Callahan on The Islanders) plays the New Madrid blacksmith.

Season 6, Episode 27, "End of a Minor God": Lin McCarthy (starred in Yellowneck, The D.I., and Face of a Fugitive and played Bill Talbot on Modern Romances) plays notorious gunman Billy Trent. Jan Merlin (Roger Manning on Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, Lt. Colin Kirby on The Rough Riders, and wrote screenplays for Another World) plays his pursuer Johnny Fullen. Eileen Ryan (mother of Sean, Chris, and Michael Penn) plays mail-order bride Lorry Cannon. William Schallert (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) plays bookish stage passenger Paul Grieg. Robert J. Stevenson (bartender Big Ed on Richard Drum and Marshal Hugh Strickland on Stagecoach West) plays stagecoach driver Art Riddle. Hank Patterson (see "Hometown Doctor" above) plays shotgun rider Charlie Benson. Jon Lormer (Harry Tate on Lawman, Sam Watkins on The Real McCoys, the autopsy surgeon on Perry Mason, Simon Benjamin on The Young Marrieds, and Judge Irwin A. Chester on Peyton Place) plays Gloribee citizen Bert Hensley. Richard Tyler (appeared in The Bells of St. Mary's, Father Was a Fullback, and Tea and Sympathy and played Henry Aldrich on The Aldrich Family, and Dick and Beta on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet) plays wannabe gunman Beau Enders. Walter Coy (Zoravac on Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, Jason Farrell on A Flame in the Wind, and was the narrator on Frontier) plays Buena Vista Sheriff Vincour.

Season 6, Episode 28, "Remember the Yazoo": Jason Evers (starred in The Brain That Wouldn't Die, House of Women, The Green Berets, and Escape From the Planet of the Apes and played Pitcairn on Wrangler, Prof. Joseph Howe on Channing, and Jim Sonnett on The Guns of Will Sonnett) plays New Orleans Wells Fargo branch manager Tom Kelly. Jeanne Bal (Pat Baker on Love and Marriage and Jean Pagano on Mr. Novak) plays his fiance Annette Decatur. 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 her father Col. Decatur. James Westerfield (appeared in The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded Professor, and The Love God? and played John Murrel on The Travels of Jamie McPheeters) plays career criminal Sam Heffridge. Robert Cornthwaite (Professor Windish on Get Smart and Howard Buss on Picket Fences) plays robbery plot organizer Anthony Boaz. Richard Devon (Jody Barker on Yancy Derringer) plays co-conspirator Pierre Carondelet.

Season 6, Episode 29, "The Angry Sky": Arch Johnson (starred in Somebody Up There Likes Me, G.I. Blues, and The Cheyenne Social Club and played Gus Honochek on The Asphalt Jungle and Cmdr. Wivenhoe on Camp Runamuck) plays mule driver Swede Lowell. Anne Barton (Nan Fry on Big Town) plays his wife Helen. James Griffith (Aaron Adams on Trackdown and Deputy Tom Ferguson on U.S. Marshal) plays heist ringleader Roland Jensen. Fay Spain (starred in Dragstrip Girl, Al Capone, and The Gentle Rain) plays his fiance Marie Jarnier. Robert Colbert (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Maverick) plays Jensen henchman Rossi.

Season 6, Episode 30, "Royal Maroon": Kathleen Crowley (Terry Van Buren on Waterfront and Sophia Starr on Batman) plays aspiring entertainer Royal Maroon. Harold J. Stone (John Kennedy on The Grand Jury, Hamilton Greeley on My World and Welcome to It, and Sam Steinberg on Bridget Loves Bernie) plays general store proprietor Mr. Brian. Ron Foster (Officer Garvey on Highway Patrol) plays his henchman Ken Morris. Frank Ferguson (Gus Broeberg on My Friend Flicka, Eli Carson on Peyton Place, and Dr. Barton Stuart on Petticoat Junction) plays stagecoach driver Sedge. Charles Seel (see the biography section for the 1962 post on Dennis the Menace) plays physician Dr. Fergus. Ken Lynch (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Checkmate) plays the Clearwater sheriff.

Season 6, Episode 31, "The Gold Witch": Ron Rendell (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 phony hypnotist Arthur Reardon. Diana Millay (Laura Collins on Dark Shadows and Kitty Styles on The Secret Storm) plays his wife Ruth. Whit Bissell (starred in He Walked by Night, Creature From the Black Lagoon, I Was a Teenage Werewolf, I Was a Teenage Frankenstein, and Hud and played Bert Loomis on Bachelor Father, Calvin Hanley on Peyton Place, and Lt. Gen. Heywood Kirk on The Time Tunnel) plays Wells Fargo stagecoach driver Charlie. Alan Hale, Jr. (shown on the left, played Biff Baker on Biff Baker U.S.A., Casey Jones on Casey Jones, and The Skipper on Gilligan's Island) plays wealthy former miner Paul Denning. Claire Carleton (Nell Mulligan on The Mickey Rooney Show and Alice Purdy on Cimarron City) plays his wife Mary-Sue. Laya Raki (Halima on Crane) plays a gypsy woman.

Season 6, Episode 32, "Don't Wake a Tiger": Jim Davis (Matt Clark on Stories of the Century, Wes Cameron on Rescue 8, Marshal Bill Winter on The Cowboys, and Jock Ewing on Dallas) plays vengeful former Union soldier Jonus Sawyer. Gary Clarke (see the biography section for the 1962 post on The Virginian) plays his brother Davie. Royal Dano (appeared in The Far Country, Moby Dick, and The Outlaw Josey Wales) plays Wells Fargo relay station operator Robert Mapes. Marjorie Reynolds (starred in Holiday Inn, Ministry of Fear, The Time of Their Lives, and The Great Jewel Robber and played Peg Riley on The Life of Riley) plays his wife Helen. Kelly Thordsen (Colorado Charlie on Yancy Derringer) plays Little Bend sheriff Tom. Harp McGuire (appeared in Captain Thunderbolt, On the Beach, Inherit the Wind, and Cage of Evil) plays his deputy Sam Harris. Tom Greenway (Sheriff Jack Bronson on State Trooper)plays Wells Fargo agent Henry Sharp. Hank Patterson (see "Hometown Doctor" above) plays the Wells Fargo stagecoach driver. William Tannen (Deputy Hal Norton on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays barfly Ollie Cooper. Mark Allen (Matt Kissel on The Travels of Jamie McPheeters and Sam Evans on Dark Shadows) plays barfly Bill. Mauritz Hugo (appeared in Revenge of the Zombies, Secret Agent X-9, and Alvarez Kelly and played George Holden on The Cisco Kid) plays the Little Bend Wells Fargo agent.

Season 6, Episode 33, "The Wayfarers": James Coburn (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 stagecoach robber Ben Crider. Hugh Marlowe (starred in Twelve O'Clock High, All About Eve, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Earth vs. the Flying Saucers and played Ellery Queen on Mystery Is My Business and Jim Matthews on Another World) plays banker George Adams. June Vincent (starred in Honeymoon Lodge, Black Angel, Shed No Tears, and The Creeper and played Dr. Amanda Winninger on Bright Promise) plays his wife Grace. Robert Ellenstein (appeared in 3:10 to Yuma, Too Much Too Soon, and North by Northwest) plays novelist Augustus Parmalee. Robert Bray (Simon Kane on Stagecoach West and Corey Stuart on Lassie) plays disgraced seaman Henry Maxon. Alex Montoya (Miguel Morales on The High Chaparral) plays Mexican bandito Juan Morin.

Season 6, Episode 34, "Vignette of a Sinner": Jeff Morrow (starred in Sign of the Pagan, This Island Earth, Pardners, and The Giant Claw and played Maj. Bart McClelland n Union Pacific and Dr. Lloyd Axton on The New Temperatures Rising Show) plays bank director Les Caldwell. Joyce Taylor (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Men Into Space) plays his fiance Rachel Whitman. William Mims (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays outlaw for hire Lucius Kramm. Edward Platt (appeared in Rebel Without a Cause, Written on the Wind, Designing Woman, and North by Northwest and played the Chief on Get Smart) plays ex-con physician Doc Bell. Sam Gilman (Sam Grafton on Shane) plays phony elixir salesman Rockaway. Dean Smith (Doug McClure's stunt double on Overland Trail, Dale Robertson's stunt double on Iron Horse, and stunt coordinator on How the West Was Won and Simon & Simon) plays his accomplice Michael. James Craig (starred in Kitty Foyle, The Devil and Daniel Webster, The Human Comedy, Kismet (1944), and Our Vines Have Tender Grapes) plays the Rawlston sheriff.