The Tall Man (1962)

It never cracked the top 30 in the ratings, and it aired in an era when TV westerns had just reached their peak and were starting to decline (all those not named Bonanza or Gunsmoke, that is). But according to factsverse.com, co-star Clu Gulager claimed that the real reason The Tall Man was canceled after just two seasons was because of political pressure from Congress. Gulager reportedly said that sometime during the series' 1960-62 run Congress debated on whether or not Billy the Kid was a cold-blooded killer. Since Gulager played a fictional Billy the Kid, who was portrayed as a wild but still good-hearted hero, Congress felt that this was not an appropriate role model for children to see on television, so pressure was applied to NBC to take the series off the air. No details are provided on when this happened and who the principal players were in Congress who helped drive this decision. Likewise, a scan of 1962 issues of TV Guide magazine provides no news item about any decision to cancel the series. In fact, the August 18 issue of the magazine, only a few weeks before the Fall 1962 season was about to begin, contains an article about young TV actors who have gotten poor reviews from critics, including Gulager, who is still described as being affiliated with The Tall Man (as Doug McClure is described as being on Checkmate, another series that was canceled before the Fall 1962 season). Other than missing a paycheck, however, Gulager seems to not have thought much of his own series, as he is quoted in the TV Guide article saying, "If I'd been a critic, I'd have drummed the show off the air as a prime example of what TV should not spend its money on." The factsverse.com piece on Gulager also mentions that he wasn't sold on the series when he was first offered the role, saying that he and his agent had a 3-hour discussion before deciding to accept the part rather than hold out for something better because Gulager at the time was married with a child to support and needed the money immediately.

Even if Congress had not taken action to get the show canceled, by 1962 it offered little to distinguish itself from the scores of other westerns on the air at that time. Whereas earlier episodes had winked at the real-life relationship of Pat Garrett and Billy Bonney, such as it may have been, foreshadowing that they might have to stand off against each other one day, the 1962 episodes dispense with such teases and focus solely on standard TV western stories that could be seen on any of a number of other programs. For example, "The Hunt" (January 27, 1962) centers on wealthy British shipping magnate Edward Van Doren with a passion for hunting, but with the twist that he considers the ultimate hunting challenge to be tracking and killing a human, in this case Billy. He rationalizes that he will be doing society a favor, given the number of men Billy has killed and the danger he poses. Meanwhile, the supposedly untamed Billy espouses the humane belief that it is not sporting to kill unarmed prey. The story and even the title of this episode exactly match one from Have Gun--Will Travel which aired only a week later on February 3, 1962, except that the hunter in this later episode is a Russian nobleman rather than a British mogul.

Then there is the popular quarantine story, titled appropriately enough "Quarantine" (March 17, 1962), in which Garrett has to incarcerate injured bank robber Bob Kelso at the local doctor's office after another patient shows up at the office with symptoms indicating possible bubonic plague. Perhaps this theme had become popular because of hit series like Dr. Kildare and Ben Casey, but in any case at least three other westerns aired quarantine stories in 1962: Lawman ("The Doctor," May 6, 1962), Frontier Circus ("Incident at Pawnee Gun," September 6, 1962), and The Rifleman ("Quiet Night, Deadly Night," October 22, 1962). This Tall Man episode is also notable in that it shows Garrett bending the law in a way he would have disapproved of in earlier episodes--during the three-day quarantine, Kelso works on the doctor's daughter and former girlfriend Amy Beckett to get her to fetch him a file so that he can saw off his handcuffs just as his two brothers show up to spring him from Garrett's custody. Though Garrett is able to outfox the Kelsos with the threat of plague infection, even though he knows the danger has passed, and is able to recapture them before they escape, Amy is still guilty of aiding in the attempted escape. But when she shows up at the jailhouse the next day to turn herself in, Garrett claims that Kelso never really escaped, since he never made it out of her father's office before being retaken, and says that she is only guilty of falling in love with the wrong person, which everyone has done at one time or another. This contrasts with the 1961 episode "A Tombstone for Billy" in which Billy steals a tombstone for a poor widower who feels his late wife has been forgotten by the town she served for so many years. Despite Billy's good-hearted intentions, Garrett forces him to serve a few days in jail to show that no one is above the law, except for lovestruck young women, apparently.

Speaking of misplaced affections, "The Runaway Groom" (April 28, 1962) uses the old fake wedding gag for laughs and suspense when a family of mountain folk come to town claiming that Billy married and fathered a child with their sister Sally a little over a year ago before cowardly disappearing. Billy, naturally, claims to have never even met Sally, much less married her, but her brothers figure he is only trying to escape his familial duty, so they threaten to kill him if he doesn't come back with them and settle down as a proper husband to her. As should be obvious, this is a case of mistaken identity, though it's quite a stretch to believe that Sally would mistake Billy for his colleague Charlie Fox (the two do not even remotely resemble each other), even if it has been over a year since she last saw him. The episode hammers home the TV western trope that marriage is just about the worst thing that could happen to a free spirit like Billy. We see the same theme, with a few different details, presented on Rawhide about 6 months later in the episode "Incident of the Reluctant Bridegroom" in which Rowdy Yates thinks that he has been married during a drunken stupor to the girlfriend of a vindictive saloon owner, only to later learn that the wedding officiant was a wanted outlaw disguised as a minister.

And yet the wild, untamable Billy is willing to consider marriage at least twice during 1962 in "The Girl From Paradise" (January 13, 1962) and the series-ending "Phoebe" (May 26, 1962). But wouldn't you know that both times the girl he professes his undying love for winds up dying. This, too, is an overused plot for just about every TV western that features single male heroes. Case in point: the January 28, 1962 episode of Bonanza titled "The Storm" has Little Joe falling in love with and deciding to marry childhood playmate Laura White. She does not wind up sacrificing herself to save his life, as do Billy's girlfriends in the aforementioned episodes, but instead suffers from a terminal illness that kills her before Little Joe can marry her. Of course, the entire Bonanza family structure is built on Ben Cartwright's three tragically dead wives, each of whom bore him one of his three sons. Though in this case Ben did actually get to wed his three loves and consummate each of these marriages, the wives have conveniently died off before the series begins, though we are treated to a reminder of their tragic ends in flashbacks such as the 1962 episode "Inger, My Love."

Being the more mature of The Tall Man's dynamic duo, Pat Garrett doesn't get quite as close to the altar as Billy does, but he does at least give it some consideration in "St. Louis Woman" (January 20, 1962). When Garrett's friend Tom Davis has to leave town on a cattle deal just before his correspondence fiance Janet Harper is due to arrive in town with her son, Davis asks Garrett to look after her until he can return. But not long after meeting, both Garrett and Janet find that they are attracted to each other, so much so that Janet suggests they run away together to avoid having to hurt Davis. Garrett says that he could never do that to a friend and that he has found his calling as a lawman in Lincoln County. Despite warnings from Billy that he is wading into dangerous waters, Garrett neither plunges headlong into the affair nor nips it in the bud, letting things progress far enough to share a kiss with Janet while they are looking over Davis' ranch. However, Garrett avoids having to make a decision by letting things play out enough such that Janet makes the decision for him. When she witnesses Garrett having to face off against an ornery and armed drunk, she calls the whole thing off, even though Garrett has come around to her suggestion of taking up another line of work in another town. The thought of having another husband die on her is too much for her to stomach, so she says that cattle rancher Davis will make a fine partner for her after all. Garrett also has an opportunity to tie the knot in "The Impatient Brides" (February 3, 1962) when four mail-order brides bound for the next town of Springdale are forced to wait awhile in Lincoln County while the government puts down an Indian rebellion that has the road shut down. Since there is no room in the local hotel, the four young women have to spend the delay in Garrett's jailhouse, and in close proximity to the dashing Garrett, each of them thinks he would make a better catch than what awaits them in Springdale. So during one sleepless night, each woman sneaks downstairs to propose to Garrett, and he tells each one of them "no," never even really considering what they have to offer. Marrying off Garrett or Billy would have been a suitable way to end the series, given that its whole premise was the special relationship they had with each other, which would have been radically altered had one or both of them settled down. In 1962 the fact that the series ended without any sort of resolution was typical, but one can't help wondering if Clu Gulager's claim of Congressional pressure was applied somewhere between the end of production on Season 2 and the beginning of the Fall 1962 season. In any case, the loss was not a great one for the American TV landscape, as The Tall Man had descended into a derivative formula western, stripped of its original character that made it at least mildly interesting.

The Actors

For the biographies for Barry Sullivan and Clu Gulager, see the 1960 post for The Tall Man. For the biography for Mark Tapscott, see the 1961 post for The Tall Man.

Notable Guest Stars

Season 2, Episode 18, "Substitute Sheriff": Andy Clyde (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Real McCoys) plays property owner Pa McBean. Cynthia Chenault (appeared in I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Dino, and This Earth Is Mine and played Carol Potter on The Tom Ewell Show) plays his daughter May. Judy Nugent (Jet Maypen on Walt Disney Presents: Annette) plays his daughter June. Bob Hastings (shown on the left, played Lt. Elroy Carpenter on McHale's Navy, Tommy Kelsey on All in the Family, and Capt. Burt Ramsey on General Hospital) plays railroad company agent J. Simpson Chase.

Season 2, Episode 19, "The Girl From Paradise": Pippa Scott (shown on the right, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Mr. Lucky) plays convicted murderer Anne Drake. Kelly Thordsen (Colorado Charlie on Yancy Derringer) plays sadistic lawman Sheriff Rafe Tollinger. Andy Albin (Andy Godsen on Julia) plays a farmer.

Season 2, Episode 20, "St. Louis Woman": 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 cattle owner Tom Davis. Jan Clayton (shown on the left, starred in Sunset Trail, The Wolf Hunters, and This Man's Navy and played Ellen Miller on Lassie) plays his fiance Janet Harper. Roger Mobley (Homer "Packy" Lambert on Fury) plays her son David.

Season 2, Episode 21, "The Hunt": Richard Ney (shown on the right, appeared in Mrs. Miniver, Joan of Arc, Ivy, Midnight Lace, and The Premature Burial) plays British shipping magnate Edward Van Doren. Madge Kennedy (starred in Baby Mine, A Perfect Lady, Leave It to Susan, Bad Company (1925), and Houseboat and played Aunt Martha Branson on Leave It to Beaver) plays his mother Elizabeth. Hank Patterson (Pete Duggan on The New Adventures of Spin and Marty, Fred Ziffel on Green Acres and Petticoat Junction, and Hank Miller on Gunsmoke) plays stagecoach driver Amos.

Season 2, Episode 22, "The Impatient Brides": Joan O'Brien (shown on the left, starred in Operation Petticoat, The Alamo, It Happened at the World's Fair, and It'$ Only Money) plays mail-order bride Merilee. Beverly Wills (appeared in Some Like It Hot, The Ladies Man, and Son of Flubber and played Beverly Grossman on I Married Joan) plays mail-order bride Caroline. Jane Dulo (Liz Murray on Hey, Jeannie!, WAC Pvt. Mildred Lukens on The Phil Silvers Show, Molly Turner on McHale's Navy, Agent 99's mother on Get Smart, Nurse Murphy on Medical Center, and Grandma Mildred Kanisky on Gimme a Break!) plays mail-order bride Emma. Hollis Irving (Mrs. Woodley on Blondie and Aunt Phoebe on Margie) plays mail-order bride Jane. Tom Fadden (Duffield on Broken Arrow, Silas Perry on Cimarron City, and Ben Miller on Green Acres and Petticoat Junction) plays stagecoach driver Judd Bates.

Season 2, Episode 23, "Rio Doloroso": Dennis Patrick (shown on the right, played Paul Stoddard on Dark Shadows, Capt. Jack Breen on Bert D'Angelo/Superstar, Fred Foley on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Patrick Chapin on Rituals, and Vaughn Leland on Dallas) plays captured murderer Curtis. Alex Montoya (Miguel Morales on The High Chaparral) plays small village strongman Domingo. Linda Dangcil (Sister Ana on The Flying Nun and voiced Carmen Alonso and Raya on Jem) plays village resident Inez.

Season 2, Episode 24, "A Day to Kill": Pamela Duncan (appeared in Lawless Cowboys, Dragonfly Squadron, Attack of the Crab Monsters, and The Undead) plays cantina pianist Angela. Harry Antrim (shown on the left, appeared in Miracle on 34th Street, Words and Music, Ma and Pa Kettle, and Teacher's Pet and played Judge Hooker on The Great Gildersleeve) plays Lincoln County physician Dr. John Hogan. Edward Mallory (Bill Riley on Morning Star and Bill Horton on Days of Our Lives) plays cowboy Johnny Pride. Harry Swoger (Harry the bartender on The Big Valley) plays trigger-happy citizen Larker.

Season 2, Episode 25, "Property of the Crown": Miriam Colon (shown on the right, played Dr. Santos on The Edge of Night, Maria Delgado on One Life to Live, Lydia Flores on All My Children, and Cam's Grandma on How to Make It in America) plays property claimant Angelita Sanchez. Mark Miller (Bill Hooten on Guestward Ho!, Jim Nash on Please Don't Eat the Daisies, Howard Jones on Bright Promise, and Ross Craig on The Name of the Game) plays Lincoln County lawyer Sam Kirby. Katherine Warren (appeared in The Lady Pays Off, The Glenn Miller Story, and The Caine Mutiny) plays wealthy landowner Emma Wainwright.

Season 2, Episode 26, "The Night Hawk": John Anderson (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays U.S. Army Major Jud Randolph.

Season 2, Episode 27, "Three for All": Irene Tedrow (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Dennis the Menace) plays lawless matriarch Maw Kilgore. George Kennedy (shown on the right, 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 her son Hyram.

Season 2, Episode 28, "Quarantine": Gary Clarke (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1962 post on The Virginian) plays bank robber Bob Kelso. Hal Baylor (Jenkins on Rawhide and Mercury on Batman) plays his brother Clint. Susan Silo (Rusty on Harry's Girls and a prolific voice actor on shows such as The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, James Bond, Jr., and Where's Waldo?) plays doctor's daughter Amy Beckett.

Season 2, Episode 29, "The Four Queens": Gaylord Cavallaro (Det. Sgt. Steve Wall on The Pursuers) plays French impresario Jacques Montreaux. Monica Lewis (shown on the right, popular singer who starred in Excuse My Dust, Affair With a Stranger, and The D.I.) plays showgirl Babette Antoine. Mary Moor (Betty Jean Lane/Battle on The Edge of Night) plays showgirl Denise Lawrence. Joyce Bulifant (Mary Gentry on Tom, Dick and Mary, Mrs. Marsha Patterson on The Bill Cosby Show, Peggy Wilson on Love Thy Neighbor, Marjorie Martin on Big John, Little John, Marie Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Miriam Willoughby on Flo, and Emily Wallace on Weird Science) plays showgirl Fifi Dubois.

Season 2, Episode 30, "The Long Way Home": Doris Dowling (shown on the left, starred in The Lost Weekend, The Blue Dahlia, Bitter Rice, and Othello and played Irene Adams on My Living Doll) plays saloon hostess Maisie Turner. Harp McGuire (appeared in Captain Thunderbolt, On the Beach, Inherit the Wind, and Cage of Evil) plays train conductor Joe Tuohy. Clancy Cooper (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Lawman) plays the Wells Junction sheriff.

Season 2, Episode 31, "A Time to Run": John Fiedler (shown on the right, appeared in 12 Angry Men, That Touch of Mink, The World of Henry Orient, Kiss Me, Stupid, Girl Happy, The Odd Couple, True Grit and played Emil Peterson on The Bob Newhart Show and Woody on Buffalo Bill) plays bookkeeper Abner Moody. Charles Watts (Judge Harvey Blandon on Bachelor Father) plays drummer Hiram Sunday. Sandra Knight (ex-wife of Jack Nicholson, appeared in Thunder Road, Frankenstein's Daughter, and Blood Bath) plays mail-order bride Lucy Potter. Thomas E. Jackson (starred in Broadway, Little Caesar, and The Woman in the Window) plays local physician Doc Hogan.

Season 2, Episode 32, "Trial by Fury": Robert Emhardt (Sgt. Vinton on The Kids From C.A.P.E.R. and Willard Masefield on The Edge of Night) plays rogue Judge Oliver Cromwell. Barbara Lawrence (shown on the left, appeared in Margie, The Street With No Name, A Letter to Three Wives, Here Come the Nelsons, and Oklahoma!) plays acquitted saloon girl Sadie Wren. James Griffith (Aaron Adams on Trackdown and Deputy Tom Ferguson on U.S. Marshal) plays ex-convict James Cutter. Fuzzy Knight (appeared in She Done Him Wrong, Moulin Rouge (1934), My Little Chickadee, and Deep in the Heart of Texas and played Sagebrush on The Gene Autry Show and Pvt. Fuzzy Knight on Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion) plays prospector Johnny Red.

Season 2, Episode 33, "The Frame": Harry Townes (starred in The Brothers Karamazov, Screaming Mimi, and Sanctuary) plays terminally ill patient Henry Stewart. Lori March (shown on the right, played 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 Isobel. Stewart Bradley (Lt. Danton on Days of Our Lies) plays a rabble-rousing wrangler.

Season 2, Episode 34, "The Runaway Groom": Roberta Shore (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet) plays jilted wife and mother Sally Tugwell. Gary Vinson (Chris Higbee on The Roaring '20's, George Christopher on McHale's Navy, and Sheriff Harold Skiles on Pistols 'n' Petticoats) plays ranch-hand Charlie Fox. Bernard Fein (Pvt Gomez on The Phil Silvers Show) plays ranch cook Sam.

Season 2, Episode 35, "The Blackrobe": Martin Landau (shown on the right, starred in North by Northwest, Cleopatra, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Fall of the House of Usher, and Ed Wood and played Rollin Hand on Mission: Impossible!, Commander John Koenig on Space: 1999, Dr. Sol Gold on The Evidence, Bob Ryan on Entourage, and Frank Malone on Without a Trace) plays Jesuit priest Father Guesclin. Slim Pickens (starred in The Story of Will Rogers, Dr. Strangelove, Blazing Saddles, The Apple Dumpling Gang, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, and The Howling and played Slim on Outlaws, Slim Walker on The Wide Country, California Joe Milner on Custer, and Sgt. Beauregard Wiley on B.J. & the Bear) plays language interpreter Starr. Russell Thorson (Lt. Otto Lindstrom on The Detectives and William Kennerly on Peyton Place) plays Garrett's former Army commander Major Graves.

Season 2, Episode 36, "The Woman in Black": Gregory Morton (Mr. Wainwright on Peyton Place and Walter Williams on Ben Casey) plays landowner Don Diego de Cardenas. Ricky Vera (Benny Romero on Our Miss Brooks) plays his son Juan. Adele Mara (shown on the left, wife of Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip, The Fugitive, and The Rockford Files creator Roy Huggins who appeared in Wake of the Red Witch, Sands of Iwo Jima, and The Big Circus) plays Don Diego's intended bride Rosa Leodagarious.

Season 2, Episode 37, "Doctor on Horseback": Ed Nelson (Michael Rossi on Peyton Place, Ward Fuller on The Silent Force, and Sen. Mark Denning on Capitol) plays new Steadman physician Dr. Wade Parsons. Mabel Albertson (shown on the right, played Mrs. Whiting on Those Whiting Girls, Irene Brady on The Tom Ewell Show, Mrs. Sprague on The Andy Griffith Show, Mildred Hollinger on That Girl, and Phyllis Stephens on Bewitched) plays widow Kate Baines. June Kenney (starred in Teenage Doll, Attack of the Puppet People, and The Spider) plays abandoned pregnant wife Mary Curtis. Paul Hartman (Albie Morrison on The Pride of the Family, Charlie on Our Man Higgins, Emmett Clark on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D., and Bert Smedley on Petticoat Junction) plays her father Judd Marlowe. Richard Reeves (Mr. Murphy on Date With the Angels) plays busybody Santee. C. Lindsay Workman (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Donna Reed Show) plays the Steadman barber.

Season 2, Episode 38, "Phoebe": Floy Dean (shown on the left, played Liz Forsythe Stevens on The Young Marrieds and Laura Spencer on Days of Our Lives) plays runaway daughter Phoebe Canfield. George Macready (Martin Peyton on Peyton Place) plays her repressive father Cyrus Canfield. Rusty Lane (Harry Moseby on The Clear Horizon) plays livery owner Trager. 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 irascible jurist Judge Medford. Eve McVeagh (starred in High Noon, The Glass Web, and Tight Spot and played Frances Moseby on The Clear Horizon and Miss Hammond on Petticoat Junction) plays crooked faro dealer Lily Varnell. Lorna Thayer (starred in The Beast With a Million Eyes and played the waitress in Five Easy Pieces) plays a saloon girl and former colleague of Lily's. Clegg Hoyt (Mac on Dr. Kildare) plays bartender Charlie. Cyril Delevanti (Lucious Coin on Jefferson Drum) plays general store owner J.T. Summers.

 

Have Gun -- Will Travel (1961)

By 1961 Have Gun -- Will Travel had reached the apex of its popularity, ranking #3 in the Nielsen ratings for the third consecutive season. The only change in the show's presentation was moving the producing, writing, and directing credits to the beginning of the episode rather than at the end. But the show was about to experience a dramatic tumble, as it slipped to #29 in the ratings for the 1961-62 season while Bonanza moved into the top 3 alongside Wagon Train and Gunsmoke. The drop is perplexing, particularly since its lead-in show on CBS for Saturday night changed from the unranked Checkmate to the #26-ranked new legal drama The Defenders.

Perhaps part of the show's luster was tarnished by a 3-part TV Guide profile of star and sometime director Richard Boone in the first 3 January 1961 issues in which author Richard Gehman described Boone thusly: "Few other stars are so earnestly, piously, and vehemently hated." Gehman goes on to describe Boone's complete dominance over every aspect of the program, not only in the selection of scripts and casting of supporting actors but even down to wardrobe decisions. Author Gaylan Studlar, in his book about the series for the Wayne State University Press TV Milestones Series, also describes how Boone shredded producers who tried to provide any input contrary to his vision, and how he had many of his series' episodes shot at remote locations to prevent interference. While his own film crew was quite content with his treatment of them, everyone else from network executives to guest actors were not as pleased but were willing to endure him as long as the series was successful. It appears that Boone fostered an us vs. them dynamic between his regular crew and the rest of the world, but this would not have affected the loyalty of the show's fans. Gehman also documents the flip-side of Boone's personality in charitable appearances in which he was extremely generous and genuinely moved when, for example, he made an appearance at a children's hospital. And yet there were other times when he tried to avoid autograph seekers and others who wanted a piece of his time or a personal connection.

But what was more likely the cause of the show's declining popularity was Boone's insistence on addressing controversial topics in the show's plots, particularly America's deep-seated racism. Studlar describes the networks' and sponsors' aversion to anything controversial that might alienate any portion of the viewing public. Other westerns of the era would not directly portray white America's racism against blacks and would generally have few if any black actors or characters because any interaction with whites could be construed as some sort of racial commentary. Instead, they dealt with the topic of racism by showing certain white characters' mistreatment of Chinese, Mexicans, or Native Americans, all certainly founded in actual events in this nation's history, but none likely to raise the ire of an entire section of the country whose ancestors took up arms against their own government.

Boone had already had a prominent black character in the 1960 episode "Killing of Jessie May" in which actor Hari Rhodes plays a ranching partner to William Talman and ends up saving Paladin's life when they are attacked by wanted killer Jessie May Turnbow. But his two 1961 episodes centered around black characters pushed the envelope much farther. "Long Way Home" (February 4, 1961) also includes Talman, this time playing a sheriff who sends for Paladin to help bring in a wanted black man Isham Spruce, played by Ivan Dixon, who killed a white man while working at a logging camp. By the time Paladin arrives in the sheriff's locale, the latter tells him he has already deputized four other men who are a bit wild, and if they find out Paladin is trying to claim the same $5000 for bringing in Spruce they will likely kill him. He suggests that Paladin return home, but Paladin is undeterred and says he plans to bring Spruce back alive. Since Paladin has never seen Spruce, he then asks for a photograph so that he can identify him. The sheriff and his trigger-happy deputy just laugh, telling him he won't need a photograph, the implication being that he's black. The story then takes a nonsensical turn in having Spruce approach Paladin from behind at a water hole with no apparent motivation only to have Paladin wrestle his gun away and take him captive. As they are camping overnight Paladin asks Spruce about his background. He says he was a former slave but after he was freed the union troops just returned home, leaving all the freed slaves to starve. He eventually found a job at a logging camp but the other loggers just couldn't leave him alone and he finally had to "raise his hand" against one who afterward never got up. Paladin wants to trust Spruce now that he understands his story, but Spruce will make no promises not to try to escape. So when Paladin is bitten by a snake at their next watering hole and passes out, Spruce manages to help him get a tourniquet around his arm but then leaves him, though he does send a message to the sheriff through a small boy about Paladin's whereabouts. However, by the time they find and rescue Paladin, it is clear that the trigger-happy deputy, who earlier had made the sheriff nervous in wanting to try out his new rifle and was told to go shoot a rabbit to get it out of his system, has shot and killed Spruce, though he is not eligible for the reward since it was done as part of his job. Conflating a wanted black man with a hunted rabbit and shooting him without the possibility of earning a reward demonstrate the deputy's racism, while Paladin feels sympathy toward Spruce even after killing one of his own race and tells his dead body that he is sorry before heading back home in disgust. Spruce is clearly portrayed as being justified in killing his antagonist, while the deputy is shown as being racist for shooting a wanted killer, even though he has acted perfectly legally. Surely this contrast could not have sat well with a certain demographic of television viewers. And yet there has been no documented blowback that I have seen from this episode. It aired in the middle of the 1960-61 season, and Have Gun still ended the season in 3rd place in the ratings.

But Boone returned to deal with the treatment of blacks in the Season 5 episode "The Hanging of Aaron Gibbs" (November 4, 1961), an episode that Boone himself directed. Folk singer Odetta, often called "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement," guest stars as Sarah Gibbs, wife of Aaron Gibbs, who is sentenced to die for his role in a payroll robbery that led to a mine collapse and the death of 13 miners. Paladin comes upon her on his way back to San Francisco when her old, reliable mule collapses and is about to die. Paladin is immediately sympathetic to her plight, even taking over the unpleasant task of putting the mule out of its misery by shooting it, and then harnesses his horse to her wagon to accompany her to the mining camp at Dunbar, Oregon. Sarah only wants to see her husband one last time before he is hanged, but the entire mining community is against it because they did not get one last visit with the 13 miners before they met their demise. There is never any overt racism displayed in the mining residents' argument against Sarah seeing her husband. His two other conspirators are white, but they have no relations trying to visit them. The marshal is afraid that if he grants her visit, the community will resort to mob mentality and tear the condemned men limb from limb, but after Paladin keeps working on him, he eventually relents and says that he once had a yellow retriever he had to put down and that he even allowed that dog to see its kin before he shot it. Once again, it is a deputy who is most vehemently against sympathetic treatment of a black human being, but the rest of the community witnesses the tender farewell between Sarah and Aaron, who explains that the mine collapse was an accident and that while trying to steal the payroll was wrong, it was their dire financial circumstances that drove him to it. After Aaron is hung, Sarah wants to take his body back to Georgia to be buried next to their deceased son, but again the deputy tries to step in and stop her, arguing that he was not afforded the same courtesy for his brother who was buried in the mine collapse. But none of the rest of the community will follow his lead, and one of the widows of the miners gives Sarah her shawl in which to wrap her dead husband's body. Rather than depicting the senseless tragedy wrought by racism in "Long Way Home," this episode shows blacks and whites treating each other with empathy, all except the raging deputy, that is.

While it is pure speculation to suggest that Have Gun -- Will Travel declined in popularity because it dared to portray blacks sympathetically and hold whites accountable for their racism, it would be interesting to study whether there was any correlation between ratings and particular episodes. Studlar has observed that some southern television stations would refuse to air certain episodes of any program that they deemed too controversial for their market, so it is not even certain that these particular episodes aired in the south. There could have been any number of other reasons why the show's audience fell off in its last two seasons (it also ranked 29th for 1962-63). Other programs rose and fell over the course of their tenures for whatever reasons, but none of them depicted black characters the way Have Gun -- Will Travel did or addressed racism as bluntly. While Boone may have had other foibles, his refusal to be cowed by the threat of controversy or the loss of popularity shows that he was a man of courage.

The entire series has been released on DVD by CBS/Paramount.

The Actors

For the biographies of Richard Boone, Kam Tong, and Lisa Lu, see the 1960 post for Have Gun -- Will Travel.

Notable Guest Stars

Season 4, Episodes 17 & 18, "A Quiet Night in Town, Parts 1 & 2": Sydney Pollack (shown on the left, directed They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, The Way We Were, Absence of Malice, Tootsie, and Out of Africa) plays troublemaker Joe Culp. Fredd Wayne (Sgt. Bill Hollis on Code 3) plays his brother Ben. Kevin Hagen (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 friend Jory Selzer. James Best (Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazzard) plays their friend Ry Smith. Robert Carricart (Pepe Cordoza on T.H.E. Cat) plays sheepherder Joselito Kincaid. Robert Emhardt (Sgt. Vinton on The Kids From C.A.P.E.R.) plays restaurateur Ray Remy.

Season 4, Episode 19, "The Princess and the Gunfighter": Arlene Martel (shown on the right, played Tiger on Hogan's Heroes and Spock's Vulcan bride on Star Trek) plays runaway Princess Alisna Sarafina. Shirley O'Hara (Debbie Flett on The Bob Newhart Show) plays her chaperon Duchess de Bernal. 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 one of the princess' two guides. 

Season 4, Episode 20, "Shadow of a Man": Kent Smith (shown on the left, 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 cotton grower John Sutton. Dianne Foster (starred in Night Passage, The Last Hurrah, and The Deep Six) plays his wife Marion. Walter Burke (starred in All the King's Men, Jack the Giant Killer, and Support Your Local Sheriff! and played Tim Potter on Black Saddle) plays instigator Andy Miggs. Mike Kellin (appeared in At War With the Army, The Wackiest Ship in the Army, The Boston Strangler, and Midnight Express and played C.P.O. Willie Miller on The Wackiest Ship in the Army) plays cattle rancher Logan Adcock. Robert Karnes (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Lawless Years) plays store owner Farley Dyson. Hal Needham (see "The Princess and the Gunfighter" above) plays one of Adcock's henchmen.

Season 4, Episode 21, "Long Way Home": Ivan Dixon (shown on the right, starred in A Raisin in the Sun, Nothing But a Man, and A Patch of Blue and played Sgt. James Kinchloe on Hogan's Heroes) plays wanted fugitive Isham Spruce. William Talman (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Perry Mason) plays a sheriff offering a reward for his capture. Rayford Barnes (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays his trigger-happy deputy. John Milford (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays bounty hunter Hutton. 

Season 4, Episode 22, "Tax Gatherer": Roy Barcroft (Col. Logan on The Adventures of Spin and Marty and Roy on Gunsmoke) plays rancher Lewt Cutter. Harry Carey, Jr.  (shown on the near left, 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 cattle rustler Jess Turner. Hal Needham (shown on the far left, see "The Princess and the Gunfighter" above) plays his son Ham. Raymond Hatton (starred in Oliver Twist (1916), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Lord Jim, played Marshal Sandy Hopkins in 28 westerns and Rusty Joslin in 7 other westerns, and played The Mole on Dick Tracy) plays Mayor Trevor of Bad Dog. Olan Soule (Aristotle "Tut" Jones on Captain Midnight, Ray Pinker on Dragnet (1952-59), and Fred Springer on Arnie) plays the Hotel Carlton desk clerk.

Season 4, Episode 23, "The Fatal Flaw": Allyn Joslyn (shown on the right, appeared in Only Angels Have Wings, My Sister Eileen, Heaven Can Wait (1943), and Titanic (1953) and played George Howell on The Eve Arden Show and Colonel Harvey T. Blackwell on McKeever & the Colonel) plays famously upright Marshal Lyle McKendrick. Royal Dano (appeared in The Far Country, Moby Dick, and The Outlaw Josey Wales) plays elusive criminal Curley Ashburne. 

Season 4, Episode 24, "Fandango": Andrew Prine  (shown on the left, starred in The Miracle Worker, The Devil's Brigade, Bandolero!, and Chisum and played Andy Guthrie on The Wide Country, Dr. Roger Helvick on Dr. Kildare, Timothy Pride on The Road West, Dan Costello on W.E.B., and Wayne/Wyatt Donnelly on Weird Science) plays wanted killer Bobby Olson. Jerry Summers (appeared in Surf Party, Coogan's Bluff, and Hickey & Boggs and played Ira on The High Chaparral) plays his friend James Horton. Karl Swenson (Lars Hanson on Little House on the Prairie) plays their victim's brother Lloyd Petty. Robert Gist (directed multiple episodes of Peter Gunn, Naked City, and The Richard Boone Show and was Agnes Moorehead's second husband) plays Texas Sheriff Ernie Backwater. Rodolfo Acosta (Vaquero on The High Chapparal) plays his deputy Sanchez. Leonid Kinskey (appeared in Duck Soup, Les Miserables (1935), Ball of Fire, and Casablanca and played Pierre Quincy on The People's Choice) plays Hotel Carlton guest Yevgeny.

Season 4, Episode 25, "The Last Judgment": Harold J. Stone (shown on the right, played John Kennedy on The Grand Jury, Hamilton Greeley on My World and Welcome to It, and Sam Steinberg on Bridget Loves Bernie) plays self-appointed judge Elroy Greenleaf. Leo Gordon (Big Mike McComb on Maverick) plays his deputy Moley. Robert Stevenson (bartender Big Ed on Richard Drum and Marshal Hugh Strickland on Stagecoach West) plays juror Cutler. 

Season 4, Episode 26, "The Gold Bar": John Fiedler (shown on the left, appeared in 12 Angry Men, That Touch of Mink, The World of Henry Orient, Kiss Me, Stupid, Girl Happy, The Odd Couple, True Grit and played Emil Peterson on The Bob Newhart Show and Woody on Buffalo Bill) plays bank teller James Turner. Val Avery (appeared in The Magnificent Seven, Papillon, and Donnie Brasco and played Lt. Al Costello on East Side/West Side) plays bank owner B.J. Throckton. Robert Stevenson (see "The Last Judgment" above) plays a police patrolman.

Season 4, Episode 27, "Everyman": David White (Larry Tate on Bewitched) plays store owner Cus Mincus. Barry Kelley (shown on the right, starred in The Asphalt Jungle, The Manchurian Candidate, and The Love Bug and played Mr. Slocum on Pete and Gladys and Mr. Hergesheimer on Mister Ed) plays gunfighter killer Danceman. Vic Perrin (was the narrator on Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, was the control voice on The Outer Limits, and did voicework on Jonny Quest, Star Trek, Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, and Mission: Impossible!) plays drunkard Philpotts. Roy Engel (Doc Martin on Bonanza, the police chief on My Favorite Martian, and President Ulysses S. Grant on The Wild, Wild West) plays the Temple City sheriff.

Season 4, Episode 28, "The Siege": Robert Karnes (see "Shadow of a Man" above) plays Phoenix-area rancher Ezekial Tyler. Perry Lopez (starred in Mister Roberts, Taras Bulba, Kelly's Heroes, and Chinatown and played Joaquin Castaneda on Zorro) plays captured outlaw Bobby Joe Brent. Mike Kellin (see "Shadow of a Man" above) plays his brother Alvah. Hal Smith (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Andy Griffith Show) plays mermaid manager Sol Werner. 

Season 4, Episode 29, "Long Weekend": Roy Barcroft (see "Tax Gatherer" above) plays mountain man Shep Montrose. Stephen Roberts (Stan Peeples on Mr. Novak) plays Sunshine Creek elder Otis Woodward. Ned Glass (MSgt. Andy Pendleton on The Phil Silvers Show, Sol Cooper on Julia, and Uncle Moe Plotnick on Bridget Loves Bernie) plays fellow elder Clyde Tatum. Dallas Mitchell (Detective Fisher on The Asphalt Jungle) plays a pool-playing cowhand. Clegg Hoyt (Mac on Dr. Kildare) plays a bartender. Ralph Moody (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Rifleman) plays Montrose's father-in-law-to-be Valentine Collins.

Season 4, Episode 30, "El Paso Stage": Jeremy Slate (starred in The Sons of Katie Elder, The Devil's Brigade, and True Grit and played Larry Lahr on The Aquanauts) plays legal scholar Frank DeWitt. Karl Swenson (see "Fandango" above) plays his saloon owner father Sam. Buddy Ebsen (shown on the right, played Sgt. Hunk Marriner on Northwest Passage, Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, Barnaby Jones on Barnaby Jones, and Roy Houston on Matt Houston) plays Bracketville Marshal Elmo Crane. Hank Patterson (Fred Ziffel on Green Acres and Petticoat Junction and Hank on Gunsmoke) plays Frank's friend Judge Robbins.

Season 4, Episode 31, "Duke of Texas": Scott Marlowe (shown on the left, played Nick Koslo on Executive Suite, Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives, and Michael Burke on Valley of the Dolls) plays Austrian Price Franz von Pishin. Eduard Franz (starred in The Thing From Another World, Lady Godiva of Coventry, The Jazz Singer (1952), Sins of Jezebel, and The Indian Fighter and played Gregorio Verdugo on Zorro and Dr. Edward Raymer on Breaking Point) plays his advisor Ludwig Donner. Robert Carricart (see "A Quiet Night in Town" above) plays fake Mexican General Pablo Mendez. Roberto Contreras (Pedro on The High Chapparal) plays one of his supposed soldiers.

Season 4, Episode 32, "Broken Image": Kenneth Tobey (shown on the right, starred in The Thing From Another World, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, and It Came From Beneath the Sea and played Chuck Martin on Whirlybirds and Russ Conway on I Spy) plays Bog Oak town hero Tim Decker. Johnny Eimen (Monk on McKeever and the Colonel) plays his son Larry. Hal Needham (see "The Princess and the Gunfighter" above) plays the Bradley Gang lookout.

Season 4, Episode 33, "Brother's Keeper": Karl Swenson (see "Fandango" above) plays the Prairie Orchard sheriff. Wright King (see the biography section for the 1960 post on Wanted Dead or Alive) plays the town bartender Cull. Betsy Jones-Moreland (Judge Elinor Harrelson in 7 Perry Mason TV movies) plays his girlfriend Topaz. Ed Nelson (Michael Rossi on Peyton Place and Ward Fuller on The Silent Force) plays telegrapher Rack. 

Season 4, Episode 34, "Bearbait": Martin West (starred in Freckles, The Man From Galveston, and Lord Love a Duck and played Dr. Phil Brewer on General Hospital and Don Hughes on As the World Turns) plays wild ranch hand Bunk Commerson. Judi Meredith (shown on the left, played Bonnie Sue McAfee on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and The George Burns Show, Monique Devereaux on Hotel de Paree, and Betty Cramer on Ben Casey) plays waitress Sally. Ralph Reed (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays Commerson's friend Burt. Richard Rust (Hank Tabor on Sam Benedict) plays Commerson's friend Sim. Frank Ferguson (Gus Broeberg on My Friend Flicka, Eli Carson on Peyton Place, and Dr. Barton Stuart on Petticoat Junction) plays their boss Kincaid. Stephen Roberts (see "Long Weekend" above) plays the Deerfield sheriff.

Season 4, Episode 35, "The Cure": Norma Crane (shown on the right, appeared in Tea and Sympathy, They Call Me Mr. Tibbs!, and Fiddler on the Roof and played Rayola Dean on Mister Peepers) plays renowned trick shooter Martha Jane Conroy, aka Calamity Jane. Olan Soule (see "Tax Gatherer" above) plays hotel manager McGinnis. Craig Duncan (Sgt. Stanfield/Banfield on Mackenzie's Raiders) plays a bartender.

Season 4, Episode 36, "The Road": George Kennedy (shown on the left, 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 sleeping camp owner Preston. Trevor Bardette (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays prospector Fred Hensoe. Joel Crothers (Lt. Nathan Forbes on Dark Shadows, Julian Cannell on Somerset, Dr. Miles Cavanugh on The Edge of Night, and Jack Stanfield Lee on Santa Barbara) plays his son John. Perry Cook (Barney Udall on Hunter) plays his colleague Sibley. Gene Lyons (Commander Dennis Randall on Ironside) plays scavenger Merton. Hal Needham (see "The Princess and the Gunfighter" above) plays one of his accomplices.

Season 4, Episode 37, "The Uneasy Grave": Pippa Scott (shown on the near right, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Mr. Lucky) plays recent widow Kathy Rousseau. Werner Klemperer (shown on the far right, starred in Five Steps to Danger, Operation Eichmann, and Judgment at Nuremberg and played Col. Klink on Hogan's Heroes) plays her husband's killer Leander Johnson. Shirley O'Hara (see "The Princess and the Gunfighter" above) plays one of Johnson's defenders. William Bryant (McCall on Combat!, President Ulysses S. Grant on Branded, Col. Crook on Hondo, Lt. Shilton on Switch, and the Director on The Fall Guy) plays a man standing on the street who gives Paladin directions.

Season 4, Episode 38, "Soledad Crossing": Ken Curtis (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1961 post on Ripcord) plays farmer Tom Strickland. Walker Edmiston (Enik on Land of the Lost and voiced Dr. Blinkey and Orson Vulture on H.R. Pufnstuf, Admiral Scuttlebutt, Bela, and Big Chief Sitting Duck on Lidsville, Sebastian on Dumbo's Circus, and Sir Thornberry on Adventures of the Gummi Bears) plays hangman Phineas Gaunt. 

Season 5, Episode 1, "The Vigil": Mary Fickett (Sally Smith and Dr. Karen Lovell on The Edge of Night, Liz Thorpe on The Nurses, and Ruth Martin on All My Children) plays nurse Adella Ligget. George Kennedy (see "The Road" above) plays murder suspect Deke. 

Season 5, Episode 2, "The Education of Sarah Jane": Duane Eddy (shown on the right, popular guitar instrumentalist with hits like "Rebel Rouser," "Shazam," and "Ramrod") plays family feuder Carter Whitney. Peggy Rhea (Rose Burton on The Waltons, Lulu Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard, Ivy Baker on Step by Step, and Jean Kelly on Grace Under Fire) plays the Hotel Carlton charlady. 

Season 5, Episode 3, "The Revenger": Tom Conway (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Betty Hutton Show) plays safari hunter Commodore Newcombe. Shug Fisher (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Ripcord) plays insurance salesman Altman. Rayford Barnes (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays convicted killer Jelly. Harry Carey, Jr. (see "Tax Gatherer" above) plays his escort Sheriff Conlon. Russell Arms (vocalist who regularly appeared on Your Hit Parade) plays former army major Ralph Turner. Bud Osborne (played stagecoach drivers in dozens of westerns and in episodes of The Cisco Kid, Annie Oakley, The Range Rider, Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Rescue 8, Zorro, Bronco, Law of the Plainsman, Johnny Ringo, Cheyenne, The Texan, Maverick, and Rawhide) plays their stagecoach driver.

Season 5, Episode 4, "Odds for Big Red": Hope Holliday (sister of Judy Holliday, appeared in The Apartment, The Ladies Man, Irma la Douce, and The Rounders) plays saloon owner Big Red. Virginia Capers (shown on the left, Tony Award winner, appeared in Lady Sings the Blues, Trouble Man, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off and played Delia Bonner on Downtown, Bertha Griffin-Lamour on Frank's Place, and Hattie Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) plays saloon girl Ada. Richard Ney (appeared in Mrs. Miniver, Joan of Arc, Ivy, and Midnight Lace) plays gambler Guy Fremont. Robert Karnes (see "Shadow of a Man" above) plays card player Vern Potter. Perry Cook (see "The Road" above) plays card player Ernie.

Season 5, Episode 5, "A Proof of Love": Charles Bronson (shown on the right, starred in The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, Once Upon a Time in the West, The Valachi Papers, and four Death Wish movies and played Mike Kovac on Man With a Camera, Paul Moreno on Empire, and Linc Murdock on The Travels of Jamie McPheeters) plays lovesick Henry Gray. Shirley O'Hara (see "The Princess and the Gunfighter" above) plays his mother. George Kennedy (see "The Road" above) plays his rival Rud Saxon. Jack Marshall (see the soundtrack paragraph in the 1960 post on The Deputy) plays a banjo player. 

Season 5, Episode 6, "The Gospel Singer": John McLiam (appeared in Cool Hand Luke, In Cold Blood, Sleeper, The Missouri Breaks, and First Blood) plays Bugbear Mayor Harper. Roy Engel (see "Everyman" above) plays leading citizen Barber. Noah Keen (Det. Lt. Carl Bone on Arrest and Trial) plays gang leader Harry Durbin. Ed Peck (Officer Clark on The Super and Officer Kirk on Happy Days) plays Durbin henchman Sims.

Season 5, Episode 7, "The Race": Ben Johnson (shown on the left, starred in Shane, The Wild Bunch, Chisum, and The Getaway and played Sleeve on The Monroes) plays ranch owner Sam Crabbe. 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 Indian Chief Tamasun. 

Season 5, Episode 8, "The Hanging of Aaron Gibbs": Odetta (shown on the right, folk singer and civil rights activist known as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement") plays wife of convicted man Sarah Gibbs. Rupert Crosse (appeared in Shadows, Too Late Blues, and The Reivers and played Det. George Robinson on The Partners) plays her husband Aaron Jedidiah Gibbs. Roy Barcroft (see "Tax Gatherer" above) plays the Dunbar marshal. Barry Cahill (Capt. Curt Douglas on 12 O'Clock High and Buck Vernon on The Waltons) plays Gibbs accomplice Perrell. Hal Needham (see "The Princess and the Gunfighter" above) plays Gibbs accomplice Turner. Peggy Rea (see "The Education of Sarah Jane" above) plays a sympathetic widow. 

Season 5, Episode 9, "The Piano": Keith Andes (shown on the left, starred in Project X, Clash by Night, and The Girl Most Likely and played Col. Frank Dawson on This Man Dawson, Keith Granville on Glynis, and voiced Birdman on Birdman) plays world renowned pianist Franz Lister. Antoinette Bower (Fox Devlin on Neon Rider) plays his girlfriend Sybil Lansing. Arny Freeman (brother of saxophonist Bud Freeman, played Lucius Minnow on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) plays his manager Freddie. Richard Reeves (Mr. Murphy on Date With the Angels) plays barfly Jerris. Roy Engel (see "Everyman" above) plays the piano thief.

Season 5, Episode 10, "Ben Jalisco": Charles Bronson (see "A Proof of Love" above) plays ex-con bounty hunter Ben Jalisco. Coleen Gray (shown on the right, starred in Kiss of Death, Nightmare Alley, The Killing, The Vampire, The Leech Woman, and The Phantom Planet and played Muriel Clifford on McCloud) plays his wife Lucy. John Litel (starred in Back in Circulation, On Trial, Murder in the Blue Room, four Nancy Drew films, and eight Henry Aldrich films and played the Governor on Zorro and Dan Murchison on Stagecoach West) plays her protector Sheriff John Armstedder.

Season 5, Episode 11, "The Brothers": Peggy Stewart (starred in Oregon Trail, Son of Zorro, and Desert Vigilante and played Cherien's mother on The Riches) plays vengeful widow Edna Raleigh. Buddy Ebsen (see "El Paso Stage" above) plays her husband's killer Bram Holden. Paul Hartman (shown on the left, played Albie Morrison on The Pride of the Family, Charlie on Our Man Higgins, Emmett Clark on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D., and Bert Smedley on Petticoat Junction) plays prospector Possum Corbin. Hal Needham (see "The Princess and the Gunfighter" above) plays a Holden henchman. 

Season 5, Episode 12, "A Drop of Blood": Martin Gabel (starred in The Thief, Marnie, and Lady in Cement) plays Jewish rancher Nathan Shotness. Mike Kellin (see "Shadow of a Man" above) plays his future son-in-law Faivel Melamed. Milton Selzer (shown on the right, played 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 their rabbi Reb Elya. Noah Keen (see "The Gospel Singer" above) plays Shotness antagonist Billy Buckstone. Snub Pollard (prolific silent-movie comic actor who appeared in Keystone Cops comedies, dozens of Harold Lloyd shorts, Laurel and Hardy and Andy Clyde shorts, a series of his own shorts, and as Tex Ritter's sidekick Pee Wee in several 1930s westerns) plays a messenger.

Season 5, Episode 13, "A Knight to Remember": Hans Conried (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Rocky and His Friends) plays quixotic estate owner Don Esteban Gutierrez Caloca. Wright King (see "Brother's Keeper" above) plays his son Alejandro. Lane Chandler (see "Ben Jalisco" above) plays landlord Bender. Robert Carricart (see "A Quiet Night in Town" above) plays his Indian worker Dirty Dog. Susan Brown (Nancy Pollock Karr on The Edge of Night, Martha Ferguson on Bright Promise, Constance MacKenzie Carson on Return to Peyton Place, Maggie Malone on Mariah, Adelaide Fitzgibbon on As the World Turns, Dorothy Lane on Santa Barbara, and Gail Baldwin on General Hospital) plays Paladin's love interest.

Season 5, Episode 14, "Blind Circle": Hank Patterson (shown on the right, see "El Paso Stage" above) plays hit man Jess Larker. Gerald Gordon (Dr. Nick Bellini on The Doctors, Felix Morger on Highcliffe Manor, and Skip Franklin on Valerie) plays Cattlemen's Association president Hughes. Woody Chambliss (Captain Tom on Yancy Derringer and Lathrop on Gunsmoke) plays his associate McCormack. Ellen Atterbury (wife of Malcolm Atterbury, played Mrs. Bixby on Wagon Train) plays boarding house owner Mrs. Madison. Bob Jellison (Waldo Binney on The Life of Riley and Bobby the Bellboy on I Love Lucy) plays one of her clients Mr. Parsons.

Season 5, Episode 15, "The Kid": Jacques Aubuchon (starred in The Silver Chalice, The Big Boodle, and The Love God? and played Chief Urulu on McHale's Navy) plays slacker Moriarity. Flip Mark (shown on the left, played Flip Rogers on Lassie, Brook Hooten on Guestward Ho!, and Larry Walker on Fair Exchange) plays his son Silver Strike. Roy Engel (see "Everyman" above) plays bartender Rudy. Eleanor Audley (Mother Eunice Douglas on Green Acres and Mrs. Vincent on My Three Sons) plays a school teacher.

Season 5, Episode 16, "Squatters Rights": Warren Stevens (shown on the right, 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 cattle rancher Costigan. Carlos Romero (Rico Rodriguez on Wichita Town, Romero Serrano on Zorro, and Carlo Agretti on Falcon Crest) plays his scout Juan Quintos. Robert Stevenson (see "The Last Judgment" above) plays squatter Clemenceau. Hal Needham (see "The Princess and the Gunfighter" above) plays Costigan henchman Sim. Sandy Kenyon (Des Smith on Crunch and Des, Shep Baggott on The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, and Reverend Kathrun on Knots Landing) plays cattle rustler Jeb Turner.