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.

 

Overland Trail (1960)

Veteran square-jawed actor William Bendix, in an interview that appeared in the March 13, 1960 edition of the TV supplement for the Chicago Daily News, speculated that if his new series Overland Trail were not well received, it might be called a bad imitation of Wagon Train. TV Guide, in a July 23, 1960 feature on co-star Doug McClure, described the series as "just one more hour-long filmed Western." Both descriptions suggest that the show was highly derivative in the western genre, and they were correct, though a more accurate description might be Tales of Wells Fargo meets The Deputy, as it features stories about running a cross-state stage line and includes an older, wilier character tricking a younger, less-experienced character into doing his bidding. For NBC, the hope was that the new mid-season replacement series, which debuted on February 7, would provide more formidable competition against Maverick on ABC and Dennis the Menace and Lassie on CBS, than had Riverboat, which was moved to Monday's schedule. But the ploy did not prove successful, for NBC anyway, as Overland Trail was not renewed for the fall 1960 season.

The similarities between Overland Trail and The Deputy extend beyond Bendix's character Fred Kelly, superintendent of the Overland Stage Company, tricking his younger protege, McClure's Frank "Flip" Flippen, out of an anticipated vacation in the show's very first episode, "Perilous Passage" (February 7, 1960) or a stopover in Topeka in the next episode, "The O'Mara's Ladies" (February 14, 1960). As in the majority of episodes on The Deputy, several Overland Trail episodes feature the older supervisory character only at the beginning and ending of the story, with the younger, less experienced character going it alone during the bulk of the narrative. On The Deputy this device was employed to minimize the amount of time Henry Fonda was required to put in on the television series so that he could pursue other opportunities in film and on the stage. For Overland Trail, this structure was simply a ploy by the producer to give McClure more screen time. In the series' third episode, "West of Boston" (February 21, 1960), Flippen intends to take his eastern-bred fiance on a stage ride to Flint Ridge, where they plan to settle down, until Kelly tells them there is a school teacher opening in Rock Point, a destination to which he wants to extend his stage line. Before Flippen and fiance set out, Kelly says he has business in another town and will catch with them at Mesa Flats. The rest of the episode details the many indignities and discomforts Flippen's fiance has to endure in the rugged west, only to learn when they reach Rock Point that there is no school or teacher's position there; it was merely another of Kelly's tricks. However, by this time Flippen's fiance has decided to head back east, with or without him. In "Sour Annie" (May 8, 1960), Flip volunteers to stay behind with seriously wounded prospector Annie Tatum, who is not expected to survive a fall she took from her horse, while Kelly and a few others ride off to corral a herd of mustangs in a nearby canyon. Flip not only nurses Annie back to health but helps her trudge across the desert and back to civilization when their camp is attacked by Indians. In the last scene Flip is reunited with Kelly and they head off on another stage run while Flip gives an exaggerated account of his adventures with Annie. And in "Escort Detail" (May 22, 1960), Flip volunteers to accompany U.S. Cavalry Lt. Adam King in escorting Crazy Horse's wife back to her village to deliver a treaty between the U.S. government and the Sioux, while Kelly continues operating the Overland until Flip's assignment has been successfully completed. The formula is inverted, however, in the series' final episode, "Most Dangerous Gentleman" (June 6, 1960), wherein Flip is left to run the Overland while Kelly helps his war buddy General William Palmer win the railroad franchise from Denver going west.

The interplay between the two starring characters is also similar to the give-and-take between the main characters in The Deputy with constant joking and insults thrown back and forth to gloss over how the two men really care for each other. The back story for Kelly and Flip is spelled out in the first few episodes: Flip's parents were killed by the Cheyenne, who then raised him until Kelly rescued him and brought him up from a young boy to a young man of 21 or so. Flip's Indian upbringing is mentioned in at least the first half dozen episodes, where he is given assignments that utilize his Indian-taught skills. Thereafter his Indian background is never mentioned again, even in an episode like "Escort Detail," which involves negotiating with and fighting against different Indian factions. Kelly's background is less fleshed out, though we learn early on that he has the street smarts and toughness that comes from growing up in Brooklyn. However, it may be an anachronism that Brooklyn translated into toughness back in the 1870s. Another curiosity about Kelly is his apparent disinterest in women. While the younger Flip easily has his head turned by any pretty face, often to his disadvantage, Kelly is only interested in business. Even when he has the opportunity to flirt with the beautiful Nitro Nell in "Fire in the Hole" (April 17, 1960) in her attempt to make her boyfriend Jumbo jealous, Kelly can only think about the possibility that the game might make Jumbo refuse to dig the tunnel he needs to win a mail route franchise against a competing stage line. There is no mention of any past marriage or romance in Kelly's life; he is a virtually sexless business-minded automaton.

While many westerns of the era dealt with the issues of Native American dignity and the rights of women with a slightly progressive slant, Overland Trail in its earlier episodes seems to take a more conservative perspective. Indians are generally vicious savages--one young chief is even named "Bloody Hand" in the episode "Daughter of the Sioux" (March 20, 1960), which tells the story of a young woman named Diana born to a white trapper and his Sioux wife. Diana's father has allowed her to be raised amongst the Sioux so that she prefers their culture and spurns her white heritage. She is, in fact, betrothed to Bloody Hand. But when her father forcibly brings her to Kelly and pays him to take her to a white finishing school in St. Louis so that she can learn the manners of a white woman, she resists until Flip shows her some kindness and then is nearly killed by Bloody Hand. Then she can see the brutality of the Sioux and she rejects them and accepts her position in the white world. Regarding the place of women, Kelly takes a rather chauvinistic view in "The Vigilantes of Montana" (April 3, 1960) when he says of the Banic sheriff's daughter that a woman has her place, comforting though it is, but this, meaning dealing with a tough situation, isn't it. And "Lawyer in Petticoats" (March 27, 1960) tells the story of a woman named Helen Jackson seemingly established in a traditionally male profession, but we learn that she is really only interested in recovering legal control of a mine half owned by her supposedly deceased father. When she finds out that he is still alive, she seems more interested in keeping it quiet so that she can still gain control of his riches rather than rejoicing that her father is still living. In other words, she is, or soon plans to be, a gold digger.

But later in the series, both attitudes shift. "Escort Detail" makes the point that not all Indians are war-mongering killers. Crazy Horse and his wife both desire peace with the white man, even if some younger braves in their tribe wish to maintain hostilities. And Lt. King, who at the beginning of the episode characterizes all Indians as killers due to his bitterness from having his brother killed at the Battle of Little Big Horn, eventually finds reconciliation with Crazy Horse despite initially planning to kill him on sight. Women come in for better treatment, too. The titular character in "Sour Annie" is a better mustang herder than any of her male counterparts. In "Most Dangerous Gentleman" railroad baron Palmer's secretary Jennifer Dean is the voice of women's liberation, providing a foil for the chauvinistic construction engineer Mike Day, who at one point says, "Next thing you'll be asking for the right to vote," to which Jennifer replies "We already have." Since many other aspects of the series were derived from other westerns of the day, it only makes sense that these themes would be brought more into the mainstream on a show struggling to find viewers and win a regular spot in the NBC lineup.

The theme music for Overland Trail and the scores for at least two episodes were composed by Jeff Alexander, born Myer Goodhue Alexander in Seattle, WA. Alexander's musical career began as a singer and dancer in vaudeville shows while in his teens. In 1939 he moved to New York City and found work composing and directing big bands for radio shows such as Benny Goodman's Camel Caravan and Amos 'n' Andy. In 1947 he relocated to Los Angeles and began working in film and television. His most noted film scores include The Tender Trap, Jailhouse Rock and three more Elvis Presley features, and Support Your Local Sheriff!. Besides Overland Trail, his TV credits included Bachelor Father, The Lieutenant, Valentine's Day, Please Don't Eat the Daisies, and Julia. He died from cancer at the age of 79 on December 23, 1989.

The complete series has been released on DVD by TimelessMedia Group.

The Actors

William Bendix

Though his tough-guy characters often brandished a Brooklyn accent, William Bendix was actually born in Manhattan, and other than a brief appearance in a silent 1911 Lillian Walker film at age 5, he did not take up an acting career in earnest until age 30, after the grocery business he managed with an assist from his father-in-law fell victim to the Great Depression. But even in his grocery days Bendix would occasionally perform in nightclubs, was once a singing waiter, and as a boy was a batboy for the New York Yankees, where he claims to have seen at least 100 of Babe Ruth's home runs. He reportedly was fired after fetching the Babe a large order of hot dogs and soda before a game that made the Bambino unable to play that day. Ironically, one of his best-remembered lead roles was playing Ruth in the 1948 film The Babe Ruth Story. But Bendix first made his name on the stage. His performance in a 1939 production of William Saroyan's The Time of Your Life got the attention of film producer Hal Roach, and Bendix began appearing in films in 1942, including Woman of the Year and The Glass Key, which earned him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. Bendix's filmography throughout the 1940s and 50s was prolific, usually in supporting tough, blue collar or thug roles, though he took a comedic turn in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Other notable appearances during this era included Lifeboat, The Blue Dahlia, Streets of Laredo, Detective Story, and Macao. In 1944 he also began appearing on radio as aircraft plant worker Chester A. Riley in the comedy The Life of Riley, which ran for 8 years. He also played the role in the feature-length film version in 1949, but when the series was adapted for television that same year, Bendix was contractually unable to take the role and Jackie Gleason was cast in his place, though Gleason's portrayal was unsuccessful and the show lasted only one season. But once Bendix's contractual situation cleared up, a second version of the series was brought back to TV in 1953 and ran for five successful seasons.

Bendix continued to be active in both TV and film after Riley's cancellation until he was cast in the short-lived Overland Trail. After that show's demise, he continued to find work with guest appearances on Mister Ed, Follow the Sun, and Burke's Law as well as appearing in films such as Boys' Night Out, Johnny Nobody, and The Phony American until he contracted a stomach ailment that led to malnutrition and pneumonia, eventually killing him at age 58 on December 14, 1964. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame--one for radio and one for television.

Doug McClure

Born in Glendale, California, Douglas Osborne McClure was the son of an accountant and a newspaper woman. His older brother Reed also worked for the same Santa Monica newspaper that his mother did. McClure attended high school in Los Angeles, where he was quarterback of the football team and a swimmer. He also had a part in a school play that spurred him to study acting at Santa Monica College and later UCLA. While a junior at UCLA he had his first television appearance in a soap commercial, which led to additional commercial work and bit roles on TV. He also scored occasional minor film roles, sometimes uncredited, in movies such as Friendly Persuasion, The Enemy Below, South Pacific, and Gidget. One of his TV roles was on a 1959 episode of Schlitz Playhouse titled "Ivy League" in which William Bendix played a former Marine going to college on the GI bill and McClure played a student he took under his wing. When NBC was casting Overland Trail Bendix says that McClure's name popped into his head while reading a script and he recommended the young actor for the role of Flip Flippen. Producer Samuel A. Peeples liked McClure enough to start scheduling entire episodes around his character only a few shows into the season.

Though Overland Trail lasted less than a season, McClure was immediately snapped up to play the role Jed Sills on the crime drama Checkmate on CBS beginning in the fall of 1960. And after that show ended its two-year run, he didn't wait long for his next role, being cast for the part of Trampas when The Virginian debuted in the fall of 1962, a role he kept during the series' entire 8-year run. The 1970s were scarcely less busy: in 1972 he was cast as C.R. Grover  in Search, which ran for one season, and by 1975 he landed on Barbary Coast in the role of Cash Conover. He was also appearing in films such as The Land That Time Forgot and The People That Time Forgot as well as At the Earth's Core and the miniseries Roots. The 1980s brought a series of guest star appearances on a variety of shows, including five turns on The Fall Guy, and more film work in Cannonball Run II, 52 Pickup, and Prime Suspect. He earned another regular role as mayor Kyle X. Applegate on the 1987-91 series Out of This World and continued working into the mid-1990s. However, he contracted lung cancer as a lifelong smokes and collapsed  while filming an episode for the series One West Waikiki, after which doctors discovered that his cancer had spread. His last public appearance was at the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. He died at age 59 on February 5, 1995.

Notable Guest Stars

Season 1, Episode 1, "Perilous Passage": Harry Guardino (shown on the left, starred in Houseboat, Pork Chop Hill, The Five Pennies, Hell Is for Heroes, Madigan, Dirty Harry, and The Enforcer and played Danny Taylor on The Reporter, Monty Nash on Monty Nash, and Hamilton Burger on The New Perry Mason) plays driver Johnny Caldwell. Robert J. Wilke (appeared in Best of the Badmen, High Noon, The Far Country, and Night Passage and played Capt. Mendoza on Zorro) plays outlaw Cole Younger. Lynn Bari (starred in Always Goodbye, Sun Valley Serenade, and The Magnificent Dope and played Gwen Allen on Boss Lady) plays outlaw Belle Starr. Gregory Walcott (starred in Badman's Country and Plan 9 From Outer Space and played Det. Roger Havilland on 87th Precinct) plays gang member Reed. Tyler McVey (Gen. Maj. Norgath on Men Into Space) plays a U.S. marshal.

Season 1, Episode 2, "The O'Mara's Ladies": Sean McClory (shown on the right, played Jack McGivern on The Californians and Myles Delaney on Bring 'Em Back Alive) plays casino owner Tim O'Mara. Maggie Pierce (Barbara Crabtree on My Mother the Car) plays one of his dealers Kathy Dale. Della Sharman (Nurse Betty Johnson on Dr. Kildare) plays another of his employees Belle Malone. Tony Young (Cord on Gunslinger) plays outlaw The Sabine Kid. Joe Flynn (starred in Lover Come Back, The Love Bug, and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and played Frank on The Joey Bishop Show, Capt. Wallace B. Binghamton on McHale's Navy, and Herbert T. Kenworth on The Tim Conway Show) plays hotel clerk Eddie. Eddy Waller (Deputy Marshal Rusty Lee on Steve Donovan, Western Marshal, Red Rock Smith on Casey Jones, Mose Shell on Laramie, and Matt Krebbs on Lassie) plays station master Trinidad. Robert Foulk (Ed Davis on Father Knows Best, Sheriff Miller on Lassie, Joe Kingston on Wichita Town, Phillip Toomey on The Rifleman, and Mr. Wheeler on Green Acres) plays the leader of a band of miners. 

Season 1, Episode 3, "West of Boston": Kenneth Tobey (starred in Angel Face, The Thing From Another World, and It Came From Beneath the Sea and played Chuck Martin on Whirleybirds and Russ Conway on I Spy) plays bank robber Wyatt Cady. Frank de Kova (shown on the left, played Chief Wild Eagle on F Troop and Louis Campagna on The Untouchables) plays a Shoshone chief. Carolyn Craig (starred in Giant, House on Haunted Hill, and Studs Lonigan and played Cynthia Allison on General Hospital) plays Flip's fiancé Priscilla Cabot. Adrienne Marden (Mary Breckenridge on The Waltons) plays her aunt Jean. Arthur Hunnicutt (starred in The Red Badge of Courage, The Last Command, The Cardinal, and Cat Ballou) plays buffalo hunter Reb Haslett. Bob Steele (starred in Breezy Bill, Of Mice and Men, and The Big Sleep, played Billy the Kid in 6 westerns and Tucson Smith in 19 others, and played Trooper Duffy on F Troop) plays an unnamed station master. Guy Mitchell (popular singer backed by Mitch Miller who appeared in Those Redheads From Seattle, Red Garters, and The Wild Westerners and played George Romack on Whispering Smith) plays stage driver Murdock.

Season 1, Episode 4, "The High Bridge": George Wallace (starred in Radar Men From the Moon, Destry, and Forbidden Planet and played Judge Milton Cole on Hill Street Blues and Grandpa Hank Hammersmith on Sons and Daughters) plays renegade Matt Dooley. Rayford Barnes (Ike Clanton on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays his brother Tom. Robert McQueeney (Conley Wright on The Gallant Men) plays convicted killer Jim Arville. Whitney Blake (Dorothy Baxter on Hazel) plays his alleged accomplice Kate Maxwell. Arthur Space (appeared in Black Beauty, The Cockeyed Miracle, and Target Earth and played Herbert Brown on National Velvet and Dr. Frank Weaver on Lassie) plays the judge who sentences them. John Anderson (Virgil Earp on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Dr. Herbert Styles on Dallas, and Harry Jackson on MacGyver) plays the Lodestone marshal. Nora Marlowe (Martha Commager on Law of the Plainsman, Sara Andrews on The Governor and J.J., and Mrs. Flossie Brimmer on The Waltons) plays his deputy Mary. Linda Lawson (Renee on Adventures in Paradise, Pat Perry on Don't Call Me Charlie, and Laura Fremont on Ben Casey) plays saloon girl Ruby. Burt Mustin (Foley on The Great Gildersleeve, Mr. Finley on Date With the Angels, Gus the fireman on Leave It to Beaver, Jud Fletcher on The Andy Griffith Show, and Justin Quigley on All in the Family) plays High Bridge station master Len Mullen.

Season 1, Episode 5, "Westbound Stage": Adam West (shown on the right, played Det. Sgt. Steve Nelson on The Detectives, Bruce Wayne on Batman, Captain Rick Wright on The Last Precinct, and Dr. Noah Goddard on Black Scorpion) plays sheriff Wild Bill Hickock. Edward Platt (The Chief on Get Smart) plays fugitive doctor John Manderly. Ed Kemmer (Commander Buzz Corry on Space Patrol) newlywed Jody Cabel. Suzanne Lloyd (Raquel Toledano on Zorro) plays army wife Ann Cambers. Hank Patterson (Fred Ziffel on Green Acres and Petticoat Junction and Hank on Gunsmoke) plays an old codger. Alan Carney (played Mike Strager in a series of RKO comedies in the 1940s and appeared in The Absent-Minded Professor, Son of Flubber, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and Herbie Rides Again) plays saloon owner Darby James. Mark Stevens (Martin Kane on Martin Kane and Steve Wilson on Big Town) plays James' saboteur Wade.

Season 1, Episode 6, "All the O'Mara's Horses": Sean McClory (see "The O'Mara's Ladies" above) returns as casino owner Tim O'Mara. Roy Barcroft (Col. Logan on The Adventures of Spin and Marty and Roy on Gunsmoke) plays the Carson City marshal. Mary Tyler Moore (shown on the left, played Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary Brenner on Mary, and Annie McGuire on Annie McGuire) plays rancher's daughter Joan Ransom. Dan Sheridan (Summers on Lawman) plays an O'Mara gunman. Jack Reitzen (Chopstick Joe on Terry and the Pirates and Flores on Not for Hire) plays former Kelly employee Jarvis. Kelly Thordsen (Colorado Charlie on Yancy Derringer) plays wanted outlaw Chino. Karen Sharpe (Laura Thomas on Johnny Ringo) plays saloon girl Kathy.

Season 1, Episode 7, "Daughter of the Sioux": Harry Guardino (see "Perilous Passage" above) returns as Johnny Caldwell. Frank Ferguson (Gus Broeberg on My Friend Flicka, Eli Carson on Peyton Place, and Dr. Barton Stuart on Petticoat Junction) plays fur trader Jason Coolidge. Mario Alcalde (Yellow Hawk on The Texan and Chuck Atwell on Peyton Place) plays Sioux chief Bloody Hand. Gilman Rankin (Deputy Charlie Riggs on Tombstone Territory) plays the elder Sioux chief. 

Season 1, Episode 8, "Lawyer in Petticoats": George Tobias (shown on the right, starred in Sergeant York, This Is the Army, and Yankee Doodle Dandy and played Pierre Falcon on Hudson's Bay, Trader Penrose on Adventures in Paradise, and Abner Kravitz on Bewitched) plays miner Hardrock Jackson. Dianne Foster (starred in Night Passage, The Last Hurrah, and The Deep Six) plays his daughter Helen. Barton MacLane (starred in The Prince and the Pauper, High Sierra, The Maltese Falcon, and Treasure of the Sierra Madre and played Marshal Frank Crane on Outlaws and Gen. Peterson on I Dream of Jeannie) plays his partner Big Jed Braddock. Read Morgan (Sgt. Hapgood Tasker on The Deputy) plays Braddock's brother Phil. Denver Pyle (Ben Thompson on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Grandpa Tarleton on Tammy, Briscoe Darlingon The Andy Griffith Show, Buck Webb on The Doris Day Show, Mad Jack on The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, and Uncle Jesse on The Dukes of Hazzard) plays the Hastings sheriff. Olan Soule (Aristotle "Tut" Jones on Captain Midnight, Ray Pinker on Dragnet (1952-59), and Fred Springer on Arnie) plays a traveling photographer. Walter Sande (appeared in To Have and Have Not, A Place in the Sun, and Bad Day at Black Rock and played Capt. Horatio Bullwinkle on The Adventures of Tugboat Annie and Papa Holstrum on The Farmer's Daughter) plays stage clerk Sam Morton. John Qualen (starred in The Three Musketeers(1935), His Girl Friday, The Grapes of Wrath, Angels Over Broadway, Casablanca, Anatomy of a Murder, and A Patch of Blue) plays the circuit judge.

Season 1, Episode 9, "The Vigilantes of Montana": Walter Coy (Zoravac on Rocky Jones, Space Ranger and the narrator on Frontier) plays Banic Sheriff Plummer. Myrna Fahey (shown on the right, played Katherine "Kay" Banks on Father of the Bride) plays his daughter Harriet. Werner Klemperer (shown on the left, starred in Five Steps to Danger, Operation Eichmann, and Judgment at Nuremberg and played Col. Klink on Hogan's Heroes) plays store owner Arnold Braun. Sherwood Price (Gen. Jeb Stuart on The Gray Ghost) plays stage robber Sam Kemp. Charles Maxwell (Special Agent Joe Carey on I Led 3 Lives and the voice of the radio announcer on Gilligan's Island) plays his accomplice Tex Tobey. James Chandler (Lt. Girard on Bourbon Street Beat) plays Overland clerk Jake Horan. Alan Dexter (Frank Ferguson on Days of Our Lives) plays vigilante Ben.  

Season 1, Episode 10, "Fire in the Hole": Claude Akins (Sonny Pruett on Movin' On and Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo on B.J and the Bear and on Lobo) plays tunnel digger Jumbo. Susan Cummings (Georgia on Union Pacific) plays his girlfriend Nitro Nell. Robert Bray (Simon Kane on Stagecoach West and Corey Stuart on Lassie) plays rival stage employee Matt Peak. John Pickard (Capt. Shank Adams on Boots and Saddles and Sgt. Maj. Murdock on Gunslinger) plays miner straw-boss Cavanaugh. Lane Chandler (Tom Pike on Lawman) plays an unnamed miner. Frank Warren (Officer Simpson on Highway Patrol) plays another unnamed miner. Grace Lee Whitney (Janice Rand on Star Trek) plays a saloon girl.

Season 1, Episode 11, "Mission Into Mexico": Robert Loggia (shown on the right, starred in The Greatest Story Ever Told, Revenge of the Pink Panther, Scarface, and Big and played T. Hewitt Edward Cat on T.H.E. Cat, Admiral Yuri Burkharin on Emerald Point, N.A.S., Nick Mancuso on Mancuso, FBI, Ben Benedict on Sunday Dinner, and Judge Thomas O'Neill on Queens Supreme) plays Mexican insurgent Porfirio Diaz. Barbara Luna (Maria on One Life to Live) plays fellow insurgent Estrelita. Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr. (Luis Valdez on Viva Valdez) plays sadistic insurgent Carlos Hernandez. Ron Hayes (Wyatt Earp on Bat Masterson, Lincoln Vail on Everglades, Ben Jones on The Rounders, and Hank Johnson on Dallas) plays Overland station master Luke. John van Dreelen (starred in The Leech Woman, 13 Ghosts, and Topaz) plays hussar commander Capt. Fortesque.

Season 1, Episode 12, "First Stage to Denver": Peter Whitney (Sergeant Buck Sinclair on The Rough Riders and Lafe Crick on The Beverly Hillbillies) plays Governor George Sutcliff. Kelton Garwood (Beauregard O'Hanlon on Bourbon Street Beat and Percy Crump on Gunsmoke) plays outlaw Chisolm. Peter Brocco (Peter the waiter on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show) plays imposter Dr. Courtney.  

Season 1, Episode 13, "Sour Annie": Mercedes McCambridge (shown on the right, starred in All the King's Men, Johnny Guitar, Giant, and A Farewell to Arms and played Kate Wells on Wire Service) plays prospector Annie Tatum. Richard Devon (Jody Barker on Yancy Derringer) plays mustang catcher Harlan Deal. Slim Pickens (shown on the left, 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 mustang catcher Vince Allard. Andrew Prine (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 mustang catcher Hank Paulson.  

Season 1, Episode 14, "The Baron Comes Back": Gerald Mohr (narrator on 19 episodes of The Lone Ranger, Christopher Storm on Foreign Intrigue, and voice of Mr. Fantastic and Reed Richards on Fantastic 4) plays mythical con man James Addison Reavis. Denver Pyle (see "Lawyer in Petticoats" above) plays prospective farmer Jonathan Kale. Ken Lynch (appeared in I Married a Monster From Outer Space, Anatomy of a Murder, and Dead Ringer and played Lt. Thomas Brand on Checkmate, Det. Lt. Tom Handley on Arrest and Trial, Lt. Barney Keller on Honey West, and Police Sgt. Grover on McCloud) plays stage robber Quint. Michael Hinn (Luke Cummings on Boots and Saddles) plays bridge worker Jacobs. Milton Frome (starred in Pardners, The Delicate Delinquent, and The Swinger and played Lawrence Chapman on The Beverly Hillbillies) plays a bartender. Barry Kelley (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 saloon owner Jake Talby.  

Season 1, Episode 15, "Escort Detail": David Wayne (starred in Adam's Rib, M, How to Marry a Millionaire, The Three Faces of Eve, and The Andromeda Strain and played Preston Norby on Norby, The Mad Hatter on Batman, Charles Dutton on The Good Life, Inspector Richard Queen on Ellery Queen, and Doctor Amos Weatherby on House Calls) plays U.S. Cavalry Lt. Adam King. Bartlett Robinson (Frank Caldwell on Mona McCluskey) plays U.S. Cavalry Maj. Evans. James Best (Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazzard) plays Pvt. Cullen. John Marley (starred in Cat Ballou, Love Story, and The Godfather) plays Sioux chief Crazy Horse. Pat Hogan (Black Cloud on Brave Eagle) plays renegade Sioux Running Dog. 

Season 1, Episode 16, "The Reckoning": Monica Lewis (shown on the right, popular singer who starred in Excuse My Dust, Affair With a Stranger, and The D.I.) plays blind estranged wife Anne Michaels. 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 her estranged husband John. Denny Miller (Duke Shannon on Wagon Train and Mike McCluskey on Mona McCluskey) plays her son Jimmy. John Carradine (starred in Stagecoach, The Grapes of Wrath, House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, The Ten Commandments, and Sex Kittens Go to College and played Gen. Joshua McCord on Branded) plays newspaper publisher Caleb Nash. Forrest Taylor (starred in True Nobility, Big Calibre, Too Much Beef, and The Lost Planet and played Doc Brannon on Man Without a Gun) plays the Laramie doctor. Stuart Randall (Sheriff Art Sampson on Cimarron City, Al Livermore on Lassie, and Sheriff Mort Corey on Laramie) plays the Laramie marshal.

Season 1, Episode 17, "Most Dangerous Gentleman": John McIntire (shown on the left, starred in Call Northside 777, The Street With No Name, Winchester '73, Psycho, and Elmer Gantry and played Lt. Dan Muldoon on Naked City, Christopher Hale on Wagon Train, Clay Grainger on The Virginian, and Dutch McHenry on Shirley) plays railroad baron Gen. William Palmer. Lang Jeffries (Skip Johnson on Rescue 8) plays his construction engineer Mike Day. Jeff Donnell (Alice on The George Gobel Show, Evelyn Driscoll on Dr. Kildare, and Mrs. Bennett on Julia) plays his secretary Jennifer Dean. Ron Randell (starred in Pacific Adventure, Bulldog Drummond at Bay, Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back, Lorna Doone, and Kiss Me Kate, was the host for The Vise and played Capt. Frank Hawthorn on O.S.S.) plays hired saboteur Bill Jordan. Robert Emhardt (Sgt. Vinton on The Kids From C.A.P.E.R.) plays rival railroad baron Jonathan Edwards. Christine White (Abigail Adams on Ichabod and Me) plays co-conspirator Miss Traynor. Onslow Stevens (starred in The Three Musketeers (1935), The Creeper, Angel on My Shoulder, Mark of the Gorilla, and Them!) plays President Ulysses S. Grant. Wesley Lau (Lt. Andy Anderson on PerryMason and Master Sgt. Jiggs on The Time Tunnel) plays Grant's bodyguard Maj. Daniels.