Series synopsis
The Rifleman is an American action & adventure western family television series that premiered on ABC on September 30, 1958. It ended on April 8, 1963. It was created by Sam Peckinpah. It stars Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford.
The Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show was filmed in black-and-white, half-hour episodes. "The Rifleman" aired on ABC from September 30, 1958 to April 8, 1963 as a production of Four Star Television. It was one of the first prime time series to have a widowed parent raise a child.
Premise
The Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show was filmed in black-and-white, half-hour episodes. "The Rifleman" aired on ABC from September 30, 1958 to April 8, 1963 as a production of Four Star Television. It was one of the first prime time series to have a widowed parent raise a child.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain
- Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain
Guest cast
- Paul Fix as Micah Torrance
- Sue Randall
- Paul Mantee
- Tommy Cook
- George Macready
- Les Tremayne
- Ross Elliott as Ben Johnson
- Ed Ames as Lee Coyle
- Lonny Chapman
- Sean McClory
- George Lindsey
- Arthur Malet
Episodes
This series spans 5 seasons with 168 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 40 | September 30, 1958 | June 30, 1959 |
| Season 2 | 36 | September 29, 1959 | May 31, 1960 |
| Season 3 | 34 | September 27, 1960 | May 16, 1961 |
| Season 4 | 32 | October 2, 1961 | May 7, 1962 |
| Season 5 | 26 | October 1, 1962 | April 8, 1963 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Sharpshooter Lucas McCain and his son Mark arrive in North Fork, New Mexico. Looking to start a new life, they come across a ranch to their liking, which is for sale. Lucas enters a Turkey Shoot in hopes of winning the down payment for the ranch. Jim Lewis, the man who runs North Fork, has bet on Vernon, a young gun he brought in, to win. When talk of Lucas' reputation back in the Nations circulates around town, Mr. Lewis gets nervous and he makes trouble for Lucas by threatening Mark's life. |
September 30, 1958 |
| 2 |
Home Ranch Two hired hands of a wealthy cattleman, who has been using the ranch for grazing his cattle, demand that Lucas move out. When Lucas refuses, he is beaten and dragged and then the ranch house is burned down. They left Lucas and Mark with the burning house and rode off with Lucas' rifle. Leaving Mark to tend to the animals, Lucas tracks them down and confronts their boss, Mr. Jackford. |
October 7, 1958 |
| 3 |
End of a Young Gun Lucas is forced to give refuge to Will Fulton, a young bank robber, who was injured while saving Mark's life. While staying at the McCain ranch Will gets a taste of a life better than the one he's been leading. He's met a girl and grows tired of a life on the run. |
October 14, 1958 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Patsy A group of outlaws devise a plan to get rid of Lucas so that they can take over the town of North Fork. |
September 29, 1959 |
| 2 |
Bloodlines After Lucas kills a mountain man in a barrom brawl, his father arrives in North Fork determined to take revenge on Lucas and Marshal Torrance, once he breaks his other two boys out of jail. |
October 6, 1959 |
| 3 |
The Blowout Newly arrived gunslinger Al Walker throws a mammoth party at the saloon, keeping acting Marshal Ben Waller busy until Lucas is forced to intervene. |
October 13, 1959 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Trail of Hate Lucas is out for vengeance when Mark is used as a pawn in a bank robbery scheme. |
September 27, 1960 |
| 2 |
Woman From Hog Ridge Lucas shoots a horse thief who turns out to be a member of the Boyle clan, and now Ma Boyle is after him. |
October 4, 1960 |
| 3 |
Seven Seven condemned murderers escape and take over the town of North Fork. |
October 11, 1960 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Vaqueros A bandit imprisons Lucas and Mark. |
October 2, 1961 |
| 2 |
First Wages Lucas tries to find out why Mark has taken a job as a stableboy. |
October 9, 1961 |
| 3 |
Sheer Terror Mark and Milly are held prisoner in her general store when two gunmen attempt a daring robbery. |
September 16, 1961 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Waste (1) Marshal Torrance is heading home from a cattle sale with Lucas and Mark when the old lawman mysteriously disappears. They trace him to a nearby Mexican ghost town. (Part 1 of 2) |
October 1, 1962 |
| 2 |
Waste (2) Conclusion. After Alphonso's wife gives birth, the bandits holding Marshal Torrance relax their guard, enabling Lucas and Mark to rescue the old man. |
October 8, 1962 |
| 3 |
Lou Mallory Red-headed Lou Mallory arrives in North Fork and soon arouses the townpeople's suspicions. |
October 15, 1962 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ABC |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 30, 1958 |
| Last aired | April 8, 1963 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | Ended |