Series synopsis
Lawman is an American western television series that premiered on ABC on October 5, 1958. It ended on June 24, 1962. It stars John Russell, Peter Brown, Peggie Castle and Don Beddoe.
Lawman is an American western television series originally telecast on ABC from 1958 to 1962 starring John Russell as Marshal Dan Troop and featuring Peter Brown as Deputy Marshal Johnny McKay. The series was set in Laramie, Wyoming during 1879 and the 1880s. Warner Bros. already had several western series on the air at the time, having launched Cheyenne with Clint Walker as early as 1955. The studio continued the trend in 1957 with the additions of Maverick with James Garner and Jack Kelly, Col ...
Premise
Lawman is an American western television series originally telecast on ABC from 1958 to 1962 starring John Russell as Marshal Dan Troop and featuring Peter Brown as Deputy Marshal Johnny McKay. The series was set in Laramie, Wyoming during 1879 and the 1880s. Warner Bros. already had several western series on the air at the time, having launched Cheyenne with Clint Walker as early as 1955. The studio continued the trend in 1957 with the additions of Maverick with James Garner and Jack Kelly, Colt .45 with Wayde Preston, and Sugarfoot with Will Hutchins. One year later, Warner Bros. added Lawman and Bronco with Ty Hardin.
Prior to the beginning of production, Russell and Brown and producer Jules Schermer made a pact to maintain the quality of the series so that it would not be seen as "just another western." At the start of season two, Russell and Brown were joined by Peggie Castle as Lily Merrill, the owner of the Birdcage Saloon, and a love interest for Dan.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- John Russell as Marshal Dan Troop
- Peter Brown as Deputy Johnny McKay
- Peggie Castle as Lily Merrill
- Don Beddoe
- William Henry
- Will Wright
- Leo Gordon as Bull Nickerson
- Iron Eyes Cody
Supporting cast
- Russell Johnson
- Maudie Prickett as Laura Tate
- Clancy Cooper
- Harry Landers
- Warren Stevens
- Ian Wolfe
- William Schallert
- Grandon Rhodes
- Whit Bissell
- Don Drysdale
- Emile Meyer
- Stephen Talbot
Guest cast
- Don Beddoe
- William Henry
- Will Wright
- Leo Gordon as Bull Nickerson
- Iron Eyes Cody
- Russell Johnson
- Maudie Prickett as Laura Tate
- Clancy Cooper
- Harry Landers
- Warren Stevens
- Ian Wolfe
- William Schallert
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 156 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 39 | October 5, 1958 | June 28, 1959 |
| Season 2 | 37 | October 4, 1959 | June 19, 1960 |
| Season 3 | 39 | September 18, 1960 | June 11, 1961 |
| Season 4 | 41 | September 17, 1961 | June 24, 1962 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Deputy In this pilot episode, Dan Troop takes over in Laramie after the previous marshal is killed. His first job is to bring in the marshal's killer, and in the process he gains a fine deputy in Johnny McKay. (This is also the first of several episodes where veteran actors Jack Elam and Lee Van Cleef appeared.) |
October 5, 1958 |
| 2 |
The Prisoner In a tribute to High Noon, a man comes into town, looking for a fight. When he kills a man, he is arrested. Johnny gets lessons from Dan on how to handle a prisoner |
October 12, 1958 |
| 3 |
The Joker Dan and Johnny try to capture a prisoner, who tells Johnny that he is his father. Dan is shocked when Johnny turns in his badge, saying he has bad blood and won't make a good lawman. At the end, Dan and Johnny have a gunfight with the prisoner, and Johnny takes back his job. |
October 19, 1958 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Lily Lily Merrill opens the Bird Cage Saloon after being thrown out of Billings, Montana by the sheriff. Dan hears she was involved in a theft/murder, she assumes he wants to be paid off. Dan, of course, refuses money. Both seem surprised that their opinions are wrong, but Dan is still suspicious. One of her dealers again causes trouble, and she looks guilty. There are several mistakes made by Dan (unusual for him) regarding her innocence until the very last scene, where they gain lasting respect for one another. |
October 4, 1959 |
| 2 |
The Hunch An alcoholic is identified by the man he supposedly robbed the night before, and can't deny it because he was drunk. Even though he is identified as the robber, Dan has ""a hunch"" that he is being set up. |
October 11, 1959 |
| 3 |
Shackled While guarding a prison wagon, Johnny is attacked by a prisoner after the wagon is set upon and overturned. He shackles himself to the prisoner immediately, and then has to avoid being killed. |
October 18, 1959 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Town Boys Johnny goes against everyone else's better judgement when he takes personal responsibility for 4 boys who have been arrested for killing a milk cow. The four boys lack any direction in life and remind Johnny of himself at their age. He finds them work at the livery stable, determined to help them rehabilitate. Three of the boys end up admiring him and wanting his approval, while the fourth boy is not only 'bad', he is criminal. |
September 18, 1960 |
| 2 |
The Go-Between Lily and Johnny are both kidnapped and held by a gang of blackmailing killers. They send a concussed, blindfolded Johnny back into town with orders to clean out Lily's bank account and leave the money where it can be picked up. Dan works with Johnny to figure out where she is being held before the men can get back to their hideout with the money. Dan knows they plan to kill her as soon as they return. The urgency both of them feel is indicative of the closeness the three of them have. |
September 26, 1960 |
| 3 | The Mad Bunch | October 2, 1960 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Trapped Outlaw leader Hale Connors arrives in Laramie to notify Troop that the stage won't be arriving. |
September 17, 1961 |
| 2 |
The Juror One member of the Cauley gang is captured and brought to Laramie for trial, because the town where he was caught couldn't find anyone willing to serve on a jury. The other 5 Cauleys have threatened to kill anyone who served. Dan is sure Laramie will rally to the cause, but finds that fear is contagious. Finally, learning that it only takes one juror, under extreme circumstances, to try a case, Dan pulls one name out of the tax register list at random to be that juror. To his shock, it's Lily's name. She accepts, and then he must worry about her safety until the trial. |
September 24, 1961 |
| 3 |
The Four Four men ride into Laramie, all carrying rifles, and station themselves around town. After one of them is shot and killed, the leader tells Dan they are searching for a young, innocent looking young man who was reported to them as being in the area. He was a cold-blooded killer they had been tracking. Dan deputizes the three remaining men since Johnny was out of town, and together they track the boy down. |
October 1, 1961 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ABC |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 5, 1958 |
| Last aired | June 24, 1962 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday |