"THE RIFLEMAN" - MARSHAL SAM BUCKHART

'THE RIFLEMAN'
"The Indian"
U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart arrives in North Fork to look for Indians who are suspected in the brutal murder of a Ranger and his family. (This is the pilot for the series "Law of the Plainsman." )

"The Raid"
A renegade band of Indians captures Mark and disappears into the hills of New Mexico.
From "The Rifleman Episode Guide"

The case could be made for Deputy Marshal Sam Buckhart to be eligible for membership in the TV Crossover Hall Of Fame, but on the Birthday Honors List - if only we could find another TV role played by Michael Ansara who could be Buckhart under another name. (Even if his return to 'The Rifleman' happened after his own series had launched, it wouldn't have counted as a separate qualification; it was still 'The Rifleman'.)

It would take a lot of research (which I just don't have time for) - studying episode guides, actually watching the episodes, - to determine if all of the factors aligned. The character would be working undercover, so the difference in names wouldn't matter, but he'd have to be revealed as a good guy by the end of the episode. The timeline would have to match up to 'The Rifleman' and 'Law Of The Plainsman'; it could take place prior to those shows since he was already in full operation as a U.S. Deputy Marshal, but Ansara couldn't look older than he did in "The Indian".

There might be a few candidates, but right now I can think of only one character that might work. And it's a dark option.....

Michael Ansara was in an ABC TV movie of the week back in the 1970's called "Shootout In A One Dog Town". He played a lawman who staggered into a small town and charged the town banker to keep the $200,000.00 he was carrying safe, no matter what - before dying from a bullet in the back. His character was identified as "Reynolds", but he may have been carrying falsified papers as part of this undercover operation. So it's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble, that he was in actuality Marshal Sam Buckhart.

If so, it's a hell of a way to get into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame.....

BCnU!

"THE LAW OF THE PLAINSMAN" - THE PILOT EPISODE

Since it's the Video Weekend, I thought it proper to show the pilot episode of 'Law Of The Plainsman' on the day we take a look at Michael Ansara's spin-off character, Marshal Sam Buckhart.

The last video cuts off abruptly before the episode is properly finished, but for all intents and purposes, it had ended......

BCnU!

THE TOOBWORLD TRIBUTE TO JOHN ERNEST CRAWFORD

 

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: BUFFALO BILL CODY

BUFFALO BILL CODY

AS SEEN IN:

'The Murdoch Mysteries'

AS PLAYED BY:

Nicholas Campbell



BCnU!

"THE RIFLEMAN" - THERE'S A SIGN-POST UP AHEAD...

'THE RIFLEMAN'"The Prodigal"
A bank robber forces Mark and Lucas in his scheme after he tells his mother he has an eleven year old son and she comes for a surprise visit, but the robber’s ex-partners are after him.
From "The Rifleman Episode Guide List"

One of the bank robbers out to kill their ex-partner may have been the same cowboy who bet a hired gun named Corey Miller that he couldn't plunge a knife into "The Grave" of a man who swore to reach up and grab Miller should he ever visit the plot.

(Lee Van Cleef played both roles.)

Van Cleef was in several episodes of 'The Rifleman', but "The Prodigal" is the most likely candidate for this connection. In that episode, his character was known as "Stinger", which was an obvious alias. In that episode of 'The Twilight Zone', he was known as "Steinhart" and it's not so far-fetched to think that his nickname was a corruption of his real name. Steinhart -> Stinger.

As for the other three characters who looked like him - Dan Mary of "The Deadly Wait", Wicks of "The Clarence Bibb Story", and Johnny Drago of "Death Never Rides Alone" - those rat-faced villains may have all been sired by the same saddle-tramp who fathered Stinger.....

TOP: Dan Maury & Johnny Drago
BOTTOM: Wicks

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: JOHN WESLEY HARDIN

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN

AS SEEN IN:
'The Legend Of Calamity Jane'

AS VOICED BY:
Unknown

From Wikipedia:
John Wesley Hardin (May 26, 1853—August 19, 1895) was an outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West. He was born in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas. When Hardin went to prison in 1878, he claimed to have killed 42 men, but a considerably lesser number of these killings have been documented as actually attributable to him. Hardin's criminal career resulted not only in the deaths of his victims but also in the deaths of his brother Joe and two cousins who were hanged by a lynch mob seeking revenge for a Hardin killing.

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: GENERAL PHIL SHERIDAN

GENERAL PHILIP SHERIDAN

AS SEEN IN:
'The Rifleman'

AS PLAYED BY:
Lawrence Dobkin

From Wikipedia:
Philip Henry Sheridan (March 6, 1831 – August 5, 1888) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, who transferred Sheridan from command of an infantry division in the Western Theater to lead the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac in the East. In 1864, he defeated Confederate forces in the Shenandoah Valley and his destruction of the economic infrastructure of the Valley, called "The Burning" by residents, was one of the first uses of scorched earth tactics in the war. In 1865, his cavalry pursued Gen. Robert E. Lee and was instrumental in forcing his surrender at Appomattox.

Sheridan prosecuted the later years of the Indian Wars of the Great Plains, tainting his reputation with some historians, who accuse him of racism. Both as a soldier and private citizen, he was instrumental in the development and protection of Yellowstone National Park. In 1883 Sheridan was appointed general-in-chief of the U.S. Army, and in 1888 he was promoted to the rank of General of the Army during the term of President Grover Cleveland.

BCnU!

"THE RIFLEMAN" - "THE SHERIDAN STORY"

'The Rifleman'
"The Sheridan Story"
Wanting to teach Mark a lesson in tolerance and acceptance, Lucas hires an injured and bitter confederate soldier to work on his ranch, but when a Union army comes to stay the night as well, trouble erupts.
From "The Rifleman Episode Guide"

Of the many historical figures from the Civil War to be depicted on television, Phil Sheridan hasn't had many portrayals in TV shows. (President Lincoln and General Grant probably lead the pack.)

The difference in Sheridan's appearance between various programs could be attributed to several factors. One could be the passing of time - his portrayal in 'The Rifleman' was at least fifteen years after the Civil War ended, making him older than the fleeting appearance he had in another Chuck Connors Western, 'Branded'.

Another factor, specific to this episode of 'The Rifleman', is that the hardship of life on the trail as he and his men traveled the Southwest may have taken its toll on him.

BCnU!

"THE RIFLEMAN" - MAKING THE CASE

'THE RIFLEMAN'
"One Went To Denver"
Tom Birch, an old friend of Lucas McCain’s, comes for a surprise visit and Mark is upset he’s there because he is a renown bank robber; but what Lucas doesn’t know is that he plans to rob the North Fork bank.
From "The Rifleman Episode Guide"

I started writing out a long piece about the one aspect of the episode's ending that bothered me. But then I saw the good folks at "The Rifleman Episode Guide" had long ago covered the same subject, and that they did a far better job of it than I was doing.

So I'd like to quote from their televisiological observations:

This was contributed by a reader who called himself (herself?) "Renewed Fan":

This is a great episode, but with a few amusing plot holes.

Problem #2 - Tom Birch's arrest. Let's imagine, for the moment, the trial of Tom Birch for bank robbery. It would go something like this:

LAWYER: Mr. McCain, where were you during the bank robbery?

LUCAS: In the saloon.

LAWYER: And where was my client, Mr. Birch?

LUCAS: Also in the saloon.

LAWYER: Did he ever cross the street to assist in the robbery?

LUCAS: No.

LAWYER: Did he draw his gun?

LUCAS: No.

LAWYER: He was just having a drink with you in the saloon, wasn't he?

(Toby Note: Actually, he was just finishing up breakfast....)

Well, you can imagine from that exchange where I am heading - - Birch would have likely been acquitted of bank robbery - at least of the North Fork Bank job. [Thanks Renewed Fan!]

I agree with that last sentiment.  There were plenty of other bank jobs in other parts of the Southwest for which Tom Birth would have been a wanted man.  Marshal Micah Torrance could have held him until he could be extradited to stand trial.

My thanks as always to "The Rifleman Episode Guide". This came from their page of bloopers collected from many of the episodes.

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: COLONEL TRAVIS

COLONEL WILLIAM B. TRAVIS

AS SEEN IN:
"The Alamo: Thirteen Days Of Glory"

AS PLAYED BY:
Alec Baldwin

From Wikipedia:William Barret Travis (August 9, 1809 – March 6, 1836) was a 19th century American lawyer and soldier. At the age of 26, he was a lieutenant colonel in the Texan Army. He died at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution.

On February 24, 1836, during Santa Anna's siege of the Alamo, Travis wrote a letter addressed "To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World":

Fellow citizens and compatriots;
I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat.

Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country. Victory or Death.

William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt.

P.S. The Lord is on our side. When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn. We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.
Travis

He gave this letter to courier Albert Martin to deliver. The envelope that contained the letter was labeled "Victory or Death". The letter, while unable to bring aid to the garrison at the Alamo, did much to motivate the Texan army and helped to rally support in America for the cause of Texan independence. It also cemented Travis's status as a hero of the Texas Revolution.

BCnU!

THEORIES OF RELATEEVEETY: HAMILTON NASH & NASH CRAWFORD

The great-grandfather of private eye Hamilton Nash may have had a sister who married a man named Crawford and then moved west to Texas*. (Or vice versa)

If they had a son, they could have Christened the boy with her family name and thus the grandfather of Hamilton Nash would have been first cousin to Nash Crawford, legendary Texas Ranger. And he was legendary. No brag, just fact.

SHOWS CITED:
"The Dain Curse"
"Once Upon A Texas Train"
"The Over The Hill Gang"
"The Over The Hill Gang Rides Again"

BCnU!

*And as far as Toobworld cares, they could have founded Crawford, Texas......

AS SEEN ON TV: HENRY WIRZ

HENRY WIRZ

AS SEEN IN:
"The Andersonville Trial"

AS PLAYED BY:
Richard Basehart

From Wikipedia:
Heinrich Hartmann Wirz better known as Henry Wirz (November 25, 1823 – November 10, 1865) was a Confederate officer tried and executed in the aftermath of the American Civil War for conspiracy and murder relating to his command of Camp Sumter, the Confederate prisoner of war camp near Andersonville, Georgia.

BCnU!

"THE RIFLEMAN" MEETS "THE DEAD-EYE KID"

'THE RIFLEMAN'
"The Dead-Eye Kid"
Without telling his father, Mark helps a boy from Brooklyn hide from the law when the boy is accused of murder.
From "The Rifleman Episode Guide List"

By the end of the episode, it looked like Don Mahoney was going to stay out West and make a new life for himself, rather than go back to the Bowery in Manhattan. However, he may have made trips back home on occasion to visit family, like to a brother, perhaps.

If Don did have a brother, he would probably have started his own family and his family tree might have eventually led to a grandson or great-grandson who fell into the life of organized crime as a 'Wiseguy'. There is such a mobster by the name of Mahoney in Toobworld, who once made a huge bet that he could keep a dumpster cat inside his pants. That cat turned out to be more feral than he expected, which is why he came to be known as "No Money" Mahoney".

Don Mahoney could have been the source of No Money's family tree, as well. As young as he was when his path crossed the McCains' (probably at best nineteen?), he may have frequented a working girl back in the Bowery - or just a rather loose-living classmate - and left her with child.

By the way, the producers of the show missed a great opportunity in naming this episode. "The Dead-Eye Kid" doesn't give a clue to its content; but "The Dead End Kid" or "The Bowery Boy" would have been a great play on those movie titles.

BCnU!

WHERE CREDITS ARE DUE WEST

Last year I ran a blog post that theoretically linked the season finale of 'Leverage' ("The San Lorenzo Job") to episodes of 'Mission: Impossible' and 'The Wild, Wild West'.

During my research I found this out at TV.com regarding the WWW episode "The Night Of The Lord Of Limbo":



Another example in which there is a discrepancy, but Toobworld Central always rules in favor of what is said or displayed in the actual show over what is shown in the end credits.

BURKE'S LAW
Ann Maxwell in credits
Ann Martin in show
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
Dr. Salvin in credits
Dr. Slavin in show


WAREHOUSE 13
Joshua Wheeler in credits
Joshua Donovan in show
FOYLE'S WAR
Eric and Joe Cooper in credits
Eric and Joe Pierson in show
THE WILD, WILD WEST
Colonel Fairchild in the credits
Colonel Falk in the show
 MERLIN
Both Bradley James and Richard Wilson were listed as Arthur Pendragon in one episode. Richard Wilson played Gaius.
MAGNUM P.I.

Characters passed off as the true Lts. Columbo, Kojak, and Mike Stone were listed as look-alikes in the credits. O'Bviously that was for legal reasons. As far as Toobworld is concerned, they were the real deal.

Let me know if you ever find other examples of this.....

BCnU!Although the agents refer to their superior in this episode as Colonel Falk, in the end credits he is listed as Col. Fairchild.

AS SEEN ON TV: GENERAL SANTA ANNA

SANTA ANNA

AS SEEN IN:
"The Alamo: Thirteen Days Of Glory"

AS PLAYED BY:
Raul Julia

From Wikipedia:
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón (21 February 1794 – 21 June 1876), often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government. Santa Anna first fought against the independence from Spain, and then supported it. He was not the first caudillo (military leader) of Mexico, but he was among the most original. He rose to the ranks of general and president at various times over a turbulent 40-year career. He was President of Mexico on eleven non-consecutive occasions over a period of 22 years.

Like other states discontented with the central Mexican authorities, the Texas department of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas rebelled in late 1835 and declared itself independent on March 2, 1836. Santa Anna marched north to bring Texas back under Mexican control. On March 6, 1836, at the Battle of the Alamo, Santa Anna's forces killed 187-250 Texan defenders and later executed more than 350 Texan prisoners at the Goliad Massacre (March 27, 1836).

The defeat at the Alamo however served its purpose buying time for Houston and Texas. Houston and his soldiers defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, with the Texan army shouting "Remember Goliad, Remember the Alamo!" The day after the battle on April 22, a small band of Texan forces led by James Sylvester captured Santa Anna, dressed in a dragoon private's uniform and hiding in a marsh.

Acting Texas president David G. Burnet and Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco: "in his official character as chief of the Mexican nation, he acknowledged the full, entire, and perfect Independence of the Republic of Texas." In exchange, Burnet and the Texas government guaranteed Santa Anna's life and transport to Veracruz. Back in Mexico City, however, a new government declared that Santa Anna was no longer president and that the treaty with Texas was null and void.
Several women claimed to have borne Santa Anna illegitimate children. In his will Santa Anna acknowledged and made provisions for four: Paula, María de la Merced, Petra, and José. Biographers have identified three more: Pedro López de Santa Anna, and Ángel and Augustina Rosa López de Santa Anna. (That is Laura Martinez Harring seen as Santa Anna's "bride".....)

BCnU!

"THE RIFLEMAN" - STRANGE RELATIONS

'THE RIFLEMAN'

Here are a list of the appearances made by Glenn Strange on 'The Rifleman':

"Duel of Honor" - Cole, stagecoach driver
"The Deadeye Kid" - Shotgun Guard
"The Woman" - Joey, Stagecoach Driver
"The Blowout" - Stagecoach Driver
"The Spiked Rifle" - Zack, Stagecoach Driver
"Miss Bertie" - as - Guess what! - the Stage Driver

Since he was the stagecoach driver or shotgun guard on the coach in each of those six appearances, it's O'Bvious that Glenn Strange was playing the same guy in each of them. There must not have been a very observant continuity girl using the show's bible, however, since three times out of those six, he was given a different name each time. (In the other three, he was just the stagecoach driver.)

I think the easiest splainin would that his first name was Joseph, his middle name was Cole, and there were some in North Fork, New Mexico, who knew him as "Zack" for some reason. Despite his gruff appearance, he was probably an easy-going guy and would answer to either name if you called him - just so long as you didn't call him late for supper at Madera House. (Ba da dum!)

I could have said that his last name was Cole, and that he answered either to his first name, his last name, or that nickname. But I think it's a pretty safe bet that his full name was Joseph Cole Noonan. I think Joe Cole, AKA Zack, was the brother of Sam Noonan, the bartender at the Long Branch saloon in Dodge City, as seen for many years on 'Gunsmoke'.

Since we never saw them visit each other on their respective shows (Gee, I wonder why....), it could be that they had a falling out. Perhaps Joe was using his middle name of Cole as his new last name instead of Noonan to declare the split between them.

BCnU!

"THE RIFLEMAN" - "THE APPRENTICE SHERIFF" & HIS FAMILY TREE

'THE RIFLEMAN'
"THE APPRENTICE SHERIFF"
Not taking the advice he gave Mark that morning, Lucas gets involved in trying to help a young West Point reject who is standing in as Marshal and soon finds the town in the middle of a gun fighting disaster.
From "The Rifleman Episode Guide"

Dan Willard could be the ancestor to not only Napoleon Solo, 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.', but also to Harry Rule, one of 'The Protectors', and to Albert Stoller, a con man skilled in the art of the 'Hustle'. (As seen here from left to right)

And they wouldn't have to be from different branches of the family tree. In fact, I'm thinking the three of them could be brothers. Each of those names - Napoleon Solo, Harry Rule, and Albert Stoller - could be aliases. And all three of them were in the "vaughnted" position to need a false name in their lines of "work"....

BCnU!

"THE RIFLEMAN" MASH-UP

We can't let 'Bonanza' have all of the fun like we did yesterday.  After all, this TV Western salute is supposed to be focused on 'The Rifleman'!

BCnU!

AS SEEN ON TV: PANCHO VILLA

PANCHO VILLA

AS SEEN IN:
'Have Gun, Will Travel'

AS PLAYED BY:
Rafael Campos

From Wikipedia:José Doroteo Arango Arámbula (5 June 1878 – 20 July 1923), better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa, was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals.

Villa was born as Doroteo Arango to poor peasants Agustín Arango and Micaela Arambula in the Rancho de la Coyotada, one of the largest haciendas in the state of Durango. Doroteo was the oldest of five children and as such helped his mother care for his siblings after Agustín died.

According to his own later statements, at the age of sixteen, Doroteo shot Lopez Negre, one of the owners or administrators of the hacienda, when Negre tried to rape Doroteo's sister. Some historians have questioned the veracity of this story however. Subsequently he fled to the Durango hills where he became a part of a bandit band. Eventually he was a member of an outlaw "super group" headed by Ignacio Parra, one of the most famous bandits of Durango at the time. It was then that he took the name "Francisco Villa" after his paternal grandfather, Jesus Villa.

Throughout the episode "Pancho", he was referred to as "Doroteo". It was only at the end of the episode, in classic Toobworld tradition, that the audience found out he would one day be known as Pancho Villa.

A major discrepancy for this episode is that 'Have Gun Will Travel' takes place in the 1870's, when Pancho Villa wouldn't be born until 1878. But that's the real Pancho Villa. As was the case with Jules Verne in 'The Secret Adventures Of Jules Verne', liberties have been taken with the Toobworld timeline......

BCnU......