"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

 

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AS SEEN ON TV: BUFFALO BILL CODY

BUFFALO BILL CODY

AS SEEN IN:

'The Murdoch Mysteries'

AS PLAYED BY:

Nicholas Campbell



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"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.

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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!