THE RIFLEMAN - A FATHER & LAW MAN AT HIS BEST!

THE RIFLEMAN

~ WESTERN ACTION ~

THE RIFLEMAN is one of the most significant Western action series from the 1950's.  Starring Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain as a single father raising a son in 1880's in New Mexico. In the state of a true Western, Lucas must step up & help the Marshall of North Fork using his Winchester Rifle, his courage, & tenacity to protect himself, his son, & his neighbors.

The Residents of North Fork:

Lucas McCain - Chuck Connors

Mark McCain - Johnny Crawford

Marshal Micah Torrance - Paul Fix

Sweeney, the Bartender - Bill Quinn
May Sweeney - the Bartender's wife. Helen Beverly
Charlie Willard, Storekeeper - Russell Collins
Hattie Denton (1958-1960) - Hope Summers
Miss Milly Scott (1960-1962) - Joan Taylor
Lou Mallory (1962-1963) - Patricia Blair
Eddie Holstead, The Hotel Clerk - John Harmon
Nels Svenson, the Blacksmith - Joe Higgins
Nels Svenson, the Blacksmith - John Dierkes
Dr. Jay Burrage - Edgar Buchanan
Dr. Jay Burrage - Jack Kruschner
Dr. Jay Burrage - Ralph Moody
Angus Evans, the Gunsmith - Eddie Quinlan
Ruth, a Hotel Waitress - Amanda Ames
John Hamilton, the Banker - Harlan Warde
Miss Aggie Hamilton - Sarah Selby
Josh Moore, Hardware Store - Charles Tannen
Toomey, the Undertaker - Robert Foulk
Freddy Toomey - Undertaker's son - Robert Crawford

The Rifleman was considered one of the most violent Westerns in its time. The story of a loner, Lucas McCain (who was the former Brooklyn Dodger - Chuck Connors) & his son Mark, played by Johnny Crawford, lived on the outskirts of the town, North Fork.

Lucas was marked as inventing the new rapid cocking rifle that enabled him to fire at a fierce pace, giving him the name The Riffleman.  Everyone knew that gun sound on tv & recognized the time slot that was being filled.

Dealing with his son growing up in a town that was at best gritty & portrayed as the new west; Lucas befriended the town's Marshall, Micah Torrance, played by Paul Fix, who depended on him to help keep law & order.  Even the towns people seemed to want to let him do their dirty work for them.  For a one street town Lucas had his hands full, but he would always muster up the courage & mental savvy to show his son & everyone else, just exactly what one good man could do with right judgement & a rifle.

The Rifleman ended its run after five seasons appearing every Tuesday evening for three seasons & then on Monday evenings.  The show was widely syndicated on local stations after it left the network for most of the mid & late 60's.

Most episodes included moral lessons & often quoted bible scripture, providing genuine authenticity to the young audience that it attracted.  Good always seemed to win out against the bad & life & death were not played up lightly.

There was a line of toys based on The Rifleman, including cap gun as pictured.  The Winchester model 1892 had a large cocking handle that could be adjusted to fire the rifle every time the cocking lever was returned to the resting position.

Chuck Connors Promo