The father-son relationship depicted in The Rifleman is regarded as one of the most significant in television history, even six decades after its debut.
For those who experienced the late 1950s, this Western classic was an essential viewing choice in numerous households, imparting enduring principles such as respect and integrity.
In addition to its impactful scenes, The Rifleman also featured a variety of lesser-known errors, bloopers, and intriguing facts that only the most dedicated fans might recognize.
Join us as we explore the hidden treasures associated with this legendary Western…
Early Westerns, including The Rifleman, were often rife with historical inaccuracies; however, their entertainment value remains undeniable, presenting characters with greater depth than many contemporary shows. Each episode offered a significant lesson, frequently centered on fundamental human values, accompanied by a touching moral resolution.
The Rifleman showcased the iconic Chuck Connors in the role of Lucas McCain, a widowed rancher and expert marksman raising his son, Mark, portrayed by the delightful Johnny Crawford. Together, they enchanted viewers with their sincere relationship and exhilarating escapades in the Old West.
The series has been celebrated as one of the finest ever created; however, even the most acclaimed productions can experience occasional missteps. Let us delve into the behind-the-scenes aspects and reveal some intriguing details that many viewers may not be aware of.
Lucas McCain as a Fashion Pioneer
It is well-known that cowboy Lucas McCain favored jeans, but he was surprisingly ahead of fashion trends by approximately fifty years. Observant viewers may recall a scene from “End of a Young Gun,” an early episode featuring Michael Landon, in which a shirtless Lucas is seen repairing a wagon wheel.
Notably, a “W” is stitched on the back pocket of his jeans, indicating that he is indeed wearing Wranglers. The interesting fact is that the series is set in the 1880s, while these jeans were not produced until the 1940s. More than just a stylish cowboy, Lucas McCain emerges as a genuine trendsetter, clearly ahead of his era.
Connors’ Actual Son
One aspect of the show that I particularly appreciated was the portrayal of the father-son dynamic. Interestingly, Chuck Connors’ real-life son makes a cameo in the series. In the episode titled “Tension,” both Mark and Lucas attend the funeral of Sid Halpern, a friend of the McCains.
The widow and her son, Toby, are present, both attired in black. The role of young Toby was portrayed by Jeff Connors, the second son of Chuck Connors and Faith Quabius, who delivered two lines in the production. Tragically, Jeff passed away in 2014.
Securing Chuck’s participation was a challenging endeavor.
Casting the lead role in The Rifleman proved to be a formidable task.
Chuck Connors had to surpass 40 other contenders, yet obtaining the role was not assured. Initially, he declined the offer due to the low salary proposed by ABC, as he had the potential to earn more as a freelance actor.
Ultimately, Connors acquired the role in an unforeseen manner. The process began when the producers took their children to view Old Yeller, in which Connors played a robust father figure. Following that experience—likely influenced by the children’s feedback—the producers returned with a significantly improved offer, which included a five-percent stake in the show. Thus, the arrangement was finalized.
The 1892 Winchester rifle
Each episode of The Rifleman commenced with Chuck Connors demonstrating his extraordinary marksmanship, unleashing a seemingly unending series of shots with his saddle-ring carbine. With theatrical precision, he would twirl the rifle, seamlessly transfer it from his right hand to his left, and load a new cartridge, all while casting an intimidating gaze directly at the camera.
To achieve these memorable sequences, the production employed two identical 1892 Winchester rifles—one designated for filming and the other serving as a backup.
Some viewers may have speculated that the opening sequence featuring the 1892 Winchester rifles was the result of trick photography or some form of manipulation. However, the reality is that Connors possessed remarkable speed and agility with his carbine. As a former professional athlete who played basketball and baseball at both major and minor league levels before embarking on his acting career, he exhibited exceptional skills and coordination that rendered those swift movements seemingly effortless. It is also known that the weapon had been modified to facilitate rapid firing through its lever action mechanism.
The Duke connection
Lucas McCain’s reliable Winchester rifle served as more than a mere prop; it was a captivating element of the series, enriched by a fascinating history.
Set in the 1870s and 1880s, the timeline of The Rifleman makes it clear that the 1892 Winchester rifle could not have been in existence during that period.
Nonetheless, this legendary rifle had previously graced the silver screen, first appearing in John Wayne’s iconic 1939 film, Stagecoach. Producer Arnold Levin later disclosed an intriguing detail: the rifle utilized by Lucas McCain was the same one that the Duke famously handled in his classic film.
The Madera Hotel
The Madera Hotel stood as a prominent landmark in North Fork throughout the series, making frequent appearances in various episodes.
In the pilot episode, titled The Sharpshooter, the hotel was referred to as California House. This name change sparked speculation about a potential shift in ownership between episodes, yet the true reason for the sudden alteration remains a mystery.
Johnny Crawford got blacklisted
At the age of three, Johnny Crawford made his first appearance in front of the camera during an audition. Unfortunately, this endeavor did not yield positive results; in fact, he faced blacklisting following his performance as a toddler actor.
“I do not recall the film, and ultimately, my scenes were cut. However, I portrayed one of several refugee children in a scene where Rosalind Russell was meant to distribute chocolate bars to us. I believe I was blacklisted after this project because the scene required a reshoot, and I refused to return my chocolate bar for the second take,” Johnny Crawford recounted to The Miami Herald in 1973.
The challenging task of casting a new female lead
While widower Lucas McCain was primarily dedicated to raising his son, the series also introduced various romantic interests. In the third season, it appeared that Lucas and Milly Scott, portrayed by Joan Taylor, were on the verge of developing a romance.
However, this narrative was abruptly discontinued when Milly departed from the show in the fourth season, with a vague rationale that she needed to return to the East.
13 RIFLEMAN episodes MARCH 14 on AMC (231) from 6am until 12:30pm (Eastern Time)6:00 AM The Shattered Idol (S4,…Posted by Johnny Crawford on Thursday, March 12, 2015
Producers were compelled to seek a new female lead, leading to the introduction of the character Lou Mallory. The task at hand was to identify an actress who not only embodied the role but also exhibited undeniable chemistry with Chuck Connors.
To facilitate a successful selection, Chuck took an active role in the casting process. However, this endeavor proved to be more difficult than initially expected. He interviewed more than a dozen candidates who appeared to be ideal for the role but ultimately failed to establish the necessary connection.
“A few months ago, I was presented with what I believed to be a dream assignment. It began on a promising note but soon escalated into a challenging situation,” the actor recounted.
After meticulously evaluating over 60 actresses, the decision was made to cast the striking red-haired Patricia Blair, a native of Texas.
Recognize this baseball hall-of-famer?
As previously mentioned, Lucas McCain was an incredibly skilled baseball player. However, he could never match the prowess of former Dodgers star Duke Snider, who made a guest appearance on the show. (Chuck Connors hit only two home runs during his Major League Baseball career).
The celebrated baseball player, nicknamed “the Duke of Flatbush,” portrayed the character Wallace in the episode titled The Retired Gun. Another former baseball star who made an appearance on the show was Don Drysdale.
Johnny Crawford’s brother popped up
The Rifleman prominently featured themes of family, marking it as the first network television series to depict a single parent raising a child.
In addition to Jeff Connors, another family member of the show’s stars made a guest appearance: Bobby Crawford, the brother of Johnny.
He portrayed the character Freddy in the episode titled Second Witness, and both he and Johnny delivered performances that were so remarkable they received Emmy nominations in 1959. Bobby, whose full name is Robert Lawrence Crawford Jr., continued his acting career, taking on the role of Andy Sherman in the NBC series Laramie from 1959 to 1960. He is currently 80 years old and remains alive.
Chuck Connors was notably protective of Johnny Crawford.
It is well-documented that Chuck Connors took a keen interest in the young Johnny, and the two maintained a close relationship off-screen after the series concluded.
From an early age, Johnny Crawford held Chuck Connors in high regard, particularly due to Connors’ enthusiasm for baseball. Their affectionate relationship during the production of The Rifleman significantly influenced Crawford’s life, as he gained invaluable insights from his mentor both on and off the set.
“It was a fascinating part of my education listening to Chuck tell his baseball stories or reciting Casey at the Bat or delivering speeches from Shakespeare. This always surprises people, that Chuck Connors knows Shakespeare,” Crawford shared with The Buffalo News.
Their unique bond is elegantly illustrated in the classic photograph below, highlighting the profound camaraderie and mutual respect they enjoyed.
Actor Paul Fix, known for his role as Marshal Micah Torrence on The Rifleman, felt a significant sense of duty towards Crawford.
During the production, he took on the role of an additional father figure to Crawford, ensuring that all firearms used on set were properly secured. For Paul Fix, his intense focus on safety concerning Crawford was deeply personal.
Fix had experienced a life-threatening incident in his youth when he and his brother were playing with a firearm that accidentally discharged. The bullet narrowly missed him, and it was nothing short of a miracle that he survived.
Buddy Hackett twist
In an unexpected casting decision, Buddy Hackett, celebrated for his comedic talent, took on the role of a father to an actor who was, in fact, four years younger than him.
In a particular episode of The Rifleman, Buddy Hackett plays the character Daniel Malakie, a father who learns that his two sons, Ben and Jud, have been incarcerated. Notably, Christopher Dark, who portrayed the son Ben, was born in 1920, while Hackett’s birth year was 1924. This intriguing age disparity highlights Hollywood’s ability to creatively reinterpret traditional family dynamics and age norms.
A baby girl was actually portrayed by a baby boy.
Does the name Robert Anacher sound familiar? If not, that is quite understandable! His most recognized performance was as the charming baby girl Fancy in the episode titled The Baby Sitter. Interestingly, this character was, in reality, played by a boy.
Shot dead with a firearm.
In the pilot episode originally intended for Gunsmoke (1955), Chuck Connors’ character was referred to as John McCain. According to IMDB, he was depicted as having no children and was exceptionally skilled with a firearm.
Sammy Davis Jr. impressed the crew
Recognized as “Mr. Show Business” and hailed as “the greatest entertainer ever to grace a stage in these United States,” Sammy Davis Jr. remains a beloved icon who has indelibly etched his name into the annals of American history.
Interestingly, he made a guest appearance in the television series The Rifleman. In the episode titled Two Ounces of Tin, Davis took on the role of the outlaw Tip Corey, exhibiting remarkable proficiency with firearms through swift draws and impressive twirling techniques. Notably, all of these stunts were executed by Davis himself, without the use of a stunt double.
The hair styles
Although the series is set in the 1880s, many actors in The Rifleman sported hairstyles reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s, the actual period during which the show was produced.
This temporal inconsistency is further emphasized by the clothing choices, as numerous male characters donned full-front button-down shirts—a style that did not appear until the 1920s and only gained traction in the 1930s. This intriguing combination of historical elements and mid-century style introduces an unexpected dimension to the classic Western genre.
Chuck Connors’ headstone
Chuck Connors, celebrated for his exceptional athletic abilities, was known to smoke three packs of Camel cigarettes each day. Notably, he stands as one of only twelve athletes in history to have played both Major League Baseball and in the National Basketball Association.
In the autumn of 1992, Connors was admitted to the hospital due to pneumonia. Unfortunately, three weeks later, he passed away from lung cancer. He was interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, where his gravestone prominently features the logos of the three sports teams he represented: the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Cubs, and the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Kevin Joseph “Chuck” Connors (April 10, 1921 – November 10, 1992) is recognized as one of only twelve athletes in the history of sports to achieve this remarkable feat.
As we conclude our exploration of the legendary series The Rifleman, it is evident that this classic Western has made a lasting impact on television history.
With its unforgettable portrayal of the father-son relationship, memorable characters, and a harmonious mix of action and moral teachings, the show continues to resonate with audiences today. I still enjoy watching the reruns. Rest in peace, Johnny and Chuck.
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