The Rifleman Years 


                                                              

The Rifleman was one of the most popular TV Westerns.  It debuted as an episode of The Zane Grey Theater on March 7, 1958 as The Sharpshooter and introduced the audience to Lucas McCain and his son, Mark.  Produced by Levy-Gardner-Laven, written by Sam Peckinpah, and featuring a supporting cast that included Leif Erickson and Dennis Hopper, it was critically acclaimed. 

 The Rifleman was picked up as a series and had a very successful 5 year run from 1958 to 1963. Set in Northfork, New Mexico Territory in the 1880's, rancher Lucas McCain helped the  town's Marshal Micah Torrance (Paul Fix) maintain the peace and focused on raising his son right.  The general store was originally run by Hattie Denton (Hope Summers) who dispensed homespun wisdom when needed.  When Hattie left Northfork, Miss Millie (Joan Taylor) took over the running of the store and caught the eye of the widower Lucas.  Eventually Millie also left and in the last year of the series, Lou Mallory (Patricia Blair) took over the hotel and the store and had a decided interest in Lucas.

                                               

Many of the most popular actors, as well as some future stars and sports stars, guest starred on the Rifleman over the years.  Dennis Hopper was not only on the pilot but returned for another episode.  Character Actor Michael Pate made several appearances on the show. Lee Van Cleef, Katy Jurado, Katherine Ward, Don Drysdale, Agnes Moorehead, John Carradine, Robert Culp, Jack Elam, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, Sherry Jackson, Denny Miller, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Peter Whitney all appeared, some on more than one episode.  Many others just stopped by to visit the set, like Maurice Chevalier.  Charlton Heston (who starred in The Big Country with Chuck) brought his little boy, Fraser, to visit.

                                            The Rifleman Kids

Even the star's and the producers' children loved to be on the set.  All of Chuck's sons, his two nieces and some of the producers children were featured in
The Schoolmaster.

  
   
                                                   Chuck's Nieces