The Rifleman 1958-1963 Action TV Series

The Rifleman TV Series

The Rifleman was a Primetime Emmy nominated Western television program ran from September 1958 to April 1963 on ABC under the production of Four Star Television. The black-and-white program starred former athlete Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain, a widower, Union veteran of the Civil War (lieutenant in the 19th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment), and a homesteader. McCain and his son Mark (singer Johnny Crawford) lived on a ranch outside the fictitious town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory.

The series was set in the 1880s. There are also numerous episodes where the date is given in the 1880s. A wooden plaque next to the home stated that it was rebuilt by Lucas McCain and his son Mark in August, 1881. Lucas McCain can fire a round with his specially modified Winchester in three-tenths of a second. That and his resolve enable him to help the sheriff maintain order while raising his son Mark on a ranch near North Fork, New Mexico. It was not like many of the westerns that came out on TV during this time. It stars a man who is tough and carries a modified rifle, and it shows that although he is tough, he is also a good man raising a son alone. Most of the action takes place in North Fork. One of the few quirks in the show was the ineffective town marshall. Lucas McCain got him out of trouble more than once during this series' 5 year run.

The Rifleman Casts:
Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain
Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain
Paul Fix as Marshall Micah Torrance
Bill Quinn as Sweeney the Bartender
Patricia Blair as Lou Mallory
Joe Higgins as Nils Swenson
Harlan Warde as John Hamilton
Joan Taylor as Milly Scott
Hope Summers as Hattie Denton
John Harmon as Eddie Halstead


The Rifleman Episode Lists:

SEASON 1:
Season 1, Episode 1: The Sharpshooter
Original Air Date: 30 September 1958
Writer: Sam Peckinpah ~ Director: Arnold Laven
Lucas and Mark decide to enter a local turkey shoot to raise money to buy a ranch.


Season 1, Episode 2: Home Ranch
Original Air Date: 7 October 1958
Writer: Sam Peckinpah ~ Director: Arnold Laven
Cattle baron Oat Jackford orders his two cowboys to run Lucas McCain and his son off their ranch.

Season 1, Episode 3: End of a Young Gun
Original Air Date: 14 October 1958
Writer: Frank D. Gilroy ~ Director: Jerry Hopper
When Mark gets caught on a mountain ledge, a young outlaw risks his life to rescue him and breaks his leg doing so.

Season 1, Episode 4: The Marshal
Original Air Date: 21 October 1958
Writer & Director: Sam Peckinpah
The notorious Shelton's ride into the town of North Fork to take revenge on an elderly Marshal who is now crippled and working for Lucas McCain.

Season 1, Episode 5: The Brother-in-Law
Original Air Date: 28 October 1958
Writers: David Victor & Herbert Little ~ Director: Arnold Laven
Johnny Gibbs, Lucas McCain’s brother-in-law, visits the McCain ranch. Gibbs, a rodeo rider wanted by the law, begins stirring up trouble.

Season 1, Episode 6: Eight Hours to Die
Original Air Date: 4 November 1958
Writer: Palmer Thompson ~ Director: Arnold Laven
A bitter judge kidnaps Mark and plans to kill him to avenge his own sons hanging.

Season 1, Episode 7: Duel of Honor
Original Air Date: 11 November 1958
Writer: Ken Kolb ~ Director: Joseph Lewis
A stagecoach breaks down and an Italian nobleman. Count Di Montova is stranded overnight in North Fork.

Season 1, Episode 8: The Safe Guard
Original Air Date: 18 November 1958
Writer: David Swift ~ Director: Joseph Lewis
A gunman is hired as a guard at the first bank opened in North Fork; meanwhile, outlaws are planning to rob it.

Season 1, Episode 9: The Sister
Original Air Date: 25 November 1958
Writer & Director: Montgomery Pittman
Mark plays Cupid when a pretty young stranger arrives in North Fork.

Season 1, Episode 10: New Orleans Menace
Original Air Date: 2 December 1958
Writer: Cyril Hume ~ Director: Arnold Laven
A gambling czar, fleeing from New Orleans, stops at the McCain ranch with his following of bodyguards, henchmen and gamblers.

Season 1, Episode 11: The Apprentice Sheriff
Original Air Date: 9 December 1958
Writer: Barney Slater ~ Director: Arthur Hiller
The son of a local store keeper gets more than he bargained for when he is temporarily appointed sheriff.

Season 1, Episode 12: Young Englishman
Original Air Date: 16 December 1958
Writer: Arthur Weiss ~ Director: Arnold Laven
Lucas McCain accuses the young foreman of a neighboring ranch of rustling one of his calves.

Season 1, Episode 13: The Angry Gun
Original Air Date: 23 December 1958
Writer: Samuel A. Peeples ~ Director: David Swift
Lucas and Mark are riding the stage, returning from a cattle sale when the stage is robbed by three outlaws.

Season 1, Episode 14: The Gaucho
Original Air Date: 30 December 1958
Writer: Bruce Geller ~ Director: Jerry Hopper
The people of North Fork are prejudiced against an Argentine family that settles near the McCain Ranch

Season 1, Episode 15: The Pet
Original Air Date: 6 January 1959
Writer: Ken Kolb ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Lucas and Mark are exposed to a deadly disease when they adopt a stray horse.

Season 1, Episode 16: The Sheridan Story
Original Air Date: 13 January 1959
Writer: Cyril Hume ~ Director: Arnold Laven
Lucas McCain hires embittered Confederate veteran Frank Blandon to work on his ranch, who then begins causing trouble.

Season 1, Episode 17: The Retired Gun
Original Air Date: 20 January 1959
Writer: Barney Slater ~ Director: Arnold Laven
A famous gunman promises his new bride that he will retire, but five outlaws try to make him break his promise.

Season 1, Episode 18: The Photographer
Original Air Date: 27 January 1959
Writer: Ken Kolb ~ Director: Arnold Laven
A traveling photographer is accused of murder until Lucas devises a plan to unmask the real killer.

Season 1, Episode 19: Shivaree
Original Air Date: 3 February 1959
Writers: David Victor & Herbert Little ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
A drunken crowd gets out of hand during a wedding ceremony for two young runaways.

Season 1, Episode 20: The Deadeye Kid
Original Air Date: 10 February 1959
Writer: Palmer Thompson ~ Director: Jerry Hopper
Mark helps a boy from Brooklyn hide from the law when the boy is accused of murder.

Season 1, Episode 21: The Indian
Original Air Date: 17 February 1959
Writer: Cyril Hume ~ Director: Arnold Laven
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.

Season 1, Episode 22: The Boarding House
Original Air Date: 24 February 1959
Writer & Director: Sam Peckinpah
Julia Massini, a reformed gambler, runs a respectable boarding house in North Fork, but a gambler gets in trouble trying to turn it into a gambling house.

Season 1, Episode 23: The Second Witness
Original Air Date: 3 March 1959
Writers: Judy & George W. George ~ Director: Lewis Allen
Investigation reveals that Lucas McCain has information that can aid the prosecution in a murder case.

Season 1, Episode 24: The Trade
Original Air Date: 10 March 1959
Writer: David Lang ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
After falling in love with a sick young women, Sam Morley, a man wanted by the law, ask his friend Lucas McCain to turn him in and give the reward money to Beth to pay for the medical help which she needs.


Season 1, Episode 25: One Went to Denver
Original Air Date: 17 March 1959
Writer: Pat Fielder ~ Director: Lewis Allen
Bank robber Tom Birch and his gang arrive in North Fork; Tom then goes and visits his friend Lucas.

Season 1, Episode 26: The Deadly Wait
Original Air Date: 24 March 1959
Writer: Arthur Browne Jr. ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Dan Maury, released from Yuma prison, arrives in North Fork with the intent on getting even with Marshal Torrance, who helped send him to jail.

Season 1, Episode 27: The Wrong Man
Original Air Date: 31 March 1959
Writer: N.B. Stone Jr. ~ Director: Arnold Laven
A crooked marshal from another territory intentionally kills an innocent man so that he can collect the bounty money and blackmails the real outlaw.

Season 1, Episode 28: The Challenge
Original Air Date: 7 April 1959
Writers: David Victor & Herbert Little ~ Director: Lewis Allen
An escaped killer is anxious to prove that he has not lost his prowess with a gun.

Season 1, Episode 29: The Hawk
Original Air Date: 14 April 1959
Writer: Arthur Browne Jr. ~ Director: Lamont Johnson
Mark McCain succeeds in capturing a hawk, but when his life is endangered by a rattlesnake, a stranger observes his plight and saves the boy.

Season 1, Episode 30: Three Legged Terror
Original Air Date: 21 April 1959
Writer: Palmer Thompson ~ Director: William Conrad
Teenager Johnny Clover wrecks a classroom in the North Fork school, and Lucas, who is on the school board, ask Johnny’s uncle to pay for the damage.

Season 1, Episode 31: The Angry Man
Original Air Date: 28 April 1959
Writer Arthur Browne Jr. ~ Director: Jerry Hopper
A neighboring rancher refuses medical assistance when his son is seriously hurt in an accident.

Season 1, Episode 32: The Woman
Original Air Date: 5 May 1959
Writer: Pat Fielder ~ Director: Arnold Laven
North Forks schoolteacher is pressured to leave town because she advocates women’s right to vote.

Season 1, Episode 33: The Money Gun
Original Air Date: 12 May 1959
Writers: Bruce Geller & Sam Peckinpah ~ Director: Sam Peckinpah
Bookkeeper Asa Manning hires a professional gunman to provoke his client, a bully rancher who suspects him of embezzlement, into a gunfight.

Season 1, Episode 34: A Matter of Faith
Original Air Date: 19 May 1959
Writer: Harry Kronman ~ Director: Don Taylor
Although a drought has forced local cowhands to seek work on a railroad construction project, railroad executives are afraid that their workers will desert them if they believe an old man’s claim to have found a way to make rain.

Season 1, Episode 35: Blood Brother
Original Air Date: 26 May 1959
Writers: Pat Fielder & Chuck Connors ~ Director: Arnold Laven
The Marshal faces an unexplained struggle when Lucas brings a dying man to North Fork.

Season 1, Episode 36: Stranger at Night
Original Air Date: 2 June 1959
Writer: David Lang ~ Director: Lewis Allen
Mark stumbles across a dead man and the only clue to his identity is a belt with the initials RM.

Season 1, Episode 37: The Raid
Original Air Date: 9 June 1959
Writer: Harry Julian Fink ~ Director: Paul Landres
A renegade band of Indians captures Mark and disappears into the hills of New Mexico.

Season 1, Episode 38: Outlaw's Inheritance
Original Air Date: 16 June 1959
Writers: Judy & George W. George ~ Director: Don Taylor
The towns' people question the reputation of Lucas when he is named in a will of a notorious outlaw.

Season 1, Episode 39: Boomerang
Original Air Date: 23 June 1959
Writer: Arthur Browne Jr. ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Lucas takes in an orphan boy and teaches him how to use a gun, not knowing that the boy plans on killing the banker he believes is responsible for his father's death.

Season 1, Episode 40: The Mind Reader
Original Air Date: 30 June 1959
Writer: Robert C. Dennis ~ Director: Don Medford
A young boy accused of a murder he didn’t commit, is finally cleared by the accidental discovery of a “mind reader.”

SEASON 2

Season 2, Episode 1: The Patsy
Original Air Date: 29 September 1959
Writer: Harry Kronman ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
A group of outlaws devise a plan to get rid of Lucas so they can take over the town of North Fork.

Season 2, Episode 2: Bloodlines
Original Air Date: 6 October 1959
Writer: Arthur Browne Jr. ~ Director: Arthur Hiller
A father seeks to break his two sons out of jail, and seek revenge for the third.

Season 2, Episode 3: The Blowout
Original Air Date: 13 October 1959
Writer: Arthur Browne Jr. ~ Director: James Neilson
An ailing gunfighter goes down in a fire of glory in North Fork.


Season 2, Episode 4: Obituary
Original Air Date: 20 October 1959
Writers: Teddi Sherman & Ward Wood ~ Director: Don Medford
Lucas becomes the target of a gunslinger because of a newspaper article about his prowess with a gun.


Season 2, Episode 5: Tension
Original Air Date: 27 October 1959
Writer: David Lang ~ Director: Ted Post
Lucas tries to protect a widow from learning about her husband's criminal past.


Season 2, Episode 6: Eddie's Daughter
Original Air Date: 3 November 1959
Writer: William F. Leicester ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
When two outlaws threaten Lil Halstead’s life, Lucas decides to figure out the reasons behind the threats.


Season 2, Episode 7: Panic
Original Air Date: 10 November 1959
Writer: Albert Aley ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Brett Conway, a town character, learns that a sick couple in North Fork area is suffering from yellow fever. Knowing that Lucas found the couple, Conway threatens to inform the townspeople unless Lucas pays him off.


Season 2, Episode 8: Ordeal
Original Air Date: 17 November 1959
Writer: Palmer Thompson ~ Director: Paul Landres
Lucas and his Mark are crossing a dessert when their wagon breaks down.


Season 2, Episode 9: The Spiked Rifle
Original Air Date: 24 November 1959
Writer: Palmer Thompson ~ Director: John English
Mark is kidnapped as he and his father try to protect banker Hamilton’s gold.


Season 2, Episode 10: Letter of the Law
Original Air Date: 1 December 1959
Writers: Judy & George W. George ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Lucas makes a life-to-death decision when Micah is held hostage and the kidnappers demand the release of a notorious outlaw.

Season 2, Episode 11: The Legacy
Original Air Date: 8 December 1959
Writer: Edmund Morris ~ Director: Bernard L. Kowalski
Lucas tries to do a good deed for the town but it backfires when the drunk’s son believes he inherited the McCain ranch.


Season 2, Episode 12: The Baby Sitter
Original Air Date: 15 December 1959
Writers: Sam Peckinpah & Jack Curtis ~ Director: Sam Peckinpah
A dance hall singer ask Lucas to care for her daughter in an effort to hide a baby from her bigoted father.

Season 2, Episode 13: The Coward
Original Air Date: 22 December 1959
Writers: Philip Saltzman & Clair Huffaker ~ Director: James Neilson
Lucas becomes involved in a battle between an aspiring writer and a cocky, bragging trail boss.


Season 2, Episode 14: Surveyors
Original Air Date: 29 December 1959
Writers: Dale & Katherine Albert Eunson ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Mark runs away from home after his father questions his story about over hearing a plot to rob the bank.


Season 2, Episode 15: Day of the Hunter
Original Air Date: 5 January 1960
Writer: John Dunkel ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
When Lucas refuses a shooting competition with a wandering buffalo hunter; he becomes the new target for the hunter.


Season 2, Episode 16: Mail Order Groom
Original Air Date: 12 January 1960
Writer: Gene Olson ~ Director: Arthur Hiller
Shortly after his arrival to marry Isabelle, John Jupiter is taunted and beaten.


Season 2, Episode 17: A Case of Identity
Original Air Date: 19 January 1960
Writers: Philip Saltzman & Luci Ward ~ Director: John Peyser
Mark finds himself in grave danger when unscrupulous detectives search for a man’s long lost son.


Season 2, Episode 18: The Visitors
Original Air Date: 26 January 1960
Writers: William F. Leicester, Chuck Connors & Wally Bennett ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Lucas is drawn to a young widow passing thru town on her way to claim her inheritance.

Season 2, Episode 19: Hero
Original Air Date: 2 February 1960
Writer: Albert Aley ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
A young stable hand becomes upset when the town people won’t give him the reward money he deserves for killing a notorious gunman.

Season 2, Episode 20: The Horse Traders
Original Air Date: 9 February 1960
Writer: Jack Curtis ~ Director: William F. Claxton
Lucas and Mark try to help out a friend whose been cheated in a horse trading deal.


Season 2, Episode 21: The Spoiler
Original Air Date: 16 February 1960
Writer: Harry Kronman ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
An elderly couple moves to North Fork under an assumed name to hide the fact that they are the parents of a vicious killer.


Season 2, Episode 22: Heller
Original Air Date: 23 February 1960
Writer: Christopher Knopf ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
A brother and a sister plot the murder of an abusive father.


Season 2, Episode 23: The Grasshopper
Original Air Date: 1 March 1960
Writer: Pat Fielder ~ Director: Lewis Allen
Lucas and Mark are held at gunpoint on a train, but when a plague of grasshoppers forces the train to stop, the outlaw escapes and Lucas goes after him.


Season 2, Episode 24: A Time for Singing
Original Air Date: 8 March 1960
Writer: Harry Kronman ~ Director: John Rich
The town is excited with the arrival of a new preacher, but Mark uncovers that the preacher is a fake and intends to rob the bank.


Season 2, Episode 25: The Deserter
Original Air Date: 15 March 1960
Writer: Albert Aley ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Lucas must save the life of a boy who has deserted the army and is scheduled for execution.


Season 2, Episode 26: The Vision
Original Air Date: 22 March 1960
Writer: Cyril Hume ~ Director: Don Medford
Young Mark contracts typhoid and Lucas is concerned because he doesn’t seem to care about getting better.


Season 2, Episode 27: The Lariat
Original Air Date: 29 March 1960
Writer: Pat Fielder ~ Director: Don Medford
Lucas’s friend comes to town to open a casino, but when a few cheaters get caught, Lucas must save Lariat from certain death.


Season 2, Episode 28: Smoke Screen
Original Air Date: 5 April 1960
Writer: Palmer Thompson ~ Director: Murray Golden
Lucas solves the murder of a young girl by using a half smoked cigar at the scene.


Season 2, Episode 29: Shotgun Man
Original Air Date: 12 April 1960
Writer: Jack Curtis - Paul Mazursky - Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Lucas receives threats from an ex-con with a grudge and engages in a gunfight.


Season 2, Episode 30: Sins of the Father
Original Air Date: 19 April 1960
Writers: Philip Saltzman & Lewis Meltzer ~ Director: Ted Post
A man and his son take refuge at the McCain ranch, but the father holds a secret as to why they are really on the run.


Season 2, Episode 31: The Prodigal
Original Air Date: 26 April 1960
Writer: Robert Sherman ~ Director: Donald McDougall
Lucas and Mark are held prisoner in their own home when a bank robbing gun man decides to hide out at their ranch.


Season 2, Episode 32: The Fourflusher
Original Air Date: 3 May 1960
Writer: Thomas Thompson ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Lucas and Mark help a neighbor win a horse race, protecting all that the neighbor owns from being gambled away.


Season 2, Episode 33: The Jailbird
Original Air Date: 10 May 1960
Writer: Frederic Conrad ~ Director: Don Taylor
After hiring an ex-con to work on the ranch, Lucas becomes suspicious when there is a killing in the area.


Season 2, Episode 34: Meeting at Midnight
Original Air Date: 17 May 1960
Writers: Pat Fielder & Arthur Browne Jr. ~ Director: Don Medford
Lucas helps an undercover federal agent infiltrate a gang of robbers.


Season 2, Episode 35: Nora
Original Air Date: 24 May 1960
Writers: David Victor & Herbert Little ~ Director: Ted Post
Lucas finds himself involved in a murder when he gallantly steps to the aid of a beautiful woman.


Season 2, Episode 36: The Hangman
Original Air Date: 31 May 1960
Writers: Teddi Sherman & Ward Wood ~ Director: Joseph H. Lewis
An ex-convict is blamed for a brutal crime despite his claims of rehabilitation.

The Untouchables

The Untouchables TV Series

The Untouchables crime drama tv series was based from real life effort and experience of US Justice Department Agent Eliot Ness as he enforce prohibition in Chicago in 1930s. A show about the elite group of law enforcement officers headed by tough and incorruptible Special Agent Eliot Ness, they are called “The Untouchables”, they engaged themselves in a battle against big organized crime groups and gang lords around Chicago, Illinois.

Ness' special team agents fight crimes, corruptions, alcoholism and dirty game of sex by known Mafia big bosses like Al Capone, Frank "the Enforcer" Nitti, Jake "Greasy Thumb" Guzik, Joe "the Teacher" Kulak and others. The series centered mainly on Ness' attempt to bust up mobster Al Capone who rule around Chicago with absolute power and business supplying poor quality of liquor at high prices with a back up hired gunners terrorizing stores who refuse to buy his alcohol, but Ness' small dedicated team swore to bring them down. The series completed four seasons aired from October 1959 to May 1963 with total of 118 sixty-minute episodes.

Catch Complete The Untouchables TV Series on DVD

The Untouchables Casts:

• Robert Stack as Eliot Ness
• Walter Winchell as Narrator
• Nicholas Georgiade as Agent Enrico Rossi
• Abel Fernández as Agent William Youngfellow
• Paul Picerni as Agent Lee Hobson
• Steve London as Agent Jack Rossman

"Rawhide" - Old Wild Western TV Adventure

Rawhide was a fine 50s TV show packed with romantic interests, never-ending adventures, always changing sceneries and an interesting show as the fourth longest western tv series (beyond Gunsmoke, Bonanza and The Virginian). Rawhide made top 20 in Nielsen Ratings for it's premiere episode and one of America's top 10 shows.

The Rawhide's storyline about the adventures a North Texans trail boss Gil Favor of a continuous cattle drive (about 3000 head herd cattle) headed to the Sedalia, Kansas market. Gil (starred by Eric Fleming) was assisted crews; a young ranch ramrod scout Rowdy Yates (starred by Clint Eastwood, his first major role), the trail whiskered cook Harkness “Mushy” Mushgrove, scout Wishbone (Paul Brinegar, the one who provides comic relief with “mother” element for Rowdy), old hands scout experts Pete Nolan and Jim Quince, they take adventures and meet people and trouble on the trail. They encounter inconveniences and confronts, they get drawn solving problems and situations in towns, they rescue cattle in dangers in Old West (diseases, injuries, stampedes and lack of water, etc.), but they proved it as a true cowboys in gunfights, brawls and journey on the way. The series made it very realistic and convincing, packed with romance and comic plus a movie-like quality (music in full studio orchestra and scenes view as expansive as West).

The fascinating Rawhide TV series was premiered on January 1959 and end on December 1965 with 8 seasons and 217 episodes, now full 8 seasons available on DVD.

The Rawhide DVD at TV Shows on DVD

Casts:

• Gil Favor, Trail Boss ....... Eric Fleming
• Rowdy Yates ....... Clint Eastwood
• Simon Blake, Scout ....... Raymond St. Jacques
• G. W. Wishbone, Cook ....... Paul Brinegar
• Jed Colby, Scout ....... John Ireland
• Clay Forrester, Scout ....... Charles Gray

"The New Adventures of Charlie Chan"

The New Adventures of Charlie Chan TV series, based from the characters of the novel created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1925, was the sequel of 1930's and 1940's several radio series. The series story, some said were loosely based on real life Honolulu police detective Chang Apana.

A crime drama story of a fictional famous Oriental Detective and Honolulu Police Inspector Charlie Chan (played by J. Carroll Naish, an Irish heritage) and his ventures were across the globe in handling and solving special assignments. Charlie always involved in baffling difficult murder investigations around the world, with the aide of his more modern Number One Son, Barry Chan (played by James Hong, an actual Asian) in solving difficult cases. Charlie taught his son some lessons by quoting pseudo-oriental aphorisms in the manner of Confucius. The show made success from radio movies until 1950's but was not continued in 70's due to no oriental cast to play Charlie Chan.

The New Adventures of Charlie Chan TV Series, aired from August 1957 until 1958, completed 39 monochrome episodes of Charlie's great investigations, available now on DVD.

The New Adventures of Charlie Chan DVD at TV Shows on DVD

"Maverick" - 1950's Western TV Series

The classic Award-winning Western TV series Maverick was started as a straight drama but later turn into comedy streak & sense of humor, catch wide audience and made the series soared top ten place in Nielsen Ratings on it's second season. Maverick is a story about a adventurous gambler Bret Maverick roaming around Old West, migrating from town to town and always looking for a good game. Bret Maverick, played by James Garner, was well known in his dressing and personality, wearing screen-cowboy custom fancy black broadcloth gambler's suit, speaking realistically and being courageous in risking his life. In later seasons he was joined with his brother Bart, Brent, and an English-accent cousin Beau. They all famous gambler, pursuing money and easy life, with their favorite games Poker (5 card draw) and odd cards Three-toed Sloth winning a lot of money but getting them in trouble, and together they find way stay out and leave the town.

Garner's unique charisma and his subtly comedic facial expressions become a cultural western cowboy icon, but critics noted Maverick to be "arguably the first TV anti-hero" which later became a norm in films. Famous episodes were "According to Hoyle" (appearance of Diane Brewster of Cheyenne), "Gun Shy" (spoof of Gunsmoke) and the pilot episode "War of the Silver Kings" (based on C.B. Glasscock's "War of the Copper King", a real life adventure of a copper mine speculator).

Maverick's comedic and sense of humor carried entirely in the show of adventures and misadventures of Mavericks, the series completed 5 seasons with 124 episodes from 1957 to 1962 on ABC, catch now on DVD.

Maverick DVD available at TV Shows on DVD

"Have Gun - Will Travel" - 1950's Western TV Series

One of the most popular and successful TV series as well as in radio version, Have Gun - Will Travel excelled in TV ratings being top #4 show by Nielsen Ratings on its 1st year and #3 in next 3 years and win wide audience.

Have Gun - Will Travel revolves the story about Paladin, a rich-educated man who turned into a professional gun-fighter working as champion-for-hire and preferred to settle problems peacefully and avoid violence but usually provoked but amazingly excelled in gun field. Paladin is a former Army Officer, a West Point graduate, a well-educated man having thorough knowledge in ancient history and classical literature, dressing semi-formal wear and attending operas, and exhibit strong passion for legal principles and the rule of law. But when working, he dressed in black, wore holster and used calling cards with a carried characteristic emblem of chess knight symbolizing him with his fighting movement like in chess board, very versatile and always unexpected. Paladin's typical service fee a thousand dollar making him well-equipped with his large rifle on his horse saddle, a derringer under his belt (save him countless times), a few expensive cigars in his boot and his custom-made, one ounce trigger, perfectly balanced six-shooter gun his main weapon. Paladin's main advantage over enemies was not his impressive equipments, but his rich education which is infallible to relate ancient antecedents to his situations and insight advantages but at the same time avoid violence as much as possible, killing is only the last resort.

Another character, Hey Boy, is the card bearer of Paladin's calling card with a notable chess knight emblem with inscription: “Have Gun – Will Travel... Wire Paladin, San Francisco". And a memorable quote from the series:

“I don't think you got a very good look at this gun while you had it. The balance is perfect. This trigger responds to a pressure of one ounce. If you look carefully in the barrel you'll see the lines of the rifling. It's a rarity in a hand weapon. This gun was handcrafted to my specifications and I rarely draw it unless I mean to use it. Would you care for a demonstration?”

Great adventures of Paladin in Western TV Series "Have Gun - Will Travel” was aired from 1957 to 1963, completed 6 seasons and total of 225 episodes now available on DVD.

Have Gun - Will Travel DVD on TVAddicts.TV

- "Zorro" - Over 85 Years of Action Adventure

From the term "fox" in Spanish, Zorro is a fictional nobleman, master swordsman, and the romantic defender of justice. The man in black custom with Spanish cape, the flat-bimmed Andalusian-style hat, the black cowl mask covers from eye level up to the head and equipped with a pistol (in the original story), a braided leather single tailed whip "bullwhip" and a sharp pointer sword "rapeir" which he often use to leave a mark "Z" by three quick cuts. Zorro learned his skills like acrobatics from swinging on ship masts, his fencing from Spanish master Manuel Escalante, various tricks from gypsies and a ship's cook and his disguising pattern from swashbuckling pirate. Zorro's two horses, Tornado the black one and Phantom the white horse.

Zorro is the secret identity of Don Diego de la Vega, born in the 1790's, son of Asturian Captain Don Alejandro de la Vega and lived in Spanish-ear California. His mission, with the help of his fathers mute and deaf servant Bernardo, they defend the weak and fight the landowning nobility "the Caballeros", the pompous Don Rafael Montero and the corrupt tranny of the Spanish governor.

Zorro was first appeared in the 1919 serialized pulp magazine All-Story Weekly with the title of The Curse of Capistrano | Zorro. Walt Disney produced the 1957 TV Series of Zorro, with the story in 1820's, Don Alejandro requested Don Diego to return in Monterey, California and to help ending the evil reigning of corrupt local military of vicious Spanish commandant, Captain Monastario. The huge fans of this Zorro tv series, tuning every Thursday night at 7:30, recalls the very popular lyrics:

Out of the night, when the full moon is bright, comes a horseman known as Zorro.
This bold renegade carves a Z with his blade, a Z that stands for Zorro.

Zorro, the fox so cunning and free.
Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z.

Riding his black stallion with lightning sky background, the words echoed,

Zorro...Zorro...Zorro...

The Disney's anthology TV series live-action of Zorro was played by Guy Williams, completed 3 seasons with 83 episodes, aired from 1957-1959 on ABC, now available on DVD at TVAddicts.tv