Even after 60 years, the father-son bond in *The Rifleman* is still seen as one of TV’s greatest.
This Western classic, which taught values like honesty and respect, was a favorite for many growing up in the late 1950s.
Besides its unforgettable moments, *The Rifleman* had some hidden mistakes, trivia, and fun facts only die-hard fans would catch.
Join us as we uncover these lesser-known gems from this iconic Western.
Who really cares that early Westerns like *The Rifleman* were full of historical goofs? They still offer deeper characters than what’s on TV today and are a joy to watch. Each episode gave viewers important life lessons, often focusing on basic human values with a heartwarming message.
In *The Rifleman*, Chuck Connors starred as Lucas McCain, a skilled rancher and sharpshooter who was raising his son Mark, played by the charming Johnny Crawford. The pair captured audiences with their close relationship and thrilling adventures in the Old West.
Even great shows make mistakes, even though this series is praised as one of the best. Let’s peek behind the scenes and find out some things most viewers didn’t know!
Lucas McCain was ahead of his time.
It’s no surprise that cowboy Lucas McCain preferred jeans, but he was nearly 50 years ahead of fashion! In “End of a Young Gun,” an early episode with Michael Landon, sharp-eyed viewers saw Lucas fixing a wagon wheel without a shirt.
He was wearing Wranglers, recognizable by the “W” on the back pocket. The catch? Though the series is set in the 1880s, Wranglers didn’t start being made until the 1940s. Lucas McCain—always a trendsetter, even in the wrong century!
Chuck’s real son appears.
The father-son dynamic on the show was beloved, but did you know Chuck Connors’ real son appeared on the show? In the episode “Tension,” Lucas and Mark attend the funeral of their friend Sid Halpern.
At the funeral, we meet the widow and her son, Toby, dressed in black. That son was played by Jeff Connors, Chuck’s second son with Faith Quabius. Sadly, Jeff passed away in 2014.
Casting Chuck wasn’t easy.
Finding the right actor for *The Rifleman*’s lead role wasn’t simple.
Chuck Connors had to beat out 40 other actors, but it wasn’t guaranteed. He initially turned down ABC’s offer because he could make more freelancing.
But in the end, Chuck got the part in a surprising way. The producers took their kids to see him play a father in *Old Yeller*. Afterward, they returned with a better offer—this time including a five percent ownership in the show. It all came together quickly after that!
The 1892 Winchester rifle
In every episode’s opening, Chuck Connors amazed viewers with rapid shots from his saddle-ring carbine. He would glare into the camera, smoothly switching the rifle from hand to hand, loading it in style.
The production used two identical 1892 Winchester rifles—one for filming and the other as a backup.
Although viewers may have thought the scene was staged, Connors really was that fast with the rifle. His background as a pro athlete in baseball and basketball gave him the quick reflexes needed to handle the rifle effortlessly. But the gun was also altered for rapid firing by modifying the lever action.
The John Wayne connection
Lucas McCain’s famous rifle wasn’t just a prop; it had an exciting past.
Since *The Rifleman* takes place in the 1870s and 1880s, the Winchester rifle from 1892 wouldn’t have existed yet.
However, this iconic rifle had already appeared in John Wayne’s 1939 film *Stagecoach*. Producer Arnold Levin later revealed that Lucas McCain used the same rifle the Duke had used in that legendary movie.
The Madera Hotel
The Madera Hotel was a key landmark in North Fork throughout the series.
But in the pilot episode, *The Sharpshooter*, it was called California House. No one knows exactly why the name changed, though some rumors suggest a change in ownership between episodes.
Johnny Crawford’s blacklist story
Johnny Crawford’s first acting experience came when he was three. But it wasn’t a success; in fact, it got him blacklisted.
“I don’t remember the movie, but I was one of several refugee kids in a scene with Rosalind Russell,” Crawford told *The Miami Herald* in 1973. “She was giving us chocolate bars. They had to reshoot the scene, but I refused to give my chocolate back, and I think that got me blacklisted!”
The tough search for a new female lead
The show had several romantic interests, but Lucas McCain mainly focused on raising his son. By season three, it seemed like Lucas and Milly Scott (played by Joan Taylor) were heading for romance.
However, when season four came around, Milly left with a vague excuse about returning East.
Producers began searching for a new female lead, creating the character Lou Mallory. Finding the right actress who had chemistry with Chuck Connors wasn’t easy.
AMC aired 13 episodes of *The Rifleman* on March 14 from 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (EST).
Chuck was deeply involved in casting to ensure a perfect fit, interviewing over a dozen women. Eventually, after reviewing over 60 actresses, they chose Patricia Blair, a Texas-born redhead.
Baseball legend cameo
Lucas McCain was a great baseball player, but he couldn’t compare to Duke Snider, a Dodgers star who guest-starred on the show. Chuck Connors, during his baseball career, only hit two home runs.
In the episode *The Retired Gun*, Snider played Wallace. Don Drysdale, another baseball star, also made an appearance on the show.
Johnny Crawford’s brother appeared too.
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*The Rifleman* was the first TV show to feature a single parent raising a child, and it centered on family.
Johnny’s brother, Bobby Crawford, also appeared on the show.
In the episode *Second Witness*, Bobby played Freddy, and both brothers did so well that they were nominated for Emmys in 1959. Bobby, born Robert Lawrence Crawford Jr., continued acting in *Laramie* from 1959 to 1960. He’s now 80 and still alive today.
Chuck Connors was protective of Johnny Crawford.
Chuck Connors became a father figure to Johnny Crawford on and off set. Johnny admired him, especially for his love of baseball, and learned many valuable lessons from him during their time on *The Rifleman*.
Paul Fix, who played Marshal Micah Torrence, also became a father figure for Johnny. Fix made sure all guns were locked up on set, as he had almost been killed as a child when a gun misfired during a game with his brother.
The Buddy Hackett twist
In one episode, Buddy Hackett, a comedic legend, played a father who was actually younger than his “son.”
Hackett played Daniel Malakie, whose sons were arrested. In a twist, Hackett was born in 1924, while Christopher Dark, who played his son, was born in 1920. Hollywood often has fun with such age dynamics.
Baby boy as baby girl
Robert Anacher, who played the baby girl Fancy in *The Babysitter*, was actually a boy.
Pistol expert
Chuck Connors was originally supposed to be a pistol expert in the pilot, which was meant for *Gunsmoke*. He didn’t have a son in that version.
Sammy Davis Jr. impressed the crew
Sammy Davis Jr., known as “Mr. Show Business,” made a lasting impact on American history and wowed the crew during his time on the show.
