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The connection between father and son in The Rifleman is still one of the best in TV history, even after 60 years.
If you grew up in the late 1950s, this Western classic was a must-see in many households, teaching important values like honesty and respect.
But aside from its impactful moments, The Rifleman also had some hidden mistakes, bloopers, and interesting facts that only true fans might catch.
Stick around as we reveal the secrets behind this legendary Western…
Those early Westerns like The Rifleman, were full of historical errors but who really cares? They’re still super fun to watch and have deeper characters than most shows today. Each episode offered a valuable lesson often centered on basic human values with a touching moral twist.
The Rifleman featured the famous Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain, a widowed rancher and expert sharpshooter raising his son Mark played by the charming Johnny Crawford. The pair won over viewers with their genuine bond and exciting adventures in the Old West.
Even though this series is celebrated as one of the greatest ever made, even top shows can have their blunders… So let’s take a look behind-the-scenes to discover some things most viewers didn’t know about!
Lucas McCain: A Trendsetter
It’s no shock that cowboy Lucas McCain liked jeans; he was actually ahead of fashion trends by about fifty years! Observant viewers might have noticed a scene in “End of a Young Gun,” an early episode featuring Michael Landon where shirtless Lucas fixes a wagon wheel.
You can spot a “W” stitched on his back pocket; yes he’s wearing Wranglers. The twist? The show takes place in the 1880s but those jeans weren’t made until the 1940s. More than just being stylish; Lucas McCain was truly ahead of his time!
Connors’ real son
As I mentioned, one thing I really loved about the show was the father-son relationship. But did you know that Chuck Connors’ real-life son makes an appearance in the series? In the episode “Tension,” Mark and Lucas attends the funeral of Sid Halpern, a friend of the McCains.
The widow and son, Toby, are there dressed in black. It was Jeff Connors, Chuck Connors’ second son with Faith Quabius, who played that young Toby and he had two lines. Sadly, Jeff passed away in 2014.
Getting Chuck wasn’t easy
Casting the lead role in The Rifleman was no easy feat.
Chuck Connors had to outshine 40 other actors, but landing the role was far from guaranteed. Initially, he turned it down due to a low salary offer from ABC, as he could earn more as a freelance actor.
However, Connors eventually secured the role in an unexpected way. It all started when the producers took their children to see Old Yeller, where Connors portrayed a strong father figure. After that experience — presumably with the kids sharing their thoughts — the producers came back with a much better offer, including a five-percent ownership of the show. And just like that, it was all set!
The 1892 Winchester rifle
Every episode of The Rifleman opened with Chuck Connors showcasing his remarkable skills, cranking off a seemingly endless barrage of shots with his saddle-ring carbine. With a dramatic flair, he would spin the rifle, effortlessly toss it from his right hand to his left, and insert a new cartridge, all while giving a menacing stare directly into the camera.
To pull off these iconic scenes, the production utilized two identical 1892 Winchester rifles — one for filming and the other as a backup.
Some might have assumed that the opening scene featuring the 1892 Winchester rifles was trick photography or somehow manipulated. However, the truth is that Connors was genuinely that fast and agile with his carbine. As a former athlete who played professional basketball and baseball in both major and minor leagues before transitioning to acting, he had impressive skills and coordination that made those quick movements look effortless. What we do know though, is that the weapon had been customized to enable rapid firing by cycling its lever action.
The Duke connection
Lucas McCain’s trusty Winchester rifle was more than just a prop; it was a true scene-stealer with an interesting backstory.
The Rifleman took place in the 1870s and 1880s, so it’s impossible for the 1892 Winchester rifle to have existed during that time.
However, this iconic rifle had a previous life on the big screen, making its debut in none other than John Wayne‘s classic 1939 film, Stagecoach. Producer Arnold Levin later revealed the exciting twist: the rifle used by Lucas McCain was the very same one wielded by the Duke in his legendary movie.
The Madera Hotel
The Madera Hotel was a well-known landmark in North Fork throughout the series, frequently appearing in various episodes.
However, in the pilot episode, The Sharpshooter, the establishment underwent a name change to California House. Speculation arose regarding a possible ownership change between episodes, but no one really knows why the establishment suddenly switched names.
Johnny Crawford got blacklisted
At the age of 3, Johnny Crawford made his debut in front of the cameras during an audition. But it wasn’t a success – in fact, he got blacklisted after his performance as a 3-year-old actor.
”I don’t remember the picture and I wound up on the cutting room floor anyway. But I played one of a bunch of refugee children and I was in a scene where Rosalind Russel was supposed to give us all chocolate bars. I think I got blacklisted after this film because the scene had to be reshot and I refused to give back my chocolate bar for the second take,” Johnny Crawford told The Miami Herald in 1973.
“Hazardous” task of casting a new female lead
While widower Lucas McCain mainly focused on raising his son, there were also several love interests throughout the series. In season three, it looked like Lucas and Milly Scott (played by Joan Taylor) were starting something special.
However, this plot fizzled out when Milly left in season four with some unclear reason that she needed to return east.
This left producers looking for another female lead and introduced Lou Mallory’s character. The tough part was finding an actress who not only fit but also had great chemistry with Chuck Connors.
To make sure they found someone perfect for Chuck’s role he took part actively in casting decisions. But this turned out harder than expected! Chuck interviewed over twelve women who seemed right but just didn’t connect.
“A few months ago what seemed like a dream job turned into almost becoming a nightmare,” said Chuck.
After considering more than 60 women overall they finally chose Patricia Blair -a beautiful redhead from Texas!
Recognize this baseball hall-of-famer?
As mentioned before Lucas McCain was an amazing baseball player! However he could never reach former Dodgers star Duke Snider’s level who guest-starred on the show (Chuck Connors hit only two home runs during his Major League Baseball career).
The famous baseball player known as “the Duke of Flatbush,” played Wallace in The Retired Gun episode! Another former baseball star Don Drysdale also appeared on set.
Johnny Crawford’s brother popped up
*The Rifleman* focused heavily around family themes; it became first network television show showing single parents raising children!
Alongside Jeff Connors another relative from stars made an appearance: Bobby Crawford -Johnny’s brother!
He acted as Freddy during Second Witness episode; both brothers gave such impressive performances they earned Emmy nominations back then! Bobby continued acting portraying Andy Sherman on NBC’s *Laramie* from 1959 until 1960; today he’s still alive at age eighty!
Over-protective of Johnny Crawford
It is already known that Chuck Connors looked after the young Johnny and the two actors kept a close relationship off-screen when the series ended.
From a young age, Johnny Crawford admired Chuck Connors, particularly because of his passion for baseball. Their affectionate bond during The Rifleman became a defining aspect of Crawford’s life, as he learned invaluable lessons 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 he’d be reciting Casey at the Bat or he’d be doing speeches from Shakespeare. This always surprises people, that Chuck Connors knows Shakespeare,” Crawford told The Buffalo News.
Their special connection is beautifully captured in the classic photo below, showcasing the deep camaraderie and mutual respect they shared.
Actor Paul Fix, who played Marshal Micah Torrence on The Rifleman, also felt a great responsibility for Crawford.
During the filming, he became an extra father to Crawford, and he made sure that all the weapons used during the filming were secured. For Paul Fix, his obsession with security around Crawford was personal.
Fix himself had a near-death experience as a young boy when he played around with his brother and a weapon misfired. The bullet was a hair’s breadth from killing Fix; it was a miracle that he survived.
Buddy Hackett twist
In a surprising twist of casting, Buddy Hackett, known for his comedic genius, played the father of an actor who was actually four years his junior.
In one episode of The Rifleman, Buddy Hackett portrays Daniel Malakie, a father who discovers that his two sons, Ben and Jud, have landed in jail. Interestingly, Christopher Dark, who played the “boy” Ben, was born in 1920, while Hackett was born in 1924. This age dynamic makes for some creative casting, proving that Hollywood has a knack for bending traditional family roles and age expectations…
Baby girl was played by a baby boy
Does Robert Anacher sound familiar? No? That’s okay! His most famous role was when he portrayed the cute baby girl Fancy in The Baby Sitter episode. But guess what? The girl was actually a boy.
Shot dead with a pistol
In the pilot that was meant for Gunsmoke (1955), Chuck Connors’ character went by John McCain. According to IMDB, he had no kids and could shoot really well with a pistol.
Sammy Davis Jr. impressed the crew
Known as “Mr Show Business” and “the greatest entertainer ever,” Sammy Davis Jr. is missed dearly and has made his mark on American history.
Did you know he appeared in The Rifleman? In Two Ounces of Tin episode, Sammy Davis Jr. acted as outlaw Tip Corey. He showed off amazing skills with guns like quick draws & cool twirling moves! What’s even more impressive is that all these stunts were done by him without any stand-in!
The hair styles
Even though it took place in the 1880s , most actors from The Rifleman had hairstyles similar to those from the 1950s & 1960s when it was filmed.
This mix-up is even clearer with their clothes since many men wore button-down shirts — which didn’t become popular until after the 1920s! It creates an interesting mix between historical context & mid-century style adding an unexpected twist to this classic Western!
Chuck Connors’ headstone
Chuck Connors , known for being athletic , smoked three packs of Camel cigarettes every day . Amazingly , he became one of only twelve athletes ever to play both Major League Baseball & NBA .
In fall 1992 , Connors got sick with pneumonia . Sadly , three weeks later he passed away due to lung cancer . He rests at San Fernando Mission Cemetery where his headstone shows logos from three teams: Boston Celtics , Chicago Cubs , and Brooklyn Dodgers .
As we finish our look at The Rifleman world it’s clear this classic series has left its mark on TV history.
With its unforgettable father-son bond along with memorable characters plus action mixed with moral lessons; this show still connects with audiences today! I watch reruns too now RIP Johnny & Chuck ❤️.
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