The Rifleman television show starring Chuck Connors was set in the ficitional town of North Fork, New Mexico territory in the days of the old west. Connors, as widower Lucas McCain endeavors to make a living on his ranch with his young son Mark. He teaches his son to appreciate the wild and beautiful country that surrounds him, to know the meaning of bravery and courage, the necessity of tolerance and understanding, the wisdom behind justice and the physical skills for a youngster living in an untamed land. To believe and trust in the Lord and to use violence as a last resort. Lucas had a specially adapted Winchester rifle that could fire off a round in three-tenths of a second. Lucas found himself regularly called upon by the town marshall, Micah Torrance, to help keep the streets of North Fork safe. A number of well known actors and actresses guest starred on the program. Among them were John Carradine, Dennis Hopper, Agnes Moorehead, James Coburn, Edgar Buchanan, Michael Landon, Sammy Davis, Jr., Martin Landau, Buddy Hackett and Lee VanCleef.
The Residents Of North Fork:
Lucas McCain .........................Chuck Connors
Mark McCain ..........................Johnny Crawford
Marshall Micah Torrance ..............Paul Fix
Sweeney, bartender ...................Bill Quinn
May Sweeney, bartender's wife ........Helen Beverly
Charlie Willard, storekeeper .........Russell Collins
Hattie Denton (1958-60) ..............Hope Summers
Miss Milly Scott (1960-62) ...........Joan Taylor
Lou Mallory (1962-63) ................Patricia Blair
Eddie Holstead, hotel clerk ..........John Harmon
Nels Svenson, blacksmith .............Joe Higgins,
..........................................John Dierkes
Dr. Jay Burrage ......................Edgar Buchanan,
.........................................Jack Kruschner
.........................................Ralph Moody
Angus Evans, gunsmith ..................Eddie Quinlan
Ruth, hotel waitress .................Amanda Ames
John Hamilton, banker ................Harlan Warde
Miss Aggie Hamilton ..................Sarah Selby
Josh Moore, hardware store ...........Charles Tannen
Toomey, undertaker ...................Robert Foulk
Freddy Toomey, undertaker's son ......Robert Crawford