Posted on 04/30/2021 2:45:02 AM PDT by lowbridge
I was always impressed by Mark’s riding ability. Also wondered who Lucas should have taken for a wife, Miss Millie (General Store) or Miss Lou (Mallory Hotel). Both attractive. Both interested in Luke.
I had an Aunt and Uncle who knew him well, they played for the Son’s of the Pioneers when he was a regular. I don’t know if this is Ken singing but my Aunt and Uncle were playing during this recording. Doesn’t sound like the lead singer is Ken, he might be in the back ground. They said he there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMqKv7BOg_s&t=33s
I watched these reruns as a kid......interestingly, I never had the desire to take dad’s rifle and shoot anyone...
My late father did the same not long after retirement. A debilitating disease left him chair-bound, so he spent his hours watching Gunsmoke. We never watched it growing up, so I assume the episodes were new to him.
Drove Mom crazy, but Dad was happy.
I always wondered why Lucas didn’t have Mark become proficient with the rifle at a young age.
And Lucas kept his extra ammo in his shirt pocket. Never saw him reloading except during the intro of the show. Fired off 8 shots, replaced with 2.
“Thank goodness for Me TV.”
And I would add thank goodness for INSP, where they have Gunsmoke episodes all week long.
I’m a big fan of some of those old TV westerns.
The Rifleman and Gunsmoke were my two favorites. And I would put Gunsmoke at #1 best western tv show of all time and The Rifleman at #2.
At a distant #3, in my opinion, was Maverick, but only the episodes with James Garner.
Ping
Not many knew Johnny had a pretty good voice. he recorded several song’s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eskOUoW5geY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdoyRkMLA0A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8p_VFB6mY8
This is a great video, not only could he sing an act he was a pretty good rodeo hand. A tribute from his brother Bobby Crawford.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vxLxPGMxgs
Yes there was a moralistic message in every show. Still watch the re runs here in Jax. Enjoy them a lot.
He also attended seton hall, go Pirates, and was one of a few individuals to play in both the NBA and pro baseball.
Ping
My grandfather’s brother (great Uncle) played with both Chuck Connors and Jackie Robinson on the Montreal Royals AAA team.
A “family story” that I have never been able to confirm, is that my Great Uncle roomed with Jackie Robinson that year when others wouldn’t. IDK if true. I have some baseball cards of the Royals team from that time. Cool stuff.
Paw is my recollection too
I remember a cartoon with an injured dog saying “you shot my paw”
Thanks for that cool story!
Chuck Connors was a great athlete and sounds like your great uncle was a great human being!
He was a colorful character, for sure. As a kid, listening to his stories about playing baseball in those days was fascinating.
It’s my theory that Lucas McCain was the inspiration for Al Bundy’s favorite western hero, “Psycho Dad.” (”He’s quick with a gun, but he loves his son”)
Of course not. Gilligan was the Skipper's "Li'l Buddy".
Firearms was the one subject the show went a little wobbly on, as I recall. There was a vehemently anti-gun male teacher. Dennis Hopper was in the pilot episode, as a sharpshooter. Sammy Davis, Jr. turned up, too.
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