TV westerns: showing America social justice in the 1960s

[mahatmakanejeeves]

This is a corollary to the post about the absence of variety shows on television anymore. Westerns sound like a throwaway plot of the week affair, but that was not always the case.

A friend of mine is gaga over "The Rifleman." I didn't get until I watched a few episodes. It's a pretty good show. Chuck Connors takes on prejudice in several episodes, including one that ran Saturday, "The Queue."

"The Queue"
Episode 110
Writer: Arthur Browne, Jr.
Director: James Clavell
Original Air Date 05/16/1961

Cast
Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance

Guest Cast

Pat Close as Noah Fergus
Pat Close was an American film and television actor. He appeared in nine movies and television shows in seven years. Although he had a brief acting career, Close guest-starred in several popular TV series, including "The Donna Reed Show" (1958–1966), "G.E. True Theater" (1953–1962), "Twilight Zone" (1959–1954) and "Dennis the Menace" (1959–1963). He also had a starring role as the son in Andy Warhol's "Imitation of Christ" (1967). Close made one guest appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Noah Fergus in "The Queue" (episode 110).

Kathy Garver as Waitress/Amy (uncredited)

Dick Kay Hong as Wang Lee

Joan Taylor as Milly Scott, Owner of the General Store

Paul Wexler as Les Foster

Peter Whitney as Vince Fergus

Victor Sen Young as Wang Chi

A Chinese man and his son, a youngster about Mark's age, arrive in North Fork and plan to settle. Their plans are interrupted when a couple of drunken farmers begin to bully the man because he is Chinese. When Lucas comes to his aid, he becomes involves in a fight.

I couldn't place one of the actors, but Google knows everything:

Tragedy Among the Stars: Pat Close

Years ago when I was doing the piddlin' stuff..... for the episode guide list I couldn't help but notice some of the tragedy some of these stars endured in life and in their death. We sometimes see these stars as having such a glamorous life, but in fact other then material things, their life is much like ours.
I hope you enjoy this section, it was created with the highest regards to these great actors/actress.
Gone but not forgotten!

Pat Tilden-Close
The Queue as Noah Fergus
Patrick Tilden-Close - Tragedy Among the Stars



Born: Patrick Tilden Bavelles (Patrick Tilden-Close)
June 1, 1948 in Los Angeles, California
Died: February 15, 1988 (age 39) in Los Angeles, California, Patrick died of "fatty metamorphosis of the liver". The coroner's report indicated that his death was due to alcoholism.
May you rest in peace Patrick

There's more:

Pat Close

Patrick Tilden "Pat" Close (June 1, 1948 – February 15, 1988) was a former American child actor who later appeared in the 1967 Andy Warhol film, Imitation of Christ.

Career

Close began his career at the age of 11 when he was discovered while appearing in a stage production of Auntie Mame in Hollywood. He made his film debut as a young Elliot Roosevelt in 1960 in the biographical film Sunrise at Campobello. For the remainder of the decade, he guest starred on various television series. Close continued his acting career in his late teenage years from 1967 to 1970 as one of Andy Warhol's film stars. He played the lead role of "The Son" in the 1967 Warhol film Imitation of Christ. There was speculation at the time that Close would have become a new James Dean if Warhol had released the film into general distribution instead of allowing only a single premiere presentation. Other reviews, however, disagreed, saying he was "awkward" and "unprofessional."

Close continued to work with Warhol after 1970, not so much as an actor in Warhol's films, but more as a contributor to such projects as Andy Warhol's Interview magazine.

After 1980, he continued acting in movies, credited as Patrick Close, in minor roles for such low-budget productions as Roger Corman's Space Raiders (1983).

Wait, what?

Patrick Tilden Close

Patrick Tilden Close was the subject of two Warhol Screen Tests and starred as the son of Brigid Berlin and Ondine in Warhol's film, Imitation of Christ. He died in Hollywood, California on February 15, 1988, at the age of 39. The cause of death was fatty metamorphosis of the liver, a medical condition associated with alcoholism in adults or Reye's syndrome. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.

NOTES ON PATRICK TILDEN CLOSE | IMITATION OF CHRIST



Patrick Tilden Close

Notes on Patrick Tilden-Close



Patrick Tilden Close and Factoryite Susan Pile in Malibu (1976)
(Photo: Nancy Leiviska)

Patrick Tilden Close was born on June 1, 1948. Prior to starring in Andy Warhol's film Imitation of Christ as "the son" he worked as a child actor. His first documented role was in 1960 when he appeared as Franklin D. Roosevelt's son in the film Sunrise at Campobello. (The film was nominated for six academy awards.) Little is known about Close's life prior to his appearance in Imitation of Christ other than that he appeared in a number of television show episodes, including a main role in an episode of The Rifleman:

Patrick Tilden Close in The Rifleman (1961)

Here's the entire episode:

Bloopers from that episode

[Va Lefty]

1. Social justice was a common theme on Gunsmoke as well

[red dog 1]

4. + 1

Matt Dillon was more than just a Marshall...He was a kind human being as well.

"Gunsmoke" the radio show, (1952-1961), was before my time, but I've recorded a few episodes that were re-broadcast in the 1970s & 1980s, and "kindness" seemed to be a common theme.
(William Conrad played Matt Dillon on the radio show)
"Gunsmoke" the TV show ran from 1955-1975, so for about 6 years, "Gunsmoke" was both a radio show and a TV show.

BTW, the show's theme music had no lyrics but was outstanding, imo.
Gorgeous guitar work with beautiful strings backing it up.
The song's title was "Old Trails"..also known as "Boot Hill."

[Marcuse]

8. I was so young and innocent then that I thought Matt's girlfriend, Miss Kitty, only sold whiskey.

[gibraltar72]

2. The Lone Ranger taught something in almost every episode.

As a kid I didn't even know it. As a geezer it is plain as day. Womens rights, discrimination, redemption, first amendment, civil duty. All covered. I'm guessing Donald didn't watch it.

[red dog 1]

3. I loved The Lone Ranger

I liked ALL TV westerns from the 1950s, but i LOVED "The Lone Ranger" and "Have Gun Will Travel."

[red dog 1]

5. K&R...Thanks for posting

TV westerns showed "American justice" in the 1950s as well.

[Wounded Bear]

6. I recall quite a few...

From Wagon Train, might have done this several times. They're out in the desert, everybody is running out of water, except for one rich guy who is hoarding one or two barrels of it and refuses to share. In the end he's forced to.

Outright socialism out there on the American frontier.

[Delarage]

7. I love The Rifleman.

Even though approximately 15 people get shot to death each episode...I had never heard of it until I was flipping through MeTV one day...then I watched all of them. Lucas was a responsible gun owner & rancher, always took strangers in, giving them second chances (including the alcoholic sheriff), and was a good dad. Lots of good lessons!