Complete series cast summary: | |||
James Garner | ... | Sheriff Frank Nichols 24 episodes, 1971-1972 | |
Margot Kidder | ... | Ruth 24 episodes, 1971-1972 | |
Neva Patterson | ... | Ma Ketcham / ... 24 episodes, 1971-1972 | |
John Beck | ... | Ketcham / ... 24 episodes, 1971-1972 | |
Stuart Margolin | ... | Mitch / ... 24 episodes, 1971-1972 | |
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John Harding | ... | Salter 10 episodes, 1971-1972 |
In 1914, Nichols, a soldier, sick of killing, returns to his Arizona hometown, named after his family, and is strong-armed into serving as Sheriff by the Ketcham clan, who run the area. Nichols, who doesn't believe in toting a gun, scoots around via a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The Ketchams install as Deputy their relative, Mitch Mitchell. The nasty Deputy has a dog named Slump, and Mitchell is very dumb. A business-savvy local gal has an undefined relationship with Nichols, but it's obvious there's lots of action in the back rooms of her saloon. The strict moral lines of traditional Westerns are absent in this very Vietnam War era show's view of the Old West's dying days: the Ketchams aren't all bad, and little-respected Sheriff Nichols wouldn't mind ripping off the town to head for Mexico. Written by David Stevens
I guess I'm one of the few who remembers this very funny show. The turn of the century Old West, with technology about to change the frontier forever, made for a very interesting setting, and the cast did a good job of getting into the period, pulling it off without being camp. Garner was great, Margot Kidder was delightful, and John Beck made a terrific villain. The show was of such high quality it's no wonder it lasted such a short time.