JOHNNY RINGO "The Cat" 1959
JOHNNY RINGO was a western series that ran for 38 episodes during 1959-60. The series starred Don Durant as the title character with Karen Sharpe, Mark Goddard and Terence De Marney as series regulars. The series follows Durant, (Ringo) a former gunfighter who decides to go straight. He becomes the Sheriff in the small town of Velardi in the Arizona Territory. The series was one of several (Rifleman, Wanted Dead or Alive, Shotgun Slade) with a "gimmick gun". Durant carries a special LeMat revolver equipped with a shotgun barrel under the six gun barrel. This episode is the 10th episode of the series.
The town of Velardi gets a shock when a wagon arrives in town with a strange cargo. The cargo, a 500 pound Bengal Tiger. With the tiger are two men, Cecil Kellaway and Archie Duncan. Kellaway is a rich business type from Chicago while Duncan is his man servant. Kellaway intends to take the tiger out into the countryside and let him loose. He then plans on hunting and killing the cat.
Sheriff Durant wants nothing to do with any such idea. He is worried that the cat could get away and kill stock or a passing rider. Kellaway pleads to be allowed to have his hunt. He is ill and only has weeks left to live. Durant still says no.
The servant Duncan ignores Durant and takes the wagon with the cat out that night. The growling of the big cat spooks the horses and they bolt with the cage being spilled off the wagon. The tiger escapes. Of course what the Sheriff feared, happens, a cowboy riding by is jumped by the beast and chewed up.
Durant, Deputy Goddard and several locals grab up their rifles and go out looking for the cat. Durant decides to take Kellaway and Duncan along as he can use the extra men. We all know where this is going. The tiger kills Kellaway and Durant steps up and dispatches the beast with his special revolver.
This is a rather strange episode that works better than it sounds.
JOHNNY RINGO was a western series that ran for 38 episodes during 1959-60. The series starred Don Durant as the title character with Karen Sharpe, Mark Goddard and Terence De Marney as series regulars. The series follows Durant, (Ringo) a former gunfighter who decides to go straight. He becomes the Sheriff in the small town of Velardi in the Arizona Territory. The series was one of several (Rifleman, Wanted Dead or Alive, Shotgun Slade) with a "gimmick gun". Durant carries a special LeMat revolver equipped with a shotgun barrel under the six gun barrel. This episode is the 10th episode of the series.
The town of Velardi gets a shock when a wagon arrives in town with a strange cargo. The cargo, a 500 pound Bengal Tiger. With the tiger are two men, Cecil Kellaway and Archie Duncan. Kellaway is a rich business type from Chicago while Duncan is his man servant. Kellaway intends to take the tiger out into the countryside and let him loose. He then plans on hunting and killing the cat.
Sheriff Durant wants nothing to do with any such idea. He is worried that the cat could get away and kill stock or a passing rider. Kellaway pleads to be allowed to have his hunt. He is ill and only has weeks left to live. Durant still says no.
The servant Duncan ignores Durant and takes the wagon with the cat out that night. The growling of the big cat spooks the horses and they bolt with the cage being spilled off the wagon. The tiger escapes. Of course what the Sheriff feared, happens, a cowboy riding by is jumped by the beast and chewed up.
Durant, Deputy Goddard and several locals grab up their rifles and go out looking for the cat. Durant decides to take Kellaway and Duncan along as he can use the extra men. We all know where this is going. The tiger kills Kellaway and Durant steps up and dispatches the beast with his special revolver.
This is a rather strange episode that works better than it sounds.
