I tuned into this one because of the boxing theme. When 'Laramie' was originally airing I never got a chance to watch it. Back then my Dad and I would catch 'The Texan', 'Tales of Wells Fargo', 'Johnny Ringo', Wanted: Dead or Alive' and 'Trackdown', so this show must have been opposite one of those for me to miss it.
Most TV cowboys were pretty handy in the fisticuffs department, so it's no surprise "Laramie' had a boxing story. It was probably pretty easy to pass one's self off as World Heavyweight Champion in the late 1800's, as long as you could beat the snot out of most any opponent in a take on all comers challenge. In this show, Don Megowan portrays Champ Terrible Terry Mulligan, but he's not legit, as he and his manager Holvig (Wally Brown) ride into town and set up the locals to bet their money in a losing cause after building up a home town strongman.
With that in mind, there was a bit of a disconnect in the story when Slim Sherman (John Smith) accused the con-men of this strategy, as there was really nothing he could have based that on up to that point in the story. But Slim takes up the challenge anyway when Holvig teases him and friend Jonesy to a hundred dollar per round payoff for each one he makes it through. When it looks like Slim might actually pull this one out, Terrible Terry lives up to his name and rubs Slim's face full of resin, thus blinding him long enough to deliver a knockout punch.
I guess the biggest surprise for me watching this episode was seeing Hoagy Carmichael as part of the regular cast as his character Jonesy. A very talented song writer and pianist, it was cool to see him actually play one here at the War Bonnet saloon. As Slim's boxing manager, Jonesy got the last laugh on the traveling con-men by selling them his worthless gold claim.
Most TV cowboys were pretty handy in the fisticuffs department, so it's no surprise "Laramie' had a boxing story. It was probably pretty easy to pass one's self off as World Heavyweight Champion in the late 1800's, as long as you could beat the snot out of most any opponent in a take on all comers challenge. In this show, Don Megowan portrays Champ Terrible Terry Mulligan, but he's not legit, as he and his manager Holvig (Wally Brown) ride into town and set up the locals to bet their money in a losing cause after building up a home town strongman.
With that in mind, there was a bit of a disconnect in the story when Slim Sherman (John Smith) accused the con-men of this strategy, as there was really nothing he could have based that on up to that point in the story. But Slim takes up the challenge anyway when Holvig teases him and friend Jonesy to a hundred dollar per round payoff for each one he makes it through. When it looks like Slim might actually pull this one out, Terrible Terry lives up to his name and rubs Slim's face full of resin, thus blinding him long enough to deliver a knockout punch.
I guess the biggest surprise for me watching this episode was seeing Hoagy Carmichael as part of the regular cast as his character Jonesy. A very talented song writer and pianist, it was cool to see him actually play one here at the War Bonnet saloon. As Slim's boxing manager, Jonesy got the last laugh on the traveling con-men by selling them his worthless gold claim.
