Season 2 (Episode 22)

Air Date: 18 February 1961

Writer: Arnold Belgard

Director: William Witney

Synopsis

Recurring Actors/Characters
Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing)

Guest Stars
Eddie Firestone (Jock Henry), Kathie Browne (Ellen Henry), Russ Conway (Dave Hart), Charles Watt (Ellery), Florence MacMichael (Nancy Hart), Maudie Prickett (Mrs. Ellery), Henry Corden (Bookie)

Notable Guest Stars

Kathie Browne

Eddie Firestone

Production Notes

• Pernell Roberts does not appear in this episode

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Hoss
• Dave Hart is the tax assayer
• Gatling is a racehorse that the Cartwrights own
• Saloon: Bucket of Blood

Season 2 (Episode 21)

Air Date: 11 February 1961

Writer: Marion Parsonnet

Director: Dick Moder

Synopsis
Hoss feeling guilty over the accidental death of Willie Twilight, decides he needs time away. What Hoss doesn’t know is that he is being followed by Red, Willie’s brother. Red blames Hoss for Willie’s death and is intent on killing him. When Hoss is overdue, Adam and Joe go looking for him and get to him shortly after Red shoots Hoss in the back. Joe now wants to get Red and make him pay for what he did to Hoss. Ben warns Red to stay away from his sons and tells Red that Hoss is still alive. Red then puts a plan into action that may result in more than one Cartwright dying.

Guest Stars
Adam Williams (Red Twilight), Beverly Tyler (Mary), Keith Richards (Willie Twilight), Robert Griffin (Sheriff), Olan Soule (Hotel Clerk), Roy Engel (Doctor)

Notable Guest Stars

Beverly Tyler

Episode Notes

• VC Business: The Salem House ~ Room and Board
• Location: Mud Creek
• Sign: A.J. Durkus ~ Virginia City ~ Nevada Territory

Detailed synopsis and analysis

Season 2 (Episode 20)

Air Date: 4 February 1961

Writer: Richard Landau

Director: Lewis Allen

Synopsis

Guest Stars
Ziva Rodann (Maria), James Best (Carl Reagan), Frank Silvera (El Jefe), Arthur Batanides (Pablo), Veda Ann Borg (Beulah), Salvador Baguez (Gomez), Alex Montoya (Juan), Will Wright (Will Reagan)

Notable Guest Stars

James Best

Ziva Rodann

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Adam

Season 2 (Episode 19)

Air Date: 28 January 1961

Writer: N.B. Stone Jr.

Director: Robert Altman

Synopsis

Recurring Actors/Characters
Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee)

Guest Stars
Dan Tobin (Finch), Wynn Pearce (Mr. Johnson), Walter Burke (Tim O’Brien), Ian Wolfe (John J. Harrison), Owen Bush (J.R. Huggins), Arnold Merritt (Harrison’s Advisor), Howard Wendell (Harrison’s Advisor), Carl Milletaire (Mr. Miller), Mickey Finn (Frank)

Notable Guest Stars

Howard Wendell

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwrights: Joe and Hoss
• Year: 1863
• Location: San Francisco
• Companies John J. Harrison owns – Harrison Mill & Smelter; Harrison Investment Co.; Harrison Steam Ship Co.; Harrison Mine & Equipment Co.
• Towns: Cedar Creek; Placerville, California
• Saloon: Bucket of Blood

Season 2 (Episode 18)

Air Date: 21 January 1961

Writer: Richard Newman

Director: Alvin Ganzer

Synopsis
A woman turns up on the Ponderosa claiming to be Ben’s wife. When Ben arrives home, she finds out that he isn’t the man she married. Believing there to be another man who is impersonating Ben, the Cartwrights, and the woman head to Crater Plain. When they get there, they find things aren’t what they seem.

Guest Stars
John McIntire (Sheriff Mike Latimer), Suzanne Lloyd (Jennifer Lane), Adam West (Frank Milton), William Mims (Ed Bailey), Hank Worden (Old Miner), Mickey Simpson (Miner), Herb Vigran (Bartender)

Notable Guest Stars

Suzanne Lloyd

John McIntire

Adam West

Hank Worden

Production Notes

• Song: The Blue Tail Fly

Episode Notes

• Ed Bailey is the Crater Plain town clerk
• Town: Crater Plain, Utah Territory

Season 2 (Episode 17)

Air Date: 14 January 1961

Writer: Ward Hawkins

Director: William Dario Faralla

Synopsis
Little Joe is forced to kill a man who has started a fire on the Ponderosa. Joe feels responsible for the man’s daughter, and takes her back to the ranch house. The Cartwrights are unaware that the girl’s relatives are on their way and are intent on exacting revenge for the death of her father.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee)

Guest Stars
Katharine Warren (Maud Hoad), Anita Sands (Willow Hoad), Jack Elam (Dodie Hoad), Steve Terrell (Bud Harvey), Mary Treen (Mrs. Shaunessy), Jack Mather (Bart Hastings), Don Harvey (Jeb Hoad), Claude Hall (Hoad family member), Ted Lehmann (Hoad family member)

Notable Guest Stars

Jack Elam

Anita Sands

Katharine Warren

Production Notes

• This is the last episode in the public domain list. The previous 30 episodes and this one are widely available on DVD and video.

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Joe

Season 2 (Episode 16)

Air Date: 7 January 1961

Writer: Richard N. Morgan

Director: James P. Yarbrough

Synopsis
While on a trip to Sacramento, Hoss meets and falls in love with Helen Layton, who is the widow of Josh Layton, an old friend of Ben’s. Hoss decides to bring her back to the Ponderosa unaware of her true nature.

Guest Stars
Julie Adams (Helen Layton), Paul Dubov (Dealer), Lyle Talbot (Sugar Daddy), Marshall Reed (Hammond), Lou Krugman (Jean), Charles Tannen (Charlie)

Notable Guest Stars

Julie Adams

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Hoss
• The year stated in this episode is 1861

Season 2 (Episode 15)

Air Date: 31 December 1960

Writers: William Raynor and Myles Wilder

Director: Lewis Allen

Synopsis
After killing Luke Grayson in self-defence, Ben decides that he is responsible for Grayson’s son Todd who has recently returned from Boston. However, Todd has his mind on revenge and is determined to kill Ben.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee)

Guest Stars
Jan Sterling (Dianne Jordan), David Macklin (Todd Grayson), Lee Van Cleef (Appling), Norman Leavitt (Bert), Allan Lane (Luke Grayson), Thomas B. Henry (Mr. Jenkins), Ed Prentiss (Minister), Dan Riss (Charlie)

Notable Guest Stars

Jan Sterling

Lee Van Cleef

Production Notes

• Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon do not appear in this episode

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Ben
• Bert is the storekeeper and Mr. B. Jenkins is the undertaker

Season 2 (Episode 14)

Air Date: 17 December 1960

Writer: Gene L. Coon

Director: James P. Yarbrough

Synopsis
While on a visit to Virginia City, Hoss meets up with a man called Arnie. Hoss befriends Arnie when he realises Arnie needs help in learning how to control his temper and his strength. Hoss persuades his father to give Arnie a job on the Ponderosa as part of Arnie’s rehabilitation but other events get in the way of Hoss helping his new friend.

Recurring Actors/Characters
Ray Teal (Sheriff Roy Coffee)

Guest Stars
Karen Sharpe (Shari-Belle), Cal Bolder (Arnie Guthrie), Leonard Nimoy (Freddy), Charles Tannen (Dave), Rodolfo Hoyos (Pepe)

Notable Guest Stars

Leonard Nimoy

Karen Sharpe

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Hoss
• Saloon: Bucket of Blood

Season 2 (Episode 13)

Air Date: 10 December 1960

Writer: John Furia, Jr

Director: Robert Altman

Synopsis

Guest Stars
Albert Salmi (Albie), Stella Stevens (Ann Croft), Kenneth MacKenna (Sam Croft), James Griffith (Preacher), Sherwood Price (Eb), Harry Swoger (Tom)

Notable Guest Stars

Sherwood Price

Albert Salmi

Stella Stevens

Production Notes

• Pernell Roberts and Dan Blocker do not appear in this episode

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Joe

Season 2 (Episode 12)

Writers: Joe Stone and Paul King

Director: James Neilson

Air Date: 3 December 1960

Synopsis
Adam, on his way to Nevada City encounters the bodies of two fur trappers in an Indian burial ground. Adam is wounded when he tries to save a white woman whom the Indians know as White Buffalo Woman, a spirit who lives in the area. The woman cares for Adam after he is wounded and takes him back to her camp. While in her care, Adam falls in love with her. He convinces her to come back with him but other things get in the way of their happiness.

Guest Stars
Anna Lisa (White Buffalo Woman/Ruth Halverson), Hal John Norman (Chief Chato), Victor Millan (Dako), Bob Wienskjo (Kaska), Frank Sentry (Iowa), Maurice Jara (Tolka), Henry Wills (McGregor)

Notable Guest Stars

Anna Lisa

Episode Notes

• Featured Cartwright: Adam