CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - TV Western series
Frontier Circus (1961-62)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:  James Beer, Louis H. Allgood
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
---------------
FRONTIER CIRCUS
---------------
Calliope Production
Revue Studios / MCA tv Exclusive Distributors
for
CBS (Thursdays 7:30 pm EST)
Produced by Richard Irving

US Western series 1961-62   26 episodes x 60 min bw
starring
Chill Wills as Col. Casey Thompson
John Derek as Ben Travis
Richard Jaeckel as Tony Gentry

Premise:
The saga of the traveling one ring "Thompson and Travis Combined Circus"
as it journeys across the frontier of the 1880's.

"Frontier Circus" Theme Music by David Buttolph [JB]

DVDs:
The entire series has been released in a 6-DVD set from Timeless Media Group via NBC Universal.

Other Credits: [JB]
MUSIC SCORING: DAVID BUTTOLPH, NATHAN SCOTT, SIDNEY FINE
DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY: ROBERT J. GOUGH, BENJAMIN H. KLINE, RAY RENNAHAN
ART DIRECTORS: GEORGE PATRICK, JOHN MEEHAN
EDITORIAL DEPT. HEAD: DAVID J. O' CONNELL
FILM EDITORS: LEE HUNTINGTON, JOSEPH HARRISON, DOUGLAS STEWART
MUSICAL SUPERVISION: STANLEY WILSON
SET DECORATORS: JOHN McCARTHY, PERRY MURDOCK, RALPH SYLOS
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS: FRANK LOSEE, GEORGE BISK, CARTER DeHAVEN, III
SOUND RECORDISTS; ED SOMERS, DAVID H. MORIARITY, EARL CRAIN, JR., CORSON JOWETT
COSTUME SUPERVISIOR; VINCENT DEE
MAKEUP: JACK BARRON, ROBERT DAWN
HAIR STYLIST: FLORENCE BUSH

############## Frontier Circus ###############
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CBS Thursdays 7:30 pm Eastern

 [01] Frontier Circus: THE DEPTHS OF FEAR   [verified - James Beer]
5-Oct-1961 CBS Thur
Written by Samuel A. Peeples
Directed by William Witney
Guest Cast:
Aldo Ray ...................... Toby Mills
James Gregory ................. Jacob Carno
Bethel Leslie ................. Millie Camo
Vito Scotti ................... Jaybo
Bern Hoffman .................. Bannister
While Ben is arranging the purchase of a mountain bear in a nearby town, he sees drifter Toby Mills cringe under the
attack of a bully named Bannister. Ben takes care of Bannister, then advises Toby to stand on his own two feet-which
he does by applying for a job with the circus.

 [02] Frontier Circus: THE SMALLEST TARGET   [verified - James Beer]
12-Oct-1961 CBS Thur
Written by ?
Directed by ?
(Opening act credit sequence missing from the episode, so if anybody out there who has a print of it,let us know.)
Guest Cast:
Barbara Rush .................. Bonnie
Brian Keith ................... Dan
Brad Herrnan .................. Richie Osborne
Roy Barcroft .................. Pete Andrews
Mike Ragan .................... Bill Poster
Dean Moray .................... Ken
Synopsis:
Sharpshooter Bonnie Stevens is the circus' star attraction, but rancher Dan Osborne doesn't seem to be one of her fans.
He tears down a poster with Bonnie's pictures on it, then orders the circus to get off his land. 

 [03] Frontier Circus: LIPPIZAN  [verified - James Beer]
19-Oct-1961 CBS Thur
Teleplay by Lawrence Kimble; Story by Dorothy C. Fontana
Directed by William Witney
Guest Cast:
Vera Miles .................... Maureen McBride
Otto Kruger ................... Gen. Fredric Jellich
H.M. Wynant ................... Talby
Gordon Jones .................. Rousty
Synopsis:
Pursuing bandits have held up the box office, Ben jumps on the first horse at hand--- the specially trained
mount of blind equestrienne Maureen Mc Bride.

 [04] Frontier Circus: DR. SAM   [verified - James Beer]
26-Oct-1961 CBS Thur (rerun 2Aug62)
Written by Jean Holloway
Directed by John English
Guest Cast:
Irene Dunne ................... Dr. Sam
Ellen Corby ................... Abby
J. Pat O'Malley ............... Duffy
Norman Leavitt ................ Willoughby
Jon Locke ..................... Jerry Jones
Jean Howell ................... Janet Jones
Bob Wolmier ................... Harry
Thompson has sent for a doctor to join his traveling troupe. But when Tony returns with Dr. Sam, the circus people
are shocked---Dr. Sam is a woman.

[05] Frontier Circus: THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED  [verified - James Beer]
02-Nov-1961 CBS Thur
Written by Frank Price
Directed by Alan Crosland, Jr.
Guest Cast:
Eddie Albert .................. Dr. Jordan
Rip Torn ...................... Jess Evans
Jocelyn Brando ................ Phyllis Jordan
Cloris Leachman ............... Anna
John Anderson ................. Carl
Colonel Thompson is hurt in an accident and Tony rides ahead to find a doctor.

[06] Frontier Circus: KARINA    [verified - James Beer]
09-Nov-1961 CBS Thur (rerun 1Mar62)
Written by Jean Hollloway
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Guest Cast:
Elizabeth Montgomery
Barbara Stuart ................ Melda
Tod Andrews ................... Jeff Andrews
Brian Hutton .................. Greg Andrews
J. Pat O'Malley ............... Duffy
Albert Paulsen ................ Rodales
Synopsis:
Colonel Thompson helps a young woman named Karina, who was injured in a spat with her husband. The circus men don't
know that Karina's husband has injuries of his own, Karina shot him.  

[07] Frontier Circus: JOURNEY FROM HANNIBAL  [verified - James Beer]
16-Nov-1961 CBS Thur
Written by Frank Price
Directed by Don Weis
Guest Cast:
Thelma Ritter ................. Bertha Beecher
Arte Johnson .................. Charles Gippner
Clem Bevans ................... McPhee
Synopsis:
Colonel Thompson goes to Hannibal, Missouri to buy an elephant, also named Hannibal, from a woman named Bertha Beecher.
Beecher's a tough businesswoman. She won't let Thompson out of her sight until he pays for the pachyderm.

 [08] Frontier Circus: WINTER QUARTERS  [verified - James Beer]
23-Nov-1961 CBS Thur
Written by Steven Thornley
Directed by John English
Guest Cast:
Robert J. Wilke .......... Jack Gance
Alex Viespi .............. Nino Sanchez
Walter Sande ............. Jake
Roy Barcroft ............. Gore
Synopsis:
Colonel Thompson wants to get his circus wagons into sunny California before winter hits, but just the circus reaches
the crest of the mountains, the horse thieves run off with their stock.

 [09] Frontier Circus: THE PATRIARCH OF PURGATORY  [verified - James Beer]
30-Nov-61 CBS Thur
Written by Les Crutchfield
Directed by William Witney
Guest Cast:
Royal Dano .................... Jethro
Robert Sampson ................ Mark Hedges
Carolyn Kearney ............... Susannah Hedges
Jane Chang .................... Shan Lu
George Barrows ................ Clint
Synopsis:
The circus arrives in the mining town of Purgatory and finds the place almost deserted. Ben and Tony start
investigating and wind up working as slave laborers.

 [10] Frontier Circus: THE SHAGGY KINGS    [verified - James Beer]
07-Dec-61 CBS Thur
Written by Samuel A.Peeples
Directed by Richard Irving
Guest Cast:
Dick York .............. Jeb Randall
Lorrie Richards ........ Molly
Dan Duryea ............. Tiber
Michael Pate ........... Quanah Parker
Jack Lambert ........... Hark Baker
Frank de Kova .......... Karl Maynard
Synopsis:
When Molly, the high-wire artist collpases from food poisoning, it is suspected that the last of the food
supply has gone bad and the next town is two weeks away. [JB]

 [11] Frontier Circus: COALS OF FIRE   [verified - James Beer]
04-Jan-62 CBS Thur
Written by Shimon Wincelberg
Directed by William Witney
Guest Cast:
Sammy Davis, Jr. ...... Cara
R.G. Armstrong ........ Uriah Foster
Larry Blake ........... Interlocutor
Marx Hartman .......... Roustabout
Chief Yowlachie ....... Indian Leader
Synopsis:
Casey and Ben learn that Cata, an ex-slave hired as a roustabout, is looking for his master's killer. Cata figures
that work with the circus will take him to different parts of the country, where he can continue his search. [JB]

 [12] Frontier Circus: THE BALLOON GIRL   [verified - James Beer]
11-Jan-62 CBS Thur (rerun 31May62)
Written by Vince Skarstedt
Directed by Gilbert L. Kay
Guest Cast:
Stella Stevens ................ Katy Cogswell
Chick Chandler ................ Luke Turlock
Stacy Morgan .................. Clarence Wexler
Claude Akins .................. Powcheek
Synopsis:
Balloon girl Katy Cogswell is a girl with a dream: She believes air travel is the coming thing. Then her
lighter-than-air craft hits a building, and Katy becomes a down-to-earth girl in a hurry.
(Synd. rerun Tues. 28Jan 64 KMSP-9 Minneapolis-St.Paul, MN 4 p.m. CST)

 [13] Frontier Circus: MR. GRADY REGRETS    [verified - James Beer]
25-Jan-62 CBS Thur
Written by Lawrence Kimble
Directed by Don Weis
Guest Cast:
Charles Ruggles ........... Will Grady
Anne Helm ................. Rosa Blanchard
Lillian Bronson ........... Dorothy Barker
Michael Forest ............ Roy Clatter
Richard Lepore ............ Jake Gard
Synopsis:
When old friend Will Grady is paroled from territorial prison, Casey greets him with a job offer. Grady accepts,
but then it looks like there may be a change in his plans. [JB]

 [14] Frontier Circus: QUICK SHUFFLE   [verified - James Beer]
01-Feb-1962 CBS Thur
Written by Robert E. Thompson
Directed by Robert Gist
Guest Cast:
Gilbert Roland ................ Luke Santos
Patricia Barry ................ Amy
George Mitchell ............... Sheriff
Carl Benton Reid .............. Judge
Richard Reeves ................ Gruber
J. Pat O'Malley ............... Townsman
Wally Blair ................... Clown
Synopsis:
Ben takes part in a card game in an attempt to get the circus out of the red. In no time at all, he owes gambler
Luke Santos a large sum of money.
(Synd. rerun Tues 19May 64 KMSP-9 Mpls.-St.Paul, MN 4 p.m. CDT)

 [15] Frontier Circus: THE COURTSHIP  [verified - James Beer]
15-Feb-1962 CBS Thur
Written by Frank Price
Directed by Hollingsworth Morse
Guest Cast:
Jo van Fleet ........... Amelia Curtis
Henry Jones ............ Marshal Longstreet
Jeanette Nolan ......... Amanda Curtis
Lloyd Corrigan ......... Willis
Willard Waterman ....... Parker
Sheila Bromley ......... Mrs. Parker
Synopsis:
Tony arrives in the town of New Atlanta and learns that Marshal Longstreet refuses to permit the circus to give
a performance there. But Casey won't take no for an answer and rides back to town with Tony to argue the point. [JB]

 [16] Frontier Circus: STOPOVER IN PARADISE  [verified - James Beer]
22-Feb-1962 CBS Thur
Written by Bob Barbash
Directed by Earl Bellamy
Guest Cast:
Carolyn Jones ................. Amy Tyson
Robert Simon .................. Jess Bailey
Adam Kennedy .................. Sam Hagen
Don Hix ....................... Perkins
Robert Hinkle ................. Dave
James Anderson ................ Hobey
Synopsis:
As the circus approaches the town of Paradise, they are met by Tony, their advance man. Tony says prospects for
a long run look pretty good, but the problem of supplies is another matter. There is no fresh meat in town. [JB]

[--] 01Mar62 - rerun of #6 "Karina"

[17] Frontier Circus: CALAMITY CIRCUS   [verified - James Beer]
 08-Mar-1962 CBS Thur
Written by Frank Price
Directed by Lesley Selander
Guest Star:
Mickey Rooney ................. Arnold
with:
Nico Minardos ................. the Great Roberto
Ina Victor .................... Lana
Parley Baer ................... Sheriff
Howard McNear ................. Judge
Synopsis:
The circus is having more than its share of trouble. When a shotgun is fired during a parade through town, causing
an elephant to stampede and a lion to escape, it becomes obvious that the mishaps are more than accidental.
(UK airdate: 22Nov61 BBC Wed 7:30 pm - Aired in UK before USA!)
Synopsis:
Business hasn't been too good, and now the star aerialist, The Great Roberto, is indisposed and can't go on
(Synd. rerun Tues 10Mar 64 KMSP-9 Mpls-St.Paul, MN 4 p.m. CST.

 [18] Frontier Circus: THE INHERITANCE   [verified - James Beer]
15-Mar-1962 CBS Thur
Written by Steven Ritch
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Guest Cast:
J. Pat O'Malley ............... Duffy [LHA]
Alan Hale, Jr. ................ Lait
Marc Marno .................... Yuki Yamoto
Tsuruko Kobayashi ............. Hideko
Synopsis:
Casey becomes the guardians of two young Japanese acrobats.

[19] Frontier Circus: NAOMI CHAMPAGNE   [verified - James Beer]
29-Mar-1962 CBS Thur
Written by Steven Ritch
Directed by Don Weis
Constance Ford ................ Naomi Champagne
Richard Conte ................. Dan Diego
Neil Hamilton ................. Jason Glass
Synopsis:
Thompson and Travis foil the holdup of a stagecoach, but since the driver has been killed, Ben agrees to take
over the run.
(Synd rerun Tues 23Jun 64 KMSP-9 Mpls.-St.Paul, MN 4 p.m. CDT)

 [20] Frontier Circus: MIGHTY LIKE ROGUES  [verified - James Beer]
05-Apr-1962 CBS Thur
Teleplay by Frank Price / Story by Lawrence Kimble
Directed by Alan Crosland, Jr.
Guest Cast:
Glenda Farrell ................ Ma Jukes
Joby Baker .................... George Washington Jukes
Roger Mobley .................. Andrew Jackson Jukes
Jena Engstrom ................. Betsy Ross Jukes
J. Pat O'Malley ............... Duffy
Renee Godfrey ................. Stella
Synopsis:
That young girl who rides up to the circus wagons is Betsy Ross Jukes and her story about being lost in the desert
with her family for days and days is very moving. It's also a big lie
(Synd. rerun Tues. 11Feb 64 KMSP-9 Mpls.-St.Paul, MN 4 p.m. CST)

[21] Frontier Circus: NEVER WON FAIR LADY  [verified - James Beer]
12-Apr-1962 CBS Thur
Written by Shimon Wincelberg
Directed by Hollingsworth Morse
Guest Cast:
Red Buttons ............. Earl Youngblood
Gloria Talbott .......... Pamela
Christopher Dark ........ Manfredi
Paul Newlan ............. General Youngblood
Richard Reeves .......... Customer
Synopsis:
Casey remembers his old commanding officer, General Youngblood, as a blood-and-thunder type. But none of this
has apparently rubbed off on the General's mild-mannered and scholarly son Earl---and now Earl shows up at the
circus with instructions from home for Casey to toughen him up. [JB]

 [22] Frontier Circus: THE GOOD FIGHT  [verified - James Beer]
19-Apr-1962 CBS Thur
Written by Steven Thornley
Directed by John English
Guest Cast:
Ray Daley ............... Luke Sanders
George Macready ......... John Duncan
Lisabeth Hush ........... Hannah Cabot
Jason Evers ............. Judd Halleck
Stephanie Hill .......... Evvy Sanders
Kenneth Tobey ........... Marshal Walden
Gordon Jones ............ Jase
Synopsis
Casey has discovered that the man he has hired, Luke Sanders, has a reputation for being handy with a fist.
Luke isn't too happy about it. His religion forbids violence. [JB]

 [23] Frontier Circus: THE CLAN MACDUFF  [verified - James Beer]
26-Apr-1962 CBS Thur
Teleplay by Thomas Thompson, Story by Steven Ritch
Directed by Charles Haas
Guest Cast:
Chris Alcade ............ Paul
Don Wilbanks ............ Carl
John Considine .......... Robin McNeill
Robert Ivers ............ Sandy McNeill
Jackie Russell .......... Patricia McDuff
Nan Peterson ............ Mary McDuff
Jess Kirkpatrick ........ Sheriff
Synopsis:
Ben and Tony are caught in a feud between the MacDuffs and the McNeills, who've been at it for centuries. [JB]

 [24] Frontier Circus: THE RACE   [verified - James Beer]
03-May-1962 CBS Thur (rerun 23Aug62)
Written by Ric Hardman
Directed by Tay Garnett
Guest Cast:
Edward Andrews ................ Duke Felix Otway
Skip Homeier .................. Colonel Rastatt
James McMullan ................ Charlie
Harry Carey, Jr. .............. Anderson
Jeff Bell ..................... Dave
Don Haggerty .................. Marshal Walworth
Synopsis:
The circus is setting up at Grand Island, Neb., but the usual mob of eager kids is missing. Tony thinks he knows the
reason: An entertainer who calls himself Duke Felix Otway has all the children at his show on the other side of town.

 [25] Frontier Circus: THE DARING DURANDOS  [verified - James Beer]
17-May-1962 CBS Thur
Written by Donn Mullally and Lee Erwin
Directed by Robert Gist
Guest Cast:
Nehemiah Persoff
Margureta Cordova ........ Maria Durando
David White .............. F.X.Farnum
Jack Searl ............... Cal Soper
Anita Sands .............. Tina Durando
Synopsis:
Internal conflicts threaten the Durandos, a trio of aerialists whose act may dissolve in bitterness. [JB]

[--] 31May62 - rerun of #12 "The Balloon Girl"

[--] 02Aug62 - rerun of #4 "Dr. Sam"

[--] 23Aug62 - rerun of #24 "The Race"

 [26] Frontier Circus: INCIDENT AT PAWNEE GUN (final episode)  [verified - James Beer]
06-Sep-1962 CBS Thur
Written by N.B.Stone, Jr.
Directed by Sidney Pollack
Guest Cast:
Joe Maross .................... Al Buchanan
Robert Lowery ................. Tigard
Kathie Browne ................. Mauvereen
John Pickard .................. Murdoch
Dick Haynes ................... Phillips
Synopsis:
Hysterical townspeople are out to destroy a circus chimp that was exposed to bubonic plague.
That should finish it right here. [JB]

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