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Patricia Blair
aka Lou Mallory ~ owner of the General Store, Madera House,
a farm and several parcels of land
Lou Mallory
— Episode 145
AP Wire Press Release
"Welcome to The McCain Ranch Lou!"
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The Hollywood Scene
by Vernon Scott
(Editors note: Vernon Scott is on vacation.
Today Chuck Connors of "The Rifleman" television
series announces a new costar..... By Chuck
Connors writing for UPI
Hollywood (UPI) - A few months ago I was
handed what I thought was a dream assignment. At
least it started out on a dreamlike note, but
almost snowballed into becoming a nightmare. The
producers of "The Rifleman" and myself decided
to add
an interesting and attractive feminine
personality to our show. We planned to call her
Lou Mallory.
I sat in all the meetings during which it
was decided what kind of girl we wanted. Then we
started our hunt. I had to interview the actress
in question because I had to play opposite of
her. Weeks went by and I talked with maybe a
dozen girls a day. Talking to beautiful girls
and getting paid for it! Like they had asked me
to do this? I should have known the old Connors
applecart was in for an upset. It seemed too
good to be true.
During my baseball career I've had my share of
injuries and falls in fights, but this was all
child's play compared to the hazardous task of
finding a beautiful and talented actress who was
right for our show. Today I'm a sadder and wiser
man as a result of our great search and while
you can't see the scars left by the experience,
brother they are there.
One actors seem to have all the qualifications.
She was slim, redheaded, and very good to look
at. But she had a slight handicap that went
against her on a western series -- She was
afraid of horses.
I think it was the 30th gal I talked to who was
the garlic eater. Just about the time I was
ready to give up - some 60 girls later - a
redhead from Texas named Pat Blair was ushered
into the office. She was Irish like our "Pat
Mallory" and I know we made a darn good choice.
When we kick off "The Rifleman" in October,
you'll know what I mean.
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ADVANCE FOR
AM'S WED, 9/26 — FOR USE WITH STORY BY JOSEPH FINNIGAN
HCP092601-9/26/62-hollywood: Chuck Connors, star of ABC-TV's
"Rifleman" series has a new girl friend. Chuck failed to marry
the last one Joan Taylor who went "back east" leaving Chuck
(Lucas McCain in the series) to find another gal. The new gal is
Patricia Blair who plays the role of "Lou Mallory".
UPI TELEPHOTO
I collect AP Wire Photos. This is from my personal collection.
I will be posting several of my AP Wire Press Releases from
The Rifleman though out the ranch.
(Another) -
New Romantic Interest for 'The Rifleman' Connors
By
Cynthia Lowry
The Montreal Gazette Monday August 6, 1962
Hollywood - Chuck Connors will deny it furiously, but the truth
is that Lucas McCain is fickle.
For the last year, television stalwart, right-thinking,
fast-shooting Rifleman has been seriously romancing a girl names
Millie. Lucas soon will put her out of sight and mind. And, at
the same time, a new girl will enter his life.
The ABC program soon will start its fifth season. Earlier this
week Connors threw a party to introduce the pretty red-head.
Patricia Blair, who in the third new program if the fall will
catch our hero's unexpectedly roving eye.
Originally, The Rifleman added a dark-hard Joan Taylor to the
cast of regulars, partly to inject some romance into the
adventure-filled life of widower McCain and his young son and
partly to satisfy feminine fans of the program who wrote
worriedly about the lack of gentle, motherly influences on the
young boy.
But a popular television series run into certain serious
problems as it grows older, there is need for change and
variety, but there are limit actions. Obviously, they couldn't
change the characters played by tall, good humored Chuck or by
Johnny Crawford, playing his son. One answer was a new romantic
interest. So Pat, a Dallas girl who moved on to acting after a
modeling career, got her chance.
In order to tie up all the loose ends and to stop a flood of fan
letters demanding to know what happened to Millie, the program
explained she suddenly was "called back East." The Pat, playing
a lady called Lou, will come to town and take over the local
hotel.
Connors heatedly defends Lucas' switch of affections.
"He's not fickle," he insisted. "He doesn't change girls like
automobile tires. After all, he couldn't help it if she had to
go east."
*Although this article was to introduce Lou to the fans she does mention their
first kiss. I wasn't quite sure if I should put this in
Lou Mallory - press release or
Mark's Rifle - The kiss that never happened or
did it?
I decide to put this in both pages.
New Girl
Joins "Rifleman" Show For This Season
by JOSEPH FNNIGAN
Star News - September 27, 1962
HOLLYWOOD (PI) -- Chuck Connors, star of ABC TVs "
Rifleman" has gotten another girlfriend, after having failed to
marry the last one is producers hired one for the job.
Chuck used to play opposite pretty Joan Taylor and viewers
thought, aha, they'd be married before the year is out. But like
most nosy matchmakers they were wrong. Connors, who portrays
Lucas McCain, never cottoned to his supposed love interest. So,
she went "back east", leaving Connors to find another gal.
And that's what Chuck did. This season he'll be holding hat in
hand and shuffling his feet in the best Western tradition when
he calls on newcomer Patricia Blair.
Plays Irish Immigrant
Miss. Blair, a pretty redhead, plays the role of "Lou Mallory",
a girl who emigrates from Ireland and ends up in Chuck's
hometown of North Fork. First thing she does is hoodwink the
townsfolk, buying up real estate at inflated prices because she
knows the railroad builders plan to invade North Fork.
That's not the recommended method for making friends in a
community, and Connors rushes to her defense, staunch Western
hero that he is. "Lou is very proud, independent and completely
self-sufficient". Miss. Blair said. "She's not the gingham dress
type of girl". Patricia might have added that "Miss. Lou" has
the makings of a mercenary.
Runs Grocery Store
Connors' video girl friend runs a hotel and grocery store,
occupations which are bound to compare her with "Gunsmokes" lady
saloon keeper "Kitty". "Lou has more warmth", says Pat,
who will make her debut on the show October 15. "And I'm not
running a saloon. There are more situations that I can get into
because I am an integral part of the town."
When Connors isn't fighting bad guys, he'll be battling Miss.
Blair and chances of his winning are slight. Instead of a fast
draw, Pat has a quick temper. "And Chuck is usually on the
receiving end," she said, threateningly. "But he has a temper of
his own, so the sparks will fly."
As 'Lucas McCain', Connors portrays a widower with a young son.
During the four years "Rifleman" has been telecast, Chuck's
romantic life was restricted to Miss. Taylor, now gone. His
producers hope he'll take a fancy to Pat.
"We've had our first kiss", said the anxious Miss. Blair. "I
sure hope the public likes the love interest". The pretty
actress has a big job. She's got to lasso a fickle public into
rangy Connors, both at the same time.
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