Date: September 10, 1960

Summary: A gang robs the Virginia City Bank then hides out near the Ponderosa until things quiet down. One of the gang members, Sam Kirby, hires on at the Ponderosa as a ranch hand so he can keep an eye on the movement of the posse and alert the rest of the gang if the cavalry gets called in. It proves to be a test of Sam’s loyalties though.

Written by: Dean Riesner
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Ben Cooper (Sam Kirby), Jack Lambert (John Pardo)


Slideshow courtesy of Bejules

Date: September 17, 1960

Summary: Charlie Trent used to be a scout, but now he is little more than the town drunk. Hoss is looking after him a little one day when an Army unit passes through, in need of a scout to guide them as they transport a gold shipment through dangerous terrain. The captain hires Trent, who has to prove to the soldiers, to Hoss and to himself that he is up to the challenge. Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon do not appear in this episode.

Written by: Robert E. Thompson
Directed by: James Neilson
Guest Stars: Henry Hull (Charlie Trent), Peter Whitney (Lewt Cutter), John Dehner (Captain Pender)


Slideshow images courtesy of Calamity

Date: September 24, 1960

Summary: Adam is rescued from an ambush by Gerald Eskith, a U.S. Marshall who is on business in Virginia City. Eskith is looking for Jason Blaine, a man who is married to a close friend of the Cartwrights, claiming that he needs to take him to California to be a trial witness.

Written by: John Twist
Directed by: Arthur Lubin
Guest Stars: Dan Duryea (Gerald Eskith), Christine White (Mariette Blaine), Fred Beir (Jason Blaine)


Slideshow images courtesy of Tracy

Date: October 1, 1960

Summary: The Cartwrights' neighbor Tom Edwards has lived as a paraplegic, ever since an accident involving Ben Cartwright and a gun. His ranch is going to waste. His wife Joyce is a longtime friend, so Ben decides to help the Edwards by making Tom a business proposition: the Cartwrights will build a grain mill on Edwards' land. In return, Ben only wants his investment back, plus fifteen percent. Tom agrees to the deal, but his hired hand Ezekiel starts making comments to him that causes tensions to rise and tempers to flare.

Written by: Halsted Welles
Directed by: John Rich
Guest Stars: Claude Akins (Ezekiel), Dianne Foster (Joyce Edwards), Harry Townes (Tom Edwards)


slideshow courtesy of Gillie

Date: October 8, 1960

Summary: While in Virginia City, Adam and a new friend, Sam Bord, come across a wagon train of Quakers bound for California. He and Bord offer to act as escorts for the wagon train and Adam finds himself falling for the daughter of the group’s leader. But when Bord turns against the group, Adam is forced to accept the differences between the Quakers’ beliefs and his own.

Written by: E. Jack Neuman
Directed by: James Neilson
Guest Stars: Patricia Donahue (Regina Darien), Larry Gates (Jacob Darien), Dennis Patrick (Sam Bord)


slideshow image courtesy of Gillie

Date: October 15, 1960

Summary: Denver McKee is a retired lawman and friend of the Cartwright family, whose daughter Connie is returning to Nevada after going to school in the East for four years. In his resolution to provide for Connie’s future security and happiness, Denver proves he does not have much respect for the law he once swore to uphold.

Written by: Fred Freiberger
Directed by: Jacques Tourneur
Guest Stars: Franchot Tone (Denver McKee), Natalie Trundy (Connie McKee), Ken Mayer (Miles Briscoe), Bob Barker (Mort)


Slideshow courtesy of Bejules

Date: October 22, 1960

Summary: Ben is ambushed on his own land and badly injured. He is rescued by Matsou and his wife Hatoya, and brought back to the Ponderosa. Grateful for what the two Indians have done for him, Ben gives them some land to farm and settle. But the odds are against their success as a new neighbor and Matsou’s brother are intent on making sure that they fail.

Written by: Leonard Heideman and R. Harner Norris
Directed by: Richard Bartlett
Guest Stars: Ricardo Montalban (Matsou), Madlyn Rhue (Hatoya), Karl Swenson (Ike Daggert), Anthony Caruso (Lagos)


slideshow courtesy of Tracy

Date: October 29, 1960

Summary: Joe’s date disappears at a carnival.

Written by: Herman Groves
Directed by: Charles F. Haas
Guest Stars: Gerald Mohr (Phil Reed), Barbara Lawrence (Della Thompson), Jackie Russell (Jennifer Beale)


Slideshow images courtesy of Gillie

Date: November 5, 1960

Summary: Dolly Kincaid welcomes the chance to leave town with a handsome stranger unaware that he's a bank robber.

Written by: David Lang
Directed by: John Florea
Guest Stars:John Ericson (Vance Dagen), Myrna Fahey (Dolly Kincaid)


slideshow images courtesy of Bejules

Date: November 12, 1960

Summary: Outlaw Gunnar Borgstrom (Uncle Gunnar) comes to visit his brother-in-law Ben.

Written by: Anthony Lawrence
Directed by: John Florea
Guest Stars: Neville Brand (Gunnar Borgstrom), Al Ruscio (Vaca), Sonya Wilde (Carrie McClane)


Slideshow image courtesy of Bejules

Date: November 26, 1960

Summary: Outlaw Johnny Logan plots revenge against his father (The Sheriff who put him in jail).
Written by: Carey Wilbur

Directed by: John Rich
Guest Stars: Dick Davalos (Johnny Logan), James Westerfield (Sheriff Logan), Edgar Buchanan (Hallelujah Hicks)


Slideshow images courtesy of Freya

Date: December 3, 1960

Summary: Adam falls in love with a girl known to the Indians as the white buffalo woman.

Written by: Joe Stone, Paul King
Directed by: James Neilson
Guest Stars: Anna Lisa (Ruth Halverson), Hal Jon Norman (Chief Chato)


Slideshow courtesy of Adamant

Date: December 10, 1960

Summary: Joe teaches Ann Croft sign language and she thinks they’re in love.

Written by: John Furia Jr.
Directed by: Robert Altman
Guest Stars: Stella Stevens (Ann Croft), Albert Salmi (Albie), Kenneth MacKenna (Sam Croft)


Slideshow images courtesy of Bejules

Date:December 17, 1960

Summary: Hoss tries to help Arnie Gunn, a man with the mind of a child and an uncontrollable temper.

Written by: Gene L. Coon
Directed by: James P. Yarbrough
Guest Stars: Cal Bolder (Arnie Guthrie), Karen Sharpe (Sheri-Belle), Leonard Nimoy (Freddy the bartender)


Slideshow image courtesy of ansinico

Date: December 31, 1960

Summary: A boy blames Ben for the death of his father.

Written by: William Raynor, Myles Wilder
Directed by:Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: David Macklin (Todd Grayson), Jan Sterling (Dianne Jordan), Lee Van Cleef (Appling)


Slideshow images by Freya

Date: January 7, 1961

Summary: After hearing of the death of his old friend Josh Layton, Ben asks Little Joe and Hoss to visit his widow Helen in Sacramento, CA. Upon their arrival, Hoss urges her to accompany them back to the Ponderosa. Along the way, Hoss proposes to Helen Layton, unaware that she's a compulsive gambler and only using him.

Written by: Richard N. Morgan
Directed by: James P. Yarbrough
Guest Stars: Julie Adams (Helen Layton)


Slideshow images courtesy of Gillie

Date: January 14, 1961

Summary: Maud Hoad looks for revenge against Joe, who was forced to shoot Jeb Hoad.

Written by: Ward Hawkins
Directed by: William Dario Faralla
Guest Stars: Anita Sands (Willow Hoad), Katharine Warren (Maud Hoad), Jack Elam (Dodie Hoad)


Slideshow images courtesy of Calamity

Date: January 21, 1961

Summary: Jennifer Lane comes to the Ponderosa claiming to be Ben’s wife.

Written by:Richard Newman
Directed by: Alvin Ganzer
Guest Stars: Suzanne Lloyd (Jennifer Lane), John McIntire (Sheriff Mike Latimer), Adam West (Frank Milton)


slideshow images courtesy of Calamity

Date: January 28, 1961

Summary: Joe and Hoss rob the bank in an effort to prevent the owner from foreclosing on a depositor.

Written by: N. B. Stone Jr.
Directed by: Robert Altman
Guest Stars: Walter Burke (Tim O'Brien)


Slideshow images by Bejules

Date: February 4, 1961

Summary: Adam travels to Mexico to investigate the death of a friend.

Written by: Richard Landau
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Frank Silvera (El Jefe), James Best (Carl Reagan), Ziva Rodann (Maria)


Slideshow images courtesy of Adamant

Date: February 11, 1961

Summary: Hoss accidently kills Willy Twilight by pushing him when Willy's drunk and shooting off his gun. Willy's brother, Red, blames Hoss for his brothers death. Red wants revenge on Hoss and ambushes him. Joe now seeks revenge on Red and goes after him.

Written by: Marion Parsonnet
Directed by: Dick Moder
Guest Stars: Adam Williams (Red Twilight), Keith Richards (Willie Twilight), Beverly Tyler (Mary)


Slideshow images courtesy of Freya

Date: February 18, 1961

Summary: The townspeople unite in rebellion against new tax collector Jock Henry.

Written by: Arnold Belgard
Directed by: William Witney
Guest Stars: Eddie Firestone (Jock Henry), Kathie Browne (Ellen Henry)


Slideshow images courtesy of Freya

Date: February 25, 1961

Summary: The Cartwrights tangle with cattle rustlers.

Written by: Steve McNeil
Directed by: William Dario Faralla
Guest Stars: Leif Erickson (Josh Tatum), Richard Coogan (Jake Moss)


Slideshow images courtesy of Calamity

Date: March 4, 1961

Summary: James Coburn appears as a rancher who accuses Adam of having an affair with his wife.

Written by: Ward Hawkins
Directed by: Robert Gordon
Guest Stars: James Coburn (Ross Marquette), CeCe Whitney (Delphina Marquette)


Slideshow images courtesy of Tracy

Date: March 11, 1961

Summary: An English boxer and Hoss compete in a prizefight.

Written by: William Cox, Theodore and Mathilde Ferro
Directed by: Robert Altman
Guest Stars: Maxwell Reed (The Duke), J. Pat O'Malley (Limey), Randy Stuart (Marge)


Slideshow images courtesy of Freya

Date: March 18, 1961

Summary: The Cartwrights join forces with Jed Trask to break up a mob.

Written by:Nat Tanchuck
Directed by: Dick Moder
Guest Stars: Robert Lansing (Jed Trask), Shirley Ballard (Belle Trask)


Slideshow images courtesy of Bejules

Date: April 1, 1961

Summary: Horse thieves stalk Joe and his friend across the desert with an Arab stallion.

Written by: Denne Petitclerc, Thomas Thompson
Directed by: William Witney
Guest Stars: Martin Landau (Emeliano), Jim Davis (Sam Wolf)


Slideshow images courtesy of Bejules

Date: April 15, 1961

Summary: Hoss struggles with his conscience when he spots his rival for Cameo Johnson's affections leaving a lynching.

Written by: Anthony Lawrence
Directed by: Robert Altman
Guest Stars: Peggy Ann Garner (Cameo Johnson), Charles Aidman (Jim Applegate)


Slideshow images courtesy of Freya

Date: April 22, 1961

Summary: A con man induces the townspeople to invest in Daniel Pettibone's horseless carriage.

Written by: Ward Hawkins
Directed by: William Witney
Guest Stars: George Kennedy (Peter Long), Eddie Ryder (Daniel Pettibone)


Slideshow images courtesy of Gillie

Date: April 29, 1961

Summary: The Cartwrights try to discredit reports of a silver strike and become marked for death by miners.

Written by: Gene L. Coon
Directed by: Dick Moder
Guest Stars: Vito Scotti (Leon Flores), Walter Coy (Frank Furnas), Parley Baer (Cunningham)


Slideshow images courtesy of Calamity

Date: May 6, 1961

Summary: Joe is arrested for murder as a result of his best friend's false testimony.

Written by: John Hawkins
Directed by: Robert Altman
Guest Stars: Russell Collins (John Hardner), Morgan Woodward (Sheriff)


Slideshow images courtesy of Calamity

Date: May 20, 1961

Summary: A balloonist stays at the Ponderosa while his associates plans to rob the bank.

Written by: Jack McClain, James van Wagoner
Directed by: Robert Altman
Guest Stars: Sidney Blackmer (John Cayley), Burt Douglas (Kingsley)


Slideshow images courtesy of Bejules

Date: May 27, 1961

Summary: In flashbacks, Ben recalls his life with Elizabeth, Adam's mother.

Written by: Anthony Lawrence
Directed by: Lewis Allen
Guest Stars: Geraldine Brooks (Elizabeth Stoddard), Torin Thatcher (Captain Abel Stoddard)


Slideshow images courtesy of Tracy

Date: June 3, 1961

Summary: The Cartwrights try to help blacksmith Sam Hill regain title to the land where his mother is buried.

Written by: David Dortort
Directed by: Robert Altman
Guest Stars: Claude Akins (Sam Hill), Edgar Buchanan (John Henry Hill), Ford Rainey (Colonel Tyson)


Slideshow image courtesy of Bejules