This was a rare made for TV pilot.  It is not available on video and never shown on TV.  [This was proposed in 1957.  Had it made it, we may not have Chuck in the part of Lucas McCain aka The Rifleman]  This is a story about Big Foot Wallace, a 1830's frontiersman who strangely believed in the Texas freedom fight for independence from Mexico.  The pilot episode was written by Aaron Spelling and Paul Richards, with Chuck in the title role of Big Foot Wallace.  Chubby Johnson was Big Foot's comic sidekick, and John Dehner (often cast as television and movie villains) was cast as the bloodthirsty Captain Digas.

 When Big Foot insults the captain by punching him, they fight a duel with swords, which is won by the Texas patriot.  Digas is then killed by a bullet from one of his own men, as the prisoners overpower the guards, blow up the ammunition sump, and safely make their escape back to Texas.

Dressed in buckskins and sporting a brush haircut, Chuck preformed his first horsemanship on screen, and he proved that a kid from Brooklyn could really ride a horse like a Westerner!  In a high-speed chase after an Indian, Connors actually rode his mount at breakneck speed while dodging arrows. This was not a studio shot of an actor sitting on a dummy in front of a rear projection―this was the real thing!
And so after the credits were rolled, on screen comes this tall actor dressed in buckskins, hat, and leaning on a flintlock rifle, who says: "Hello―my name is Chuck Connors.  It's going to be my privilege to play Big Foot Wallace for the next, oh, fifty years or so―leastwise I hear tell.  We're all pretty excited about this series, and I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about our plans, and about Big Foot.
"Big Foot was a real and fabulous character, one of the most exciting figures in frontier history.  His fight for Texas independence, his reputation as the greates Indian fighter of his day, his career as one of the first Texas Rangers, his leardership in settling, the unknown western wilderness, made him the Paul Bunyan of the southwest, the hero of a thousand exciting stories.

"As for the man himself, Big Foot was simple and God-fearing, filled with a great desire to help his fellow man who loved a joke as well as a fight, and he generally able to manage both at the same time. 
"Now it's this humorous side pf Big Foot, combined with his fantastic adventures―and believe me, they were fantastic― that make us feel he's a great subject for a television series.
"Most of all we can guarantee you some real action―action the whole family will enjoy.  Our stories are going to be packed with hard-hitting excitement, full of frontier lore that will please youngsters from three to ninety-three.  (By this time, Chuck's face has blossomed into a huge smile!)
"Well, thanks for letting me talk to you this way.  As you can tell, we're all pretty well sold on Big Foot, and we hope you let Big Foot do some selling for you."
A final c lip showed Big Foot with three youngsters clamoring for his autograph.  When Chuck asked them if they liked the show, they all said in unison, "Yes, Daddy!" (This very cute scene was with his three boys, Mike Jeff, and Steve, who were about ages six, four and two, respectively, at this time.

This promo was aimed at potential sponsors, and Chuck did a whale of a job pitching "Big Foot."  He convincingly recited that entire speech by memory, and he sounded very much like he really did believe in Big Foot.  For reasons unknown the series never did get off the ground and the pilot was the only episode of Big Foot Wallace  ever filmed.  But Chuck was now concidered star material by television producers, and it would only be a matter of time until the right vehicle was found to display the considerable talents of young Mr. Connors.

I have this video and I enjoyed it very much.  The pictures are from the video.  They aren't the clearest, but at least I can share these with you.  It even has the scene in it with Chuck's boys at the end.  It is so adorable!
Any questions please feel free to e-mail me.

Piddlin stuff.....John Dehner played in four episodes of "The Rifleman" - 'The Money Gun' ~ he played Tom King a hired gun. 'The Blowout' ~ he played Al Walker [Alvin Brisbe Walker] a gunslinger. 'The Baby Sitter' ~ he played Wood Bartell a self-righteous, bigoted father. [he was Fancy's Father] 'The Prisoner' ~ he played Major Aaron King, a ex-Confederate officer who seeks revenge on Lucas. He also starred with Chuck in "Branded" ~ 'One Way Out' as Joshua Murdock, "Airplane II: The Sequel"  ~ "Support Your Local Sheriff " ~ & "Bigfoot Wallace"

Chubby Johnson played Kansas Sawyer.  He's the one who originally bought the stallion, but then took it back.  He has starred in "The Rifleman" in several episodes.  Besides 'The Horse Traders' ~ 'The Spoiler' ~ 'Guilty Conscience'.   He also starred as Chuck's sidekick in "Big Foot Wallace."