I don't know why. Most Baby Boomers have never seen The Rifleman (1958-63), about single dad Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors) raising his son Mark (Johnny Crawford) in the Old West. It was before our time during its first run, and who wanted to watch the reruns? Westerns were square; the 1960s was all about blasting off in rocket ships and zapping aliens with ray guns.
Plus Johnny Crawford was 12 years old when The Rifleman began, so any sexual activity would be the predatory grooming of a pedophile. During the last season, he was 16-17 years old, still off limits for any consensual romance. But maybe later, when they were both adults.
Here are the 2 hookup stories I heard about them in West Hollywood. The first comes from a guest at one of Will the Bondage Boy's parties in 1999, a young BDSM bottom. I don't remember his name, so I'll call him Tad. I added a few details.
Hollywood, Spring 1986
I was a Cute Young Thing, 19 years old, still living with my parents, working at a video store in Eagle Rock. I was tall and skinny, kind of homely, with a big nose and acne scars, o muscles, no selling point except my willingness to bottom, which as you know was unusual in the 1980s.
So every weekend I hung out on Hustler Corner, Highland and Santa Monica. Not hustling, though I wouldn't say no to a new shirt. But the closeted married men who came out after their kids were tucked into bed didn't care that I was poor, homely, small, or didn't belong to a gym. All they cared about was getting off.
I met a lot of closeted actors on Hustler Corner, cruising themselves or sending an assistant out to make the deal for them.
Well, one night this blue Camero pulls up, and a very handsome guy sticks his head out -- in his 30s, black curly hair, dark skin -- and asks if I like older men. He's not really older, but I say "Sure" and get into the car with him.
We drive to the parking lot on Selma. "Do you mind if I inspect the merchandise first?" he asks.
"Be my guest." He asks me to raise up so he can feel my butt. "Nice and firm! Do you do Greek passive?"
"As long as you use a condom."
"Great -- these days Greek passive is hard to find. Is bondage ok?"
I wasn' t ready to admit my BDSM interest yet, so I said "As long as there's no pain."
"Another plus. And you're cute. I think you'll do great."
"Thanks," I said, wondering if I was going to a trick or an audition.
"It's a bit of a drive, so my boss would like you to spend the night, and if things work out, the weekend. It pay $200. Is that ok?"
"As long as I'm back for work by noon Sunday."
Chuck Connors! I can barely hide my excitement! You may think I'm too young to remember The Rifleman, but when I was growing up, they were playing the reruns every day after school. I had lots of fantasies about Lucas McCain and especially his teenage son Mark.
After about two hours, we come to a gated community up in the mountains near Bakerfield, and drive into what looks like a ranch called Medicine Hat Oak. The main house is all done like a Wild West ranch, too, with wood paneling and deer and moose heads and guns on the walls, and that old-fashioned Colonial furniture.
Mike lets me use the bathroom, then takes me into a guest room. More Wild West motif.
"You won't meet Mr. Connors until tomorrow," he says. "Do you need anything?"
"A shower," I tell him. "And maybe you could join me?" We start kissing.
The full story, with nude photos and explicit sexual situations, is on Tales of West Hollywood.