The Man from Blackhawk

Premise

Set in the 1870s, the series follows Sam Logan, an insurance investigator for the Blackhawk Insurance Company in Chicago. Logan travels the West to verify claims and uncover fraud, often using his fists rather than a gun. He frequently works in disguise, possessing outfits for 34 professions such as cotton speculator, cowhand, and professional gambler. Rockwell described his character as having strong principles and integrity, but being not particularly pleasant.

Characters and actors

Beverly Garland played Sarah Marshall and Richard Rust played George Blackburn in the premiere episode "Logan's Policy" (October 9, 1959). Ruta Lee portrayed Ginnie Thompson in "The Legacy" (December 25, 1959). Chubby Johnson appeared as Jessie Turnbull in "The Last Days of Jessie Turnbull." Some episodes were set outside the American West: Tommy Rettig and Amanda Randolph were cast as Pierre and Auntie Cotton in "The Ghost of Lafitte" (1960), set in New Orleans; Gregg Palmer and Walter Burke appeared in "The Harpoon Story" (1960), set in coastal New England; Nita Talbot appeared in "In His Steps" (1960), set in New York's Bowery district; and Robert Eyer played Davey in "The Montreal Story" (1960).

Other guest stars included John Anderson, Joanna Barnes, Robert Bray, Virginia Christine, Andy Clyde, Walter Coy, Brad Dexter, Virginia Gregg, Alan Hale, Jr., Chubby Johnson, Bethel Leslie, Mort Mills, Denver Pyle, Harry Dean Stanton, Robert J. Stevenson, Karl Swenson, and Jean Willes.

Production

The Man from Blackhawk was produced by Screen Gems, created by Frank Barron, and produced by Herb Meadow. Meadow left after 13 weeks to return to writing, citing 18-hour work days that exhausted him mentally and left no time for family. Producers spent over two years researching insurance records, old newspapers, and other documents to find material about 1870s insurance operations and fraud.