What the L? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lancer

"Lancer" ran for two seasons from 1968-1970. Murdoch Lancer, played by Andrew Duggan, was the patriarch of the family ranch situated in the San Joaquin Valley of California. His two adult sons were estranged from him. When outlaws began raiding his ranch, he contacted his sons to help him rid the area of those terrorists and assist in running the ranch.

Answer: Laredo

"Laredo" is a western with humorous overtones that aired for two seasons from 1965-1967. It focused on three Texas Rangers in a company stationed in the border town of Laredo. The pilot episode, "We've Lost a Train", premiered as an episode of "The Virginian" in April 1965.

The premise was that Trampas, played by Doug McClure, had traveled to Laredo to pick up a bull and became embroiled in an escapade with three of the Rangers.

Answer: Laramie

"Laramie" premiered in 1959 and ran for four seasons, ending in 1963. It featured men who operated a stage station and small ranch near Laramie. In the first season, the cast included the station owner's kid brother, an adult who served as cook and assistant, and a drifter from Texas hired on as a stock wrangler and assistant, eventually becoming a partner.

Answer: Lancer

Wayne Maunder played the part of Scott Lancer, Murdoch's older son. Scott's mother died in childbirth, and her father had taken the infant to Boston to be raised. Scott had no contact with his birth father until Murdoch reached out to him as an adult, asking him to come to California to help him run the Lancer Ranch.

Answer: Laredo

Captain Parmalee, played by Philip Carey, was in charge of the company of Texas Rangers that comprised the capable, yet trouble-prone trio of Chad, Joe, and Reese. He doled out their assignments and punishments when their shenanigans invariably got them into hot water, but they always "got their man" in the end.

Answer: Laramie

John Smith played the stage station operator and rancher Slim Sherman in all four seasons of the series. Slim took over running the operation after his father Matt was murdered. He was an honest, upright citizen and hard worker.

Answer: Lancer

Johnny was Murdoch Lancer's younger son who, like Scott, had been raised away from his father. Johnny grew up in a rough environment near the Mexican border and became a gunfighter. When Murdoch contacted him, he came to the Lancer Ranch to meet the father and brother he had never known.

The relationship was initially rocky, but in time, he gave up gunfighting, settled down on the Lancer ranch, and chose to be called Johnny Lancer.

Answer: Laredo

Peter Brown played Texas Ranger Chad Cooper. He and fellow Ranger Joe Riley spent their off-duty time gambling in the local saloon. They enjoyed making bets with each other that often involved instigating trouble for the third member of their patrol group, Reese Bennett.

Answer: Laramie

Robert Fuller played a "just passing through" character who Slim hired to help run the stage station. His name was Jess Harper, and he had come from Texas to Wyoming after the Civil War. He was a bit hot-headed to counter the easy-going and more patient character of Slim.

Answer: Lancer

Elizabeth Baur played Teresa O'Brien, Murdoch Lancer's ward. Her father was foreman of the Lancer ranch who had been killed defending the ranch from outlaws. Teresa became Murdoch's adopted daughter before Scott and Johnny joined the family. They treated her like a younger sister.

Answer: Laredo

Broad-shouldered, muscular actor William Smith played Ranger Joe Riley. He was familiar with different Native American tribes in the area and was a skilled tracker. He was also handy with a knife and a gun. Fellow Rangers Chad and Reese tried repeatedly to set Joe up with outlaw Linda Littletrees, with comedic results.

Answer: Laramie

Composer Hoagy Carmichael, famous for writing the song "Stardust", tried his hand at acting in "Laramie". He played Jonesy who was hired to cook and ride herd on Andy, Slim's younger brother, played by Robert Crawford (older brother of Johnny Crawford, who starred on "The Rifleman").

When Carmichael's contract was not extended past the first season, Jonesy and Andy were written out of the show.

Answer: Lancer

Jelly Hoskins, played by veteran character actor Paul Brinegar, hired on as a handyman at the ranch. He came across as a crotchety type, but he was actually tenderhearted towards children, women, and animals. He had been caring for a group of orphan boys when he came to Lancer. Murdoch convinced him to allow families to adopt the boys, and Jelly remained as a ranch hand and general fix-it man.

Answer: Laramie

In the third season, Spring Byington joined the cast. She played Daisy Cooper, a widow, who became the stage station housekeeper and cook. Slim and Jess were tired of their own cooking, and they also needed help looking after Mike, an orphan boy, they had adopted. She provided a female perspective to balance the previously all-male cast.

Answer: Laredo

Gravel-voiced actor Neville Brand played Ranger Reese Bennett. An irascible character, Reese was nevertheless a competent law enforcement officer. He was also an easy mark for inveterate pranksters Chad and Joe, who enjoyed annoying him. The trio's antics sorely tried Captain Parmalee's patience.