Tom_Barrister

Jimmy Noel came to Hollywood in the 1940's, after a modest career as a bandleader. His rough looks didn't bode well for the big screen, but he found substantial work when many studios produced Westerns for television. One that he was generally in demand for was this series. Star Hugh O'Brian valued loyal background players (extras), and those who put the show ahead of other engagements had steady work. Noel was the most loyal of all; he had more appearances (over 150) on the show than anybody else except O'Brian. Extras back in that day made a flat daily fee, but it was adjusted upwards if the extra did more than stand around, such as stand in with the stars, speak, bow, or do much of anything. The more substantial the work, the better the day's pay. The generous O'Brian tried to spread additional work around his loyal core group of background players, including Noel, Ethan Laidlaw, Chet Brandenburg, Bill Coontz, Phil Shumaker, and Jack Tornek.

Unfortunately, Noel had very little acting ability, and his voice was on the rough side. Therefore, like Tornek (who was a decent actor, but who had a heavy Russian accent), any additional perks were generally on the non-speaking side or in minor stunts.

Here, he has a part more substantial than anything else he did on the series. His acting was wooden, and his voice sounded shaky, but both fit the character assignment he was given, and he ended up looking good. Such as it was, this was his moment in the sun.

When the producers of Gunsmoke were looking for a stand-in for the frail Milburn Stone (Doc), O'Brian recommended Noel, who was about the same height, build, and hair style as Stone, and who could do stunts when needed. Noel was signed on in 1960, and he worked with the series until it ended in 1974. To help pad his income, he was also given many bit parts and additional background work.

Douglas Fowley played two main characters on this show: the eccentric and funny Doc Fabrique for a few episodes, and the stone serious Doc Holliday (which was also played by Myron Healey). Here he has a different role: an old man who has some mysterious business with a man in town. To tell more would be revealing spoilers, but if you're a fan of Fowley, you don't want to miss this episode.

Next to the show's star Hugh O'Brian, Jimmy Noel and Ethan Laidlaw appeared in more episodes of the series than anybody else, although they were almost always uncredited. The generous O'Brian saw to it that his regular background players were taken care of.

Back in those days, background players (extras) got paid a flat rate for the day, plus adjustments for whatever additional things they did over and above what somebody just standing in the background would get. Standing in a group with a co-star paid a bit more, speaking any words paid extra, and bit parts paid more yet.

At the time this episode was shot, Noel had only about ten years experience on sets and had limited acting ability, while Laidlaw was an old hand, with nearly thirty years in the trade. Both were reliable and showed up when asked.

In this episode, they're given bit parts as drunks ready to fight --- sort of --- when Earp breaks it up. Laidlaw, who is in the foreground with O'Brian, was given the more substantial role, mainly because he could be trusted to handle it better, and he pulls off the part of the drunk with comic brilliance. Noel overacts a bit, but Laidlaw carries him through the bit until they are hauled off into the cell by Shotgun Gibbs, and he even addresses Noel by his real first name (something not uncommon then) as they're being led away.