Meanwhile Back at the Reservation

When Captain Parmalee sends his Rangers out looking for rustlers who stole J. Pat O'Malley's herd, he's got a real skeleton crew on his hands when a whole crowd of gunslingers arrives in Laredo. It's only Philip Carey, William Smith, Peter Brown and a new kid Ranger that they've taken on board, Kurt Russell.

Russell is an Indian lad who has left the reservation and was running with an outlaw gang when the Rangers capture the gang and specifically Brown captures Russell after an interesting tussle.

Grey Smoke is Russell's character name and Carey enlists him in the Rangers as a runner/messenger, not unlike the way juveniles were recruited for the short lived pony express. But he proves to be quite an asset in taking down those gunslingers.

Kurt Russell blond hair had to be darkened to play a convincing Indian, makes him look a bit strange. It's a fun episode especially for younger viewers.

After rounding up some horse thieves, Chad (Peter Brown) and Joe (William Smith) happen upon a wayward Native American Indian boy. It's 14-year-old Kurt Russell (as Grey Smoke) made-up to look like an Indian; he is wearing a dark wig, headband, and a few feathers in his hair. Instead of turning him in, the Rangers, especially Joe, take him under their wings. Joe bathes with the "young Indian buck" (separate tubs). Chad and Joe bring him to Capt. Parmalee (Philip Carey), who agrees to make him a Kid Ranger. When a gang of nine cutthroat gunslingers arrive in Laredo, Ranger Russell is ready for action!

This episode portends another interesting theory on the series' trouble. Perhaps Neville Brand did not work well with his co-stars; for whatever reasons, he really hadn't fully participated with them in the last five aired episodes. This time Mr. Brand appears to have been inserted briefly, in the opening scenes; note that "Reese" is only seen with his back to the camera in the opening scenes. This was probably a stand-in for Brand, who must have recorded his close-ups separately.

** Meanwhile Back at the Reservation (2/10/66) Bernard McEveety ~ William Smith, Peter Brown, Kurt Russell