The Restless Gun is an American western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Civil War. A skilled gunfighter, Bonner is an idealistic person who prefers peaceful resolutions of conflict wherever possible. He is gregarious, intelligent, and public-spirited. The half-hour black-and-white program aired seventy-eight episodes. Jeanne Bates appeared in varying roles with Payne in five episodes of The Restless Gun. The Restless Gun theme song begins: "I ride with the wind, my eyes on the sun, and my hand on my restless gun..." The song composer is probably Paul Dunlap, credited as the primary series composer, but could have been contributed to by either of the two other series composers, Dave Kahn and Stanley Wilson, also. Two versions are currently posted on YouTube, but neither posting lists any composer or performance credits.
The Restless Gun (Season 2)
The Hill of Death (Episode 1)
Air date: 1959-06-22
Overview: Vint and the boy Robby are fishing by the riverbank. Vint tells the boy that the gun is a tool and goes on to tell the story of his grandfather, Jebediah Bonner. Vint's parents have been killed and he is brought up by Dr. Ken Ludlow and his wife. Jebediah, a retired marshall, arrives on the stagecoach to visit with his grandson and is confronted in the saloon by Jim Kenyon who holds a grudge from 20 years ago when he believes that Jedediah had not given his father a fair chance when he had killed him. Joe is consumed by hatred and is determined to exact revenge. Young Vint sees and hears of his grandfather being bullied and doing nothing. Jebediah decides that he must gain respect in young Vint's eyes and an exciting conclusion is played out.
Dragon for a Day (Episode 2)
Air date: 1958-09-29
Mercyday (Episode 3)
Air date: 1958-10-06
Thunder Valley (Episode 4)
Air date: 1958-10-13
The Nowhere Kid (Episode 5)
Air date: 1958-10-20
Bonner's Squaw (Episode 6)
Air date: 1958-11-03
Overview: Bonner persuades Chief Tashuka to honour the treaty with the white man by handing over two braves who are suspected of robbery. Unfortunately for Bonner, the chief's daughter Running Fawn takes a shine to Bonner and follows him to town. By Indian law Bonner is to marry the girl and reluctantly agrees to prevent a war. However when Bonner sees how beautiful Running Fawn is he uses an Indian custom to lose her to a brave.
Tomboy (Episode 7)
Air date: 1958-11-10
Remember the Dead (Episode 8)
Air date: 1958-11-17
No Way to Kill (Episode 9)
Air date: 1958-11-24
Take Me Home (Episode 10)
Multiply One Boy (Episode 11)
Air date: 1958-12-08
Peligroso (Episode 12)
Air date: 1958-12-15
A Bell for Santo Domingo (Episode 13)
The Way Back (Episode 14)
The Painted Beauty (Episode 15)
Air date: 1959-01-05
Shadow of a Gunfighter (Episode 16)
Air date: 1959-01-12
The Lady and the Gun (Episode 17)
Air date: 1959-01-19
Blood of Courage (Episode 18)
Better Than A Cannon (Episode 19)
The Dead Ringer (Episode 20)
Air date: 1959-02-16
Overview: Vint is deliberately framed for a bank robbery and murder.
The Last Grey Man (Episode 21)
Air date: 1959-02-23
Melany (Episode 22)
Air date: 1959-03-02
Ricochet (Episode 23)
Dead Man's Hand (Episode 24)
The Sweet Sisters (Episode 25)
Air date: 1959-03-23
Incident at Bluefield (Episode 26)
Air date: 1959-03-30
The Pawn (Episode 27)
Writer: Charles Smith
Air date: 1959-04-06
Overview: An old friend of Vint's has been jailed after being caught with a band of rustlers, and is likely to be hanged if he doesn't tell where the other rustlers are. But he is unwilling to because he fears that his compatriots will harm his deaf-mute daughter if they think he's told on them.
Four Lives (Episode 28)
Air date: 1959-04-13
One on the House (Episode 29)
Air date: 1959-04-20
Code for a Killer (Episode 30)
Air date: 1959-04-27
Overview: Vint Bonner arrives in the town of Toredo to be best man at his friend, Dave Regan's wedding. Vint soon discovers that Dave has been shot in the back and that the town, led by the new sheriff Ben Webster, are looking for his supposed killer, Vance Carter. It is left to Vint to find the truth and lay a trap for the real killer.
Mme. Brimstone (Episode 31)
Air date: 1959-05-04
Lady by Law (Episode 32)
Air date: 1959-05-11
Ride with the Devil (Episode 33)
Air date: 1959-05-18
Overview: Bonner is sent for by Don Tomas Verdes, a Mexican ranch owner, to help him convince his son to stop riding with an outlaw gang. Bonner joins the outlaws to try and bring the boy to his senses.
A Trial for Jenny May (Episode 34)
Air date: 1959-05-25
Overview: After Jenny May McElroy's husband was killed in a gunfight, no one in town would give her a job to support her children, except for the saloon owner, who hired her as a bookkeeper. Because of this some of the "proper" townspeople want to take her children and make them wards of the state.
The Cavis Boy (Episode 35)
Air date: 1959-06-01
The Englishman (Episode 36)
Air date: 1959-06-08
A Very Special Investigator (Episode 37)
Air date: 1959-06-15
