The Tobias Jones Story (22 Oct. 1958)

Major Adams allows two stowaways, Tobias Jones and his young friend Midge, to stay with the train. But Tobias is in trouble due to his drinking, and things get worse when he's accused of murder.

Director:

Herschel Daugherty

Writers:

Harry von Zell (teleplay), Jeffrey Shorling (story)

Stars:

Ward Bond, Robert Horton, Lou Costello

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Ward Bond	...	Major Seth Adams
Robert Horton	...	Flint McCullough (credit only)
Lou Costello	...	Tobias Jones
Harry von Zell	...	Nathaniel Ferguson (as Harry Von Zell)
Beverly Washburn	...	Midge
June Clayworth	...	Martha Folsom
Peter Breck	...	Alf Meadows
Morris Ankrum	...	Michael Folsom (as Morri Ankrum)
Frank McGrath	...	Charlie Wooster
Terry Wilson	...	Bill Hawks

Storyline

While Hawks and Wooster are picking up supplies in town, Tobias Jones and a young orphan girl Midge stow away on the supply wagon. When they later announce themselves to the Major, he has no choice but to allow them to stay but it is clear Tobias is a drunk always needing his "medicine". Michael and Martha Folsum are on the train carrying $10,000 in their wagon. Michael has problems getting along with everyone including Al Meadows. Martha asks to take Midge over Michael's objections. Midge wants to stay with Tobias but Tobias realizes Midge will be better off with the Folsums. During a dance Martha discovers Michael stabbed to death with a knife belonging to Tobias. Meadows is ready to lynch Tobais. Tobais refuses to defend himself and admits to the killing to the Major but the Major doesn't believe him. Some questions arise about the knife but Midge's statement she saw Tobias come out of the wagon paints him guilty. The Major is still not convinced as he doesn't believe Tobias is ...

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Plot Keywords:

character name in title

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 October 1958 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Republic Studios - 4024 Radford Avenue, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revue Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This script showcasing Lou Costello was a rare writing assignment for comedian Harry von Zell, familiar costar of the "Burns & Allen" TV series.

User Reviews

Lou Costello's Breakthrough

Two years after Abbott and Costello broke up, Lou Costello got this one and only chance in his career to prove he could be a dramatic actor. He guest starred on the Wagon Train series in the episode entitled the Tobias Jones Story.

Costello co-starred with little Beverly Washburn as a man with a very severe drinking problem traveling west with Washburn who is in his care. I recall Washburn referring to liquor as her Uncle Toby's 'medicine'.

Lou gets himself accused of a murder and the evidence is against him, though from Major Adams on down, no one believes him capable of it.

During his career Costello was often compared favorably to Chaplin in invoking pathos. Chaplin himself commented favorably on Lou's skill in doing just that. It was never more in evident than in this episode of Wagon Train.

What this might have led to, we'll never know. By the time Wagon Train went into summer reruns, Costello had died. He hadn't really scored well as a solo act without Abbott. This might have led to a whole new career.