The Big Valley
The Big Valley is an American western television series which ran on ABC from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969. The show stars Barbara Stanwyck, as the widow of a wealthy nineteenth century California rancher. It was created by A.I. Bezzerides and Louis F. Edelman, and produced by Levy-Gardner-Laven for Four Star Television.
Seasons
1. Palms of Glory
Air Date: 1965-09-15
In this series premiere, the railroad has hired men to force the farmers and ranchers of Stockton off their land. The Barkleys join with the rest of the valley to help fight them off. While at home an angry young man, Heath, shows up claimimg to be the deceased Tom Barkleys' illegitimate son.
2. Forty Rifles
Air Date: 1965-09-22
While preparing for a major cattle drive bunching the Barkley's herd with those of other ranchers, Heath has major difficulties being accepted as a Barkley, especially by the ranch hands. Then when Nick's former commander in the war comes to visit, Heath is suspicious of him, and with good reason. He is there to cause trouble and steal the herd!! Nick ends up getting shot while on the drive and has to be taken to town, leaving Heath in charge of the drive. Heath ends up saving the day, and finally the hands begin to accept him as a true Barkley.
3. Boots with My Father's Name
Air Date: 1965-09-29
Victoria begins to wonder if Tom ever truly loved her, if he could go off and have an affair which produces a child. So she's off to Heath's hometown Strawberry to find out more about Tom and Leah's (Heath's mother) relationship.
4. Young Marauders
Air Date: 1965-10-06
Audra is save by a man who claims to be a mustang hunter, but who's band of mustangers are also extorting protection money from the farmers and ranchers of Stockon. While Audra is smitten with him her brothers are suspicious, and soon find out the truth. Which Audra does as well. . .after she is kidnapped by them.
5. The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner
Air Date: 1965-10-13
Victoria sells land to an old friend, while the Barkley boys are part of a plan to flood it!!!
6. Heritage
Air Date: 1965-10-20
While Heath investigates violence at one of the Barkley mines, he discovers that the miners hate the Barkley's for unkept promises. This discovered they work to set things right before anything else happens.
7. Winner Lose All
Air Date: 1965-10-27
Heath falls for a beautiful spanish girl, whose father happens to be involved in a land dispute with the Barkleys! Her father disapproves of Heath because of his illegitamate birth, picturing a much finer bred man for his only daughter. He sets about using the land problems to break them apart.
8. My Son, My Son
Air Date: 1965-11-03
An old childhood friend of Audra's returns whom she'd like to be involved with. She doesn't know however that he is emotionally disturbed, dangerously so.
9. Earthquake!
Air Date: 1965-11-10
Victoria is in a mission church with a pregnant indian woman, when an earthquake collapses it into a forgotten mine underneath. As if the situation isn't isn't bad enough. . they are also trapped with a man whom Nick had fired and who now has a serious grudge against the Barkleys.
10. The Murdered Party
Air Date: 1965-11-17
Jarrod defends a man accused of murder, even though the only witness is his own brother, Heath!!
11. The Way to Kill a Killer
Air Date: 1965-11-24
When one of Nick's old friends, Mariano Montoya, comes through town on his way to sell his cattle, trouble hits in the form of deadly anthrax. The man's cattle begin to die off and it seems as though they will have to shoot them all, killing as well Mariano's dreams for the money. Until Eugene tells them of something called immunization, which he believes will work. Mariano isn't so sure however and tells them that to prove it works, the Barkleys must first try it on their own prize bull!The bull collapses and it looks as though it has been killed but then it moves and gets up, it works!! Mariano's herd is saved!
12. Night of the Wolf
Air Date: 1965-12-01
When Nick is bitten by a rabid wolf, he makes Heath swear not to say a word, and leaves town so his family will not have to witness what will happen to him.
13. The Guilt of Matt Bentell
Air Date: 1965-12-08
When the Barkleys invite the foreman of their logging operations to dinner, Heath walks in and tries to kill the man on sight. It turns out that the man is Matt Bentell, the warden of violent, horrible Carterson Prison, where Heath was held during the war. A man whom he had sworn to kill if he ever saw him again. The family comes up with the brilliant idea to send Heath up to the logging camp with the man to help with the building of log flumes, and to protect the man whose identity has been brought into the open. Heath ends up saving his life and learns that people can change.
14. The Brawlers
Air Date: 1965-12-15
A group of irish immigrants settle down on Barkley land, believing that they bought the land legally. Nick, along with the others at first, believes they are merely squatters. They, however, refuse to believe that the land does not belong to them.
15. Judgement in Heaven
Air Date: 1965-12-22
Jarrod decides to bring home one of his clients, a young woman named Maybelle, for Christmas. Her accused crime aiding and abbetting her outlaw boyfriend, a boyfriend who recently escaped from jail and is now looking for Maybelle.
16. The Invaders
Air Date: 1965-12-29
While out counting cattle Heath comes across a dead animal. When he gets down off of his horse to investigate, he is shot by the same rawhiders who killed the cow. When they realize that he is still alive, they decide to take him back to the ranch for a finder's ""reward"". Once there they find that all of the other men are gone for at least a week, leaving the house and all within ripe for the picking.
17. By Fires Unseen
Air Date: 1966-01-05
Nick returns from a trip from San Francisco with a big surprise. . . a fiance!! While he is completely smitten with her, the rest of the family isn't so quickly won over. They see the truth, that she's just not ready to leave behind the life of parties and numerous suitors, to which she has become accustomed.
18. A Time to Kill
Air Date: 1966-01-19
Jarrod is happy to see an old law school friend. . until he learns there is a secret service agent on his tail. It seems everywhere he goes counterfeit money follows, and Jarrod is determined to find out what's going on with his old friend.
19. Teacher of Outlaws
Air Date: 1966-02-02
Mistaken for the schoolteacher, Victoria is kidnapped by an outlaw who wishes to learn to read.
20. Under a Dark Star
Air Date: 1966-02-09
A guilt ridden Jarrod offers to help a man that he helped to convict of a crime that Jarrod now knows that he did not commit. Even though the man threatened to kill Jarrod at the trial.
21. Barbary Red
Air Date: 1966-02-16
While having a birthday drink at The Barbary Red saloon with two of his ranch hands, Nick is shanghaied.
22. The Death Merchant
Air Date: 1966-02-23
Handy Random, theman who killed the man that killed Tom Barkley, comes to Stockton. It's a happy reunion for all but Heath who hates the man, and for good reason. Everywhere he goes he starts range wars to profit from them.
23. The Fallen Hawk
Air Date: 1966-03-02
Heath feels that his friend's injury and paralysis is his fault, and ends up being used by the man.
24. Hazard
Air Date: 1966-03-09
A man comes to the ranch looking for Heath and gets shot by bounty hunters. It turns out he's not a friend of Heath's like he stated, in fact Heath has sworn to kill him himself.
25. Into the Widow's Web
Air Date: 1966-03-23
Heath's childhood sweetheart Libby suddenly reappears in his life, bringing nothing but trouble.He ends up thrown in jail, accused of the murder of Liberty's drunken husband, by the new D.A. who's out to prove that the Barkleys power and money can't buy everything. It's a race to prove Heath's innocence and save him from a fate at the end of a rope!!
26. By Force and Violence
Air Date: 1966-03-30
When Victoria and Heath head up to the lodge to prepare things for the whole family, their pleasant ride turns into a nightmare. After becoming stuck in a muddy section of road, Heath gets out to help push, only to have the axle break and the heavily loaded wagon fall on him. Unable to free him herself, Victoria sets out to find help. She soon finds that the only person able to help is an escaped convict with bounty hunters on his tail, and no intentions of stopping to help anyone.
27. The River Monarch
Air Date: 1966-04-06
When a riverboat belonging to the the Barkleys, which sank years before taking with it a fortune in government gold, is recovered, the gold is nowhere to be found. Rumors and accusations soon fly, that it was Tom Barkley who stole the gold and sank the boat to cover it up. An investigation follows which seems to prove that Tom was guilty, a fact that could cost the Barkleys their fortune!!!
28. The Midas Man
Air Date: 1966-04-13
Audra falls for a man out to make money off the other ranchers in the valley, by taking their land.
29. Tunnel of Gold
Air Date: 1966-04-20
Some men try to dig a tunnel from a general store to the train depot next door, to steal the Barkley's gold shipment.
30. Last Train to the Fair
Air Date: 1966-04-27
While on their way to the fair in Sacremento, Audra is stricken with a severe case of appendicitis. Fortunately there is a doctor on board, unfortunately he is being chased down by men who wish to see him hang.
1. Lost Treasure
Air Date: 1966-09-12
A con man comes claiming to be Heath's real father, not Tom Barkley.
2. Legend of a General (1)
Air Date: 1966-09-19
Part 1, Heath is down in Mexico where an old friend of the family escapes arrest, fleeing to the Barkley ranch. Heath is imprisoned to be held in exchange for the general.
3. Legend of a General (2)
Air Date: 1966-09-26
Nick and Jarrod head to Mexico to break out Heath, who has already broken out and been recaptured.
4. Caesar's Wife
Air Date: 1966-10-03
An old friend of Audra's has a new , very young, stepmother who likes him as more than a son, and is jealous of Audra.
5. Pursuit
Air Date: 1966-10-10
Victoria heads alone into the desert to find a sick indian before he reaches, and infects, his people.
6. The Martyr
Air Date: 1966-10-17
Jarrod defends a Basque sheepherder.
7. Target
Air Date: 1966-10-31
A candidate for governor, Joshua Hawks, who had been traveling up and down California spreading lies and causing trouble, comes to Stockton.His target this time, The Barkleys, his story, that Tom Barkley stole every inch of land that they own. He chose the wrong family to mess with this time though, because the Barkleys don't lie down for anyone they come out fighting. Against the wishes of his campain manager, the man who fabricated the story, he decides to, foolishly, stay and fight. Jarrod decides not to bring about a libel charge against Hawks, knowing that it would only result in a long drawn out court battle. Instead he asks the senator to form a committee of four men to decide on the case. Hawks cooks up a scheme to murder the committee and blame it on the Barkleys, he even kills his campaign manager when he decides to leave him, after he has found out Hawks' plan. The plan backfires however and Hawks' ends up getting himself killed instead. In the end The Barkleys get the good
8. The Velvet Trap
Air Date: 1966-11-07
A woman asks Nick for help, pretending to be on the run from her former outlaw boyfriend. It turns out that she was with him all along, and was merely using Nick.
9. The Man from Nowhere
Air Date: 1966-11-14
Jarrod gets amnesia while far from home.
10. The Great Safe Robbery
Air Date: 1966-11-21
Bumbling thieves hold Victoria and Audra hostage as they try to open a safe at the train station.
11. The Iron Box
Air Date: 1966-11-28
While in a strange town, Heath and Nick buy a bull from a man who turns around and has them arrested for stealing it. The sherrif catches up to them while they sit around their campfire, and a fight ensues in which Heath badly burns his leg in the fire. The crooked sheriff takes them to a road gang prison to await trail. . .in a few months!! The cruel warden refuses to allow Heath a doctor and makes him work alongside the others. They soon find out the real reason that innocent drifters are arrested and imprisoned, free work labour for the man whom the Barkley brothers had bought the bull from. Meanwhile, at home Jarrod has found out what has happened to his brothers and heads out after them. Arriving at the prison he demands to see them and when the warden refuses he threatens him with legal action if he is not allowed to see his clients. After he speaks with them he rides off to find the circuit judge. Getting scared that the truth will come out now that he realizes who he's dealing
12. Last Stage to Salt Flats
Air Date: 1966-12-05
Heath and companions are stranded in the desert, miles from civilization or water!!!!
13. A Day of Terror
Air Date: 1966-12-12
Victoria and Audra are held captive in the church by an outlaw and her sons.
14. Hide The Children
Air Date: 1966-12-19
Nick accompanies a gypsy to her wedding.
15. Day of the Comet
Air Date: 1966-12-26
Audra falls in love with a man on the run.
16. Wagonload of Dreams
Air Date: 1967-01-02
A man tries to get his peaches to market.
17. Image of Yesterday
Air Date: 1967-01-09
An old beau of Victoria's comes to town, but he is not the man she remembers.
18. Boy into Man
Air Date: 1967-01-16
15-year-old Lud Akely is determined to take care of his younger siblings without any help from the Barkleys, who are trying to help find the mother who abandoned them.
19. Down Shadow Street
Air Date: 1967-01-23
Victoria witnesses a murder, committed by her godson, and is thrown in a sanitarium to prevent her testimony.
20. The Stallion
Air Date: 1967-01-30
An old ranch hand tries to prove he is still useful, by capturing a wild stallion . . . alone.
21. The Haunted Gun
Air Date: 1967-02-06
Gunman turned senator Jud Robson comes to Stockton, and soon begins to say he is being stalked. The main problem with his story, he is suspicious of EVERYONE.
22. Price of Victory
Air Date: 1967-02-13
Nick manages an injured boxer, in his last fight.
23. Brother Love
Air Date: 1967-02-20
A fake faith healer comes to Stockton.
24. Court Martial
Air Date: 1967-03-06
An old war friend of Nick's is being courtmartialed, along with Nick himself!
25. Plunder!
Air Date: 1967-03-13
Heath is sent to protect an evacuated town.
26. Turn of a Card
Air Date: 1967-03-20
Heath travels to bring his brothers money for a water pump, but a gambler wants to relieve him of it.
27. Showdown in Limbo
Air Date: 1967-03-27
Heath and company transport a wanted outlaw and must fight off his brother.
28. The Lady from Mesa
Air Date: 1967-04-03
Nick goes to find the daughter of a seriously injured ranch hand, with unexpected results.
29. Days of Grace
Air Date: 1967-04-17
Heath is wrongfully arrested for attempted rape, and is helped by a nun who used to be his girlfriend.
30. Cage of Eagles
Air Date: 1967-04-24
Nick captures an eagle, and a dynamiter causes trouble at a Barkley mine.
1. Joaquin
Air Date: 1967-09-11
A man is hired at the ranch who is believed to be a Mexican outlaw thought long dead.
2. Ambush
Air Date: 1967-09-18
Victoria helps three indian women at a desert mission.
3. A Flock of Trouble
Air Date: 1967-09-25
To pay off a gambling debt, sheepherder Josiah Freeman pawns off his flock on Nick, who stubbornly tries to tend the troublesome sheep — despite insults and threats from his fellow cattlemen
4. The Time after Midnight
Air Date: 1967-10-02
Jarrod is temporarily blinded.
5. Night in a Small Town
Air Date: 1967-10-09
Heath and family help a wayward saloon girl.
6. Ladykiller
Air Date: 1967-10-16
Nick stops at an inn where they kill people for their money.
7. Guilty
Air Date: 1967-10-30
A client of Jarrod's escapes and takes over the schoolhouse where Audra is substitute teacher.
8. The Disappearance
Air Date: 1967-11-06
While on a layover in a strange town, Audra disappears without a trace, leaving her desperate mother to find her.
9. A Noose is Waiting
Air Date: 1967-11-13
A deranged doctor moves to town and makes Victoria, then Audra, his next victim.
10. Explosion (1)
Air Date: 1967-11-20
Part 1, A forest fire rages drawing closer to Stockton. The only solution, a firebreak made with nitroglyceryn!!
11. Explosion (2)
Air Date: 1967-11-27
Part2, The Barkley boys volunteer to take the nitro to the fire!!
12. Four Days to Furnace Hill
Air Date: 1967-12-04
Victoria is grabbed by men on their way to a prison, who need to replace the female prisoner they killed.
13. Night of the Executioners
Air Date: 1967-12-11
While traveling through a strange town, a murder occurs and an innocent man is accused of it. Heath saw the man who really committed the crime, a fact which gets him more trouble than he bargained for.
14. Journey into Violence
Air Date: 1967-12-18
Accused of killing one of their people, a band of ""religious"" take Heath captive, where he is forced to work as a slave to the widow of the dead man.
15. The Buffalo Man
Air Date: 1967-12-25
The Barkleys hire a bunch of convicts to help with a harvest, and find out that they are tormented by an evil overseer.
16. The Good Thieves
Air Date: 1968-01-01
Heath and Nick travel across the state line to find the two brothers that shot Jarrod in the midst of a robbery. What they find is a town full of people who think of the outlaws as saints, since they're the ones who built the town. In the end the town finds out their true colors and they are brought to justice.
17. Days of Wrath
Air Date: 1968-01-08
After his new bride is murdered, a grief stricken Jarrod goes out for revenge.
18. Miranda
Air Date: 1968-01-15
When the Barkleys meet a Mexican fleeing a revolution, they vow to help protect him
19. Shadow of a Giant
Air Date: 1968-01-29
When the Stryder gang escapes, Heath and Nick want to help catch them
20. Fall of a Hero
Air Date: 1968-02-05
Jarod defends Heath in court when he is accused of murder.
21. The Emperor of Rice
Air Date: 1968-02-12
A couple kidnap Victoria in exchange for rice
22. Rimfire
Air Date: 1968-02-19
When Jarod goes to Rimfire to conclude a merge of two mines, trouble starts.
23. Bounty on a Barkley
Air Date: 1968-02-26
Nick falls for newcomer Layle Johnson, who is slow to respond to his attentions. Victoria discovers why - she's already married!
24. The Devil's Masquerade
Air Date: 1968-03-04
A friend of Heath's has been carrying on a correspondence courtship with a woman who is to be his mail-order bride.
25. Run of the Savage
Air Date: 1968-03-11
Nick sets out to emotionally help a 14 year old boy who is rejected by his high-class parents.
26. The Challenge
Air Date: 1968-03-18
When a senator arrives in Stockton to promote his re-election, troubles flare when his opponent releases a fraudulent photo.
1. In Silent Battle
Air Date: 1968-09-23
Victoria's first clue of Major Jonathan Eliot's mental imbalance is when he proposes to Laura.
2. They Called Her Delilah
Air Date: 1968-09-30
One of the former confederate spies arrives in Stockton.
3. Presumed Dead
Air Date: 1968-10-07
When a Cattle Rancher suffers amnesia, he believes that Victoria is his Wife.
4. Run of the Cat
Air Date: 1968-10-21
After a panther nearly kills Nick, he wants revenge.
5. Deathtown
Air Date: 1968-10-28
When Jarrod visits Baker City, he gets involved in a Mexican Marital mix-up.
6. The Jonah
Air Date: 1968-11-11
The Barkleys hire a man famous for his bad luck to help harvest their crops.
7. Hell Hath No Fury
Air Date: 1968-11-18
When Heath falls in love with a woman, he doesn't realize how dangerous she is, and what could happen to him.
8. The Long Ride
Air Date: 1968-11-25
A young girl witnesses a massacre, and is now being stalked. Victoria must stop this before it is too late.
9. The Profit and the Lost
Air Date: 1968-12-02
When Heath kills someone in self-defense, he becomes a wanted man
10. A Stranger Everywhere
Air Date: 1968-12-09
When Jennie's house is ransacked by three gunmen, Nick realises his practical joke wasn't so great after all!
11. The Prize
Air Date: 1968-12-16
When Heath is asked to look after a wanted man's baby, he gets himself into trouble.
12. Hunter's Moon
Air Date: 1968-12-30
Nick is believed to be having an affair with a man's wife, and the man plans to hang Nick in the morning
13. Top of the Stairs
Air Date: 1969-01-06
Victoria learns that her brother-in-law has been declared insane.
14. Joshua Watson
Air Date: 1969-01-20
Everyone has lost their patience even before the annual rodeo has begun
15. The Secret
Air Date: 1969-01-27
A wealthy and powerful rancher moves into Stockton to ruin the Barkley enterprises. His motive: intense hatred of Jarrod, who he thinks is having an affair with his young wife.
16. The Twenty-five Graves of Midas
Air Date: 1969-02-03
Someone has robbed the Dutton Mining Company, and Heath is taking the blame.
17. Lightfoot
Air Date: 1969-02-17
An indian friend returns to Stockton
18. Alias Nellie Handley
Air Date: 1969-02-24
The prison conditions worry Victoria
19. The Royal Road
Air Date: 1969-03-03
When a prince from India comes to Stockton, Laura falls in love with him. However, the prince is an imposter.
20. A Passage of Saints
Air Date: 1969-03-10
Bigots harass a Mormon family who have rented a house from Jarrod.
21. The Battle of Mineral Springs
Air Date: 1969-03-24
Victoria and Jarod spend the night in a town which has seen better days
22. The Other Face of Justice
Air Date: 1969-03-31
The formar Sheriff of Stockton is the leader of a gang gone on a killing spree.
23. Town of No Exit
Air Date: 1969-04-07
A ghost town is inhabited by lunatics who capture Heath.
24. Danger Road
Air Date: 1969-04-21
Victoria has Edward deliver her medical supplies to the indians
25. Flight from San Miguel
Air Date: 1969-04-28
A woman asks Heath to convince her rebel Mexican husband to leave Mexico
26. Point and Counterpoint
Air Date: 1969-05-19
The final episode of The Big Valley
Select an episode to start watching
Rating
6.1/10
Release Date
1965-09-15
Episodes
112 (4 seasons)
Status
Ended
