The Buntline Special

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.