The Big Valley

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Victoria's horse was Misty Girl, while Nick rode Coco.
The series was loosely based on the Hill Ranch, which was located on the western edge of Calaveras County in California. Lawson Hill started the ranch and ran it until his death in 1861. He and his wife Euphemia had four children, three sons and one daughter.
This was the only western to be built around a strong, female lead character.
Dell Comics published a six issue comic book series based on the series from 1966-1969.
The series was canceled despite its popularity, because the networks were phasing out westerns in favor of more modern TV shows.
Victoria is the only Barkley who was never shot throughout the run of the series. Heath was shot the most, and Nick has the distinction of being the only Barkley who is shot twice in the same episode.
In every episode where Nick is a spectator in a court-case, he interrupts the court to speak his peace, which always gets him into trouble with the judge who is presiding. In later episodes throughout the series, this took on a comedic tone, as the viewer knew that it was only a matter of time before Nick would voice his displeasure.
There was originally a fourth Barkley son, Eugene Barkley, portrayed by Charles Briles, who appeared in eight episodes of the first season. Briles was forced to leave the show midway through the first season because in real life he was drafted by the U.S Army. After leaving the regular cast, Eugene never returned in later seasons, even when Briles mustered out of the Army, and basically, Eugene was never really referred to again.
With the February 6, 2012 death of Peter Breck (Nick Barkley), there are only two regular or recurring cast members with more than twenty appearances on the show, Lee Majors (Heath) and Linda Evans (Audra Barkley), plus Charles Briles (Eugene, only eight appearances during the first season) still living.
Lee Majors' shirtless appearance in the bunkhouse scene constitutes the first of his many "beefcake" moments as "Heath Barkeley."
Heath was the product of an affair that the family patriarch, Tom Barkley, had with a woman named Leah. Tom never knew about Heath.
An episode of Gunsmoke with this same title aired 18 May 1963 (Season 8, Episode 36). Peter Breck, who played Nick Barkley in this episode, played Jubal Tanner in that one.
Only program that does not have the title listed at the beginning of the show.
Eugene Barkley, Victoria's youngest son, went off to college less than halfway through the first season and disappeared...he was never mentioned again. In later episodes, Victoria mentions in some episodes that she has three sons and daughter and several times even refers to Heath as her youngest child - even though he is the illegitimate son of her late husband, Tom (deceased before episode one).
In the credits Wesley Lau is listed as Ralph Snyder but in the episode he is called Roy.
When Heath is speaking Spanish to Allie Kay, he says: "¿Lupe, tú estás aquí? Acuestate cerca de mí. Quiero abrazarte. Dáme un besito." Translation: "Lupe, you're here? Lie down near me. I want to hold you. Give me a kiss."
Jarrod's full name is Jarrod Thomas Barkley.
The brass bed in Barbara's room is a frequently used prop. With its gold and red paint, it's distinctive and easy to spot, and viewers can see it many times in future episodes - in other saloon rooms, in hotel rooms, in farm houses, in the Barkley guest room, and even (though it hardly seems his style) in Heath's room in "The Big Valley" (1965) {The Lost Treasure (#2.1)}.
The name of Heath's horse is Charger.
Nick states in this episode that his full name is Nicholas Jonathon Barkley.
In this episode Heath and Nick (and with Nick, even then only in the last few minutes of the episode) are the only series regulars who appear.
The scene where Heath is tallying cattle and then investigating buzzards flying over a dead steer is the exact same footage that was first used in "The Big Valley" (1965) {The Invaders (#1.16)}.
Victoria's horse is a black mare named Misty Girl.
The telegram Jarrod received from Julia is dated April 27, 1878.
Early in the show when Julie London is singing - the piano player is her husband Bobby Troup. The two would team up on TV again in the series 'Emergency'. Her as nurse Dixie McCall and Troup as Dr Joe Early.
Episode marks Gerald Mohr's last role in a 30-year acting career. He would die of a heart attack at age 54 in Europe on Nov 9, 1968. This episode would air in April, 1969.
Linda Evans was not in this episode. It was the last episode of the series