Hope Summers
aka Hattie Denton ~ owner of the General Store

Date of birth - June 7, 1901 ~ Mattoon, Illinois
Date of death - June 22, 1979 ~ Woodland Hills, California

Hope Summers started in films in 1950 and remained before the cameras until the 1978.  She has starred in everything imaginable.....Drama, Crime, Comedy, Thrillers, Action, Romance, Westerns, Mystery, Horror and Family. 
She has played every type of character imaginable able. Biology Teacher, Bank Employee, Nurse, Maid, Customer, Motel Attendant, to Aunt Bees neighbor and classmate, Clair Edwards, Bertha Edwards, Clara Johnson on  "The Andy Griffith Show" and Mayberry R.F.D. - Clara.  The producers finally settled on Clara Edwards.
She also guest starred in "The Untouchables." 
 She provided the voice for "Mrs. Butterworth" the famous talking maple syrup bottle. I remember this, how about you?
I found it rather strange out of all the things Hope Summers did, she never starred with Chuck before or after "The Rifleman."

 

I remember her best as Hattie Denton, owner of the General Store in North Fork. I just adore this character.  She was a mother to both Lucas and Mark.  Whether it be with her chicken broth, telling them to eat more greens, delivering medicine or giving Mark candy.  Oh, I can't forget, part-time babysitter.☺ She was first introduced on "The Rifleman" in the episode "Eight Hours to Die."

She has starred in "The Rifleman" as Hattie Denton in the following episodes.....Eight Hours to Die ~ The Safe Guard ~ The Sister ~ New Orleans Menace ~ Second Witness ~ The Challenge ~ The Woman ~ The Raid ~ Boomerang ~ Panic ~ Heller ~ A Time for Singing ~ The Vision ~ The Prodigal ~ The Fourflushers ~ Seven

Johnny Crawford ~ Mark McCain
Paul Fix ~ Marshal Micah Torrance
Harlan Warde ~ John Hamilton
John Harmon ~ Eddie
Bill Quinn ~ Sweeney
Joan Taylor ~ Millie Scott
Patricia Blair ~ Lou Mallory

The Rifleman Episode Guide List

Index page
Here is a list of links to every page on my website

 *If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with

updated 5/28/05