There are 17 episodes of Klondike known to have aired during the short run of the show in 1960 and 1961, verified by old television listings. Of the 17 episodes, 16 have been found and circulate among collectors. According to the CTVA Westerns website, 18 episodes were copyrighted, indicating the possibility of an unaired episode. Ziv Television archival holdings in the Wisconsin Historical Society's Ziv/UA Television collection indicate several scripts or intended scripts for Klondike beyond the episodes aired. The mystery of the 18th episode may now be partially solved. In 2023 a historian for Paramount Ranch, the location of exteriors for Klondike, purchased a script for Klondike from Ebay. Included with the script were location breakdowns, a call sheet and other materials indicating that the script had been filmed. The script appears to have belonged to a guest actor in the episode and included handwritten notes, further indication that the script was filmed. Scrutiny of the script, titled "The Hero", Production No. 7B, revealed that the story, nor the cast or crew, matched any of the episodes known to have aired on television. So, the script almost certainly represents the 18th and missing episode of Klondike that does not appear to have ever been aired.
The episode was directed by John Rich and assistant director was Hal Klein. Ralph Taeger (Mike Halliday), Bob Griffin (Baxter), Bob Foulk (Big Steve), Ric Roman (Raoul), Larry Dobkin (New McDougal) and Sean McClory (Murtaugh) are the actors listed on the call sheet to work on set at Paramount Ranch on August 18, 1960. The Paramount Ranch Western town, used the previous season in the series Hotel de Paree, served as exteriors for Skagway, Alaska the setting for Klondike.
In brief, the storyline revolves around Mike Halliday's anticipated night out with his friend saloon girl, Goldie being interrupted when his friend, Murtough, is accused by the town's "vigilante committee" of robbing the Assay office. Mike tried to prevent the committee from hanging his friend, who may or may not be guilty.
It would be great if a print of this "lost episode" of Klondike were to be found one day along with "Halliday's Club", the episode that has not been found by collectors or historians. At least the discovery of this screen used script for "The Hero" confirms that there was indeed an 18th episode of the series that was filmed. Hopefully, not lost forever.
