Ep 30. The Suffragette

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp aired from 1955-1961 and followed the fictionalized adventures of the real-life lawman. Season 1 Episode 30, titled The Suffragette, centers around the introduction of a group of women to Wichita, Kansas who are fighting for the right to vote. This episode highlights some of the challenges suffragettes faced in the early 20th century and also features iconic characters from the show's history.

The episode begins with Wyatt Earp (Hugh O'Brian) and his friend Doc Holliday (Douglas Fowley) enjoying a drink at the Lady Gay Saloon. In walks feminist activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton (played by Irene Tedrow) who is speaking to a small group about the importance of women's suffrage. Earp and Holliday are skeptical but intrigued and watch as the group leaves to continue their demonstration.

Meanwhile, Earp's friend and business partner Dave Rudabaugh (John Vivyan) encounters a woman picketing outside their general store. The woman, named Mary Yates (played by Gloria Talbott), demands to be allowed to vote and refuses to leave until she is heard. Rudabaugh attempts to physically remove her but Earp intervenes and takes Mary to his office to hear her out.

Earp sympathizes with Mary's cause, but warns her that Wichita's residents may not be as accepting. He advises her to follow the law and seek legal action, but Mary isn't satisfied with this slow approach. In the meantime, a group of local businessmen become increasingly concerned about the suffragettes and decide to take matters into their own hands. They attempt to intimidate Mary and her fellow activists, leading to a physical altercation.

Earp steps in to break up the fight and arrests the instigators, but realizes that the suffragettes will continue to face violence and harassment. He works with Mary and the other women to organize a peaceful rally in the town square, which draws a large crowd. The suffragettes give powerful speeches and the event is mostly without incident, despite some hecklers in the audience.

However, as the women are leaving the square, they are ambushed by the same businessmen from earlier. A brawl breaks out, and Earp and his deputies are forced to intervene. In the end, the suffragettes are victorious, and the businessmen are charged with assault and battery. Earp and his deputies learn that the suffrage movement is not only right, but necessary for a more equitable society.

Overall, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp's The Suffragette is a historically significant episode. It portrays the suffrage movement in a positive light and demonstrates the bravery and determination of women in the early 1900s. While the show often relied on tired western tropes and stereotypical characters, The Suffragette stands out as a progressive and impactful episode.