Western Theater

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The radio version ran from 1952 to 1961, and old time radio expert John Dunning writes that among radio drama enthusiasts "Gunsmoke is routinely placed among the best shows of any kind and any time." The television version ran from 1955 to 1975 and is one of the longest-running prime time series (tied with The Simpsons), and the second-longest running prime time fictional program in U.S. television history, its record surpassed only by the Disney anthology television series and Hallmark Hall of Fame. The radio series starred William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon; Howard McNear as Doc Charles Adams; Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell; and Parley Baer as Dillon's assistant Chester Proudfoot. The Story of Gunsmoke.mp3

Broken Arrow from Screen Director's Playhouse aired September 7, 1951. Starring in their original roles is James Stewart as Tom Jeffords, Jeff Chandler as Cochise and Debra Paget as Sonseeahray (Morningstar). Broken Arrow is the story of a land, of the people who lived on it in the year 1870, and of a man whose name was Cochise. He was an Indian leader of the Chiricahua Apache tribe. The performances of James Stewart, Jeff Chandler and Debra Paget are outstanding and Broken Arrow is one of the first westerns to portray Native Americans in a balanced, sympathetic way. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, and won a Golden Globe. Interesting is that the world premier was at the Nusho Theater in downtown Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Screen Director's Playhouse 51-09-07 (119) Broken Arrow.mp3

"Shane" from Hollywood Radio Theater aired February 22, 1955. Shane tells the story of a gunfighter who comes to a recently settled farm area near a quiet town and fights for the rights of homesteaders against the long-entrenched hard-bitten open-range cattlemen who control the majority of the land. Alan Ladd, Van Heflin, Ruth Hussey, Parley Baer and Howard McNear.land. Hollywood Radio Theater 55-02-22 Shane

.Here is a couple of dramatizations of short stories by L'Amour from the podcast of nostalgic-radio.com. Just passing them along in case you missed them. Nostalgic-Radio has a lot of interesting content. Folks far and wide know that the Cactus Kid can handle a pistol with the best of them. But for all his skill and coolness under fire, there's jut one small weakness he can't seem to overcome - and it may prove the death of him. Louis L'Amour - Love and the Cactus Kid .. It had been many years since Lona Markham's father sent her from the rigors of ranch life to a convent school. Now she's returned to a wary, careworn man who hardly seems like the father she remembers. The ranch she's set to inherit someday is shadowed by brutish Frank Mailer, the man Lona's promised to marry--and haunted by the mysterious Black Rider, who watches the Blue Hill Ranch from a distance. Some say the Rider is a ghost, but all Lona knows is his presence makes both Poke Markham and Frank Mailer uneasy. Then one day the enigmatic stranger reveals himself to Lona. Lance Kilkenny has ridden to this rugged country to repay an old debt to Lona's father. When he exposes a cold and daring scheme to cheat her of the Blue Hill Ranch, Lona Markham is plunged into terrible danger. But Kilkenny has a cool head and a fast gun hand. Monument Rock.

. Here is a specially edited version for radio of "The Fastest Gun Alive" in two parts about notorious gunslinger George Kelby Jr. (Glenn Ford) and his wife Dora (Jeanne Crain) who settle down in a peaceful little town under assumed identities to avoid having to continually face men out to become famous for shooting down the "fastest gun alive". George becomes a mild-mannered tea-totaling shopkeeper with little respect by some townsfolk. One day, the whole town hears the news that outlaw Vinnie Harold (Broderick Crawford) has gunned down Clint Fallon, reputedly the fastest gun in the west. George's pride is stung. Also starring Leif Erickson as Lou Glover and John Dehner as Taylor Swope. The Fastest Gun Alive part 2-2

Here is a specially edited version for radio of "The Fastest Gun Alive" in two parts about notorious gunslinger George Kelby Jr. (Glenn Ford) and his wife Dora (Jeanne Crain) who settle down in a peaceful little town under assumed identities to avoid having to continually face men out to become famous for shooting down the "fastest gun alive". George becomes a mild-mannered tea-totaling shopkeeper with little respect by some townsfolk. One day, the whole town hears the news that outlaw Vinnie Harold (Broderick Crawford) has gunned down Clint Fallon, reputedly the fastest gun in the west. George's pride is stung. Also starring Leif Erickson as Lou Glover and John Dehner as Taylor Swope. The Fastest Gun Alive part 1-2

Singing Guns was aired by Studio One on October 21, 1947 starring Myron McCormick and Gary Merrill. The story is dramatized from the novel Singing Guns by Max Brand, who you may remember created the Western character Destry, featured in several filmed versions of Destry Rides Again, and his character Dr. Kildare was adapted to motion pictures, radio, television, and comic books. Singing Guns is about a sheriff, Owen Caradac, who is saved from certain death by the legendary killer Rhiannon, and the two forge a bond that changes Rhiannon's life. This is a top notch story and the acting is outstanding in this one hour western drama. Studio One 471021 26 Singing Guns

"Roadside" from the old radio series Columbia Workshop aired March 2, 1941 on CBS with Burl Ives. A farce of the old West. TPW 053 Columbia Workshop 41-03-02 Roadside

"The Story of Will Rogers" from Hollywood Radio Theater tells the biography of humorist and movie star Will Rogers. Starring in the production was Will Rogers, Jr. and Jane Wyman. William Penn Adair "Will" Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was a Cherokee cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer and actor. Known as Oklahoma's favorite son, Rogers was born to a prominent Indian Territory family. He traveled around the world three times, made 71 movies (50 silent films and 21 "talkies"), wrote more than 4,000 nationally-syndicated newspaper columns, and became a world-famous figure. By the mid-1930s, Rogers was adored by the American people, and was the top-paid movie star in Hollywood at the time. Rogers died in 1935 with aviator Wiley Post, when their small airplane crashed near Barrow, Alaska Territory. TPW 052 Hollywood Radio Theater (Lux AFRS) 53-01-12 (812) The Story of Will Rogers

"Along Came Jones" from The Lady Esther Screen Guild Theater aired December 10, 1945 on CBS starring Gary Cooper. A mild mannered cowpoke is mistaken for a badman with a $1000 reward offered for his capture. TPW 051 Sgt 45-12-10 Along Came Jones

"The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre" from the the radio series Lux Radio Theater aired April 18, 1949 on CBS. A story of gold and greed in the mountains of Mexico with Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston and Frank Lovejoy. TPW 050 Lux Radio Theater 49-04-18 (654) The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (HQ)

Rawhide from Lux Radio Theater aired March 22, 1955 starring Donna Reed and Jeffrey Hunter. Jim Zimmerman, a fugitive murderer from Huntsville Prison disguised as a deputy, and three other ruthless escapees take over the station and imprison a man, a woman and a baby. TPW 049 Lux Radio Theater 55-03-22 Rawhide

"Winchester '73" from the series Lux Radio Theater aired November 12, 1951 on CBS sponsored by: Lux. Lin McAdam rides into town on the trail of Dutch Henry Brown, only to find himself in a shooting competition against him. The prize, a one-in-a-thousand Winchester rifle. Jimmy Stewart, Stephen McNally, Julie Adams, Dan Riss, Herb Butterfield, Wally Maher, Tim Graham, William Johnstone, William Conrad. TPW 048 Lux Radio Theater 51-11-12 Winchester 73

Sears Radio Theater was an anthology radio drama series which ran weeknightly on CBS Radio in 1979, sponsored by the Sears chain. Often paired with The CBS Radio Mystery Theater during its first season, the program offered a different genre of drama for each day's broadcast. This selection "Punishment and Crime" is a story of the old west hosted by Lorne Greene starring Parley Baer and Howard Culver. The story was writtrn by Percy Grainger and produced by Fletcher Markle. TPW 047 Sears Radio Theater 790716 Punishment and Crime

"Command" from the old radio series Escape aired December 6, 1949 on CBS. A good story about the U. S. Cavalry being menaced by hostile Indians. One young officer thinks his commander is a fool. James Warner Bellah (author), William N. Robson (director), Elliott Reid. TPW 46 Escape 49-12-06 Command