The Six Shooter

The Six Shooter
Genre Western drama
Running time 30 minutes
Country United States
Language(s) English
Syndicates NBC
Starring James Stewart
Announcer Hal Gibney
John Wald
Creator(s) Frank Burt
Writer(s) Frank Burt
Director(s) Jack Johnstone
Air dates September 20, 1953 to June 24, 1954
Opening theme Highland Lament

The Six Shooter was a weekly old-time radio program in the United States. It was created by Frank Burt, who also wrote many of the episodes, and lasted only one season of 39 episodes on NBC (Sept. 20, 1953-June 24, 1954). Through March 21, 1954 it was broadcast Sundays at 8 p.m. Beginning April 1, 1954 through the final episode it was on Thursdays at 8 p.m.[1] One old-time radio directory called the program "a last, desperate effort by a radio network (NBC) to maintain interest in a (radio) adventure drama by employing a major Hollywood movie star in the leading role."[2]

James Stewart starred as Britt Ponset, a drifting cowboy in the final years of the wild west.[3] Episodes ranged from straight western drama to whimsical comedy.[4] A trademark of the show was Stewart's use of whispered narration during tense scenes that created a heightened sense of drama and relief when the situation was resolved.[1]

Some of the more prominent actors to perform on the program included Parley Baer, Virginia Gregg, Harry Bartell, Howard McNear, Jeanette Nolan, Dan O'Herlihy, Alan Reed, Marvin Miller and William Conrad (often credited as "Julius Krelboyne" because he was also the star of CBS' Gunsmoke at the time). Some did multiple episodes playing different characters.

Each episode opened with the announcer (Hal Gibney; John Wald in later episodes) stating: The man in the saddle is angular and long-legged. His skin is sun-dyed brown. The gun in his holster is gray steel and rainbow mother-of-pearl, its handle unmarked. People call them both "the Six Shooter". [4]

The haunting theme music was "Highland Lament,"[1] arranged by series composer Basil Adlam. Jack Johnstone was the producer-director for NBC Radio, in association with Revue Productions.

The final episode, "Myra Barker", provided a satisfying (if melancholy) finale to the series: Ponset falls in love with Myra, and proposes marriage. Myra, after thinking it over, appears to accept - but then tells Britt she's heard that Sheriff Jennings of Eagle Falls has asked for his help, and Britt admits that he feels obligated to go. Myra tells Britt to go and not come back - telling him some adventure will always call him, and he'll always go, or regret not going. Britt goes, resuming his wanderings, but not before revealing to the audience that he knows he was *not* needed in Eagle Falls - and knows Myra knows that too. The moment comes across of a moment of supreme self-realization by Britt that he always will be a wanderer.

Episodes

Ep # Title Airdate
Hollywood Star Playhouse April 13, 1952
(Audition Program) July 15, 1953
01 "Jenny" September 20, 1953
02 "The Coward" September 27, 1953
03 "The Stampede" October 4, 1953
04 "Silver Annie" October 11, 1953
05 "Rink Larkin" October 18, 1953
06 "Red Lawson's Revenge" October 25, 1953
07 "Ben Scofield" November 1, 1953
08 "The Capture of Stacy Gault" November 8, 1953
09 "Escape from Smoke Falls" November 15, 1953
10 "Gabriel Starbuck" November 22, 1953
11 "Sheriff Billy" November 29, 1953
12 "A Pressing Engagement" December 6, 1953
13 "More Than Kin" December 13, 1953
14 "Britt Ponset's Christmas Carol" December 20, 1953
15 "Cora Plummer Quincy" December 27, 1953
16 "A Friend in Need" January 3, 1954
17 "Hiram's Goldstrike" January 10, 1954
18 "The Silver Buckle" January 17, 1954
19 "Helen Bricker" January 24, 1954
20 "Trail to Sunset" January 31, 1954
21 "Apron Faced Sorrel" February 7, 1954
22 "Quiet City" February 14, 1954
23 "Battle at Tower Rock" February 21, 1954
24 "Cheyenne Express" March 7, 1954
25 "Thicker Than Water" March 14, 1954
26 "Duel at Lockwood" March 21, 1954
27 "Aunt Em" April 1, 1954
28 "General Gillford's Widow" April 8, 1954
29 "Crises at Easter Creek" April 15, 1954
30 "Johnny Stringer" April 22, 1954
31 "Revenge at Harness Creek" April 29, 1954
32 "Anna Norquest" May 6, 1954
33 "The Double Seven" May 13, 1954
34 "The Shooting of Wyatt King" May 20, 1954
35 "Blood Relations" May 27, 1954
36 "Silver Threads" June 3, 1954
37 "The New Sheriff" June 10, 1954
38 "When The Shoe Doesn't Fit" June 17, 1954
39 "Myra Barker" June 24, 1954

The Six Shooter was among a group of old-time radio programs whose Christmas episodes were syndicated in 1994 and rebroadcast in December of that year by certain local stations, including KNX in Los Angeles, WABC in New York and WBBM in Chicago.[5]

Adaptation

The program was adapted for television in 1957 with John Payne as the star. An article in a trade publication reported that 39 "half-hour tv films" would be produced "for a series titled 'The Six Shooter.'"[6] Burt was the consultant for all episodes of the adaptation. By the time it reached air, the title had been changed, to The Restless Gun, and the main character had been changed to Vint Bonner, "a slightly altered rendition of Britt Ponset."[7]

Trivia

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dunning, John. (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Pp. 618-619.
  2. Buxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920-1950. The Viking Press. SBN 670-16240-x. P. 217.
  3. Reinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). The A to Z of Old-Time Radio. Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-8108-7616-3. P. 236.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Dunning, John. (1976). Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925-1976. Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN 0-13-932616-2. P. 556.
  5. "Syndicators Present Shows For Holidays". Billboard. December 3, 1994. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  6. "Window, Glen Firms Combine". Broadcasting. April 22, 1957. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  7. "The Six Shooter Radio Program". The Digital Deli Too. Retrieved 4 August 2014.

External links

Audio

Logs