The Six Shooter From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Six Shooter was a weekly old­time radio program in the United States. It was The Six Shooter created by Frank Burt, who also wrote Genre Western drama many of the episodes, and lasted only one Running time 30 minutes season of 39 episodes on NBC (Sept. 20, 1953­June 24, 1954). Initially, it was Country of origin United States broadcast on Sundays at 9:30 p.m. Language(s) English Eastern Time, through October 11th. Syndicates NBC Then it was heard at 8:30 p.m. for three weeks. Finally, on November 8, 1953 Starring James Stewart through March 21, 1954, it was broadcast Announcer Hal Gibney Sundays at 8 p.m. Beginning April 1, John Wald 1954 through the final episode it was on Created by Frank Burt [1] Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. One old­time Written by Frank Burt radio directory called the program "a last, desperate effort by a radio network Directed by Jack Johnstone (NBC) to maintain interest in adventure Original release September 20, 1953 – June 24, drama by employing a major Hollywood 1954 [2] movie star in the leading role." No. of series 1

James Stewart starred as Britt Ponset, a No. of episodes 39 drifting cowboy in the final years of the Opening theme Highland Lament 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 long­legged. His skin is sun­dyed brown. The gun in his holster is gray steel and rainbow mother­of­pearl, 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 producer­director 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 self­realization by Britt that he always will be a wanderer.

Contents

1 Episodes 2 Adaptation 3 Trivia 4 References 5 External links 5.1 Audio 5.2 Logs

Episodes Ep Title Airdate # Hollywood Star — April 13, 1952 Playhouse — (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 "The Capture of Stacy 08 November 8, 1953 Gault" "Escape from Smoke 09 November 15, 1953 Falls" 10 "Gabriel Starbuck" November 22, 1953 11 "Sheriff Billy" November 29, 1953 "A Pressing 12 December 6, 1953 Engagement" 13 "More Than Kin" December 13, 1953 "Britt Ponset's Christmas 14 December 20, 1953 Carol" 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 "General Gillford's 28 April 8, 1954 Widow" 29 "Crises at Easter Creek" April 15, 1954 30 "Johnny Stringer" April 22, 1954 "Revenge at Harness 31 April 29, 1954 Creek" 32 "Anna Norquest" May 6, 1954 33 "The Double Seven" May 13, 1954 "The Shooting of Wyatt 34 May 20, 1954 King" 35 "Blood Relations" May 27, 1954 36 "Silver Threads" June 3, 1954 37 "The New Sheriff" June 10, 1954 "When The Shoe Doesn't 38 June 17, 1954 Fit" 39 "Myra Barker" June 24, 1954

Adaptation

The program was adapted for television in 1957 with John Payne as the star. An article in a trade publication reported that 39 "half­hour tv films" would be produced "for a series titled 'The Six Shooter.'"[5] 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."[6] Trivia

An episode of the anthology Hollywood Star Playhouse on NBC entitled "The Six Shooter", was broadcast April 13, 1952. This used the "Ben Scofield" script which was also used for the audition episode and (with a slightly different opening) the seventh episode of the series. The unaired audition episode, recorded July 15, 1953, includes a personal message by James Stewart in the middle and end trying to sell the program to potential sponsors. Stewart revived the Ponset character for the Feb. 10, 1957 episode of the television anthology program General Electric Theater titled "The Town with a Past". The script was based on the "Silver Annie" episode of the radio show. Stewart, however, declined to appear on a weekly TV version, and the proposed series was offered to John Payne. The Dec. 15, 1957 episode of G.E. Theater "The Trail to Christmas" was based on the radio episode "Britt Ponset's Christmas Carol", although in this instance Stewart's character was renamed Bart. And the Dec. 15, 1959 episode of the television anthology program Startime "Cindy's Fella" was based on the radio episode "When the Shoe Doesn't Fit." Stewart took the role of peddler Azel Dorsey while George Gobel played an unnamed drifter in place of Ponset. Ponset's horse was named Scar. Although Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co. was interested in underwriting the program, James Stewart refused to accept, believing that it didn't coincide with his public image. Jack Johnstone was quoted as saying "Chesterfield begged and begged and begged for months trying to get sponsorship, but Jim didn’t feel that, because of his screen image, it would be fair for him to be sponsored by a cigarette".[7] Coleman eventually bought commercial time during the first four episodes, but no other advertisers sustained the series after that. References

1. Dunning, John. (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old­Time Radio. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978­0­19­507678­3. Pp. 618­619. 2. Buxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920­1950. The Viking Press. SBN 670­16240­x. P. 217. 3. Reinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). The A to Z of Old­Time Radio. Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN 978­0­8108­7616­3. P. 236. 4. Dunning, John. (1976). Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old­Time Radio, 1925­ 1976. Prentice­Hall, Inc. ISBN 0­13­932616­2. P. 556. 5. "Window, Glen Firms Combine" (http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive­BC/BC­1957/1 957­04­22­BC.pdf) (PDF). Broadcasting. April 22, 1957. Retrieved 4 August 2014. 6. "The Six Shooter Radio Program" (http://www.digitaldeliftp.com/DigitalDeliToo/dd2jb­Six­Sho oter.html). The Digital Deli Too. Retrieved 4 August 2014. 7. Cox, Jim (2002). Radio Crime Fighters (https://books.google.com/books?id=J7fwCQAAQBAJ &pg=PA234&lpg=PA234&dq=jim+cox+the+six+shooter+tobacco&source=bl&ots=G5bWxd0 wvm&sig=rwL­mDcg4c6Uhp_hDJDaQkooD40&hl=en&sa=X&ei=T6yiVaTpFdO5ogSXoDs& ved=0CB8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=jim%20cox%20the%20six%20shooter%20tobacco&f=fa lse). McFarland & Company Inc. p. 234. ISBN 978­0­7864­4324­6. Retrieved 12 July 2015. External links

Audio

The Six Shooter 1953­07­15 (Audition Show) (http://jack_benny.podomatic.com/entry/ eg/2009­05­10T06_56_57­07_00) The first episode of The Six Shooter radio show starring Jimmy Stewart with commentary by Mr. Stewart. The Six Shooter (https://archive.org/details/OTRR_The_Six_Shooter_Singles) in The Internet Archive's Old­Time Radio Collection The Six Shooter at Outlaws Old Time Radio Corner (http://www.outlawsgameroom.co m/six­shooter/)

Logs

Annotated episodic log of The Six Shooter from Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs (http://www.otrsite.com/otrsite/logs/logs1002.htm) Annotated episodic log of The Six Shooter from RadioGOLDINdex. (http://www.radio goldindex.com/cgi­local/p2.cgi?ProgramName=The+Six­Shooter)

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Categories: American radio dramas 1950s American radio programs NBC radio programs

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