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Television
The Gene Autry Show

Gold Dust Charlie

Flying A Pictures
Season 1, Episode 2 (1-02)
Production #1
Network: CBS
Running Time: 30 minutes
Black and White

Original Air Date:
Sunday, July 30, 1950

Sponsor: Wrigley's Doublemint Chewing Gum

Brief Synopsis:
Gene stumbles upon a murdered prospector and finds gold while digging the old man’s grave. When he reports this, however, he is arrested on suspicion of murder.

Detailed Synopsis:
Traveling with a medicine show, Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys stumble upon the murder of Gold Dust Charlie, an old-time miner, just as the culprit escapes. Gene discovers gold while burying the victim and is detained when trying to register a claim. He is arrested after the murdered victim's belongings are found on him. Through a ruse and with the help of the Boys, Gene escapes from jail because he suspects Harry Taylor of the crime. Gene surprises Taylor at the site of the murder and learns Taylor was the dead man's partner and had filed a claim after Charlie was killed. His daughter, Betty Taylor, covers Gene, drawing out the real killer when she fires a gun to attract the sheriff's posse. The killer overpowers Gene, locks the Taylors in a mineshaft, and sets a dynamite fuse. The sheriff arrives just as the killer makes his getaway, but Gene puts out the fuse and rescues the Taylors from the shaft. During the wild chase and fight that ensues, Gene captures the killer and sends him in jail.


Cast:

Character: Performer:
Gene Autry Gene Autry
Pat Buttram Pat Buttram
Betty Taylor Sheila Ryan
Goss Alan Hale, Jr.
Smith Steve Darrell
"Doc" Bailey Ralph Sanford
The Sheriff Tom London
Harry Taylor Sam Flint
The Cass County Boys The Cass County Boys
Champion Champion, World's
Wonder Horse

Songs:

Cowboy Blues Gene Autry and
the Cass County Boys
Mexicali Rose Gene Autry
Home on the Range Gene Autry and
the Cass County Boys
Great Grand-Dad The Cass County Boys

Crew:

Executive Producer Armand Schaefer
Associate Producer Louis Gray
Directed by Frank McDonald
Screenplay by Jack Townley
Director of Photography William Bradford
Film Editor Jodie Copelan
Musical Director Carl Cotner
Recorded by Glen Glenn Sound Company

Watch a Clip from Gold Dust Charlie: