Television
The Gene Autry Show
The Raiders
Flying A Pictures
Season 1, Episode 25 (1-25)
Production #25
Network: CBS
Running Time: 30 minutes
Color
Original Air Date:
Saturday, April 14, 1951
Sponsor: Wrigley's Doublemint Chewing Gum
Brief Synopsis:
A notorious outlaw steals the payroll from a construction company, fooling his own fiancée into helping him. Gene plans a trap for the gangster when he suspects the plot.
Detailed Synopsis:
The construction of a much-needed dam necessitates the eviction of ranchers and homesteaders in the valley destined to become a reservoir. "Buckeye" Jack Hawes, one of the evicted homesteaders, organizes a gang, on the pretense of helping the ranchers, and steals the construction company payrolls. Buckeye's childhood sweetheart, Faith Harding, does not know he is an outlaw and is on her way from Ohio to marry him. Faith is a passenger on the stage when it is held up. Gene Autry and Sagebrush, aiding Sheriff Dan Burke, succeed in thwarting the gang's attempt and capture Spade, one of the henchmen. Buckeye fails to meet Faith at the depot, and she can find no trace of him. As a result, she must get a job as a waitress in the café that supplies food to the local jail's prisoners. Buckeye had recognized Faith at the time of the holdup and realizes she can be useful to him. He arranges a rendezvous, convincing her he is helping the ranchers, and tricks her into slipping a gun to Spade in the jail. Spade escapes and kills the sheriff. Gene, suspecting Faith had a hand in the jailbreak, decides to use her to trap Buckeye. Gene lets her overhear him tell Sagebrush that they are transporting the fifty thousand dollar payroll in a provision wagon. They see Faith leave town and follow her, but are delayed by Buckeye's henchmen. Faith finds Buckeye at Zeke Hawkins' ranch. She accuses him of tricking her, begs him to give up crime, but refuses to tell him about the payroll. Zeke, however, unwittingly betrays the plan. The next day, the gang stops the provision wagon, but instead of a payroll, Gene and a posse are inside. After rounding up the gang, Gene learns that Faith never betrayed his plan.
Cast:
Character: | Performer: |
Gene Autry | Gene Autry |
Sagebrush | Fuzzy Knight |
Faith Harding | Nan Leslie |
Zeke Hawkins | Raymond Hatton |
"Buckeye" Jack Hawes | George Cooper |
Sheriff Dan Burke | Bill Kennedy |
Tom Watson | Gregg Barton |
Spade | Reed Howes |
Monte | Michael Ragan |
Champion | Champion, World's Wonder Horse |
Songs:
The Angel Song | Gene Autry |
Crew:
Executive in charge of Production |
Armand Schaefer |
Directed by | John English |
Producer | Louis Gray |
Screenplay | Betty Burbridge |
Director of Photography | William Bradford, A.S.C. |
Film Editor | Richard G. Wray |
Musical Director | Carl Cotner |
Music Supervisor | Irving Friedman |
Musical Score | Walter Greene |
Recorded by | Glen Glenn Sound Company |