T H E S I X S H O O T E R ----- ----- ------------- 1953 - 1954 First Show: Sep 20, 1953 Last Show: Jun 25, 1954 Number Shows: 39 plus audition Audition Show: Jul 15, 1953 Series Description: "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 called them both, The Six Shooter." So opened THE SIX SHOOTER, the only radio series staring James Stewart, although he made numerous radio appearences. In this radio western, Mr. Stewart played Britt Ponset, a man with a reputation for having a fast gun. Mr. Stewart portraited a character very different from a hard, tough-talking gun slinger. In this series, the hero is a slow-talking, thinking man who doesn't reach for his gun first and ask questions later. He's ready with his gun, but first looks for alternatives to violence. Mr. Stewart plays the character very well. The first appearence of Britt Ponset as the Six Shooter was as a Western drama for the HOLLYWOOD STAR PLAYHOUSE on April 13, 1952. The show was titled "The Six Shooter" and Jimmy Stewart played the lead. The same script was used for the audition of THE SIX SHOOTER series, again with Mr. Stewart as Britt. Almost a year and a half after the HOLLYWOOD STAR PLAYHOUSE show, on September 20, 1953, Mr. Stewart brought the series to the air. The script used for the HOLLYWOOD STAR PLAYHOUSE drama and the audition was used again, with a slightly different opening, on Nov. 1,1953, for the seventh show in the series. Jack Johnstone was the producer and director. The writer for the entire series was Frank Burt. The series started as in Sunday evening time slot and remained there until the end of March, 1954. At that time, it moved to Thursday. The last show aired June 24, 1954. With only 39 shows in the series, it is frequently overlooked in favor of more long-running Westerns. Don't pass up on this one. It's one of the best. Log Comments: The shows were untitled when aired, so there is frequent variation from catalog to catalog. Titles used in this log were my choice with all other titles found listed as alternates. In some cases, a brief description is listed below the titles and alternates. Chronological Log: Date Num Title Avail ------------ --- ------------------------------------------- ----- Apr 13, 1952 HOLLYWOOD STAR PLAYHOUSE: The Six Shooter yes Ben Scofield script Jul 15, 1953 Aud Ben Scofield, Killer yes (Ben Scofield script used) AKA: Horseshoe Clue AKA: The Sheriff's Son ............. 1953/1954 Season ............. ........... shows air on Sundays ........... Sep 20, 1953 1 Jenny Garver yes AKA: Love Of A Good Woman Sep 27, 1953 2 The Coward yes AKA: Will Fetter AKA: Gunsling Ranch Will Fetter is a coward. Oct 04, 1953 3 The Stampede yes AKA: The McAdams Brothers AKA: Cattle Drive to Abilene AKA: Rival Brothers The McAdams cattle drive Oct 11, 1953 4 Silver Annie's Mine yes Annie Hucksley's mine, rival brothers Oct 18, 1953 5 Rink Larkin yes AKA: The Mine AKA: Revenge in Petersville AKA: Sins Of The Father Oct 25, 1953 6 Red Lawson's Revenge yes AKA: A Brother's Revenge Red Lawson Wants To Kill Dan Mayler. Nov 01, 1953 7 Ben Scofield, Killer yes AKA: Horseshoe Clue AKA: The Sheriff's Son Ben Scofield script used Nov 08, 1953 8 The Capture of Stacy Gault yes Nov 15, 1953 9 Escape from Smoke Fall yes AKA: Love Rivals Love rivals in a posse after Dink Faulk escapes from jail in Smoke Fall. Nov 22, 1953 10 Put Out To Pasture yes AKA: Sheriff Gabe AKA: Elderly Sheriff Old sheriff, Gabriel Starbuck, is to be replaced. Nov 29, 1953 11 Billy Riddle, New Sheriff yes AKA: Sheriff Billy AKA: Billy Riddle AKA: The Sheriff's Old Man Dec 06, 1953 12 The Groom yes AKA: A Pressing Engagement Is Britt getting married? Dec 13, 1953 13 Barnum and the Thespians yes AKA: More Than Kin AKA: The Actors Actors visit Virtue City. Dec 20, 1953 14 Britt Ponset's Cristmas Carol yes AKA: A Western Christmas Carol AKA: Christmas Story Dec 27, 1953 15 Ned Plumer's Widow yes AKA: Cora Plumer Quency Jan 03, 1954 16 Step Brothers yes AKA: Man on the run AKA: A Friend In Need AKA: Fifty Yard Canyon Jan 10, 1954 17 The Prospector yes AKA: Hiram's Gold Strike Jan 17, 1954 18 The Silver Belt Buckle yes Jan 24, 1954 19 Outlaw's Wife yes AKA: Helen Bricker AKA: Mrs. Billy Stark Jan 31, 1954 20 The Lynching yes AKA: Trail To Sunset AKA: Wrong Man Lynched Wrong man, Ace Trassler, lynched by posse. Feb 07, 1954 21 The Apron Faced Sorrol yes AKA: City Boy Clay Fenton, city boy at the ranch. Feb 14, 1954 22 Quiet City, Changing Times yes AKA: A Town Grows Up AKA: Sheriff's Son Sheriff's son wants to study law. Feb 21, 1954 23 Battle At Tower Rock yes AKA: The Blue Ribbon Feb 28, 1954 -- no show -- Mar 07, 1954 24 Cheyenne Express yes AKA: Wilbur English AKA: Gang Falls Out AKA: Back Shooter Mar 14, 1954 25 Thicker Than Water yes AKA: Gus & Ted Proctor AKA: Gambler's Son AKA: Gus Proctor Mar 21, 1954 26 Duel At Lockwood yes AKA: Wess Singer Gunfighter AKA: Young Gunslinger AKA: Target, Bret Ponset Wess Singer, young gunslinger, meets Britt Ponset. ..... Changed from Sunday to Thursday ..... Apr 01, 1954 27 Aunt Em From Kansas yes AKA: Marrying Off Aunt Em Apr 08, 1954 28 General Guilford's Widow yes AKA: The Widow's Secret Apr 15, 1954 29 Crisis At Easter Creek yes Apr 22, 1954 30 Johnny Stringer yes AKA: Tracking Down a Killer Apr 29, 1954 31 Revenge At Harness Creek yes AKA: Herocurt Brothers May 06, 1954 32 Anna Norquist, Swedish Mail Order Bride yes AKA: Mail Order Bride AKA: Swedish Bride May 13, 1954 33 The Double Seven yes AKA: Ranchers Vs. Sodbusters AKA: Half-Way Creek May 20, 1954 34 The Shooting of Wyatt King yes AKA: The Wyoming Kid Who shot Wyatt King and who is the Wyoming Kid? May 27, 1954 35 Blood Relations yes Jun 03, 1954 36 Silver Threads Among The Gold yes Jun 10, 1954 37 Virtue City Election yes AKA: Write In Candidate AKA: New Sheriff Election in Virtue City for a new sheriff. Jun 17, 1954 38 When The Shoe Don't Fit yes AKA: Shades of Cinderella AKA: Western Cinderella Jun 24, 1954 39 Myra Barker (last show) yes Alphabetical Listing: This listing does not specify any one of multiple titles for a single show as primary. It just shows the title, date and number. It is intended to be used with the chronological listing above. Title Num Date --------------------------------------- --- ------------ Actors, The 13 Dec 13, 1953 Anna Norquist, Swedish Mail Order Bride 32 May 06, 1954 Apron Faced Sorrol, The 21 Feb 07, 1954 Aunt Em From Kansas 27 Apr 01, 1954 Back Shooter 24 Mar 07, 1954 Barnum and the Thespians 13 Dec 13, 1953 Battle At Tower Rock 23 Feb 21, 1954 Ben Scofield, Killer Aud Jul 15, 1953 Ben Scofield, Killer 7 Nov 01, 1953 Billy Riddle 11 Nov 29, 1953 Billy Riddle, New Sheriff 11 Nov 29, 1953 Blood Relations 35 May 27, 1954 Blue Ribbon, The 23 Feb 21, 1954 Britt Ponset's Cristmas Carol 14 Dec 20, 1953 Brother's Revenge, A 6 Oct 25, 1953 Capture of Stacy Gault, The 8 Nov 08, 1953 Cattle Drive to Abilene 3 Oct 04, 1953 Cheyenne Express 24 Mar 07, 1954 Christmas Story 14 Dec 20, 1953 City Boy 21 Feb 07, 1954 Cora Plumer Quency 15 Dec 27, 1953 Coward, The 2 Sep 27, 1953 Crisis At Easter Creek 29 Apr 15, 1954 Double Seven, The 33 May 13, 1954 Duel At Lockwood 26 Mar 21, 1954 Elderly Sheriff 10 Nov 22, 1953 Escape from Smoke Fall 9 Nov 15, 1953 Fifty Yard Canyon 16 Jan 03, 1954 Friend In Need, A 16 Jan 03, 1954 Gambler's Son 25 Mar 14, 1954 Gang Falls Out 24 Mar 07, 1954 General Guilford's Widow 28 Apr 08, 1954 Groom, The 12 Dec 06, 1953 Gunsling Ranch 2 Sep 27, 1953 Gus & Ted Proctor 25 Mar 14, 1954 Gus Proctor 25 Mar 14, 1954 Half-Way Creek 33 May 13, 1954 Helen Bricker 19 Jan 24, 1954 Herocurt Brothers 31 Apr 29, 1954 Hiram's Gold Strike 17 Jan 10, 1954 Horseshoe Clue Aud Jul 15, 1953 Horseshoe Clue 7 Nov 01, 1953 Jenny Garver 1 Sep 20, 1953 Johnny Stringer 30 Apr 22, 1954 Love Of A Good Woman 1 Sep 20, 1953 Love Rivals 9 Nov 15, 1953 Lynching, The 20 Jan 31, 1954 Mail Order Bride 32 May 06, 1954 Man on the run 16 Jan 03, 1954 Marrying Off Aunt Em 27 Apr 01, 1954 McAdams Brothers, The 3 Oct 04, 1953 Mine, The 5 Oct 18, 1953 More Than Kin 13 Dec 13, 1953 Mrs. Billy Stark 19 Jan 24, 1954 Myra Barker 39 Jun 24, 1954 Ned Plumer's Widow 15 Dec 27, 1953 New Sheriff 37 Jun 10, 1954 Outlaw's Wife 19 Jan 24, 1954 Pressing Engagement, A 12 Dec 06, 1953 Prospector, The 17 Jan 10, 1954 Put Out To Pasture 10 Nov 22, 1953 Quiet City, Changing Times 22 Feb 14, 1954 Ranchers Vs. Sodbusters 33 May 13, 1954 Red Lawson's Revenge 6 Oct 25, 1953 Revenge At Harness Creek 31 Apr 29, 1954 Revenge in Petersville 5 Oct 18, 1953 Rink Larkin 5 Oct 18, 1953 Rival Brothers 3 Oct 04, 1953 Shades of Cinderella 38 Jun 17, 1954 Sheriff's Old Man, The 11 Nov 29, 1953 Sheriff's Son 22 Feb 14, 1954 Sheriff's Son, The Aud Jul 15, 1953 Sheriff's Son, The 7 Nov 01, 1953 Sheriff Billy 11 Nov 29, 1953 Sheriff Gabe 10 Nov 22, 1953 Shooting of Wyatt King, The 34 May 20, 1954 Silver Annie's Mine 4 Oct 11, 1953 Silver Belt Buckle, The 18 Jan 17, 1954 Silver Threads Among The Gold 36 Jun 03, 1954 Sins Of The Father 5 Oct 18, 1953 Stampede, The 3 Oct 04, 1953 Step Brothers 16 Jan 03, 1954 Swedish Bride 32 May 06, 1954 Target, Bret Ponset 26 Mar 21, 1954 Thicker Than Water 25 Mar 14, 1954 Town Grows Up, A 22 Feb 14, 1954 Tracking Down a Killer 30 Apr 22, 1954 Trail To Sunset 20 Jan 31, 1954 Virtue City Election 37 Jun 10, 1954 Wess Singer Gunfighter 26 Mar 21, 1954 Western Christmas Carol, A 14 Dec 20, 1953 Western Cinderella 38 Jun 17, 1954 When The Shoe Don't Fit 38 Jun 17, 1954 Widow's Secret, The 28 Apr 08, 1954 Wilbur English 24 Mar 07, 1954 Will Fetter 2 Sep 27, 1953 Write In Candidate 37 Jun 10, 1954 Wrong Man Lynched 20 Jan 31, 1954 Wyoming Kid, The 34 May 20, 1954 Young Gunslinger 26 Mar 21, 1954 References: * "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514 * OTR club and vendor catalogs or web sites: * AVPRO, Don Aston, PO Box 1392, Lake Elsinore, CA 92531-1392 * Crabapple Sound, Henry Hinkel, 254 Florida Ave., Amsterdam, NY 12010 * Edward J. Carr, 216 Shaner Street, Boyertown, PA 19512 * Jerry Haendiges Productions, Jerry Haendiges, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 * Memories Of Radio, Dick Judge, PO Box 67800, Rochester NY 14617 * North American Radio Archives, 134 Vincewood Dr., Nicolasville, KY 40356 * Radio Historical Association of Colorado, PO Box 1908, Englewood, CO 80150 * Radio Memories, Ted Davenport, 1600 Wewoka St., North Little Rock, AR 72116 * Radio Showcase, Steve Kelez, PO Box 4357, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 * Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety And Comedy, PO Box 7177, Van Nuys, CA 91409-7177 Other Logs or Books: * THE SIX SHOOTER log, Jerry Haendiges Productions, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com) Reader Feedback: * Bill Slankard identified "Shades of Cinderella" as being show #38, "When the Shoe Don't Fit". * Jack Mann caught some typos. * Jerry Salley identified "Fifty Yard Canyon" as show #16. * Christopher W. identified "Half-Way Creek" as #33, verified "Dink" was Faulk's first name in #9, confirmed the city boy's name as Clay Clay Fenton in #21 and corrected Britt's first name (was Brett). * Dick Judge sent his show listing, adding numerous new alternate titles and identifying "Horseshoe Clue" as an alternate name for the audition. Last Update: May 20, 2004 This log is informational only. It does not imply that I or my references have these shows for trade or sale. The shows may still be protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from authorized dealers. The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis. Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M. Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).