Television
The Gene Autry Show
The Golden Chariot
Flying A Pictures
Season 5, Episode 5 (5-05)
Production #90
Network: CBS
Running Time: 30 minutes
Color
Original Air Date:
Saturday, October 29, 1955
Sponsor: Wrigley's Doublemint Chewing Gum
Brief Synopsis:
Gene enters his matched bays in a carnival chariot race and defeats a band of unscrupulous carnival operators.
Detailed Synopsis:
Gene stops a runaway wagon on his ranch and finds out that Pat Buttram is training the team for a carnival chariot race. Gene agrees to let Pat use the team, but refuses to drive in the race since he disapproves of gambling. In town, Gene learns that the school superintendent is arriving to inspect the new school, which was supposedly built to replace the burned down one. However, the money has not yet been raised and classes are held in a barn. If the superintendent finds out the truth, schoolmaster Michael Fitzpatrick will be fired and the children sent to school in another town. Gene tries to stop the superintendent, but fails. Horrified by the animals and general barn conditions, the superintendent gives them two more weeks to raise the money. Gene organizes a school building fund rally, but everyone goes to the carnival instead. Pat convinces school board chairmen Kathy and Abigail to bet school building funds on him for the chariot race. Pat loses. Gene examines the racecourse and finds that Pat's chariot was fixed to drag, so he decides to bet cattle money to recoup the losses. Gene places the bet, drives in the second race, and wins, despite all efforts of the carnival men to prevent him. Gene gets the money and hurries to the school groundbreaking ceremonies just in time to keep Fitzpatrick from discovering the charade.
Cast:
Character: | Performer: |
Gene Autry | Gene Autry |
Pat Buttram | Pat Buttram |
Michael Fitzpatrick | Junius Matthews |
Kathy | Jean Howell |
Charioteer | Harry Lauter |
Harper | Ralph Sanford |
Throckmorton | Byron Foulger |
Abigail | Elizabeth Harrower |
Chuck | Bob Woodward |
Champion | Champion, World's Wonder Horse |
Songs:
There's Nothing Like a Good Old-Fashioned Hoedown |
Gene Autry |
Crew:
Executive in charge of Production |
Armand Schaefer |
Directed by | Ray Nazarro |
Teleplay by | Maurice Geraghty |
Producer | Louis Gray |
Director of Photography | William Bradford, A.S.C. |
Supervising Film Editor | Anthony Wollner |
Film Editor | Jack Wheeler |
Musical Director | Carl Cotner |
Music Supervisor | Irving Friedman |
Musical Score | Walter Greene |
Music Editor | Erma E. Levin |
Assistant Director | Stanley Neufeld |
Recorded by | Glen Glenn Sound Company |