The Official Website of Gene Autry, America's Favorite Singing Cowboy

Fun Autry Fact:

Gene had the ability to take instant catnaps, awakening a few minutes later refreshed and ready for the next task.

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