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Fun Autry Fact:

According to a 1953 fan magazine estimate, if all the recordings that Gene sold were stacked one atop of the other, the pile would be 57 miles high.

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

Watch a Clip from The Raiders: