Television
The Gene Autry Show
Ride Ranchero
Flying A Pictures
Season 5, Episode 11 (5-11)
Production #80
Network: CBS
Running Time: 30 minutes
Color
Original Air Date:
Saturday, December 10, 1955
Sponsor: Wrigley's Doublemint Chewing Gum
Part two of a trilogy.
Part one is Saddle Up and
part three is The Rangerette.
Brief Synopsis:
Gene tries to help a confirmed criminal by giving him a second chance at the Flying-A-Ranch, but the man turns out be his own worst enemy. Part two of a trilogy.
Detailed Synopsis:
After successfully turning the late Mamie Weston's ranch into the Flying-A-Ranch, Home of Gene Autry's Rangers, Gene Autry turns his attention to Mrs. Weston's only son, Big Jim, a notorious outlaw. Gene, with the help of lawyer Martin Pickett, secures Jim's release from the federal penitentiary in order to give him a second chance at the Flying A. In the stagecoach on the way, Jim meets a boy, Pedro Gonzales, also headed to the ranch. Pedro immediately recognizes the criminal and accuses him of killing both his father and mother. Jim denies it, but before he can say more, the stage is ambushed by Gene's disgruntled former foreman Stan Richter and his men. As was pre-arranged, Richter springs Jim from the coach. Jim and Richter have planned to sabotage the activities at the Flying A so that the property will revert back to Big Jim. In town, Pedro tells Gene about the ambush, and Gene sets out after Big Jim. Gene finds the outlaw injured – Jim had Richter hit him over the head to divert suspicion. Back at the ranch, Gene exercises Champion and Little Champ, who perform tricks for the boys. Jim pulls Pedro away and tells him that Butch Hanlon actually killed his father, but Pedro responds by saying that Jim did not help his dad and let him die. In school, Gene gives a speech about what it means to be an American after "Lefty" Legan bullies Pedro. Gene, Pat Buttram, the Cass County Boys, schoolteacher Miss Abby, and the Rangers head out on a trail ride. Big Jim has told Richter about it, and they make plans to sabotage the outing. The heavies force a large rock onto the school's campsite, and everyone escapes injury, but the rock crushes Pat's chuckwagon, causing the horses to stampede. Gene, Pedro, and Pat on Little Champ, go after the bad guys. Pedro finds a wounded Big Jim and has the opportunity for revenge, but proves he is the better man by taking the criminal to a doctor. Thus, Gene, aided by Pedro, once more defeats the forces working against him.
Cast:
| Character: | Performer: |
| Gene Autry | Gene Autry |
| Pat Buttram | Pat Buttram |
| Big Jim Weston | Emile Meyer |
| Miss Abby | Sally Mansfield |
| Martin Pickett | Leonard Penn |
| Pedro Gonzales | Peter Votrian |
| "Lefty" Legan | Sammy Ogg |
| Stan Richter | Gregg Barton |
| Sheriff Tim McBride | Kenne Duncan |
| The Cass County Boys | The Cass County Boys |
| Little Champ | Little Champ |
| Champion | Champion, World's Wonder Horse |
Songs:
| Ridin' Down the Canyon | Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys |
Crew:
| Executive in charge of Production |
Armand Schaefer |
| Directed by | George Archainbaud |
| Teleplay by | John K. Butler |
| 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 |
| Sound Editor | Harold E. Wooley |
| Assistant Director | Stanley Neufeld |
| Recorded by | Glen Glenn Sound Company |
