Television
The Gene Autry Show

Saddle Up

Flying A Pictures
Season 5, Episode 10 (5-10)
Production #79
Network: CBS
Running Time: 30 minutes
Color

Original Air Date:
Saturday, December 3, 1955

Sponsor: Wrigley's Doublemint Chewing Gum

Part one of a trilogy.
Part two is Ride Ranchero and
part three is The Rangerette.

Brief Synopsis:

Gene takes over a ranch and turns it into a home for underprivileged boys. He encounters shady ranch hands and a troubled city kid. Part one of a trilogy.

Detailed Synopsis:

Gene Autry and Pat Buttram head to the late Mamie Weston's ranch, the Flying W. As outlined by her will, Gene is to turn the ranch into an outdoor home to give underprivileged boys a second chance. Lawyer Martin Pickett tells Gene that he is completely in charge, with one exception: if Pickett believes the ranch is being run improperly or if one of the boys is injured, the property reverts to Mrs. Weston's only son, Big Jim, a notorious, imprisoned outlaw and leader of the Weston Gang. Miss Abby, Pickett's niece, signs on as schoolteacher. With her, Pat, and the Cass County Boys' help, Gene turns the Flying W into the Flying-A-Ranch, Home of Gene Autry's Rangers. Not everyone is on Gene's side, however; foreman Stan Richter wants to use the property for illegal rustling activities and sets out to sabotage Gene with his three henchman. If Richter can get the ranch to revert back to Big Jim, he will have free reign, since Big Jim is in prison for life. In addition, Gene must contend with "Lefty" Legan, a tough city kid who wants no part of ranch life. Gene talks with Lefty and suggests he ride Little Champ. Lefty is eager to show off, but the ride is rough because Richter's men put cactus under the saddle, irritating the horse. Gene rebukes the men, starting a fight. Lefty, meanwhile, has learned a lesson and apologizes to Gene. Later, while playing baseball, Lefty shows Gene his "bat," a branding iron with the initials "SR." Gene immediately figures out what Richter is up to and races away to confront him. Lefty follows on Little Champ. With the reformed city kid's help, Gene exposes Richter and his men, sending them away from the Flying A without their horses. Gene and Lefty then head back to the ranch to continue their good work.

Cast:

Character:	Performer:
Gene Autry	Gene Autry
Pat Buttram	Pat Buttram
Miss Abby	Sally Mansfield
"Lefty" Legan	Sammy Ogg
Martin Pickett	Leonard Penn
Stan Richter	Gregg Barton
Robson	Will Crandall
Sheriff Tim McBride	Kenne Duncan
The Cass County Boys	The Cass County Boys
Little Champ	Little Champ
Champion	Champion, World's Wonder Horse

Songs:

Pretty Mary	Gene Autry
Gallivantin' Galveston Gal	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	Bruce B. Pierce, A.C.E.
Musical Director	Carl Cotner
Music Supervisor	Irving Friedman
Musical Score	Walter Greene
Music Editor	Erma E. Levin
Sound Editor	Arthur E. Klein
Assistant Director	Stanley Neufeld
Recorded by	Glen Glenn Sound Company