The Six Shooter brought James Stewart to the NBC microphone on September 20, 1953, in a fine series of folksy Western adventures.
Stewart was never better on the air than in this drama of Britt Ponset, frontier drifter created by Frank Burt. The epigraph set it up nicely: "The man in the saddle is angular and long-legged: his skin is sun dyed brown. The gun in his holster is gray steel and rainbow mother-of-pearl. People call them both The Six Shooter." Ponset was a wanderer, an easy-going gentleman and -- when he had to be -- a gunfighter.
Stewart was right in character as the slow-talking maverick who usually blundered into other people's troubles and sometimes shot his way out. His experiences were broad, but The Six Shooter leaned more to comedy than other shows of its kind. Ponset took time out to play Hamlet with a crude road company. He ran for mayor and sheriff of the same town at the same time. He became involved in a delightful Western version of Cinderella, complete with grouchy stepmother, ugly sisters, and a shoe that didn't fit. And at Christmas he told a young runaway the story of A Christmas Carol, Substituting the original Dickens characters with Western heavies. Britt even had time to fall in love, but it was the age-old story of people from different worlds, and the romance was foredoomed despite their valiant efforts to save it.
So we got a cowboy-into-the-sunset ending for this series, truly one of the bright spots of radio. Unfortunately, it came too late, and lasted only one season.
It was a transcribed show, sustained by NBC and directed by Jack Johnstone. Basil Adlam provided the music and Frank Burt wrote the scripts. Hal Gibney announced.
All Episodes
Original Air Date: January 31, 1954Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Six ShooterPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• James Stewart (Britt Ponset) Special Guests:• Robert Griffin• Harry Bartell• Lamont Johnson• Howard...
Original Air Date: January 24, 1954Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Six ShooterPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• James Stewart (Britt Ponset) Special Guests:• Lillian Buyeff• Ken Christy• Herb Vigran• Parley...
A trip through a mountain pass with two strange companions…with a strange purpose.Original Air Date: January 17, 1954Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Six ShooterPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• James...
An old prospector named Hiram finally strikes it rich.Original Air Date: January 10, 1954Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Six ShooterPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• James Stewart (Britt Ponset) Special...
Podcast: Download (Duration: 34:55 — 20.1MB)
Britt meets a killer in a narrow canyon who tells a very believable story.Original Air Date: January 03, 1954Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Six ShooterPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:•...
Podcast: Download (Duration: 30:55 — 17.8MB)
Cora Plummer had remarried soon after her husband died. Her son is convinced his step-father is after the family ranch and money.Original Air Date: December 27, 1953Host: Andrew RhynesShow:...
Podcast: Download (Duration: 36:12 — 20.8MB)
The story of "A Christmas Carol" is retold with a western motif. Original Air Date: December 20, 1953Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Six ShooterPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• James...
Podcast: Download (Duration: 31:41 — 18.3MB)
Podcast: Download (Duration: 35:19 — 20.3MB)
Rumor has it that Britt is getting married to the niece of Minnie Flint. Minnie's arranged the whole thing, without bothering to tell Britt!Original Air Date: December 06, 1953Host:...
Podcast: Download (Duration: 35:03 — 20.2MB)