Best Old Time Radio Westerns

Welcome to Fort Laramie, an outstanding radio program that centered on a lonely cavalry outpost on the edge of the Western front in the 1870s. The CBS series starred Raymond Burr as Captain Lee Quince, captain of cavalry.  Major Ned Daggart, played by Jack Moyles, was in command. The major and the captain, it might be noted, did not always see eye-to-eye on matters.

Fort Laramie depicted what life must have been like on a cavalry post during the late 19th Century. The fort had 400 soldiers, along with many wives. The command was charged with supervising 4,000 Sioux Indians on a nearby reservation.

Many of the stories provided a woman's point-of-view, which was a refreshing change to the shoot-em-up juvenile radio westerns of earlier years.

Come along and give a listen to this extremely entertaining radio western that featured tremendous production values and our recordings have crystal clear sound quality.

Listen to episodes of Fort Laramie

J.B. Kendall, the Frontier Gentleman, provided an Englishman's account of life and death in the West.  As a reporter for the London Times, he wrote unusual and colorful stories.  But as a man with a gun, he lived and became a part of the violent years in the new territory. 

This truly unique radio program only ran for one year. Such a pity, because it was one of the best shows produced in the 1950s.  Frontier Gentleman was produced and directed by Antony Ellis, who also wrote many of the scripts.  The storylines were unique and offered fictional eye-witness accounts of actual historical places and events.  

Kendall was somewhat of an enigma. Trained in the British military, he fought in India and learned survival skills.  Presumably from a wealthy family, he also was taught the traits of a gentleman.

This is the story of J.B. Kendall, Frontier Gentleman.  Give a listen and it may become one of your favorite radio programs, too.

Listen to episodes of Frontier Gentleman

The classic radio western, Gunsmoke is considered by many to be the best produced radio show of all time.  

This adult western was on the air from 1952 to 1961 and starred William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshall. Matt is domiciled in Dodge City Kansas, the railhead destination for many of the cattle drives that drove up from Texas. 

Most of the stories revolve around the characters found in this wide open western town. Cowboys who came to Dodge City were often violent, undisciplined and raucous. Liquor ran freely throughout the dozen or more saloons.  Women were either married and living with their rancher husbands, or forced to work in the local drinking establishments -- assigned the task of getting the men to buy them drinks or to dance with them, or worse.

In the center of all of this is Matt Dillon-- responsible for bringing the law to Dodge City. The job doesn't make him popular.  Says Matt:  "I'm the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful -- and a little lonely."

Listen to episodes of Gunsmoke

In this Old Time Radio Western, John Dehner portrayed played Paladin, a gun for hire with a twist: Paladin had principles and often stood up for the little guy.

He home base was the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco in the 1870s where he was attended to by Hey Boy, a Chinese houseman played by Ben Wright, and Missy Wong, a housekeeper (and Hey-Boy's girlfriend) played by Virginia Gregg.

Each episode generally began and ended at the Carlton, where Paladin would receive a visitor or a telegram requesting his services. Amazingly, he traveled throughout most of the Western United States, often by train, stagecoach, or even pack mule, to reach his assignment.

Each episode generally began and ended at the Carlton, where Paladin would receive a visitor or a telegram requesting his services. Amazingly, he traveled throughout most of the Western United States, often by train, stagecoach, or even pack mule, to reach his assignment.

Listen to episodes of Have Gun - Will Travel

One of the most creative and entertaining shows to come out of the last great days of radio was "Luke Slaughter of Tombstone", a western program that aired on CBS Radio between February and June of 1958.

The show starred an up and coming 27-year-old character actor named Sam Buffington who was already making a name for himself on television. But on radio with his powerful and distinctive voice, it was easy to picture him as tall, lean and strong jawed.

Luke Slaughter of Tombstone still stands today as one of many bright spots from the last great days of radio. The show enjoyed top quality writing, outstanding performances, great sound patterns (from sound professional Tom Hanley) and original music from Wilbur Hatch and Amerigo Marino.

Come and enjoy Luke Slaughter -- a truly memorable radio western that can still be enjoyed as much today as in 1958. 

Listen to episodes of Luke Slaughter of Tombstone

One of everyone's favorite old-time radio westerns, The Six Shooter starred James Stewart as Britt Ponset, a drifting cowboy in the final years of the wild west. 

The stories were sometimes serious western dramas, sometimes farcical, whimsical comedies. They were always entertaining. 

One of the outstanding features of the program was Stewart's narration. It was particularly good when he would whisper the narrative during particularly suspenseful scenes -- creating a wonderful sense of drama. 

Each episode opened with this nostalgic dialog: "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, its handle unmarked. People call them both "the Six Shooter".

Featuring Jimmy Stewart in what he described as one of his favorite roles.  

Listen to episodes of The Six Shooter

Tales of the Texas Rangers  was a modern Western at the same time it was a police procedural drama.

The show aired on NBC Radio from 1950 to 1952.

Film star Joel McCrea played the fictitious Texas Ranger Jace Pearson, who used the latest scientific techniques to solve crimes. His faithful horse, Charcoal helped Pearson track down his prey.  While the majority of crimes on the show involved the use of automobiles, it was very common for circumstances to require Pearson to ride Charcoal while in pursuit of a criminal -- thus giving the show a modern day western feel.

Tales of the Texas Rangers  used stories from the actual files of the Texas Rangers.  With the exception of name changes and location modifications, the show claimed to be faithfully reenact actual cases.

Come along for the ride and join Jace and the local sheriff as they track down their man (or woman). The stories are easy to follow and great fun to listen to.

Listen to episodes of Tales of the Texas Rangers