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The Six Shooter - Single Episodes

by: Old Time Radio Researchers Group

Publication date: 2020-01-09

Usage: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

Topics: OTRR, Old Time Radio Researchers Group, OTR, Old Time Radio, OTRR Set, OTRR Single Episodes, Six Shooter, The, The Six Shooter, Jimmy Stewart, James Stewart, Stewart, Jimmy, Stewart, James, Western, Best, OTRR Updated Release, OTRR - 2020-01

THE SIX SHOOTER
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 delighful 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.

Information from John Dunning’s "Tune In Yesterday The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio".
NOTE: Updated with Version 5.1 files (09-Jan-2020).

NOTE: Updated with Version 5 files (25-Feb-2011).

From the Old Time Radio Researchers Group. See "Notes" Section below for more information on the OTRR.

Notes

OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHERS GROUP

This is a production of the Old Time Radio Researchers (OTRR) Group located at Old Time Radio Researchers Website (www.otrr.org), Old Time Radio Researchers Facebook Group, and Old Time Radio Researchers Group.

It contains the most complete and accurate version of this series in the best sound possible at the time of creation. An updated version will be issued if more episodes or better sounding ones become available.

This is the Single Episodes Page. The Certified Set includes extras not found here. It is located at OTRR Certified Set. This Single Episodes page is provided in case you want to sample the shows. Note that in many cases, file names have been modified from the original OTRR names to conform to archive.org naming requirements.

If you are interested in preserving Old Time Radio (OTR), you may wish to join the Old Time Radio Researchers Group at Facebook and Groups.io.

Relax, listen, and enjoy!

OTRR Definitions:

OTRR Maintained Set -- This set contains all known episodes in the best available audio condition with the most accurate dates and titles known to be in general circulation and based on current research at the time of release. Replaces OTRR Certified Accurate and OTRR Certified Complete.

OTRR Non-Maintained Set -- A collection of shows that has not gone through the OTRR Maintenance process.

Pre-2019 OTRR Definitions:

OTRR Certified Accurate -- A series that was "Certified Accurate" indicated that all the episodes were properly identified and labeled based on current information but that the series did not contain all known extant episodes.

OTRR Certified Complete -- A series that was "Certified Complete" achieved the highest level of certification available under the OTRR Certified Standards. This certification level implied that all the files in the series were "Certified Accurate" and also indicated that the series was as complete as possible and included all circulating episodes.

OTRR Non-Certified -- A collection of shows that has not gone through the OTRR Certification process.

Also, beginning in 2019, the version numbers of our OTRR releases changed format -- instead of v1.0 or v2.1, we are now using a version number that reflects the year and month the set was released. The format used is a two-digit year followed by a two-digit month. For example, "v1906" indicates a set that was released in June 2019, or "v1910" indicates a set released in October 2019.

NOTE: There are no passwords for any of our ZIP files. If you are prompted for a password, before downloading the file again, try unzipping the file into a shorter full folder path name -- for example, unzip to "C:\" instead of "C:\Documents and Settings\your_Windows_ID\some_other_folder\". Sorry, some of our releases contain long folder and file names, which sometimes manifests itself on the Windows platform as prompting for a password for the ZIP file. Or try renaming the ZIP file itself to a shorter name before unzipping.

Addeddate: 2006-07-23 07:07:03

Boxid: OL100020404

External_metadata_update: 2019-04-14T00:49:17Z

Identifier: OTRR_The_Six_Shooter_Singles

Year: 2020

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Reviews

Reviewer: Hack E. Sack - - April 8, 2024
Subject: a little comparison

Joel McCrea had a big hit with his radio show “Tales of the Texas Rangers” which ran from 1950-1953. Those shows were certainly more professional than “The Six Shooter,” but really the difference came down to the fact that McCrea’s voice was better suited to broadcast than Stewart’s was.
Still, “The Six Shooter” is a fine little series, well worth listening to while doing chores; better, for example, than Sidney Greenstreet’s failed attempt at “Nero Wolfe.”

Reviewer: Books&Banjos - - January 22, 2024
Subject: Great Show

I am new to listening to old radio and this is one of the best I have listened to.

Reviewer: Drestakil - - September 3, 2020
Subject: Great Program

I used to listen to this show while I was driving over the road. A great show. I listened to every episode. Jimmy Stewart was the perfect person to voice this character. You can see the action as it unfolds. Plus, it's always interesting to see how many voices I can recognize.

Reviewer: newdickmorris - - April 29, 2019
Subject: .

Jimmy Stewart had a remarkable talent of ramping up the tension in a scene just by whispering. Very effective, but I wonder how audible it was coming through an old AM radio back in the day.

P.S. think my favorite episode is "Ben Scofield."

Reviewer: harron68 - - January 29, 2019
Subject: Beyond the Plains

One of the best. Taut scripts, careful suspense building, great cast, in short few weak points.
I agree the "aw shucks" demeanor of Ponsett was a bit much. Still, among the finest series radio has to offer.

Reviewer: Corelli'sbelly1 - - December 12, 2017
Subject: Perfect

Good audio, entertaining stories and Jimmy Stewart make every episode like a story from a favorite uncle or best friend.

Reviewer: golfpro72 - - August 9, 2017
Subject: Jimmy Stewart

I see that a couple people say that JS is not a good actor and messes up lines, talks over people, etc. And THAT'S one of the reasons that this show is so great. I would rate Gunsmoke #1 and this #2 and Have Gun, Will travel #3, and Frontier Gentleman #4 with John Dehner. Just wonderful radio westerns that are great listening.
Chuck Abinante

Reviewer: SaraBellePalsy - - February 2, 2017
Subject: Floyd D. Barber

Above is the proper spelling when the subject of Howard McNear comes up! . . . Ya know, the more series I listen to, the more good old Floyd shows up! He's in a LOT of "The Lineup" episodes, which I found to be a pretty good cop show, too. I just heard Floyd in an Escape episode.
Heyyy Aandeeee

Reviewer: CleanSlateFilms - - January 18, 2017
Subject: Great, Classic Voices in a great show.

Yes, hoka-hey, Floyd the Barber, (Howard McNear) was in several episodes. If you listen carefully you can hear a few more famous voices, for instance, Parley Baer--who played the Mayor in The Andy Griffith Show--also appears in several episodes. William Conrad appears occasionally, too. He is perhaps best known to television viewers as Cannon, but also seen in Jake and the Fat Man, and he had a small stint in the 80s as Nero Wolfe. (Of course, to classic radio buffs he is probably best known as Marshall Matt Dillon in the radio version of Gunsmoke.)

I am so glad that James Stewart and Frank Burt came together to bring us this show. Unfortunately, it came at a time when sponsors had turned to investing less in radio and more in television. But we are fortunate that the recordings survive.

Reviewer: hoka-hey - - January 7, 2017
Subject: Floyd the barber

I'd swear the character Floyd, the barber in the Andy Griffith Show, is in Ep 17

Reviewer: KK's Bear - - April 26, 2016
Subject: Quite Uplifting

If you're looking for Shakespearean level performances why are you looking at a program entitled The Six Shooter? I suggest the uptight critics choose other venues for entertainment and stop listening to these programs.

We fans of the laid back storyteller version of the west, come here to relax and feel the family atmosphere of being around a campfire. The stories are fun, creative and even clever. They strive to teach something in each episode. Good old fashioned radio. I love it.

Reviewer: garthurd - - June 28, 2015
Subject: Amazing Radio Series

I remember as a kid my elders telling me how they loved using their imaginations while listening to radio programs like The Six Shooter. What I didn't understand at the time was how great writing and great acting can totally immerse you in a story. I have listened to several episodes of The Six Shooter and each time have been totally immersed in the story and able to visualize all of the action with ease. It would be hard to find a radio series that equals this in quality, although Gunsmoke comes close.

Reviewer: binyamendel - - January 14, 2014
Subject: Six Shooter worth SIX stars - A True "Mother of Pearl"

This series is a gem - crafted as beautifully as that mother-of-pearl handle! ... I am totally charmed,thrilled, engaged and fully entertained by the slow talking, wise and witty character portrayed by that outstanding straight, believable and lovable film star Jimmy Stewart. His very unique rather high pitched and purely early American Western voice sounds like the real thing: a lonely but beloved hard working, virtuous and strong man of courage, wisdom, dignity and plain likeability. The timeless scripts by Mr. Burt are filed with wonderful character development, sometimes surprising plots,irony, humor and a nice dose of insight into basic human nature. I love this series so much that I joined Archive.org just so that I could write this review. As others here have lamented it's a real shame that a lot more episodes were not created. For my money the Six Shooter represents the highest quality ever achieved during the golden age of the sorely missed and virtually extinct medium of Old Time Radio drama - For the most part today's young audiences wouldn't even be willing to give these old chestnuts the time of day. Alas, they have no idea about the treasures and pleasures they are missing. Kudos and great appreciation to Archive.org for making these programs available. I wonder if someone could contact me at binyamendel@gmail.commits to let me know if there is a Jimmy Stewart fan club I could join.

Reviewer: CZ10 - - March 8, 2013
Subject: One of my favs

I just glanced at the photo from the show. Odd that they show JS with a rifle instead of the gun that defines the show.

Reviewer: Ampico - - January 5, 2013
Subject: A Really Good Show

The Six Shooter's writers never tried to do more than could be done in half an hour with time out for commercials etc. Some of the scripts approach Gunsmoke. Obviously, I like it quite a lot.

Reviewer: Alonzo Church - - January 5, 2013
Subject: Variable Big Star Series

This show was written to exploit and bolster the carefully established Jimmy Stewart persona, not deconstruct it a la Hitchcock, or dwell in its dark side, a la Anthony Mann. Folks coming to this show from a viewing of Vertigo or Bend of the River are going to be disapointed. Stewart is in full gosh, aw shucks stammer throughout this series, and we almost never see his capacity for anger in these shows.

That said, a number of thse shows make good use of their big star, and this show dares to go offbeat in directions that other adult westerns dare not tread. Yes sir, JS has to take on girls tryin to marry him, a little boy who has turned away from Christmas, a Cinderella story, a production of Hamlet, and a maiden aunt who wants to keep house for him. Most of this is handled rather gently, and things can get bland from time to time.

But, fortunately, JS is playing someone who is good with a gun, and a few of the episodes get dark. In these cases, the mood isn't noir bleakness, but a leisurely melancholy that is effective in its own way. (The best episode involves a woman who insists her husband is alive, even though he was reported dead in an indian war. That episode resembles the best of Gunsmoke, and even sees JS finally losing his temper in a way enthusiasts of the Anthony Mann westerns will recognize.)

This is a good series -- but expect the JS of Destry Rides Again, not the fellow in all those 50s movies.

Reviewer: mctiggs - - February 8, 2012
Subject: An angular and long-legged review

This series is well written, and Jimmy Stewart proves his greatness as an actor on any medium. His delivery is comical, akward, and convincing. People who wish to listen to this as a Western Series will be disappointed. I think I recall one gunfight in the whole series. "Western" is used more as a backdrop for the stories than a genre.

Reviewer: MadMikeyD - - August 25, 2011
Subject: Great Show!

This is an excellent radio western and Jimmy Stewart is fantastic. This has quickly become one of my favorite radio shows, right behind "The Lone Ranger." The only complaint, as others have mentioned, is that it didn't last longer.

Reviewer: yubawatza - - July 16, 2011
Subject: Milktoast

Yes the recordings are great .But the plots and acting are BLAND . This wasn't canceled because of TV It was bad writing . Jimmies stammering does not make great radio

Reviewer: Poe1809 - - January 10, 2011
Subject: ...

I'm not a big fan of radio westerns reasons that I can't quite explain, but this show has found a permanent home on my MP3 player. This is just a quality series with good sound and a fine collection of characters and stories that are often well outside the cliches.

Reviewer: Back To The 80s - - January 9, 2011
Subject: Show ended

This show lasted one year because the producers of the program wanted to bring on a cigarette sponsor for season two. James Stewart refused to allow this because of the faithful younger audience he had and said he would not star in the show if it was promoting tobacco products. Knowing they couldn't find anyone to replace Stewart's roll in the Six Shooter, they canceled the show. One of the best series PERIOD!

Reviewer: d-boy - - August 27, 2010
Subject: Well that's a relief!

i'm almost out of Gunsmokes, and i've tried show after show, (and i've been through Johnny Dollar and Nightbeat).....and it turns out Gunsmoke is a hard act fo follow. But Six Shooter is pretty good; though the sound effects are not as incredible as on Gunsmoke, the first Six Shooter did something i'm not sure ANY Gunsmoke ever did: the ending actually suprised me!

Reviewer: Anatoon - - May 6, 2010
Subject: Quite Possibly The Best Radio Show Ever

I've been listening to old time radio since I first discovered it on the KNX Drama Hour when I was a child. Of all the different shows they aired I always looked forward to the Six Shooter more than the rest. Even today I enjoy is as much as when I was a youngster. The stories are excellent, the acting superb. I agree the show seems to be written for James Stewart, the role and the actor fit like a glove. I'm only giving it five stars because I can't give it more!

Reviewer: releppes - - May 5, 2010
Subject: quality show and recordings but so so acting

If you like James Stewart, then you'll like this show. It's has quality effects and the preservation of the recordings are outstanding. The acting isn't very good though. Especially with a big name actor like James Stewart. Actors would constantly stumble over their lines, or talk over each other. James Stewart being the worst of them all. You'd think the star would hold the show together, but not in this case. The support actors are more authentic with better lead ins. Overall, it's a good show. But it's an example of how a big name actor can bring down a show.

Reviewer: griff Abbott - - October 20, 2009
Subject: Wish there were more.

It's a true pity that TV and the times doomed this series to just one season. Listening to the episodes makes one wish they'd started years earlier so we'd have more of them to enjoy today.

Reviewer: Dementia43 - - September 8, 2009
Subject: Top Tier of Western Entertainment

Great show!! Ranks up there with the great mature westerns such as Gunsmoke, Fort Laramie, HGWT, and Frontier Gentleman.

Reviewer: hobotim - - May 7, 2009
Subject: James Stewart - A Golden Legend

True Entertainment!

Reviewer: mixiearmadillo - - September 27, 2008
Subject: Deeply enjoyable

Wish there were more!

Reviewer: Dennis Day - - August 19, 2008
Subject: Perfect Series!

I love the writing, acting, and producing of this series! It is my all time favorite OTR Western series. Jimmy Stewart gives an impressive acting tour-de-force throughout. I just wish there were more episodes, but I'm happy with what we have. A must for western and Stewart fans.

Reviewer: idreamedmusic - - July 21, 2008
Subject: "Now see here..."

What a rare gem
Stewart is perfect as Ponset, the almost reluctant hero, and the stories range from more typical Western fare (outlaws, crooked sheriffs) to more unusual morality plays.
Wonderful for a lazy afternoon.

Reviewer: jackrabbit1205 - - December 18, 2007
Subject: the six shooter the as good as radio shows get

Jimmy Stewart has got to be one of the all time best actors of his time. This program seems to be writen with his talents in mind. The scripts fit his style of acting and speech as a hand made pair of boots would fit a person. I have lost counts of the times I have listened to this series and I still return when I want a quiet mood show to listen to. The world lost a great way of experincing a show when radio stoped this type of broadcast. Since finding these programs my TV has gotten a lot of rest. if you want to be enterained in a special way this is one of the shows to listen to.
Jack Fleming

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