Music · CBS
Gene Autry's Melody Ranch
January 4, 1940 – May 13, 1956 · 737 broadcasts
Gene Autry's Melody Ranch was the radio home of the singing cowboy -- sixteen years on CBS, from January 1940 to May 1956, sponsored the whole way by Doublemint gum. Each week it opened on Autry's own "Back in the Saddle Again" and settled into a campfire mix: a "Cowboy Classic" or two from Autry, Western songs from the Pinafores, the Cass County Boys, and Johnny Bond, comic byplay -- from 1948 with sidekick Pat Buttram -- and, as the week's highlight for its many young listeners, a ten-to-fifteen-minute dramatized Western adventure. Autry told the audience the show came straight from his home ranch in the San Fernando mountains. The war reshaped it: Autry took his Army Air Forces oath live on the air in July 1942, the program became Sergeant Gene Autry and moved to military bases, and it went dark from 1943 until his return in 1945. Of roughly 736 broadcasts, only 16 recordings are known to survive, all OTRR-certified copies. They are the last audible trace of the program that kept "Back in the Saddle Again" -- and a whole style of musical Western -- in the American living room.
Collection status:
16 of 737 held (2% complete)
◆ ◆ ◆
Episode Spine
Grouped by year. Jump to the full list below, or open a season on its own page.
- 1939 (1 episodes)
- 1940 (53 episodes)
- 1941 (52 episodes)
- 1942 (52 episodes)
- 1943 (31 episodes)
- 1945 (15 episodes)
- 1946 (52 episodes)
- 1947 (52 episodes)
- 1948 (52 episodes)
- 1949 (53 episodes)
- 1950 (48 episodes)
- 1951 (48 episodes)
- 1952 (52 episodes)
- 1953 (52 episodes)
- 1954 (52 episodes)
- 1955 (52 episodes)
- 1956 (20 episodes)
1939
December 31, 1939
Audition Program
1940
January 7, 1940
Gene Gets Discovered
January 14, 1940
January 21, 1940
January 28, 1940
February 4, 1940
February 11, 1940
February 18, 1940
February 25, 1940
March 3, 1940
March 10, 1940
March 17, 1940
March 24, 1940
March 31, 1940
April 7, 1940
April 14, 1940
April 21, 1940
April 28, 1940
May 5, 1940
May 12, 1940
Gold Country Troubles
May 19, 1940
May 26, 1940
June 2, 1940
Moose Head Troubles
June 9, 1940
June 16, 1940
June 23, 1940
June 30, 1940
July 7, 1940
July 14, 1940
July 21, 1940
July 28, 1940
August 4, 1940
August 11, 1940
August 18, 1940
August 25, 1940
September 1, 1940
September 8, 1940
September 15, 1940
September 22, 1940
September 29, 1940
October 6, 1940
October 13, 1940
October 20, 1940
October 27, 1940
November 3, 1940
November 10, 1940
November 17, 1940
November 24, 1940
December 1, 1940
December 8, 1940
December 15, 1940
December 22, 1940
December 29, 1940
Melody Ranch
1941
January 5, 1941
First Program of the New Year
January 12, 1941
January 19, 1941
January 26, 1941
February 2, 1941
February 9, 1941
February 16, 1941
February 23, 1941
March 2, 1941
March 9, 1941
March 16, 1941
March 23, 1941
March 30, 1941
From the Wardman Park Hotel
April 6, 1941
April 13, 1941
April 20, 1941
April 27, 1941
May 4, 1941
May 11, 1941
May 18, 1941
May 25, 1941
June 1, 1941
June 8, 1941
June 15, 1941
June 22, 1941
June 29, 1941
July 6, 1941
July 13, 1941
July 20, 1941
July 27, 1941
August 3, 1941
August 10, 1941
August 17, 1941
The Ranch Owner's Nephew Visits
August 24, 1941
August 31, 1941
September 7, 1941
September 14, 1941
September 21, 1941
September 28, 1941
October 5, 1941
October 12, 1941
October 19, 1941
October 26, 1941
November 2, 1941
November 9, 1941
November 16, 1941
November 23, 1941
November 30, 1941
December 7, 1941
December 14, 1941
December 21, 1941
December 28, 1941
1942
January 4, 1942
January 11, 1942
January 18, 1942
January 25, 1942
February 1, 1942
February 8, 1942
February 15, 1942
February 22, 1942
March 1, 1942
March 8, 1942
March 15, 1942
March 22, 1942
March 29, 1942
April 5, 1942
Special 45 Minute Program
April 12, 1942
April 19, 1942
April 26, 1942
May 3, 1942
May 10, 1942
May 17, 1942
May 24, 1942
May 31, 1942
June 7, 1942
June 14, 1942
June 21, 1942
June 28, 1942
July 5, 1942
July 12, 1942
July 19, 1942
July 26, 1942
Gene is Sworn Into the Army Air Forces
August 2, 1942
Gene's First Week in the Army Air Corp
August 9, 1942
August 16, 1942
August 23, 1942
August 30, 1942
September 6, 1942
September 13, 1942
September 20, 1942
September 27, 1942
October 4, 1942
October 11, 1942
October 18, 1942
October 25, 1942
November 1, 1942
November 8, 1942
November 15, 1942
November 22, 1942
November 29, 1942
December 6, 1942
December 13, 1942
December 20, 1942
December 27, 1942
1943
January 3, 1943
January 10, 1943
January 17, 1943
January 24, 1943
January 31, 1943
February 7, 1943
February 14, 1943
February 21, 1943
February 28, 1943
March 7, 1943
March 14, 1943
March 21, 1943
March 28, 1943
April 4, 1943
April 11, 1943
April 18, 1943
April 25, 1943
May 2, 1943
May 9, 1943
May 16, 1943
May 23, 1943
May 30, 1943
June 6, 1943
June 13, 1943
June 20, 1943
June 27, 1943
July 4, 1943
July 11, 1943
July 18, 1943
July 25, 1943
August 1, 1943
1945
September 23, 1945
September 30, 1945
October 7, 1945
October 14, 1945
October 21, 1945
October 28, 1945
November 4, 1945
November 11, 1945
November 18, 1945
November 25, 1945
December 2, 1945
December 9, 1945
December 16, 1945
December 23, 1945
December 30, 1945
1946
January 6, 1946
January 13, 1946
January 20, 1946
January 27, 1946
February 3, 1946
February 10, 1946
February 17, 1946
February 24, 1946
March 3, 1946
March 10, 1946
March 17, 1946
March 24, 1946
March 31, 1946
April 7, 1946
April 14, 1946
April 21, 1946
April 28, 1946
May 5, 1946
May 12, 1946
May 19, 1946
May 26, 1946
June 2, 1946
June 9, 1946
June 16, 1946
June 23, 1946
June 30, 1946
July 7, 1946
July 14, 1946
July 21, 1946
July 28, 1946
August 4, 1946
August 11, 1946
August 18, 1946
August 25, 1946
September 1, 1946
September 8, 1946
September 15, 1946
September 22, 1946
September 29, 1946
October 6, 1946
October 13, 1946
October 20, 1946
October 27, 1946
November 3, 1946
November 10, 1946
November 17, 1946
November 24, 1946
December 1, 1946
December 8, 1946
December 15, 1946
December 22, 1946
December 29, 1946
1947
January 5, 1947
January 12, 1947
January 19, 1947
January 26, 1947
February 2, 1947
February 9, 1947
February 16, 1947
February 23, 1947
March 2, 1947
March 9, 1947
March 16, 1947
March 23, 1947
March 30, 1947
April 6, 1947
April 13, 1947
April 20, 1947
April 27, 1947
May 4, 1947
May 11, 1947
May 18, 1947
May 25, 1947
June 1, 1947
June 8, 1947
June 15, 1947
June 22, 1947
July 6, 1947
July 13, 1947
July 20, 1947
July 27, 1947
August 3, 1947
August 10, 1947
August 17, 1947
August 24, 1947
August 31, 1947
September 7, 1947
September 14, 1947
September 21, 1947
September 28, 1947
October 5, 1947
October 12, 1947
October 19, 1947
October 26, 1947
November 2, 1947
November 9, 1947
November 16, 1947
November 23, 1947
November 30, 1947
December 7, 1947
December 14, 1947
December 28, 1947
1948
January 4, 1948
January 11, 1948
January 18, 1948
January 25, 1948
February 1, 1948
February 8, 1948
February 15, 1948
February 22, 1948
February 29, 1948
March 7, 1948
March 14, 1948
March 21, 1948
March 28, 1948
April 4, 1948
April 11, 1948
April 18, 1948
April 25, 1948
May 2, 1948
May 9, 1948
May 16, 1948
May 23, 1948
May 30, 1948
June 6, 1948
June 13, 1948
June 20, 1948
June 27, 1948
July 4, 1948
July 11, 1948
July 18, 1948
July 25, 1948
August 1, 1948
August 8, 1948
August 15, 1948
August 22, 1948
August 29, 1948
September 5, 1948
September 12, 1948
Getting the Goods Om Jake Burdick
September 26, 1948
October 3, 1948
October 10, 1948
October 17, 1948
October 24, 1948
October 31, 1948
November 7, 1948
November 14, 1948
November 21, 1948
November 28, 1948
December 5, 1948
December 12, 1948
December 19, 1948
December 25, 1948
1949
January 1, 1949
January 8, 1949
January 15, 1949
January 22, 1949
January 29, 1949
February 5, 1949
February 12, 1949
February 19, 1949
February 26, 1949
March 5, 1949
March 12, 1949
March 19, 1949
March 26, 1949
April 2, 1949
April 9, 1949
April 16, 1949
April 23, 1949
April 30, 1949
May 7, 1949
May 14, 1949
May 21, 1949
May 28, 1949
June 4, 1949
June 11, 1949
June 18, 1949
June 25, 1949
July 2, 1949
July 9, 1949
July 16, 1949
July 23, 1949
July 30, 1949
August 6, 1949
August 13, 1949
August 27, 1949
September 3, 1949
September 10, 1949
September 24, 1949
October 1, 1949
October 8, 1949
October 15, 1949
October 22, 1949
November 5, 1949
November 12, 1949
November 19, 1949
November 26, 1949
December 3, 1949
December 10, 1949
December 17, 1949
December 24, 1949
December 31, 1949
1950
January 7, 1950
January 14, 1950
January 21, 1950
Tenth Anniversary Show
January 28, 1950
February 4, 1950
February 11, 1950
February 18, 1950
February 25, 1950
March 4, 1950
March 11, 1950
March 18, 1950
March 25, 1950
April 1, 1950
Gene Helps Sally Scott Rent a House
April 8, 1950
April 15, 1950
April 22, 1950
April 29, 1950
May 6, 1950
May 13, 1950
May 20, 1950
May 27, 1950
June 3, 1950
June 10, 1950
June 17, 1950
June 24, 1950
Last Program of the 1949-1950 Season
July 29, 1950
Gene and Pat Take a Trip to Hollywood
August 5, 1950
August 12, 1950
August 19, 1950
August 26, 1950
September 2, 1950
September 9, 1950
September 16, 1950
September 23, 1950
October 7, 1950
October 14, 1950
Broadcast from New York City
October 21, 1950
October 28, 1950
November 4, 1950
November 11, 1950
November 18, 1950
November 25, 1950
December 2, 1950
December 9, 1950
December 16, 1950
December 23, 1950
December 30, 1950
1951
January 6, 1951
January 13, 1951
January 20, 1951
January 27, 1951
February 3, 1951
February 10, 1951
February 17, 1951
February 24, 1951
March 3, 1951
March 10, 1951
March 17, 1951
March 24, 1951
March 31, 1951
April 7, 1951
April 14, 1951
The Story of Crazy Charlie
April 21, 1951
April 28, 1951
May 5, 1951
May 12, 1951
May 19, 1951
May 26, 1951
June 2, 1951
June 9, 1951
Gene is Held Up and Robbed
June 23, 1951
June 30, 1951
August 4, 1951
August 11, 1951
August 18, 1951
August 25, 1951
September 8, 1951
September 15, 1951
Murder at the Rodeo
September 22, 1951
Little Joe Runs Away from Home
September 29, 1951
October 6, 1951
October 13, 1951
October 20, 1951
October 27, 1951
November 3, 1951
November 10, 1951
November 17, 1951
November 24, 1951
December 1, 1951
December 8, 1951
December 15, 1951
December 22, 1951
December 29, 1951
1952
January 12, 1952
January 19, 1952
January 26, 1952
February 2, 1952
February 9, 1952
February 16, 1952
February 23, 1952
March 1, 1952
March 8, 1952
March 15, 1952
March 22, 1952
March 29, 1952
April 5, 1952
April 12, 1952
Easter Program
April 19, 1952
April 26, 1952
May 3, 1952
May 10, 1952
Indians Framed
May 17, 1952
May 24, 1952
May 31, 1952
June 7, 1952
June 14, 1952
June 21, 1952
June 28, 1952
July 5, 1952
July 12, 1952
July 19, 1952
July 26, 1952
August 2, 1952
August 9, 1952
August 16, 1952
August 23, 1952
August 30, 1952
September 6, 1952
September 13, 1952
September 20, 1952
September 27, 1952
October 4, 1952
October 11, 1952
October 18, 1952
October 25, 1952
November 1, 1952
John Loves Martha
November 8, 1952
November 22, 1952
November 29, 1952
December 6, 1952
December 13, 1952
December 20, 1952
December 27, 1952
The Year in Review in Song
1953
January 3, 1953
Pat Buttram Loses Champion to Con Men
January 10, 1953
January 17, 1953
January 24, 1953
January 31, 1953
February 7, 1953
February 14, 1953
February 21, 1953
February 28, 1953
March 7, 1953
March 14, 1953
March 21, 1953
March 28, 1953
April 4, 1953
April 11, 1953
April 18, 1953
April 25, 1953
May 2, 1953
May 9, 1953
May 16, 1953
May 23, 1953
May 30, 1953
June 6, 1953
June 13, 1953
June 20, 1953
June 27, 1953
July 4, 1953
July 11, 1953
July 18, 1953
July 25, 1953
August 2, 1953
August 9, 1953
August 16, 1953
August 23, 1953
August 30, 1953
September 13, 1953
September 27, 1953
October 4, 1953
October 11, 1953
October 18, 1953
October 25, 1953
November 1, 1953
November 8, 1953
November 15, 1953
November 22, 1953
November 29, 1953
December 6, 1953
December 13, 1953
December 20, 1953
December 27, 1953
1954
January 3, 1954
January 10, 1954
January 17, 1954
January 24, 1954
January 31, 1954
February 7, 1954
February 14, 1954
February 21, 1954
February 28, 1954
March 7, 1954
March 14, 1954
March 21, 1954
March 28, 1954
April 4, 1954
April 11, 1954
April 18, 1954
April 25, 1954
May 2, 1954
May 9, 1954
May 16, 1954
May 23, 1954
May 30, 1954
June 6, 1954
June 13, 1954
June 20, 1954
June 27, 1954
July 4, 1954
July 11, 1954
July 18, 1954
July 25, 1954
August 1, 1954
August 8, 1954
August 15, 1954
August 22, 1954
August 29, 1954
September 5, 1954
September 12, 1954
September 19, 1954
September 26, 1954
October 3, 1954
October 10, 1954
October 17, 1954
October 24, 1954
October 31, 1954
November 7, 1954
November 14, 1954
November 21, 1954
November 28, 1954
December 5, 1954
December 12, 1954
December 19, 1954
December 26, 1954
1955
January 2, 1955
January 9, 1955
January 16, 1955
January 23, 1955
January 30, 1955
February 6, 1955
February 13, 1955
February 20, 1955
February 27, 1955
March 6, 1955
March 13, 1955
March 20, 1955
March 27, 1955
April 3, 1955
April 10, 1955
April 17, 1955
April 24, 1955
May 1, 1955
May 8, 1955
May 15, 1955
May 22, 1955
May 29, 1955
June 5, 1955
June 12, 1955
June 19, 1955
June 26, 1955
July 3, 1955
July 10, 1955
July 17, 1955
July 24, 1955
July 31, 1955
August 7, 1955
August 14, 1955
August 21, 1955
August 28, 1955
September 4, 1955
September 11, 1955
September 18, 1955
September 25, 1955
October 2, 1955
October 9, 1955
October 16, 1955
October 23, 1955
October 30, 1955
November 6, 1955
November 13, 1955
November 20, 1955
November 27, 1955
December 4, 1955
December 11, 1955
December 18, 1955
December 25, 1955
1956
January 1, 1956
January 8, 1956
January 15, 1956
January 22, 1956
February 5, 1956
February 12, 1956
February 19, 1956
February 26, 1956
March 4, 1956
March 11, 1956
March 18, 1956
March 25, 1956
April 1, 1956
April 8, 1956
April 15, 1956
April 22, 1956
April 29, 1956
May 6, 1956
The Story
Gene Autry's Melody Ranch was the radio home of the singing cowboy -- sixteen years on CBS, from January 1940 to May 1956, sponsored the whole way by Doublemint gum. Each week it opened on Autry's own "Back in the Saddle Again" and settled into a campfire mix: a "Cowboy Classic" or two from Autry, Western songs from the Pinafores, the Cass County Boys, and Johnny Bond, comic byplay -- from 1948 with sidekick Pat Buttram -- and, as the week's highlight for its many young listeners, a ten-to-fifteen-minute dramatized Western adventure. Autry told the audience the show came straight from his home ranch in the San Fernando mountains. The war reshaped it: Autry took his Army Air Forces oath live on the air in July 1942, the program became Sergeant Gene Autry and moved to military bases, and it went dark from 1943 until his return in 1945. Of roughly 736 broadcasts, only 16 recordings are known to survive, all OTRR-certified copies. They are the last audible trace of the program that kept "Back in the Saddle Again" -- and a whole style of musical Western -- in the American living room.
Full story — coming soon while it's being curated.
Gallery
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