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Western · Syndicated

Red Horse Ranch

· 64 broadcasts

Life on the Red Horse Ranch is a 1930s cowboy musical serial -- a daily quarter-hour that braids a continuing ranch story with the songs of the old West. Rancher Sam "Dad" Carter is fighting to hold on: a hard winter took half the herd, a banknote is coming due, and his daughter Rose is away back East. His foreman Alabam' and the singing hired hands -- Tenderfoot, Idaho, Arizona, Cookie and Tex -- work, spark a little romance, and sing their way through a debt crisis, a stolen herd, a Danville rodeo, and the mystery of outlaw Trigger Dawson's hidden loot. The show's charm is that the cast and the band were the same troupe: the KMBC Texas Rangers of Kansas City supplied the music and played the ranch hands, several of whom carry the performers' own stage nicknames. Written by Ranger and future Hollywood scribe Gomer Cool and produced by Arthur B. Church's KMBC on World Broadcasting transcription discs around 1934-35, it was a short-lived serial that was not especially profitable for KMBC -- but a genuine origin point for a band that went on to CBS, the movies, and Gene Autry's Melody Ranch. Sixty-four undated installments survive, most opening with a titled cowboy tune before the story picks back up.

Collection status: 64 of 64 held (100% complete)
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Episode Spine

undated

date unknown First Tune The Big Corral Listen (FLAC)
The serial opens on the Red Horse Ranch, the ranch hands setting the scene with the cowboy song "The Big Corral."
date unknown First Tune I Ride an Old Paint Listen (FLAC)
A music-and-story installment led off by the trail ballad "I Ride an Old Paint."
date unknown First Tune Oh! Susanna Listen (FLAC)
The hands work through the day's ranch business to the tune of "Oh! Susanna."
date unknown First Tune His Trademarks Listen (FLAC)
A song-and-story chapter opening with the number "His Trademarks."
date unknown First Tune Is a Square Dance Listen (FLAC)
Life at the ranch carries on, this installment built around a square dance.
date unknown First Tune Rye Whiskey Listen (FLAC)
A music-and-story installment opening with the old cowboy song "Rye Whiskey."
date unknown First Tune Goodbye Old Paint Listen (FLAC)
The hands sing the parting song "Goodbye Old Paint" as the ranch story continues.
date unknown First Tune The Yodeling Ranger Listen (FLAC)
A chapter led off by "The Yodeling Ranger."
date unknown First Tune Turnip Greens Listen (FLAC)
A song-and-story installment opening with "Turnip Greens."
date unknown First Tune I Had a Gal and Her Name was Sue Listen (FLAC)
The hands strike up "I Had a Gal and Her Name Was Sue" over the day's doings.
date unknown Alabam Is Wondering Who Shot the Gun Listen (FLAC)
Alabam' puzzles over who fired the gunshot on the ranch.
date unknown Rose Talks with Her Father Listen (FLAC)
Rose Carter has a talk with her father about the ranch and its troubles.
date unknown First Tune The Old Gray Mare Listen (FLAC)
A music-and-story chapter opening with "The Old Gray Mare."
date unknown First Tune Turkey in the Straw Listen (FLAC)
The hands play "Turkey in the Straw" as the ranch story continues.
date unknown Alabam Is Hurt While Riding Red Listen (FLAC)
Alabam' is hurt while riding his horse, Red.
date unknown Alabam Is Recovering from His Accident Listen (FLAC)
Alabam' recovers from his riding accident.
date unknown First Tune Down in Arkansas Listen (FLAC)
A song-led installment opening with "Down in Arkansas."
date unknown First Tune The Big Corral Listen (FLAC)
Another chapter opening with "The Big Corral."
date unknown First Tune Night Herding Song Listen (FLAC)
The hands sing the "Night Herding Song" over the evening's watch.
date unknown Alabam and Tenderfoot Are Guarding the Herd Listen (FLAC)
Alabam' and Tenderfoot stand guard over the ranch's herd.
date unknown First Tune The Old Texas Trail Listen (FLAC)
A music-and-story installment opening with "The Old Texas Trail."
date unknown Mr. Carter's in Desperate Straits with Half the Herd Gone Listen (FLAC)
With half the herd gone, Mr. Carter is in desperate straits over the ranch's future.
date unknown First Tune Grandma Listen (FLAC)
A song-led chapter opening with "Grandma."
date unknown The Sheriff Comes to Collect on the Red Horse Ranch Debt Listen (FLAC)
The sheriff arrives at the Red Horse Ranch to collect on its overdue debt.
date unknown First Tune I Like Mountain Music Listen (FLAC)
The hands strike up "I Like Mountain Music" as the story goes on.
date unknown Cookie and Arizona Reminisce About the Women They've Known Listen (FLAC)
Cookie and Arizona swap tall tales about the women they have known.
date unknown Alabam Makes a Wonderful Discovery Listen (MP3)
Alabam' comes upon a welcome discovery at the ranch.
date unknown Alabam and Tenderfoot Ride Into Danville Listen (MP3)
Alabam' and Tenderfoot ride into the town of Danville.
date unknown Exciting Times at the Ranch Listen (MP3)
Exciting times unfold at the ranch.
date unknown Alabam Is Knocked Out at the Saloon Listen (MP3)
Alabam' is knocked out in a fracas at the saloon.
date unknown Alabam Returns to the Ranch Listen (MP3)
Alabam' returns to the Red Horse Ranch.
date unknown The Boys Save the Herd Listen (MP3)
The boys manage to save the herd.
date unknown Alabam Insists That Something Will Save the Ranch Listen (MP3)
Alabam' insists that something will turn up to save the ranch.
date unknown The Sale of the Herd Will Help the Ranch Listen (MP3)
Selling the herd may be what finally saves the ranch.
date unknown Red Jumped the Fence Listen (MP3)
Trouble on the range as Red jumps the fence.
date unknown The Boys Bring Back the Cattle That Were Stolen Listen (MP3)
The boys bring back the cattle that had been stolen.
date unknown Alabam and a Stranger Talked at the Dance Listen (MP3)
Alabam' and a stranger fall into conversation at the dance.
date unknown Alabam Thinks There's Oil on the Ranch Listen (MP3)
Alabam' comes to believe there is oil on the ranch.
date unknown Trigger Dawson Had a Boy Living With Him Listen (MP3)
Word comes of Trigger Dawson, who has a boy living with him.
date unknown Dewey Dawson Comes to the Red Horse Ranch Listen (MP3)
Dewey Dawson arrives at the Red Horse Ranch.
date unknown The Rest of the Boys Don't Like Dewey Dawson Listen (MP3)
The rest of the boys take a dislike to young Dewey Dawson.
date unknown Dewey Dawson Is Going to Stay at the Ranch Listen (MP3)
It is settled that Dewey Dawson will stay on at the ranch.
date unknown Tenderfoot Is in Love With Rose Carter Listen (MP3)
Tenderfoot reveals he is in love with Rose Carter.
date unknown Tenderfoot Leaves the Ranch Listen (MP3)
Tenderfoot leaves the Red Horse Ranch.
date unknown The Rodeo Is Coming to Danville Listen (MP3)
The rodeo is coming to Danville.
date unknown It's a Big Day at the Rodeo Listen (MP3)
It is a big day at the Danville rodeo.
date unknown All the Folks Still at the Danville Rodeo Listen (MP3)
The whole outfit is still on hand at the Danville rodeo.
date unknown Alabam's Horse Lost the First Race at the Danville Rodeo Listen (MP3)
Alabam's horse loses the first race at the Danville rodeo.
date unknown It's The Last Horse Race at the Danville Rodeo Listen (MP3)
The last horse race of the Danville rodeo is run.
date unknown Everyone Returns Home After a Week at the Rodeo Listen (MP3)
Everyone heads home after a week at the rodeo.
date unknown Dewey Wins the Friendship of the Gang Listen (MP3)
Dewey wins the friendship of the gang.
date unknown Two Outlaws Escape Jail Listen (MP3)
Two outlaws break out of jail.
date unknown An Attempt Is Made to Kidnap Dewey Dawson Listen (MP3)
An attempt is made to kidnap Dewey Dawson.
date unknown Dewey Dawson Is Missing Listen (MP3)
Dewey Dawson has gone missing.
date unknown Trigger Dawson Gave Dewey a Locket Listen (MP3)
Trigger Dawson had given Dewey a locket.
date unknown First Tune Little Green Valley Listen (MP3)
A song-led installment opening with "Little Green Valley."
date unknown First Tune The Old Wishing Well Listen (MP3)
The hands strike up "The Old Wishing Well" as the story continues.
date unknown First Tune Hallalujah, I'm a Bum Listen (MP3)
A music-and-story chapter opening with "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum."
date unknown First Tune It's Heck to Bum in Texas When it Rains Listen (MP3)
The hands play "It's Heck to Bum in Texas When It Rains."
date unknown The Boys Search for Trigger Dawson's Loot Listen (MP3)
The boys search for Trigger Dawson's hidden loot.
date unknown Trigger Dawson Hid His Loot Listen (MP3)
It emerges that Trigger Dawson had hidden his loot.
date unknown First Song Turkey in the Straw Listen (MP3)
A song-led installment opening with "Turkey in the Straw."
date unknown Alabam and the Gang Follow a Map Listen (MP3)
Alabam' and the gang follow a map toward the hidden loot.
date unknown Alabam and the Gang Find the Loot Listen (MP3)
Alabam' and the gang find the loot, bringing the serial to its close.
The Story

Life on the Red Horse Ranch is a 1930s cowboy musical serial -- a daily quarter-hour that braids a continuing ranch story with the songs of the old West. Rancher Sam "Dad" Carter is fighting to hold on: a hard winter took half the herd, a banknote is coming due, and his daughter Rose is away back East. His foreman Alabam' and the singing hired hands -- Tenderfoot, Idaho, Arizona, Cookie and Tex -- work, spark a little romance, and sing their way through a debt crisis, a stolen herd, a Danville rodeo, and the mystery of outlaw Trigger Dawson's hidden loot. The show's charm is that the cast and the band were the same troupe: the KMBC Texas Rangers of Kansas City supplied the music and played the ranch hands, several of whom carry the performers' own stage nicknames. Written by Ranger and future Hollywood scribe Gomer Cool and produced by Arthur B. Church's KMBC on World Broadcasting transcription discs around 1934-35, it was a short-lived serial that was not especially profitable for KMBC -- but a genuine origin point for a band that went on to CBS, the movies, and Gene Autry's Melody Ranch. Sixty-four undated installments survive, most opening with a titled cowboy tune before the story picks back up.

Full story — coming soon while it's being curated.
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