The Six Shooter is a United States Western old-time radio program starring James Stewart as a gunfighter. It was created by Frank Burt, who also wrote many of the episodes, and lasted only one season of 39 episodes on NBC (Sept. 20, 1953–June 24, 1954). Initially, it was broadcast on Sundays at 9:30 pm Eastern Time, through October 11. Then it was heard at 8:30 pm for three weeks. Finally, on November 8, 1953, through March 21, 1954, it was broadcast Sundays at 8 pm; beginning April 1, 1954, through the final episode, it was on Thursdays at 8:30 pm. One old-time radio directory called the program "a last, desperate effort by a radio network (NBC) to maintain interest in adventure drama by employing a major Hollywood movie star in the leading role."

Stewart starred as Britt Ponset, a drifting cowboy in the final years of the wild west. Episodes ranged from straight Western drama to whimsical comedy. A trademark of the show was Stewart's use of whispered narration during tense scenes that created a heightened sense of drama, and relief when the situation was resolved. Frank Burt was the consultant for all episodes of the adaptation. The pilot episode, titled "The Restless Gun", aired on 29 March 1957 as an episode of the anthology series Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. John Payne, who went on to star in the series, played the lead character, Britt Ponsett. By the time the series, also called The Restless Gun, debuted the following fall, though, the main character's name had been changed to Vint Bonner, "a slightly altered rendition of Britt Ponset".

Trivia

  • An episode of the anthology Hollywood Star Playhouse on NBC entitled "The Six Shooter", was broadcast April 13, 1952. This used the "Ben Scofield" script, which was also used for the audition episode and (with a slightly different opening) the seventh episode of the series.
  • The unaired audition episode, recorded July 15, 1953, includes a personal message by James Stewart in the middle and end trying to sell the program to potential sponsors.
  • Stewart revived the Ponset character for the Feb. 10, 1957, episode of the television anthology program General Electric Theater titled "The Town with a Past". The script was based on the "Silver Annie" episode of the radio show. Stewart, however, declined to appear on a weekly TV version, and the proposed series was offered to John Payne.
  • The Dec. 15, 1957, episode of G.E. Theater, "The Trail to Christmas", was based on the radio episode "Britt Ponset's Christmas Carol", although in this instance, Stewart's character was renamed Bart, and the Dec. 15, 1959, episode of the television anthology program Startime, "Cindy's Fella", was based on the radio episode "When the Shoe Doesn't Fit". Stewart took the role of peddler Azel Dorsey, while George Gobel played an unnamed drifter in place of Ponset.
  • Ponset's horse was named Scar.
  • Although Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co. was interested in underwriting the program, James Stewart refused to accept, believing that it did not coincide with his public image. Jack Johnstone was quoted as saying, "Chesterfield begged and begged and begged for months trying to get sponsorship, but Jim didn’t feel that, because of his screen image, it would be fair for him to be sponsored by a cigarette". Coleman eventually bought commercial time during the first four episodes, but no other advertisers sustained the series after that.

References

Audio

  • The Six Shooter 1953-07-15 (Audition Show) The first episode of The Six Shooter radio show starring Jimmy Stewart with commentary by Mr. Stewart.

Logs

  • Annotated episodic log of The Six Shooter from Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs
  • Annotated episodic log of The Six Shooter from RadioGOLDINdex.