The Lone Indian - (Audition Disc)

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: The Lone Indian - (Audition Disc)
Air Date: June 1, 2026

This episode of Harold’s Old Time Radio features a rare audition disc of “The Lone Indian,” a classic adventure Western written and directed by Robert E. Callahan, notable for being the original all-Indian program of its time. The main theme centers on survival, courage, and friendship in the rough landscape of the Old West, following the perilous journey of a pioneer caravan under threat from warring tribes and the efforts of the Lone Indian to protect his friends and bring peace.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap & Setting the Scene

[00:52–01:54]

• The host summarizes previous events: The Lone Indian’s daring escape, outsmarting outlaws, and receiving a $3,000 reward.
• Sheriff McFadden warned George Poole (the caravan leader) of active hostilities between Pawnee and Ute tribes, urging caution about traveling with gold through the area.
• Despite the danger, the Poole caravan presses on across the treacherous Colorado Rockies.

2. Journey Through Dangerous Territory

[01:54–04:38]

• The caravan travels through picturesque yet perilous canyons, foreshadowing danger.
• Arrival at Hell’s Canyon, described as “the toughest hole between Kansas and California,” notorious for outlaw ambushes.
• The Lone Indian detects mysterious smoke signals, indicating unseen threats, and interprets them with concern.

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3. The Encampment & Impending Danger

[04:38–06:26]

• Nightfall brings a peaceful respite. The caravan camps by a stream, and the evening is filled with music—Buck and Uncle Ezra play banjo and fiddle, evoking homespun joy and nostalgia.
• The mood drastically shifts as Pawnee warriors suddenly appear, prompting a chaotic scramble for safety.

“Johnny, Johnny, Jane, climb in the wagon. Where’s your gun, bub?”
— (Uncle Edric, 06:27)

4. Crisis at the Bridge

[06:26–10:23]

• As the caravan flees over a crude log bridge, a large force of Utes emerges, creating a dire situation.
• The Lone Indian, recognizing the strategic danger, decides to set the forest beyond the bridge on fire, aiming to block pursuit and pit the rival tribes against each other.

“He knew his only chance of saving his friends was to ignite the forest beyond the bridge.”
— (Narrator, 07:20)

• A dramatic description follows as arrows tipped with pitch are fired, turning the forest into a “roaring furnace.”
• The fire drives out the Pawnees and Utes; by morning, the landscape is reduced to ash, embodying the episode’s theme of sacrifice for the greater good.

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5. A Plea to the Thunder God

[10:23–11:49]

• With the way forward blocked by smoldering forest beds, the Lone Indian prays to the Thunder God for rain to clear the road.

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6. The Lone Indian’s Prayer & Message

[11:49–13:52]

• Robert E. Callahan, in the voice of the Lone Indian, delivers a stirring “pipe of peace” prayer, promoting values of kindness, courage, friendship, and self-control.

“For tomorrow we will arise each day smiling, cheerful, friendly and courteous to everyone. … We will try to make others happy. And now we extend to you our pipe of peace, the sacred pipe of friendship and hope.”
— (Lone Indian, 12:11)

• The prayer closes with traditional sign language farewells: “Yoho means farewell. Alcola means friend and notavar means love.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Smoke Signals and Foreboding:

  “One puff, another, then a third. A pause, two puffs, another. … Ah, they were signal fires.”
  — (Narrator, 02:40)

• Action & Tension:

  “Otherwise.”
  “Oh, I hope it’s not Indian. … No time to ask questions, darling. Climb in the wagon.”
  — (Caravan Scene, 06:31)

• Sacrifice and Resourcefulness:

  “From his buckskin pouch, he took pitch and smeared it on several arrow flints, then sent a blazing shaft into the brush beyond the bridge, and the spot caught fire.”
  — (Narrator, 07:52)

• Moral Reflection:

  “We will think before we speak, hold our temper when things go wrong, and every day, in some unselfish way, we will try to make others happy.”
  — (Lone Indian’s Prayer, 12:30)

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Episode Structure & Timestamps

• [00:52]: Introduction and previous episode recap
• [01:54–04:38]: Scenic narration and mounting tension in Hell’s Canyon
• [04:38–06:26]: Campfire music and sudden Pawnee warning
• [06:26–10:23]: Attack, chase, and the Lone Indian’s dramatic intervention with fire
• [11:49–13:52]: The Lone Indian’s closing prayer and message of peace

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Takeaway

This episode immerses listeners in the romanticized perils and landscapes of frontier America. With its blend of suspense, action, and heartfelt moral guidance—delivered in a classic radio style—it exemplifies both the storytelling and ethical lessons that defined Golden Age radio adventure serials. The Lone Indian’s wisdom, selflessness, and commitment to harmony leave a lasting impression and convey timeless values.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

For the next 15 minutes, we present episode eight in the Life story and thrilling adventures of the Lone Indian, the original all Indian program of the air. Written and directed by Robert E. Callahan, National Authority on the First Americans. Another story of travel and adventure in the dramatic days of the Old West. In our last episode, you were told of the lone Indian's narrow escape, how he trapped four outlaws, was paid $3,000 cash, how Sheriff McFadden warned George Poole, a band of Pawnee and mute Indians were at war near the trail, and that any attempt to take the bag of gold through such a country was foolhardy and dangerous. Despite this warning, we find the pool caravan resuming its long, weary journey,

[C]

My friends. For three days the caravan had been winding through canyons and gorges overhung with colorful crags and boulders, hemmed in by snow crowned peaks the whole year round, a scenic land unlike any other on the American continent, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. No trouble had come to our caravan during the past few days, but they were now approaching Hell's Canyon, known as the toughest hole between Kansas and California. It was a narrow road made by trappers and traders, winding between fantastic ledges and rock formations resembling strange, weird, ghostly places of mystery, a rendezvous for the outlaws of that time. Many pioneers had been lost in this part of the wilderness. Halfway through the canyon, the lone Indian came to a sudden halt, his eagle eyes on the antics of smoke curling above the distant forest. One puff, another, then a third. A pause, two puffs, another, then white whirling smoke shot up. Ah, they were signal fires. Poole did not know what they meant, and there was tense apprehension among our friends. But the Indian gave a deep grunt, shook his head, and the caravan moved on. Sunset found our friends encamped among the pines, where they spent a night of peace and rest, breaking camp at dawn, moving on soon to enter a country of scrubby pines, cedars and underbrush. By mid afternoon they had reached a stream over which some prospector had made a crude log bridge. Beyond the Bridge lay a pine and cedar forest, the floor of which was a mass of underbrush, dry as desert dust. And beyond the forest, the road led out over rising ground into the Utah desert. It was near this bridge, a few yards from the roadside, that Poole encamped to water and rest his team. The sky was clear, the air soft and sweet with the perfume of cedar and pine. And as the twilight shadows fell, a golden moon rose above the cedar brakes. Our friends were enjoying a peaceful meal, and Buck and his banjo were in tune with Uncle Ezra's old fiddle, which he had brought all the way from Missouri. Little thinking of the impending situation.

[D]

Well, Buck, what do you say, huh?

[C]

All right, Uncle Edric, what do you want to play, huh?

[D]

Play that old kick.

[E]

And Neal before your doggone Guten might be happy.

[C]

Taught me that when he did.

[B]

Boys.

[D]

And go. Let's go. Now. Let's have something like Dixie. Why not play cat? Carry me back to old Virginia?

[B]

Sure. Children. Let her go back. Sam.

[D]

What's that?

[C]

Get the children in the wagon.

[B]

Mama.

[D]

Johnny. Johnny. Jane, climb in the wagon. Where's your gun, bub?

[C]

Otherwise.

[D]

Oh, I hope it's not Indian. What's the matter, Mama? No time to ask questions, darling. Climb in the wagon. It's in the.

[C]

House. Well, it looked bad, but the Pawnees dashed by. The caravan raced over the bridge and disappeared in the forest. But as they got under cover on the peak of a barren RIDGE Ahead came 200 youth, some mounted, some afoot, all armed and moving down the hill like a swarm of bees. The lone Indian knew he could escape by leaping into the paras. Ah, but he was thinking of his friend. His first thought was to burn the bridge so the youths could not pass. But knowing they were daring horsemen and, after the impending battle, might wipe out the caravan, he knew his only chance of saving his friends was to ignite the forest beyond the bridge. With the forest afire, the Pawnees must come from COVID meet the Utes and the battling Utes would win the fight and return to their village. Of this he was sure. So from his buckskin pouch, he took pitch and smeared it on several arrow flints, then sent a blazing shaft into the brush beyond the bridge, and the spot caught fire. A second arrow to the right of the bridge ignited another place, a third and fourth lower down. A fifth went whizzing further away, and the mighty porus became a roaring furnace. Massive rolling smoke and belching red flag flames swept through the toppling trees like great clouds filled with fire. Lunging, plunging Climbing higher until the boiling black smoke, sheets of flame and terrific heat drove the Pawnees into open and our friends stood frozen to the ground as they eyed the whirling, twisting, roaring fire eating its way through the beautiful forest. In 20 minutes, the dry cedar breaks and evergreen trees became a bed of ashes and burning ambers, a scene of death and desolation. The Utes had gone back, and the mighty flames were still roaring in the distant hill. About midnight, however, a breeze moved over the barren landscape. The night wore on in solitude and sadness, and when morning broke, the Pawnees were in the ashes of fate, the mighty forest only a memory. Clouds were gathering above the dull, gray, barren landscape, and in order the road might be free of hot cedar beds, the Lone Indian, like a statue, his arms upstretched, his eyes facing the east, made a plea to the thunder God that rain might come to clear the way so they could resume their long and weary journey.

[B]

May we remind you on each disc space has been left for your opening and closing commercial announcements. Each program is new, distinctive and so arranged that you may broadcast daily three to six times each week over a period as long as you desire. The Lone Indian program has had a three year continuous run in Los Angeles four to five times each week with a special entrancing Spanish episode on Sunday nights. Each sponsor has exclusive rights to this broadcast in his community and is fully protected in his buying territory. We recommend using our merchandising plan by giving lucky wampum in exchange for sale slips issued by the sponsor. Any sponsor, however, may use the program with or without any premium features copy for commercial announcements. Sketches of Indian chiefs and historical events for your local paper are a part of the free service we give each sponsor. You may run this program to suit your time, stock and trade. It will become a byword to thousands of shoppers in your community. The Lone Indian broadcast is a builder of new business confidence and goodwill. Now we hear Mr. Callahan giving the Lone Indian's prayer.

[E]

Well, my friends, our campsite is growing dim. It is time for solitude and sleep throughout. Here, beneath the beautiful friendless stars and upon the sacred shield of life, we place an eagle feather. It is symbolic of good thought, praise and honor by which we make our pledge. For tomorrow we will arise each day smiling, cheerful, friendly and courteous to everyone. We will be kind to Mother, good to Father, loyal to friends, keep our promises and never criticize anyone. We will think before we speak, hold our temper when things go wrong, and every day, in some unselfish way, we will try to make others happy. And now we extend to you our pipe of peace, the sacred pipe of friendship and hope. As the curling smoke wins its way to the happy hunting ground, we ask the Great Spirit to give you health, strength, sunshine, and to entwine your heart with the golden band of peace, of love and eternal happiness. Yoho means farewell. Alcola means friend and notavar means love. So as the Indian said in signs, we say, yo ho haukola notiba to you,

[C]

Sam.

[B]

Remember, the lone Indian broadcast teaches lessons in kindness, courage, friendship, and will leave many good thoughts in your home. This disc is for sample purposes only. Is copyrighted in every detail by Robert E. Callahan and the Olsen Sound Studios of Hollywood, California, who can release to you the exclusive rights of this broadcast in your community.

[C]

Mom, can you tell me a story?

[F]

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[C]

Did you have to fight a dragon?

[F]

Nope. She bought it 100% online from her bed, actually.

[C]

Was it scary?

[F]

Honey, it was as unscary as car buying could be.

[G]

Did the car have a sunroof?

[F]

It did, actually. Okay, good story. Car buying you'll want to tell stories about. Buy your car today on Carvana. Delivery fees may apply.

[G]

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