Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode Summary: "At Sundown with Allan Lane"

Show: All Star Western Theatre (Original air date: October 27, 1946)
Restored and presented by: Andrew Rhynes
Special Guest: Allan Lane
Featured Music: Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode transports listeners to the tumultuous days of the post-Civil War American West, where cattlemen, homesteaders, and outlaws vie for power and land. The story revolves around the arrival of a mysterious stranger known as "Sundown" (played by Allan Lane), his confrontation with the ruthless Pharaoh Kid, and the struggle for justice in the lawless town of Caprock. Interspersed with classic Western ballads, the episode delivers action, suspense, and a moving revelation about family and redemption.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene in Caprock (03:20–08:00)

• Caprock: Once peaceful, now disturbed by land disputes as drifters and outlaws encroach on ranchers' property.
• Jim Hawkins & Cattlemen: Hawkins, owner of the Rafter H Ranch, laments rising lawlessness and the growing influence of the Pharaoh Kid's gang.
  • Quote (Jim Hawkins): “I’m telling you men that it ain’t right to stand by and let a bunch of drifters come into this country and root us right out of house and home.” (06:00)

2. Arrival of Sundown (08:01–12:00)

• Sundown’s Entry: A mysterious stranger, reticent and tough, seeks a place to stay; instantly attracts attention.
• Sundown meets Pharaoh Kid: A tense exchange leads to a barroom scuffle where Sundown proves his mettle.
  • Quote (Sundown): “Only when I got something to say, and then I do.” (09:40)
  • Quote (Pharaoh Kid): “When I fight, it’s with guns. And I’m always ready.” (11:15)

3. Pharaoh Kid’s Proposition & Sundown’s Refusal (12:01–15:00)

• Pharaoh tries to recruit Sundown: Sundown refuses, making clear his distaste for the Kid’s underhanded dealings.
• Sundown’s Values: Reveals he was “raised up and taught to leave things alone that belonged to other people, and I had no right to it.” (13:45)

4. Hawkins Hires Sundown; The Ranchers Organize (15:01–18:40)

• Sundown gets a job: Hawkins asks Sundown to organize honest ranchers against Pharaoh's gang.
• The Plan: Gather fifty men and start reclaiming their land by tearing down illegal fences.
  • Quote (Sundown): “You didn’t expect a picnic, did you?... Have your boys start rounding up the men. We’ve got work to do.” (17:55)

5. The Showdown Over the Fences (18:41–21:30)

• Tension Mounts: Ranchers dismantle Pharaoh’s fences; Pharaoh’s men threaten violence.
• Sundown’s Gambit: With superior numbers hidden in thickets, Sundown bluffs Pharaoh Kid into standing down.
  • Quote (Sundown): “There are 40 men with 40 guns looking straight at you from the edge of that thicket there.” (21:05)

6. The Duel at Sundown (21:31–27:00)

• Challenge Issued: Pharaoh Kid and Sundown agree to a gunfight on Friday at sundown, building suspense in the town.
  • Quote (Pharaoh Kid): “Name the time and the sooner the better.” (22:45)
• Psychological Tension: Both Sundown and Pharaoh experience mixed emotions; Pharaoh expresses reluctance to kill Sundown for reasons he can’t define.

7. Twist Ending—Brother Revealed (27:01–29:00)

• The Duel: At high tension, Sundown only shoots Pharaoh’s gun belt off, not the man.
• Revelation: Sundown reveals he is Pharaoh’s long-lost brother, Larry; both had the same father, a master gunslinger.
  • Quote (Pharaoh Kid, shocked): “There never was but one man who could do that. And that was my dad.” (28:20)
  • Quote (Sundown/Larry): “If you hadn’t acted a fool and run off from home when you was a young punk, he’d have taught it to you too. … It took me a mighty long time to find you, kid.” (28:50)
• The two embrace as brothers, stunned townsfolk looking on.

Musical Highlights

• (02:40) “I Want To Ride My Pony Over the Prairie” – Opening number by the Riders of the Purple Sage. Sets a nostalgic, Western mood.
• (05:10) “Someone Won Your Heart, Little Darling” – A tender ballad, performed just before the story starts.
• (29:10) “I Still Do” – Following the drama, a sentimental tune recalling lost childhood loves and simpler times, underlining themes of memory and forgiveness.
• (30:00) “The Timber Trail” – Concluding song, evoking the endless vistas and spirit of the West.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with timestamps)

• (06:00) Jim Hawkins: “I’m telling you men that it ain’t right to stand by and let a bunch of drifters come into this country and root us right out of house and home.”
• (09:40) Sundown: “Only when I got something to say, and then I do.”
• (11:45) Pharaoh Kid: “When I fight, it’s with guns. And I’m always ready.”
• (13:45) Sundown: “I was raised up and taught to leave things alone that belonged to other people and I had no right to it. Now, ain’t that nice?”
• (17:55) Sundown: “You didn’t expect a picnic, did you?... Have your boys start rounding up the men. We’ve got work to do.”
• (21:05) Sundown (to Pharaoh): “There are 40 men with 40 guns looking straight at you from the edge of that thicket there.”
• (22:45) Pharaoh Kid: “Name the time and the sooner the better.”
• (28:20) Pharaoh Kid: “There never was but one man who could do that. And that was my dad.”
• (28:50) Sundown/Larry: “If you hadn’t acted a fool and run off from home when you was a young punk, he’d have taught it to you too. … It took me a mighty long time to find you, kid.”

Episode’s Tone & Style

Anchored in classic Western drama, the episode blends gritty tension with homespun values, laconic humor, and musical interludes. The understated stoicism of Sundown contrasts with the bravado of the Pharaoh Kid, culminating in a warm, almost sentimental reunion. The music and dialogue together evoke nostalgia and reinforce the Golden Age Western spirit—of redemption, community, and family.

Final Words & Guest Farewell (30:30–32:00)

• Foy Willing: Expresses gratitude to Allan Lane: “Your visit with us today has been a real company keeping pleasure for our listeners. I know.”
• Allan Lane: “It was certainly a privilege for me to visit with all the folks who listen to these programs. I feel they’re my friends, you can bet on that.”
• Lane hints at returning both to Western films and possibly as a guest again.

Conclusion

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns stands out for its compelling story arc, moving character revelation, and the richly restored musical and atmospheric soundscape. Fans of the genre will not only appreciate the action and drama, but the hope for reconciliation and brotherhood, delivered with classic Western flair.