Old Time Radio Westerns: “Cripple Creek Feud” | All Star Western Theatre (03-16-47)

Host: Andrew Rhynes

Original Air Date: March 16, 1947

Release Date: December 22, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns brings listeners the classic "Cripple Creek Feud" from the All Star Western Theatre, featuring Boy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage. The story follows a lighthearted yet feisty feud between neighboring ranchers, Lim Hogan and Luella May Carter, with the Riders caught in the middle. Blending music, humor, and classic Western values, the episode captures the spirit of radio’s golden age, revived by modern digital restoration.

Key Discussion Points and Story Highlights

1. Musical Opening and Setting the Scene

• The episode opens with an energetic musical number from the Riders of the Purple Sage, invoking the challenges and camaraderie of cowboy life.
  • "Ridin', ropin' in the blazing sun all day / Singin' and a-swingin' to a cowboy song..." (03:18)

2. The Feud Explained – Enter Lim Hogan

• The Riders (Boy, Al, and Jimmy) seek work at Lim Hogan’s ranch.
• Hogan is initially suspicious, suspecting they’re sent by rival Louella May Carter.
• The heart of the feud: Hogan fenced off Cripple Creek, the only water source, after Carter forced him to move his barn due to a minor property line dispute.
  • Quote:
    • LIM HOGAN: “Why, if she’d been a man, I’d’ve run her around like a button on a barn door!” (09:50)
• Both sides’ stubbornness means Carter’s ranch now hauls water five miles for their cattle.
• The Riders are hired as fence riders to guard against Carter’s “gun slicks.”—despite some doubts.
  • “I don't think this is a job we was looking for.” - Jimmy (10:48)

3. Boy Willing’s Plan: Infiltrating Both Sides

• Boy Willing decides to “go undercover” at Carter’s ranch to get to the bottom of the conflict.
  • Quote:
    • AL: “Have you lost your crazy fool mind?”
    • BOY: “Just got a hankering to find out what this is all about.” (11:56)

4. At Carter Ranch – Kindness and Hospitality Amid Rivalry

• Boy is greeted (threatened) by Luella May Carter with a shotgun, but wins her over.
  • Quote:
    • LUELLA: “One move of getting off of that horse and I'll blow your head off with this double barrel.” (12:52)
• Carter and her daughter Millie welcome Boy with generosity and food—and quickly offer him a job. Romantic sparks fly between Boy and Millie.
  • LUELLA: "How would half a dozen fried eggs and a pound of bacon stick to your ribs?"
  • BOY: "Now you're speakin' my language." (13:41)

5. The Ingenious Solution: Secret Water Pipeline

• Learning the cause of the feud, Boy devises a plan to lay a concealed water pipe from Cripple Creek to Carter’s tank—enlisting help from both ranches, unwittingly.
  • Quote:
    • BOY: “I’m gonna pipe that water from Cripple Creek through the wheat field into your storage tank. It'll give you an endless supply.” (16:56)
    • MILLIE: “Old man Hogan would blast us out of the country if he knew about this.” (17:12)

6. Patchwork Peace: Reconciliation by Deception

• Boy spins stories to both Hogan and Carter to spark remorse and forgiveness, convincing each the other is deeply sorry.
  • BOY: “She broke down and told me all those things. She’d never forgive herself for treatin’ you like she had.” (18:37)
  • HOGAN: “I reckon people lose their better judgment when they start to infringe on one another.” (19:01)
• Both agree to meet, leading to an inviting dinner scene full of mutual (and comical) forgiveness.
  • A Memorable Moment: Millie and Boy joke about inviting the rest of the Riders, but he wants her all to himself—“Where women are concerned, Al and Jimmy’s friendship means nothing to me.” (20:52)

7. All’s Well…Until the Truth Comes Out

• At dinner, Sam the hand reports the overflowing water tank. Both ranchers thank each other for the mysterious water supply—until they realize neither actually provided it.
• Sparks fly as Carter and Hogan accuse each other, but Boy mediates:
  • Quote:
    • BOY: “This was all I doing to bring you folks together and now you're both being pigheaded. Now be honest—wasn’t it nice to be friends again?” (23:44)
    • HOGAN: “Oh, I've been a pig-headed old fool.”
    • CARTER: “No, I've been the fool, Lim. And I'm gonna let bygones be bygones.” (23:56)

8. A Twist Ending – The Feud Continues

• Hogan admits when he moved his barn, he overcompensated, putting Carter’s feed house 10 inches on his own property.
  • CARTER: “What was that I just said to you?” (24:44)
• Laughter erupts—the episode ends with the friendly feud reignited.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• The Root of the Feud:

  • "She made me move my whole barn over that measly little fourteen inches!" – Lim Hogan (09:35)

• On Peace:

  • "Well, I just want to make a clean breast of everything, so I'll tell you about it right now. When I moved my barn over, I moved it over 24 inches. And now your feed house is sittin' 10 inches over into my property." – Lim Hogan (24:28)

• The Mediation:

  • “This was all I doing to bring you folks together and now you're both being pig-headed. Now be honest—wasn't it nice to be friends again?” – Boy Willing (23:44)

Structure and Songs

• [03:18] – Theme by Riders of the Purple Sage
• [14:52] – Love interest and Millie introduced
• [16:45] – The water pipeline plan
• [21:21] – Reconciliation dinner
• [25:06] – “Feud kept going as before”—comic ending
• [25:30] – Musical number: “Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet”
• [28:30] – Closing music: “Red River Valley”

Tone and Style

The episode embodies a warm, humorous, and gently satirical take on small-town conflicts—mixing quick banter and comedic misunderstanding with the sincerity of neighbors finding ways to forgive. The Riders of the Purple Sage fill “Cripple Creek Feud” with lively, traditional Western music.

Conclusion

“Cripple Creek Feud” showcases the timeless appeal of Old Time Radio Westerns: neighborly squabbles, clever problem-solving, a touch of romance, and—above all—a sense of community that endures through mischief and misunderstandings. The digital restoration brings every twang and laugh to the fore, making this classic Western radio story as vivid as ever for modern ears.