Old Time Radio Westerns: "Double Action Danger"
Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode: Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok – Double Action Danger (11-25-53)
Release Date: December 27, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns features the classic drama "Double Action Danger" from The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok. Digitally restored for richer sound, the episode transports listeners to the lawless American frontier, following legendary US Marshal Wild Bill Hickok and his loyal deputy, Jingles. When Jingles is kidnapped by a newly revived outlaw gang led by Rady Quirt, Bill embarks on a high-stakes quest through deception, danger, and gunfire to save his partner and foil the outlaws’ latest scheme.
Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown
1. Jingles’ Capture and Rady’s Scheme
- [03:29] The episode opens with a dramatic setup: Jingles is ambushed by Rady and his gang, who plan to use him as leverage against Wild Bill.
- Jingles banters despite danger:
"If I don't hit our Santa Fe office by sundown, Bill's gonna come thundering down your trail like a double twistin’ Texas tornado."
—Jingles [05:15] - Rady reveals his plan to lure Wild Bill into a trap, using Jingles as bait.
2. Wild Bill’s Lone Investigation
- [05:56] Wild Bill, unaware of Jingles’ fate, rides from ranch to ranch seeking clues. Confrontations with hostile outlaws escalate the tension.
- Bill faces down the outlaws:
"Now, mister, you're gonna tell me the truth. I'll find Jingles if I have to wade through a whole pasture full of varmints like you, Mart."
—Wild Bill [06:59] - Rady and his gang hold the advantage, threatening Jingles’ life if Bill does not back down.
3. The Plot Thickens: Jingles as "Ace in the Hole"
- [10:45] Rady articulates his calculated approach, using legally acquired horses and saddles to disguise a criminal plot. He plans something "big" and intends to keep Jingles alive as insurance against Bill’s interference.
4. Wild Bill and Jingles Reunited—A Risky Strategy
- [11:09] Wild Bill secretly sneaks into the barn to check on Jingles. The two quickly strategize:
"You got a mighty good chance to find out, you know."
—Wild Bill urging Jingles to play along as prisoner [12:47] - Bill encourages Jingles to use his position as Rady’s captive to gather intel, promising to stay close for a rescue.
5. Discovering the Outlaws’ Real Target
- [15:30] Jingles observes suspicious activity:
- Many horses and saddles, hired rather than stolen (“They bought those from the Thunder Mountain ranch today” [15:42]).
- Outlaws talk about riding 20 miles—possibly to Bloomfield for a bank holdup, but Bill suspects something bigger.
- Bill decides to telegraph the sheriff and promises to return.
6. The Barn Inferno—Narrow Escape
- [18:39] Captured, both Wild Bill and Jingles are tied to a post as the outlaws set fire to the barn to cover their escape.
"Why don’t I just set a little fire in the corner of the barn? It’ll save burying these two lawmen."
—Mart [18:46] - Bill and Jingles work together, breaking free just before the flames consume the barn.
"I'm free, partner."
—Wild Bill [23:14]
7. The Real Heist: A Prison Break
- [23:34] Jingles finally grasps the true plot:
"North—Bloomfield’s south."
—Jingles [23:45]
Bill realizes Rady isn’t targeting a bank; he plans to bust out convicts from the Territorial Penitentiary, using the extra horses for their getaway.
"Rady’s gonna build his gang by helping a bunch of convicts break out of the pen."
—Wild Bill [23:54]
8. Wild Bill’s Counterattack
- [24:03] Bill goes to warn the prison warden via telegram, and hustles with Jingles to intercept Rady’s gang at the penitentiary.
- Guards are ready—they received the warning in time.
"Those guards on the wall are standin' ready and his gang off."
—Wild Bill [25:42]
9. Final Showdown and Capture
- [26:04] Amid flying bullets and galloping horses, Wild Bill and Jingles personally confront and apprehend Rady and Mart, preventing the break and rounding up the entire gang:
"Now you varmints are gonna have a fight on your hands... I'm riding right down your throat!"
—Jingles [26:07]
"You think you’ve got nine lives, Marshals? Now I’m gonna beat them all."
—Rady [26:35] - Bill demonstrates his marksmanship and courage, subduing Rady in the climactic moment:
"They shouldn't have led with your chin, outlaw."
—Wild Bill [26:46]
10. Postscript—A Bit of Comic Relief
- [27:01] The duo wrap things up outside the penitentiary gates, with Jingles providing his trademark humor:
"This is a right good idea catching outlaws just outside the prison gate. Saves a lot of wear and tear on saddle leather. Not that I’m lazy, you understand. I was just born a little bit tired."
—Jingles [27:01]
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
Jingles’ colorful Western lingo:
"You sand lizard, you shot two holes right through it. I got a good."
[04:52] -
Outlaw banter and bravado:
"If he shows his face around here, you both get it. It'll give you something to dream about, big Bo."
—Rady [14:53] -
Tension in the burning barn:
"We ain’t got long to live unless we can do something."
—Jingles [22:20] -
Closing heroism:
"Let’s pick him up and take him to the warden. He’s got enough to hold him on, too."
—Wild Bill [26:56]
Important Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment/Theme | |-----------|------------------------------------| | 03:29 | Jingles’ capture and outlaws' plot | | 06:59 | Wild Bill confronts the outlaws | | 10:45 | Rady discusses the big scheme | | 11:09 | Secret reunion and plan | | 15:30 | Jingles uncovers saddle count | | 18:39 | Outlaws set barn ablaze | | 22:20 | Jingles and Bill escape the fire | | 23:54 | True plan: penitentiary break-out | | 25:42 | Guards ready for the ambush | | 26:00-27:01| Final shootout & aftermath |
Tone and Highlights
The episode brims with classic Western grit and humor: wisecracking sidekicks, gruff outlaws, tense standoffs, and breakneck action. Jingles provides much of the comic relief, while Wild Bill embodies cool-headed heroism. The antagonist, Rady, is intelligent and cunning, making for a credible threat. The tale blends suspense with lighthearted banter, culminating in a satisfying defeat of evil through quick wits and bravery.
Summary
In “Double Action Danger,” listeners are treated to a quintessential Wild West tale filled with daring heroics, tense stand-offs, and the enduring friendship between lawmen. The masterfully restored audio adds vividness to the clatter of horses and crack of revolvers. As Wild Bill and Jingles outsmart and overpower Rady’s gang, the story delivers both thrills and playful charm, capturing the magic of classic American radio drama.