Old Time Radio Westerns: “Hangman’s Tree” | The Lone Ranger (02-12-41)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Show: Old Time Radio Westerns
Original Airdate: February 12, 1941 (Restored Release: December 27, 2025)
Episode Theme: A classic Lone Ranger tale of justice, courage, and community, restored to vibrant audio clarity by OTRWesterns. The Masked Rider and Tonto confront a reign of terror orchestrated by the outlaw "Rattlesnake" and his gang, who use Hangman's Tree for their lynchings and extortion.

Episode Overview

This episode plunges listeners into the turmoil of the early American frontier, where a masked outlaw known as the Rattlesnake and his gang enforce their own brutal law, executing and extorting settlers using the chilling symbol of Hangman's Tree. The Lone Ranger and Tonto must uncover the truth, rally the settlers, and end the reign of the Rattlesnake—without stooping to vigilante justice themselves.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. Opening Scene: A Desperate Race for Justice

• [03:41] In the darkness before dawn, The Lone Ranger and Tonto spot a woman—Lydia Grover—collapsing on the plains, frantically searching for her husband, Jed, who has been abducted by masked men.
• [04:09] Lydia: “Mister, I don’t know who you are, but you gotta save Jed.”
• The urgency: Jed faces imminent hanging by masked outlaws at the infamous Hangman’s Tree.

2. The Rescue at Hangman’s Tree

• [05:15] The Lone Ranger and Tonto arrive just in time to save Jed Grover from death by lynching.
• The Grovers reveal that a masked outlaw gang led by “Rattlesnake” terrorizes settlers, demanding payment under threat of execution.

3. Who is the Rattlesnake?

• [07:29] Lydia courageously overcomes Jed’s hesitation and reveals more about the outlaw band’s tactics.
• Outlaws demand tribute; if unpaid, they retaliate.
• [07:57] Jed presents the dried tail of a rattlesnake—their warning symbol:
  Jed: “That’s why we call the outlaw leader the Rattlesnake. Because he warns like a rattler before he strikes.”
• The Rattlesnake’s hideout is in the hills, and his gang is brutal and heavily armed.

4. The Lone Ranger’s Plan

• [09:16] Despite danger, The Lone Ranger and Tonto decide to infiltrate the Rattlesnake’s lair. Tonto agrees to act as bait, while The Lone Ranger sets up a rescue.
• Lone Ranger: “Once we get the Rattlesnake himself, the rest of the band will be easy to capture.”

5. Confrontation in the Outlaw Camp

• [10:46] In the hills, the Rattlesnake, depicted as a cunning and ruthless leader, prepares to ride out again after the attempted lynching.
• Tonto is captured and questioned by Rattlesnake’s men, who realize Jed Grover survived.
• [13:53] Rattlesnake: “We’re gonna ride down out of the hills to his ranch… string him up to Hangman’s Tree once again. And this time… we ain’t leaving till we know he’s dentry.”

6. Dramatic Escape and Gathering the Settlers

• [14:48] The Lone Ranger rescues Tonto with a stunning sharpshooting feat.
  • Rattlesnake's henchman: “He shoot it from my hand!”
  • Tonto: “He come on big white horse. He shoot. He get the Indian. He is gone. Poof.”
• [17:59] Jed, grateful and emboldened, pledges to help the Lone Ranger.

7. Setting the Trap & A New Resolve

• The plan: The Lone Ranger organizes all the settlers to confront Rattlesnake together.
• Hangman’s Tree plays a crucial role in the showdown—symbolizing both the outlaws’ reign and the potential for a new, lawful order.
• [19:13] Lydia and Tonto are dispatched to rally the valley’s settlers, while The Lone Ranger prepares Jed for a dangerous ruse.

8. Climax: The Downfall of the Rattlesnake

• [24:45] Rattlesnake brings Jed to the tree to execute him. The gang is ambushed by the settlers, led by The Lone Ranger.
• The outlaws are vastly outnumbered and quickly surrender.
• The Rattlesnake tries to escape, but The Lone Ranger and Silver give chase.
• [26:49] The Lone Ranger catches up:
  Lone Ranger: “Too late for you to catch our rattlesnake—got you. And you're going back with me. Turn around.”

9. Justice, Not Vengeance

• [27:28] The settlers, enraged, consider lynching the captured outlaws.
• [27:31] The Lone Ranger insists:
  • Lone Ranger: “Hangman’s Tree is gone. Chopped down. That means everything it stood for is gone too. No lynching. Not anymore. Promise me you'll give these men a fair trial.”
• Jed pledges the territory will become law-abiding.

10. Closing and Legacy

• [28:04] As dawn arrives, the Lone Ranger quietly departs, leaving the grateful settlers:
  • Lydia: “He does us a good turn and then he leaves. Now that’s his way. But it’s your comfort to know that if we ever run into any more trouble, we can count on the Lone Ranger to come back.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Jed Grover’s Desperation [04:09]
  “Mister, I don’t know who you are, but you gotta save Jed.”
• Symbolism of the Rattlesnake [07:57]
  “That’s why we call the outlaw leader the Rattlesnake. Because he warns like a rattler before he strikes.”
• Lone Ranger’s Faith in Justice [27:31]
  “Hangman’s Tree is gone. Chopped down. That means everything it stood for is gone too. No lynching. Not anymore. Promise me you'll give these men a fair trial.”
• Lone Ranger’s Humble Departure [28:04]
  “He does us a good turn and then he leaves. Now that’s his way. But it’s your comfort to know that if we ever run into any more trouble, we can count on the Lone Ranger to come back.”

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:41–05:15] — The Grovers' Plea and Jed’s Rescue
• [07:29–08:45] — Unraveling the Rattlesnake’s Identity and Motive
• [10:46–14:23] — Tonto’s Capture, Inside the Outlaw Camp
• [14:48–15:15] — Lone Ranger’s Daring Rescue of Tonto
• [17:59–19:13] — Rallying the Settlers and Preparing the Trap
• [24:45–26:54] — The Final Ambush and Pursuit of the Rattlesnake
• [27:28–28:17] — Justice Prevails, Lone Ranger’s Lesson, Departure

Tone and Style

• The episode features the classic, earnest style of golden-age radio: stoic heroes, urgent peril, moral clarity, and heartening speeches.
• Dialogue is crisp, with moments of quiet heroism and frontier courage; The Lone Ranger and Tonto radiate steadfast resolve, while the Grovers’ fear is met with grit.
• The restoration brings clarity to ambient sound—thundering hooves, tense pauses, crisp gunfire—that heightens the drama.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

“Hangman’s Tree” is a quintessential Lone Ranger adventure—packed with suspense, Western action, and a powerful stance against frontier vigilantism. The story’s heart lies not only in confronting villainy, but also in urging the settlers to embrace law and fairness, symbolized by the literal and moral felling of Hangman’s Tree. The episode ends with the Lone Ranger’s quiet departure, his legacy of justice echoing into the untamed West.