Podcast Summary:

Old Time Radio Westerns
Episode: Marie | Frontier Town (1949)
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Release Date: October 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns presents a digitally restored version of the “Marie” episode from the 1949 radio drama Frontier Town. The story plunges listeners into the lawless, bustling world of Dos Rios through the eyes of Chad Remington, the town's only lawyer, and his colorful sidekick, Cherokee O'Bannon. The plot orbits around a mysterious woman named Marie Hoxie, a stolen map to a legendary gold mine, and layers of deception, danger, and double-crossing in true Western fashion. The episode combines suspense, witty dialogue, and adventurous spirit, all rejuvenated with modern audio clarity.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Developments

1. Introduction to Dos Rios & Main Characters

• Chad Remington, Dos Rios’ straight-shooting (but sometimes skeptical) lawyer, narrates the introduction to the bustling town and types of folks who inhabit it.
• Cherokee O’Bannon—colorful, verbose ex-medicine man, now livery owner and comic foil to Chad.

Notable Quote

• "You folks ever hear of a town called Dos Rios?...A sprawling, lusty and raw-boned frontier town.” (Chad Remington, 04:46)

2. The Damsel in Distress

• Chad and Cherokee rescue a woman (Marie Hoxie) whose rig bolts under mysterious gunshots at the creek.
• Initial banter hints at Chad’s charm and Cherokee's comic nature.
• Suspicion arises as Chad investigates the bullet holes in Marie's buggy.

Notable Quote

• "You sound as if he might be a marshal or sheriff or something, with all those questions." (Marie Hoxie, 07:35)

3. Marie’s Problem: The Stolen Mine Map

• Marie reveals her identity and need: her father’s precious map to the Lost Continent Mine was stolen.
• A suspect is in jail, but the map remains missing; suspicion centers on Folsom "Pharaoh Jack," a gambler.
• Marie offers $5,000 for Chad’s help, weaving emotional appeal into her plea.

Notable Quote

• "You will forgive me, but I just seem to be all at loose ends...I won't be safe until I get back the map to the Lost Continent Mine." (Marie Hoxie, 11:35, 11:53)

4. Twists, Doubts, and Deception

• Chad’s growing skepticism is piqued by the gunshot “evidence” and Marie’s manner.
• He changes his mind about helping after another shooting incident targets him.
• Entering Folsom’s room, Chad and Cherokee find the map—too easily, raising suspicions.

Memorable Moment

• "That little lead slug convinced me there’s more to this than meets the eye." (Chad Remington, 14:48)

5. The Tiny Gun Clue

• Chad discovers a .25 caliber pistol in Marie’s purse, matching the small caliber of the bullets in her buggy, suggesting her possible self-staging of distress.
• Chad makes a replica of the map and places it back, choosing to play out the charade.

Notable Quote

• "All I know for sure is that in the bottom of her little pocketbook I spotted a .25 caliber handgun...a gun which shoots small slugs and make little holes. Holes that I think will match those in the dashboard of the buggy she was driving." (Chad Remington, 18:35)

6. Showdown: All Parties Converge

• Tension peaks as Marie, her “father” (actually her associate Dan Peacock/alias Dan Hoxie), Chad, Cherokee, and Pharaoh Jack all confront each other over the ownership of the map.
• Rapid betrayals, a literal standoff, and quick wits fill the scene.
• Chad reveals he knows Marie is not Hoxie's daughter, exposing the entire con.

Notable Quotes

• "Hiring Marie to pose as your daughter and come down here to get that map. Because Folsom had never seen her. She’s not his daughter." (Chad Remington, 24:55)
• "Too bad Marie didn't have a .45. That little handgun you let her carry gave me my first tip. Right from the time I saw those holes." (Chad Remington, 25:13)

7. Action and Resolution

• Guns are drawn, threats made, but ultimately Chad and Cherokee gain the upper hand.
• Marie and her cohorts are outmaneuvered; justice is served through both brains and brawn.
• Comic relief continues as Cherokee laments the overcrowded, dramatic office.

Memorable Moment

• "That little pop gun is going to get you into trouble sooner or later."_ (Chad Remington to Marie, 26:28)

8. Denouement: Aftermath and Reflection

• The real story emerges: Dan Peacock/“Hoxie” lost the mine map in a card game before realizing its value and concocted the daughter scheme to retrieve it.
• Marie, revealed as an accomplice, faces jail time.
• Chad and Cherokee reflect on events, with a dose of humor about aging, romance, and rattlesnake oil.

Notable Quote

• "You mean he didn't realize how valuable it was. ... From what the judge tells me, whenever they release her from the hospital, she's due for about five years at the state's expense." (Cherokee O'Bannon and Chad Remington, 28:42–29:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Cherokee on Chad’s Love Life:
  "Listen to me, my Junior Blackstone...there isn't a woman of the opposite sex who doesn't sigh her heart out to be crushed in those two, mainly arms." (Cherokee O'Bannon, 05:18)
• Chad Rebukes the Con:
  "Because Folsom had never seen her. She’s not his daughter." (Chad Remington, 24:55)
• Comic Finale:
  "By that time she will have reached the full bloom of beautiful maturity." (Cherokee O'Bannon on Marie’s jail sentence, 29:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening scene / Dos Rios introduction: 04:46
• The runaway rig & rescue: 06:22–08:15
• Marie’s request for help / The mine map’s backstory: 11:14–13:35
• Chad’s doubts & discovery of the gun: 18:08–18:54
• First confrontation with Pharaoh Jack: 19:34–20:38
• Final standoff with all parties: 23:17–26:45
• Wrap-up & moral reflections: 28:31–29:21

Tone and Highlights

• Atmosphere: Classic radio Western—the dialogue is brisk, witty, and dense with 1940s turns of phrase, blending tension and comedic asides.
• Characterization: Chad is methodical and clever; Cherokee is the lively, loyal sidekick providing comic interludes.
• Plot: Layered with shifting alliances, mistaken (or feigned) identities, and classic Western showdowns.

Summary

This episode of Frontier Town delivers a classic Western adventure filled with action, deception, and brisk repartee. Chad Remington, with the help of Cherokee O’Bannon, peels back the layers on a seemingly simple plea for help to reveal a con involving a forged identity and a legendary mine's map. The episode is marked by its sharp humor, memorable lines, and authentic period sound, restored to let listeners experience the Old West in high fidelity. Whether you’re a longtime Western fan or new to radio dramas, this restored episode is a shining example of the genre’s storytelling and timeless appeal.