Old Time Radio Westerns – "Matt Simpson’s Murder"

All Star Western Theatre (03-23-47)
Podcast Host: Andrew Rhynes
Original Air Date: March 23, 1947
Podcast Release: December 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners to the golden age of radio with a dramatized western mystery featuring Boy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage. The adventure, “Matt Simpson’s Murder,” interweaves classic cowboy themes—loyalty, justice, and the rugged camaraderie of the West—with lively music and authentic Old West atmosphere. Classic radio tropes abound as the Riders attempt to clear their names following the murder of their friend, uncovering small-town secrets and ultimately ensuring justice prevails.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

Musical Introductions and Western Atmosphere

[03:35 – 08:27]

• The show opens with host Cottonseed Clark and several musical numbers from Riders of the Purple Sage, including “There’s a Rainbow Over the Range” [03:42] and “Amor” [06:21].
• These lighthearted performances set a warm, nostalgic tone before the central drama unfolds.

The Riders Visit Lone Oak

[09:06 – 09:42]

• Boy Willing and his band, traveling with carefree spirits, head to visit their friend Matt Simpson in the cattle town of Lone Oak.
• Unbeknownst to them, trouble is brewing around Matt Simpson’s fate.

News of Murder and False Suspicion

[09:42 – 14:33]

• Listeners are taken back a few days to Grant City, where news breaks that Matt Simpson has been killed during a stagecoach robbery.
• The local sheriff possesses only a single clue: a Mexican coin with a hole left in Matt's hand [10:49].
• The Riders arrive in town and are quickly mistaken for the killers, as tensions in the town run high and strangers are viewed with suspicion.
• Quotable moment:
  • "You’d think we was killers the way they’re gazing at us."
    — Boy Willing, [13:22]

Arrest and Mob Justice

[14:19 – 16:13]

• The Riders are arrested at gunpoint as suspicions mount.
• Tensions heighten when talk of forming a lynch mob circulates:
  • "If it’s what I think it is, then we’ve sung our last song."
    — Boy Willing, [16:04]
• Cue Ball, an affable local, intervenes, helping Jenny Simpson—Matt’s daughter—come to the Riders’ aid.

Jenny Simpson Intervenes

[16:33 – 17:25]

• Jenny vouches for the Riders, explaining their past friendship with her late father.
• The sheriff agrees to release them into her custody, provided she can convince the mob of their innocence.

Unraveling the Mystery

[18:00 – 19:50]

• The group discusses the single clue—the Mexican coin with a hole—realizing that Matt previously owned coins, but not with holes in them [19:23].
• Cue Ball and Jenny recall that Matt gave Carson, his business associate, a gun belt decorated with such coins [21:41].

The Confrontation with Grad Carson

[22:27 – 24:03]

• The Riders confront Grad Carson at his office, questioning the whereabouts of the coin-studded gun belt.
• Upon finding Carson’s belt with a coin missing, the evidence places him at the scene:
  • "So what? A dead man found it. Now the boys..."
    — Boy Willing, [23:59]
• Carson attempts to bribe the Riders and is swiftly escorted to the sheriff's office.

Justice and Resolution

[24:22 – 25:01]

• It is revealed Carson committed the murder to seize Matt’s wealth, motivated by greed.
• Jenny expresses relief at the resolution and graciously accepts the Riders' offer to help run the ranch—on one condition:
  • "One condition. Just name it."
    — Boy Willing, [24:58]
  • "That you stop calling me Miss Jenny."
    — Jenny Simpson, [25:01]
  • "That’s a deal. Jenny."
    — Boy Willing, [25:06]

Musical Finale

[25:22 – 30:03]

• The episode closes in the classic style, with more music from Boy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage, performing “The Old Chisholm Trail” and “Back Home Again in Indiana.”
• Host Cottonseed Clark reflects on Western loyalty and camaraderie [28:33].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cowboy Skills:
  “The cowboys who worked the great cattle ranches... were all-purpose hands, ready for anything.”
  — Cottonseed Clark, [05:07]

• Suspicions in the Saloon:
  “You’d think we was killers the way they’re gazing at us.”
  — Boy Willing, [13:22]

• On Friendship:
  “Thanks to you, Miss Jenny and Cue Ball here, we’re still alive and talking about it.”
  — Boy Willing, [17:39]

• The Turning Point:
  “Now we’re getting places... he gave it to Carson as a gift.”
  — Jenny Simpson, [21:50]

• Resolution and Heartwarming Closing:
  “That’s a deal. Jenny.”
  — Boy Willing, [25:06]

Key Segment Timestamps

• Rainbow Over the Range – [03:42]
• Amor – [06:21]
• Matt Simpson’s Invitation – [09:06]
• Sheriff Learns of Murder – [10:06]
• Riders Accused & Arrested – [13:19]–[14:33]
• Jenny Simpson Vouches for Riders – [16:47]
• Discovery of the Coin Clue – [19:11]
• Link to Grad Carson & Gun Belt – [21:41]
• Confrontation and Confession – [22:27]–[24:03]
• Resolution with Jenny – [24:22]–[25:06]
• “Old Chisholm Trail,” Instrumental Finale – [25:22]–[28:33]

Tone and Style

True to its original roots, the episode features gentle, wholesome banter, period-specific humor, and Western values of loyalty, justice, and community. Music interludes and character-driven dialogue capture the warmth and drama of classic radio westerns.

For fans of vintage radio drama and newcomers alike, “Matt Simpson’s Murder” provides a full-bodied taste of the Old West—rich with intrigue, gentle humor, and the harmony of classic cowboy song.