Old Time Radio Westerns – "Pedro the Poet"

Show: Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
Aired: November 13, 1953 (Podcast Release: Dec 6, 2025)
Host: Andrew Rhynes

Episode Overview

In this digitally restored classic, Wild Bill Hickok and his trusty sidekick Jingles encounter Pedro the Poet, an eccentric prairie wanderer, during a routine trip across the desert. Their meeting sets off a chain of events filled with cryptic warnings, a bank robbery, gunfights, and a rolling house-wagon chase, all unraveling a tangled mystery around the notorious outlaw Black Barney and his double-crossing gang.

Key Discussion Points and Plot Breakdown

1. A Peculiar Meeting on the Trail

• [04:10] Bill and Jingles, weary after a trek through the desert, spot an unusual wagon resembling a miniature house, with a porch, chimney, and rocking chair.
• The driver, Pedro the Poet, introduces himself with a cryptic rhyme foretelling death:

  "The sun is shining very hot. But pretty soon it's maybe not. And long before you go to bed, I think you find somebody dead."
  — Pedro the Poet [06:30]

• Pedro delivers a mysterious note warning, "Black Barney's back and he's looking for you."
• The trio reminisces on Black Barney's criminal past, realizing he’s a dangerous man with old scores to settle.

2. Ambush and Shifting Suspicions

• [07:54] Shots ring out from the hills—Black Barney seems to be the assailant.
• Jingles and Bill chase the shooter into the rocks, only to find Barney dead, shot twice at close range—before their arrival.

  "Because he's dead."
  — Jingles, discovering Barney’s body [09:22]

• Realizing there’s another killer on the loose, suspicion mounts.

3. The Rolling House—And More Mysteries

• [14:09] The pair return to Pedro’s wagon, only to find strangers and two unfamiliar saddle horses.
• Tense confrontation ensues when Bill and Jingles question the newcomers about Pedro’s whereabouts.
• Inside the wagon, Jingles finds a table piled with express company money bags—robbery loot.
• The strangers attack, Bill is knocked out, and the gang escapes before Jingles comes to.

  "What'd you find?...The whole table's full of money."
  — Wild Bill & Jingles [17:00–17:07]

4. Pedro's Predicament and the Explanation

• [22:09] Back in the wagon, Pedro is found tied up, gagged, but alive in a closet. He reveals:
  • The gang used his mobile home as a hideout after robbing the express office.
  • Barney’s own gang betrayed and killed him; Wade was the triggerman.
  • Pedro’s earlier cryptic poem and secret note were his only way to warn Bill and Jingles under the bandits’ watchful eyes.

  "These hombres have been hiding in my wagon ever since they made the big robbery."
  — Pedro the Poet [23:24] "That was Wade. After he killed Black Barney and got the money back, he shot at you from the rocks."
  — Pedro the Poet [24:28]

5. Rolling Gun Battle and Justice Served

• [25:20] As the wagon nears town with Bill, Jingles, and Pedro inside, Wade and Carp strike back, rifles blazing.
• A dramatic shootout takes place—with Bill and Jingles fending them off from Pedro's rolling porch.

  "This will be the first gun battle I ever fought off a front porch while the house was moving."
  — Wild Bill Hickok [25:39]

• The outlaws are captured, injured, and prepared for transport to face justice.

  "And sure enough, it never failed. The bad men always go to jail."
  — Pedro the Poet [27:01]

6. Wrap-Up and Lighthearted Moments

• With the villains caught, Pedro composes a final rhyme commemorating Wild Bill and Jingles’ victory.
• Jingles tries his hand at poetry, too:

  "I'm sure not having any fun, standing out here in the sun. In Pedro's house, let's find a seat and have ourselves a bite to eat."
  — Jingles [27:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pedro’s Introduction:

  "It is a long name, and it does not matter. But I am called Pedro the Poet of the Prairies."
  — Pedro the Poet [05:56]

• Foreshadowing in Verse:

  "The sun is shining very hot. But pretty soon it's maybe not. And long before you go to bed, I think you find somebody dead."
  — Pedro the Poet [06:30]

• Comedic Banter:

  "Don't you call me no joker. That's my horse's name. And don't call me loco neither."
  — Jingles [15:01]

• Rolling Porch Gunfight:

  "Jingles, this will be the first gun battle I ever fought off a front porch while the house was moving."
  — Wild Bill Hickok [25:39]

• Poetic Justice:

  "The desperados rob and kill, and then comes Jingles and Wire Bill. And sure enough, it never failed, the bad men always go to jail."
  — Pedro the Poet [27:01]

Important Story Segments (Timestamps)

• [04:10] — Introduction to Pedro and his bizarre house-wagon
• [06:30] — Pedro’s ominous poem
• [07:54–09:22] — Ambush and discovery of Black Barney’s corpse
• [14:09–17:07] — Investigation of the wagon and discovery of stolen loot
• [22:09–24:28] — Pedro’s rescue and full explanation of the plot
• [25:20–26:26] — Gunfight from the rolling house, capture of the outlaws
• [27:01] — Pedro’s concluding poem
• [27:07] — Jingles’ light-hearted poetic recap

Tone & Style

This episode delivers its adventure with a blend of lighthearted humor, Western action, and quirky side characters, all signature to Old Time Radio Westerns. The writing features rhyming repartee, banter between Bill and Jingles, and plenty of warmth, even amidst gunfights and outlaw chases. Pedro’s poetic interjections add a whimsical touch, and the playful rivalry for best rhyme provides a comedic throughline.

Conclusion

"Pedro the Poet" offers a tightly paced story full of surprises, with the unlikely hero Pedro aiding Bill and Jingles in disbanding a robber gang with wit, resilience, and verse. The episode shines for its memorable characters, playful tone, and vivid sound design that immerse listeners in the golden age of radio Westerns.