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Lone Ranger Narrator
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.
SpinQuest/Liberty Mutual Advertiser
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Andrew Rines (Podcast Host)
Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and I'm excited to bring you another episode. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. You can find more western shows at our website by going to otrwesterns.com now, let's get into this episode.
Lone Ranger Narrator
General Mills, makers of Wheaties Breakfast of Champions and Cheerios the Oat Cereal Ready to Eat presents the Lone Ranger. A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a haughty high. O Silver. The Lone Ranger, With his faithful Indian companion, Toto, the daring and resourceful Mask rider of the Plains, led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come a thundering hoofbeat of the great horse Silver. The Lone Ranger rides again. Come on, Silver. Let's go. Big fellow. Away. Cause champions are made not for. Yes, sir. Get on your way get on your way get on your way with tweeties, don't ever doubt it. Champions are made, not born. You can get there. For example, take the story of Wheaties champion Stan musial of the St. Louis Cardinals. Young Stan was willed no claim to fame, no magic way to learn the game. He had to sweat and give his all Learning to field and hit that ball sure Wheaties was his breakfast call. Today they call him Stan the Man. Still and always a Wheaties fan Stan Musial has been powering up with wheaties right along 19 years. Good for Stan. Good for you. There's a whole kernel of wheat in every Wheaties plate. Now watch. Stan felt that ball. Hey, hey. He's on his way, on his way? He's on his way, on his way. Get on your way with Wheaties. Cause champions are mate, not sports. Yes, sir. Get on your way? Get on your way? Get on your way with Wheaties. Breakfast of champions.
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Lone Ranger Narrator
Pale moonlight illuminated the Lone Ranger and Toto as they drew rein at the edge of the silent army camp. They presented a letter of introduction to a sentry and waited until Lt. Col. George A. Custer summoned them to his tent. As he returned the letter, the brilliant young officer said, during the war, General Sheridan spoke of you many times, sir. We met in the west several years ago, Colonel. When did he give you that letter? It was our pleasure to see him again a few weeks ago. Did he tell you why I'm here? Yes, sir. Tom and I came to volunteer our services to you and the men of the 7th Regiment. Thanks very much, but we have the situation well in hand. We'll ride into the valley of the Little Bighorn at daybreak. I hoped I might serve as an emissary between you and Sitting Bull. How did I know him? Well, we're all through pow wowing with those Indians, mister. By tomorrow afternoon, he and his men will be our prisoners. Men? A Sioux nation, Colonel. Mighty warriors. And not surrender without fight. It won't be my first Indian fight, Gato. It may be your last. Colonel, Sitting Bull is retreating. He may stop to make a stand when he reaches favorable ground. Madam, my scouts report that he has less than 1500 men with him. And how many men are in your command, Sir? More than 200. General Crook is marching south into the upper Powder river country. And General Gibbon is coming from Fort Ellis, Montana. We'll be strongly reinforced and well armed if the reinforcements reach you in time. We'll need no reinforcements to handle such a small band of warriors. Sitting Bull is a cunning and skillful fighter. He's no match for the United States Cavalry. I salute your confidence, Colonel Custer. I return the salute with a saber honorably won in battle. I have heard of that sword. I took it from a Confederate officer I defeated in a duel during the war. It's one of the finest blades ever made. There's an inscription on it. Yes, the words are Latin. Translated, they say, draw me not without reason. Sheathe me not without honor. You've made that saber famous. I've worn it in many battles. I shall wear it when I meet Sitting Bull. I wish you luck, sir, in the encounter. Thanks. And thanks for offering to assist us. You're more than welcome. Get ready. Adios. Adios. After the Lone Ranger and Toto left the camp drew rain a short distance away and looked back at the moonlit tents. He must not be here. Me think yellow haired colonel make heap big mistake. I wonder how reliable his scouts are. Hello. I'd like to know Sitting Bull's plans. Need not know. Anyway, find out when he plans. We might learn a lot by scouting his camp. We must obey him. Not let white man close to camp. If in plan, go on war path. By darkening my skin and wearing buckskins, I could pass as an Indian. Me have extra buckskin and saddlebag? I'll use them. Several hours later, the disguised Lone Ranger and Totter located the Indian camp in the hills. They let scout and silver concealed among trees and underbrushes. Then they moved cautiously toward the camp of the great chief Sitting Bull. Unknown to the Lone Ranger and Toto, six of Sitting Bull's sentries saw them scouting the Indian camp. As the two figures in bump skins crouched in the darkness studying the painted warriors around the council fires the sentries crept toward them soundlessly. When the Lone Ranger and Taco started back to their concealed horses the sentries leaped at them without warning. Two of the sentries grabbed the disguised Lone Ranger and his Indian friend while the others knock them unconscious. The two friends regained consciousness in a teepee near the console ring in Sitting Bulls camp. A flap of the teepee had been left open so the Indians could watch the prisoners. They had hide hand and foot. Observing the activity in the village, Toto said, you sa warriors getting ready to ride. They most likely plan to deal with us later. Maybe take us to Sittin bul after battle end. Sittin Bull has enlisted the help of other tribes. Isn't that right? We hear many different Indian tongues. The Cheyennes are here. Cheyennes and whole Sioux nation. And warriors of Chief Crazy Horse of Ogallala tribe look at the sky outside. Custer's already on his way to the Little Big Horn with few more than 200 men. Sitting Bull. Other chiefs ride to meet him. With more than 5,000 men, soldier won't have a chance. Warriors, leave now for Little Acorn. We could free ourselves to warn Custard. These guys are free hands with them tied tight. Keep trying, T. We must do our best to reach the soldiers before the Indians attack. The morning was well advanced when the Lone Ranger and Tottle finally gave up the struggle to free themselves of the leather thongs that bound them. In the silence of the deserted camp, they realized they had been forgotten by the excited children and squaws who had gone to watch from a distance the impending battle escape seemed impossible. Then the Lone Ranger saw a water jug on the floor of the tv. Oh, I wonder if there's water in that jug. May not know. I'll try to reach it. What could that do? I pour water over the thongs around your wrists. The leather may stretch. He's heavy. Maybe stretch enough to freehand. That's the idea. It's pretty hard to manage with hands tied behind back. We've got to manage it. Let me warn him. All of his men are doomed. With great difficulty, the Lone Ranger reached the jug. Finding it full of water, he breathed a prayer as he drenched the leather. He knew that lost time might mean the difference between life and death for Lt. Col. Custer and the brave men with him. But in spite of his efforts, time ran out for the ambitious young officer and the troopers of the 7th Regiment. It's. By the time the Lone Ranger and Toto reached the scene, the battle was ended. The remnants of Sitting Bull's army had vanished, leaving behind George Armstrong Custer and more than 200 men who had fallen with him. Ranger and Toto drew rein and dismounted. They examined each trooper in turn to see if any of them had survived the terrible struggle. But for the men of the 7th Regiment, the Valley of the Little Bighorn was a valley of death. As the Lone Ranger stood bareheaded beside Custer's body, Toto murmured, him look like him sleep. The Indians took his weapons and uniform. Me plenty glad them scalp him. Sitting Bull had too much respect for him to permit that. Who buries soldiers? He must not be. General Cook and General Gibbon may arrive at any moment. They'll bury their comrades. If them find you here dressed as Indian with me from hostile country, they might shoot first and ask questions later. Isn't that right? Well, there's nothing for us to do here. Instead of a cloth, this shot. Easy, fellow. Come on, Hutto. We'll try to pick up Sitting Bo's trail. The army will go after him, Monsieur. Get him up. Stow. We'll continue our Lone Ranger adventure in just a moment. Know what I've got here? Sounds like money. And it is. Matter of fact, I've got a handful of genuine foreign coins. Real money you could spend right now in faraway lands. And here's the best part. All you Wheaties fans can have this wonderful collection of foreign coins for your very own. Just listen. Wheaties is offering two different sets of foreign coins. 15 coins in each set. The international set has coins from countries like Finland and Pakistan. The mystery set has coins from places like Monaco and Southern Rhodesia. Each set comes in a special coin folder with a map that shows you where the coins are used and information about that country. And each coin has been cleaned and polished. How do you get these genuine foreign coins? Well, for each set, you Send us only one Wheaties box top and 25 cents. Look for the directions on the back of Wheaties special foreign coin packages. Now at your grocer's, pick one up and start collecting foreign coins.
SpinQuest/Liberty Mutual Advertiser
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Lone Ranger Narrator
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.
SpinQuest/Liberty Mutual Advertiser
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Lone Ranger Narrator
Now to continue. Early the next morning, General John Gibbon reach the valley of the Little Big at the head of a long column of cavalry. Within a matter of hours, the nearest telegraph line carried the grim news to the country. In New York City, the great showman Phineas T. Barnum read the account in his newspaper and sent for his partner, Bailey. Bailey, I want the guns and sword. Custer carry the Little Big bond for what ought to be greatest show on earth. I can see him now. That tighter, folks. See the famous saber and six guns carried by General Custer in his last battle. Weapons he held when he went down fatally wounded. How much will you pay for them? 10, 15. $20,000. $20,000? We'll get her money back inside of six months by charging four bits ahead to look at him. Mr. Bailey left new York immediately and headed west. In the days that followed, the Lone Ranger discarded his disguise. He and Tottle traveled cautiously through hostile Indian country in search of the trail of Sitting Bulls. Tato went to the town of Clear Creek for supplies. When he rejoined his masked friend, he brought surprising news. Fellow, a neat eastern feller named Bailey in town. He won't hire me. Guide him to sit and pool. Why does he want to see the chief? Him want to buy a yellow haired colonel's gun, sword, trusted weapons. Isn't that right? Well, is he a relative of the colonel's? No, he here in town. He moans show in east. Him want to put gun and sword and show. So that's it. Him willing to pay big price to get him. We may be able to beat him to them. Toto, the Sitting Bull will part for the weapons. We'll send them to West Point. Easy. Steady, big fox. Come on. We'll keep after the chief. After his conversation with Tono, Mr. Bailey retired to his room in the Clear Creek Hotel to write a pessimistic report to his partner Barnum. He was interrupted by a knock on the door. Just a minute. His caller was a cafe owner named Bill Nolan. What brings you here, Mr. Nolan? Mr. Bailey, you have to cut his gun and saber. That's no secret. How much will you pay the man who takes you to sit and boom? $500. You've got a deal. You know where to find him. A renegade engine in the back room of my cafe will take you to him. You needn't tell him you're paying $500. He'll settle for ponies. Oh, you'll be taken care of. I'll go back with this renegade, lead the way to your cafe. The sooner I reach Sitting Bull's camp, the sooner I'll get custard. Mr. Bailey was on his way to Sitting Bull with Red Feather when the Lone Ranger and Toto found the chief's camp. Far back in the forbidding hills. Temporaries on duty recognized the masked man as a friend who had talked to their leader on previous occasions. They took him and Tato directly to the chief's tepee. After greeting them, the shrewd warrior eyed the Lone Ranger quizzically. How you find this chief? We followed your trail. We tried to hide track so soldiers not find us. But now we move camp again. We found your trail once, great chief. They will be followed again. If soldier come after us, we fight again. This is one nation. The United States of America. You long time friend to my people. We know you friend. But heart of masked men is with cause of soldiers. We're Americans, great chief pledged to uphold our government. This chief does not hold that against you. Then perhaps you'll grant me a favor. I have heard that you have Colonel Custer's guns and swords. Give them to me. We were with Custer the night before he died. He showed us his saber. They're riding on blade. Me not know what it say. The words were draw me not without reason. Tease me not without honor. That good talk from brave soldiers. Why you want sheep, yellow hairs, guns and swords? Because they belong in West Point where other soldiers will honor and respect them. Me have weapons. What's that? A white man and an Indian have drawn rein in the council ring. Look. White man named Bailey. Him column me tell you about Indian witham name Red Feather. Red Feather? Why you bring white men to camp? This feather wants pow wow with teeth. That's right, I can. Scott a mask man. Mask man friend. That's right. Bailey. How did you know my name? Toddo met you in Clear Creek this afternoon. So that's it. You knew I wanted Custer's weapons, so you came to get them yourself. The weapons belong in West Point. I'll pay top price for them. I'll double whatever you've offered. Math man not offer money. Feller named Bailey pay plenty money for guns and swords. How much him pay you to bring em here? How much him not pay anything. You bigger fool than me. Think you show white men hiding place of this chief for nothing. No, no, not for nothing. You risk lives of people in village for what? Me not mean harm. Great chief. How much you can pay with money to buy six ponies. Six ponies because of ponies. You tell hiding place. May not mean to anger you. Plenty big fool Red Feather. You traitor. Lame Bear, Black Crow, Little Eagle. Chief walk. Why Chief Caller take Red Feather. Watch him close. We deal with them later. Me not mean harm. Me bring white and his. I'm sorry. Red Feather's in trouble. The chief is wise. Bailey. If Redfeather betrayed the hiding place to you, you betray it to someone else. That right? All I wanted was Custer's weapon. No one get Chief Yellow Hair's guns or swords. I'll pay any price. You name is Chief, not Phelim. He have weapons here beneath him. The saber. I've traveled halfway across the country to get those guns in the sabre. You come. Me show what we do with yellow haired weapons. The angry chief led the way to the rim of a canyon a short distance from the camp. The Lone Ranger, Kato and Baelish looked into a deep gorge through which a swift river ran. Sitting Bull drew his enemy's saber from its scabbard. Studied the Latin inscription on the blade and murmured word say draw not draw. Me not without reason. Cheese. Me not without honor. No one ever draw a sword again. Don't you break the blade. Ah, me breakum cross me now. Me throw storden gathered into rivered. There goes a fortune sheep yellow haired fire guns in brave fight. Guns never fire again. Me bury them with sword in river. Perhaps it's better this way. Methinks. Spirit a yellow haired colonel be heap happy no one else use gun and sword. Now the tradition of that blade will never be disgraced. Barnum will never believe this. Now you go in peace. Take white fella named Bailey way from village. Toddle will see that he reaches town safely. Where you go? Port Mason. That's two days ride from here. Yes. By time you reach fort, we be long way from this place. Adios, masked friend. Adios, great chief. I'll meet you at Fort Mason. You come with me. All right. Puffle and the easterner were some distance from Sitting Bull's camp when Bailey muttered. I don't understand it. Sitting Bull knew the masked man would put the army on his trail. But he let him leave. Pit and Bull move camp plenty quick. There plenty place in hill where soldiers have hard time to find an Indian. He could have killed us and he wouldn't have to move Pit and Bull not murder him. Brave leader a Indian. Someday Indian like him fight side by side with army. You speak well of the chief. Pitt and poking my friend. On the train from New York, I met a cattleman who told me about the West. He mentioned a masked man who rode a horse named Silver. Masked man's horse named Silver. The cattleman said this particular masked man used silver bullets in his gun. Isn't that right? In that case, I know who the masked man is. Wait till I tell Barnum I met the Lone Ranger. To. We'll return in just a moment for a word about our next exciting Lone Ranger adventure. PT Barnum Goes West Hunter Harry is a boy of five. He brings wild animals back alive. He can capture lions cause he knows he's got Go power from chains. Cheerios. Yes, you got Go power. There he goes. He's feeling his Cheerios. Cheerios. Cheerios. Want Go power? You'll get it from Cheerios. That's right. The delicious O shaped cereal does good things for your body when you have it every morning in a big bowl of milk. Here's why. Every spoonful of Cheerios and milk contains vitamins, minerals and proteins your body needs. So a Cheerios breakfast helps give you healthy nerves, good red blood, strong bones and muscles. Enjoy Cheerios every breakfast. Then you'll hear he's feeling his Cheerios.
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Lone Ranger Narrator
Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.
SpinQuest/Liberty Mutual Advertiser
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Lone Ranger Narrator
A killer named Joe Pinto broke out of prison and joined his friends in a hillside shack. Boys, I broke out of prison for two reasons. First, I wanted to escape the hangman and secondly, I want to get the man who captured me. If you mean the mask, I mean the long ring. Unexpected peril lies ahead of the masked man and his Indian friend in our next thrill packed adventure. Be sure to listen. The Lone Ranger A copyrighted feature of the Lone Ranger Incorporated is created by George W. Trendle, produced by Trendle Campbell Muir Incorporated, directed by Charles D. Livingston and edited by Fran Striker. The part of the Lone Ranger is played by Brace Beamer. Your announcer, Fred F. Balloon Ranger is brought to you by General Mills every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this same time. Be sure to listen this recorded program has come to you from Detroit. This is ABC Radio Network.
Andrew Rines (Podcast Host)
This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank our most recent ranch hands, Steve who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail. 707-986-8739. This episode is copyrighted under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.
SpinQuest/Liberty Mutual Advertiser
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Host: Andrew Rhynes
Original Air Date: September 2, 1953 (digitally restored, podcast released May 15, 2026)
This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns features a digitally restored broadcast of "The Lone Ranger: Rendezvous at the Little Big Horn." The story brings listeners to the eve of the infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn, as the Lone Ranger and his loyal companion Tonto attempt to avert tragedy by mediating between Lt. Col. George A. Custer and Sitting Bull. Through immersive soundscapes and vibrant performances, the show offers a dramatized perspective on this significant moment in the American West, illustrating themes of hubris, cultural misunderstanding, and the tragedy of preventable conflict.
[04:53 – 07:15]
[07:16 – 11:40]
[11:41 – 13:56]
[15:39 – 23:12]
[24:10 – 26:41]
The episode masterfully blends suspense, drama, and tragedy while maintaining the moral integrity and thematic depth characteristic of The Lone Ranger. Key themes include the dangers of arrogance, the value of honoring the fallen, and the clash between commercialism and reverence for history. The episode’s solemn respect for the events at Little Bighorn is evident in both the narrative and the respectfully understated performances.
“Rendezvous at the Little Big Horn” is a moving and historically-informed adventure that emphasizes honor, cultural respect, and the tragic consequences of misunderstanding. The restored episode brings new clarity and atmosphere to 1950s radio drama, making the story both accessible and impactful for modern listeners. For fans of Westerns, history, or classic storytelling, this is a particularly memorable entry in The Lone Ranger saga.