Old Time Radio Westerns: “Return to Dos Rios” | Frontier Town (1949)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Date: October 4, 2025
Original Broadcast Date: 1949 (no specific airdate)
Series: Frontier Town
Episode Title: Return to Dos Rios

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this digitally restored episode of Frontier Town, lawyer Chad Remington returns to his hometown of Dos Rios to investigate his father’s murder. Suspicions immediately arise around the neighbors, the Kincaid brothers, especially after an innocent Choctaw man, John Tallfeather, is unjustly lynched. As Chad uncovers deceit, forgeries, and entrenched lawlessness, he seeks to bring the real culprits to justice while grappling with the town’s resistance to due process and civilization.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & PLOT BREAKDOWN

1. Chad Remington Returns Home

• Chad, now a lawyer, comes back to Dos Rios after hearing of his father's murder.
• His old friend, Dr. Cherokee O’Bannon, and Judge Fillmore’s daughter, Libby, welcome him and fill in the details.

Notable Quote:

“My name is Remington. Chad Remington. Born in Dos Rios 20 odd years ago and reared there until I went upstate to school to study law. I wouldn't have come back, I guess, if I hadn't gotten word that my father was found murdered.”
(Chad Remington, 01:52)

2. The Lynching of John Tallfeather

• Judge Fillmore and Libby explain that the townsfolk blamed John Tallfeather, a Choctaw Indian who worked for Chad’s father, for the murder.
• A mob, led by Rafe and Brett Kincaid, lynched Tallfeather the same night.

Notable Quote:

“John Tallfeather's dead, Chad. They strung him up the same night your father was found.”
(Judge Fillmore, 04:55)

3. Chad's Resolve for Legal Justice

• Chad criticizes the town’s resort to mob justice and emphasizes the need for due legal process.
• He vows to investigate and hold the real perpetrators accountable.

Notable Quote:

“This country will never be anything but a lawless wilderness until men learn to respect the due processes of law. Why do you think I left the ranch and went off to school?”
(Chad Remington, 05:24)

4. Land, Forgeries, and Suspicion on the Kincaids

• Chad visits the Kincaids to question a suspicious land transaction involving a key creekside strip.
• The Kincaid brothers act hostile but show Chad a deed with what he identifies as a forged signature.

Notable Quote:

“Yeah, I'm satisfied. The signature's a forgery.”
(Chad Remington, 11:20)

• Tension escalates, almost leading to violence before Dr. O’Bannon intervenes.

5. Gathering Evidence and The Marshal’s Reluctance

• At Judge Fillmore’s home, Chad explains his certainty about the forgery.
• They all head to see the marshal, who admits he didn’t arrest Tallfeather but let the mob handle it.

Notable Quote:

“In other words, you just stood aside, let them take your suspect and string him up.”
(Chad Remington, 18:33)

6. The Breakthrough: Proof of Murder and Forgery

• Chad and Cherokee search the Kincaids’ ranch, discovering a cache of arrowheads (planted as false evidence) and a legitimate deed proving the creek land wasn’t sold to the Kincaids.
• Chad decides to take the evidence straight to the marshal.

Notable Quotes:

“With those arrowheads to put the noose around the Kincaid's necks. Here, see? They bought some land from my father all right, but not the piece down by the creek. Here's the deed... All they did was to copy his signature off this deed and trace it on the other.”
(Chad Remington, 20:56)

7. Confrontation at the Lucky 7 Casino (The Climax)

• Chad, Cherokee, and the marshal confront the Kincaids at the casino.
• Rafe taunts Chad for seeking legal recourse, daring him to a gunfight.
• Chad refuses to draw first, provoking Rafe to act. Brett attempts to ambush from behind, but Chad and Cherokee quickly subdue both.

Notable Exchange:

• “Sorry, that's one piece of advice I can't take.”
  (Chad Remington, refusing to draw, 25:29)
• “You're gonna find out, Rafe, if I am or not.”
  (Chad Remington, responding to being called a coward, 25:40)

8. Resolution and Chad’s Choice

• With Rafe dead and Brett sentenced, peace is restored momentarily.
• Chad reveals to Libby he’s not leaving — instead, he’ll take over his father’s ranch and continue to fight for justice in Dos Rios.

Notable Quote:

“Yep. Libby, I. I've come home.”
(Chad Remington, 27:52)

• Lighthearted banter with Cherokee and Libby closes the story, promising brighter days ahead.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS & CHARACTER NOTES

• Dr. Cherokee O’Bannon injects comic relief with his salesman persona and wisecracks:

  “I'm as sure about this as I am that my Cherokee Indian rattlesnake oil is an absolute and positive cure for 89 ailments of man ...”
  (Dr. Cherokee O’Bannon, 15:11)

• Chad’s moral clarity stands in stark contrast to the frontier vigilantism, consistently advocating for civil law over violence.

• Tension-filled showdowns in classic Western style, especially the saloon confrontation, highlight the dangers—and necessity—of standing up to bullies with the power of the law rather than the gun.

TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

• Chad Returns & Father’s Murder Revealed: 01:52–05:10
• Lynching of John Tallfeather & Chad’s Outrage: 04:41–05:41
• First Confrontation with Rafe and Brett Kincaid: 09:40–12:58
• Marshal’s Admission & Flawed Justice: 17:09–19:18
• Discovery of Evidence at Kincaid Ranch: 20:29–21:35
• Showdown at the Lucky 7 Casino: 22:06–26:44
• Chad Decides to Stay in Dos Rios: 27:12–28:20

CONCLUSION

This Frontier Town episode is a microcosm of the transition from lawless frontier justice to the rule of law, with Chad Remington representing the new moral and civil order. The dramatic pacing, sharp dialogue (“You're gonna find out, Rafe, if I am or not.” – 25:40), and restored audio quality transport listeners to the dusty, dangerous streets of Dos Rios, making this a standout tale of Western justice and personal resolve.