Old Time Radio Westerns: The Cisco Kid – "Rogue River Range War" (01-06-55)

Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Title: Rogue River Range War | The Cisco Kid
Original Air Date: January 6, 1955
Podcast Release Date: December 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this classic episode of The Cisco Kid, listeners are transported to the tumultuous rangelands of Rogue River County, where deep-seated tensions between cattlemen and sheepmen threaten to ignite an all-out range war. The legendary Cisco Kid, alongside his trusted companion Pancho, intervenes to prevent the outbreak of violence. With themes of justice, manipulation, and mediation, the episode delivers the quintessential drama of a Western showdown, all meticulously remastered to capture the ambiance and heart of Golden Age radio storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Setting the Scene: Brewing Conflict

• The narrative opens with a vivid picture of a land on the brink of violence, as the "never ending controversy of cattle versus sheep" divides the Rogue River country. (02:38)
• Local cattle boss Bart Dunstan, looking to take advantage, recruits the cold-blooded gunslinger Tate Nordock to stir trouble and break the deadlock.

2. Escalation: Manipulation and Murder

• Bart and Nordock plan to provoke a confrontation with the sheepmen and the sheriff’s daughter, Margaret McCaughan. (03:20–04:53)
• A tense encounter results in sheepman Vic Harris being shot dead in a manipulated act of "self-defense" by Tate Nordock, witnessed by Margaret and others.
• Quote:

  "If one of those sheepherders draws first and I have to kill him, he'll be a witness I did it in self defense.” — Bart Dunstan (03:53)

3. The Stakes: A Sheriff on the Edge

• Sheriff Fred McCaughan confides in Cisco Kid that he’s desperate to prevent a conflict like the infamous Lincoln County War. Cisco and Pancho pledge their help. (05:56)
• The sheriff orders Tate Nordock to leave the territory by sundown, an ultimatum that Bart intends to use as propaganda among the cattlemen.

4. Scheming for War: The Plot Unfolds

• Bart rallies the cattlemen, claiming the sheriff is siding with the sheepmen, and announces a plan to drive cattle into Elkhorn Basin—land traditionally grazed by the sheepmen—at 3 o’clock the next day, thus ensuring confrontation. (09:02–10:20)

5. The Double Cross: Luring Cisco into Danger

• Bart and Nordock reveal a plan to trap Cisco during the Elkhorn Basin clash, with Nordock stating, "A stampede and feed of 10,000 cattle... There's not one chance in 10,000 that he'll escape." (11:35–12:01)

6. Tension Peaks: Standoff at Elkhorn Basin

• Cisco warns sheepman Ira Horton of the impending cattle raid. Temerity boils over as Horton rallies the sheepmen to defend their territory, threatening a massive and deadly confrontation. (12:19–13:20)
• Both groups start herding their animals toward Elkhorn Basin, endangering Cisco, Pancho, the sheriff, and Margaret who become trapped between stampeding cattle and sheep. (13:20–15:21)

7. Crisis and Heroics: Turning the Herds

• Cisco bravely suggests swinging the lead steers to redirect the stampede, risking his life to save the trapped party and prevent mass slaughter. (18:05–19:22)
• Quote:

  “The only hope is to try to turn that cattle herd… it’s the only way we’ll get out of here alive.” — Cisco Kid (18:18)

8. The Final Showdown: Justice and Resolution

• Cisco calls a meeting of all cattlemen and sheepmen. When Bart and Nordock attempt to provoke a gunfight and riot, Cisco outdraws Nordock—using his left hand, outsmarting the quick-draw specialist—and disarms him. (21:40–23:29)
• Bart's duplicity is exposed when Nordock, feeling betrayed, reveals Bart intended to swindle both cattlemen and sheepmen. Both villains are arrested.
• Quote:

  “Listen, you cattlemen! Dunstan intends to swindle you out of your land once you get rid of the sheep man for him!” — Tate Nordock (24:10)

9. Mediation and Peace: A New Understanding

• Pancho symbolically draws a line between the still-feuding cattlemen and sheepmen, showing that if men can keep to their sides in the meeting hall, they can peacefully divide the rangeland as well. (24:41–25:14)
• Agreement is reached:

  “There’s plenty of grazing land for everybody. There’s no need for either of us to trespass on the other’s land.” — Cisco Kid (25:14)

10. Closing Reflections: Gratitude and Friendship

• Margaret thanks Cisco for saving her life, and a humorous, light-hearted moment between Cisco, Pancho, and Margaret concludes the story. (26:19–28:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Spark for War:

  “You know, a little incident like that could set off this range war.” — Narrator (04:01)

• Cattle Politics:

  “First, you use the cattlemen to fight for you against the sheepmen. Then you hijack them out of what they’ve been fighting for.” — Bart Dunstan (08:27)

• Cisco Stops Chaos:

  “Self defense, is it? How much did you pay him for it?” — Cisco Kid (05:31)

• Courage Under Fire:

  “If your horse tumbles, you’re dead. Straight for the herd, Pancho!” — Cisco Kid (18:26)

• Resolution:

  “The same as you cattle and sheep men can stay on your own side of the line in peace, so can your cattle and sheep remain on their own sides of Elkhorn Basin.” — Pancho (25:03)

Important Timestamps

• 02:38 — Introduction of the range war conflict
• 03:53 — First plan to provoke violence
• 04:53 — Vic Harris shot, inciting incident
• 09:02–10:20 — Bart rallies cattlemen, plans showdown
• 11:35 — Nordock’s plan to kill Cisco via stampede
• 13:20–15:21 — Both herds stampede toward Elkhorn Basin
• 18:05–19:22 — Cisco and Pancho risk everything to turn the stampede
• 21:40–23:29 — Final showdown at the joint meeting
• 24:10 — Nordock exposes Bart’s betrayal
• 24:41–25:14 — Pancho mediates peace with the chalk line
• 26:19–28:23 — Margaret’s gratitude and episode wrap-up

Tone and Style

The episode maintains an adventurous, radio-drama energy, with colorful dialogue, quick-witted banter between Cisco and Pancho, and a moral message underscoring the dangers of pride and manipulation in frontier justice. Classic Western tropes are presented in earnest, with just enough humor to lighten the tension after dramatic set pieces.

Conclusion

"Rogue River Range War" stands as a clear example of classic Western storytelling: thrilling, character-driven, and resolved through quick thinking and the moral compass of its hero. The Cisco Kid not only prevents senseless bloodshed but also engineers a lasting truce between bitter rivals, reminding listeners of the value of understanding and peace on the frontier.