Old Time Radio Westerns – "Stage Holdup Several Shot"

Show: Dr. Sixgun (Original air date: November 28, 1954)
Podcast Release: Dec 5, 2025
Host: Andrew Rhynes

Episode Overview

This classic episode of Dr. Sixgun, brought to life with digital audio restoration, plunges listeners into the drama and danger of the Old West. A stagecoach holdup on the trail to Frenchman's Ford sets off a tense chain of events. Dr. Sixgun, frontier physician and gunslinger, finds himself kidnapped by outlaws, forced to operate on their injured leader, and narrowly escapes execution—thanks to quick thinking and loyal friends. The story explores themes of justice, morality, and the constant struggle between lawmen and criminals on the frontier.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. The Stage Holdup and Its Aftermath (03:11–08:17)

• Opening Scene:
  • Pablo, the peddler and narrator, introduces the story as the overland stage rattles along the trail to Frenchman’s Ford (03:11).
  • The stage is ambushed: shots ring out, the guard and driver Charlie Thomas are killed, and Pablo is forced to take the reins.
  • The stage is carrying a $15,000 Army payroll, making it a prime target for bandits (05:27).
• Arrival in Town:
  • Doc Sixgun is summoned to tend the wounded, but it's too late for the driver, Jim.
  • In his final moments, Jim identifies one of the robbers: "Jeb Oliver. I know the way he rides..." (07:51).

2. A Night of Reflection and a Fateful Call (08:33–10:43)

• Chess and Knife Games:
  • Doc Sixgun and Pablo relax with chess and banter, reflecting on the day’s tragedy.
  • Memorable quip from Pablo’s talking bird, Midnight: "Checkmate. Bird's right, Pablo. It is checkmate." (08:39).
• A Strange Request:
  • A cowboy from the Crazy Y ranch arrives, claiming a ranch hand is badly hurt and asks for Doc’s help.
  • Despite exhaustion, Doc agrees to ride out, demonstrating his dedication: "If it's a compound break, I better get out there before gangrene sets in." (10:19).

3. The Trap Is Sprung – Dr. Sixgun Kidnapped (10:43–14:18)

• Red Flags on the Trail:
  • En route, Doc notices inconsistencies in the cowboy’s story and the trail.
  • The ruse revealed: "You aren't from the Crazy Y... Your gun. Pull out of that holster with one thumb and one finger." (11:32).
  • Doc is forced at gunpoint to a remote outlaw hideaway.

4. Face-to-Face with Jeb Oliver (14:11–17:02)

• Doc’s Dilemma:
  • Jeb Oliver, stagecoach bandit and known outlaw, is gravely injured from the hold-up.
  • Doc torn between his oath and the fact that Oliver is a murderer: "I'm a doctor. My business to keep men from dying. Any man. Even if it is a rotten murdering snake like you." (15:23).
  • The threat is clear: "Doc, if I die, so do you." (16:43).

5. High-Stakes Surgery and Outlaw Confessions (18:43–21:41)

• Bullet Extraction:
  • Under gunpoint, Doc operates on Jeb. The scene is tense, mixing dark humor and grim frontier honesty:
    • Jeb: "You know, doc, it'd be funny if I went like this. Real funny. I fit through the whole war. First with the Union, then with the south. Whichever paid." (19:30)
    • Doc: "You're lucky, Oliver. When they finally get around to hanging you, the rope will probably break." (21:07)
  • Jeb survives the procedure, but remains bedridden.

6. Betrayal Among Thieves – Cantrell’s Turn (22:09–24:42)

• Cantrell, Oliver’s Ruthless Lieutenant:
  • Sensing Jeb is vulnerable, Cantrell turns on his leader: "Just think about all the times you had me fetch and carry... I'm going to take care of your patient for you." (24:00)
  • Cantrell murders Jeb despite Doc's protests, pinning the blame on Doc Sixgun.

7. Doc Sentenced to Hang (26:40–29:13)

• The Outlaw’s Justice:
  • Cantrell, bent on tying up loose ends, organizes a lynch mob of outlaws to hang Doc for allegedly "killing" Jeb.
  • The tension peaks as the noose is placed: "All right, Doc, got any last words?" (29:11)

8. A Daring Rescue (29:18–31:09)

• Pablo’s Intervention:
  • The rope snaps at the crucial moment. Pablo’s expert knife-throwing cuts the line, saving Doc in the nick of time.
  • Reveal: "It was my knife that cut the rope in two. Pablo, I owe you five dollars." (30:10)
• Escape and Aftermath:
  • Pablo and Doc hastily flee as a posse closes in; the outlaws are presumably captured or scattered.
  • Pablo jokes about their escape: "I'm glad your knife-throwing is better than your chess." (31:22)

9. The Frontier Doctor Returns to His Calling (31:22–31:52)

• Duty Calls:
  • Despite his ordeal, Doc presses on: "No, no. I've got that kid to take care of. The one with scarlet fever." (31:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Outlaw Life:

  • Jeb Oliver: "I fit through the whole war. First with the Union, then with the south. Whichever paid." (19:30)
  • Jeb Oliver (bitterly): "Look where it got Jesse. Him shot in the back by Bob Ford. And me gunned down by some fat, cross eyed stage guard." (20:21)

• Doc’s Oath and Irony:

  • Doc Sixgun: "I'm a doctor. My business to keep men from dying. Any man. Even if it is a rotten murdering snake like you." (15:23)
  • Doc Sixgun: "You're lucky, Oliver. When they finally get around to hanging you, the rope will probably break." (21:07)
  • Doc Sixgun (after saving Jeb): "That's something I'll have to apologize to myself for." (21:54)

• Pablo’s Heroics:

  • Pablo: "It was my knife that cut the rope in two." (30:10)
  • Doc: "Pablo, I owe you five dollars." (30:11)
  • Pablo: "I'm glad your knife-throwing is better than your chess." (31:22)

• Pablo’s Narration, Coloring the Western Setting:

  • "Along the trail west from the railhead to Frenchman's Ford, the overland stage rattled along, swaying like the senorita dancing with a rose in her feet." (04:13)

Key Timestamps

• 03:11 – Pablo sets the scene; Stagecoach ride and holdup
• 07:51 – Jim the driver dies, identifying Jeb Oliver as the bandit
• 10:19 – Doc is summoned to tend a supposed injury
• 11:32 – Doc is kidnapped by a disguised outlaw
• 14:25 – Doc confronts Jeb Oliver at the gang hideout
• 18:43 – Doc prepares to operate on Jeb under threat
• 21:07 – Doc saves Jeb's life
• 24:00 – Cantrell murders Jeb, blames Doc
• 29:11 – Doc nearly hanged by the outlaws
• 30:10 – Pablo cuts Doc free in a dramatic rescue
• 31:41 – Doc resumes his mission to treat the sick at Mesa Verde

Tone and Style

The story blends classic Western toughness with sly humor—Pablo’s narration provides warmth and color, Midnight the raven adds comic relief, and Doc Sixgun’s steadfast morality gives the show its heart. The dialogue is brisk, witty, and underscored by the ever-present threat of violence in the lawless frontier.

Summary

This episode of Dr. Sixgun encapsulates the spirit of radio’s Golden Age Westerns: danger, derring-do, moral dilemmas, and colorful characters. Through digitally restored sound, listeners are transported to a vivid, perilous frontier, where courage, justice, and friendship are the only defenses against chaos.