Old Time Radio Westerns — Challenge of the Yukon: "Stand-In for Cheeka"

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Original Air Date: April 15, 1952 (Podcast Release: December 3, 2025)
Show: Challenge of the Yukon / Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
Episode Theme: Family, Sacrifice, and Redemption on the Yukon Frontier

Episode Overview

This classic episode of Challenge of the Yukon centers on sacrifice, perseverance, and the bonds between people, their animals, and the wilds of the Yukon. Set against the harsh, wintry backdrop of the gold rush, the story follows young Jimmy Hayden and his family as they make difficult choices to save his mother's life while Sergeant Preston and his wonder dog, Yukon King, track down a dangerous bank robber. It is a tale where loyalty and compassion shine in the face of hardship, and the smallest act of kindness can lead to salvation and reunion.

Key Discussion Points and Story Beats

1. Jimmy's Family Crisis and the Sacrifice of Cheeka

(04:16 – 08:16)

• Jimmy Hayden is introduced training his beloved husky, Cheeka, outside their Yukon cabin.
• The family is troubled: Jimmy’s mother is ill and needs to move to a warm climate to survive.
• Financial hardship means only one solution: sell Cheeka, Jimmy’s prized dog, to fund his mother’s passage to California.
• Mr. Hayden delivers the news:

  "She can't get either in this country. Golly, no, she stays here. She’ll — well, she’ll not be with us very long. But if we can send her to stay with her sister in Southern California, she'll get well." (05:07)

• Jimmy bravely agrees to part with Cheeka for his mother's health.
• Sergeant Preston arrives to mediate the sale and bring Cheeka to her new owner, Constable Baker.
• At a moment of heartbreak, Preston gives Jimmy a puppy as a stand-in for Cheeka:

  “Of course, he'll not take the place of Cheeka, but he may help fill the gap.” (09:20)

2. The Bank Robbery and Deadly Pursuit

(10:22 – 13:58)

• The narrative shifts to Dawson: thieves break into Collins' bank, steal over $50,000 in gold, and assault the watchman.
• Sergeant Preston and Inspector Conrad discuss the suspects: ex-convicts Fingers Dooley and Scar Kenyon, identified by the night watchman.
• Preston and Constable Baker (now Cheeka’s owner) set off in pursuit with King, Preston’s famed lead dog.
• Along the trail, they find Dooley murdered by Kenyon—a grim warning of Kenyon’s ruthlessness:

  “Frozen as stiff as a ramrod. But he didn't freeze to death. Look here.” (13:26)
  “Murdered his partner so there’d be no need to split the gold.” (13:40)

3. Refuge at the Hayden Cabin and Family Updates

(14:04 – 18:20)

• The Mounties shelter at the Hayden’s cabin for the night, updating Jimmy on Cheeka’s progress as a sled lead dog.
• Jimmy’s affection shifts tentatively to the new puppy, though his loyalty to Cheeka is unwavering:

  “But he'll never be as smart as Cheeka. No dog could ever be that smart.” (18:10)

• Mr. Hayden shares with Preston that a stranger with a heavily loaded sled passed just hours earlier, affirming the pursuers are close.

4. The Final Showdown and Avalanche

(18:20 – 22:10)

• As they close in on Kenyon, Preston realizes the fugitive has jeopardized his own escape by exhausting his dogs—he ditches his sled and ascends a steep hill with the gold.
• In a tense exchange of gunfire, a stray shot triggers a massive avalanche that buries Kenyon and the stolen gold:

  “That’s the end of Scar Kenyon. And the stolen gold?” (21:29)
  “I’ve heard of slides being started by a gunshot, but I… I never saw it happen until now.” (21:33)

5. The Lost Puppy and Mystery of the Gold

(22:10 – 27:24)

• Back at the Hayden cabin, Jimmy is heartbroken: his new puppy has gone missing.
• Preston uses King to track the puppy’s scent. They find the hungry pup trapped in a rock crevice—beside Kenyon’s hidden cache of stolen gold.
• The rescue and recovery scene is heartwarming and comedic:

  “The puppy smelled the food. He was lean and crawled between the rocks. When his stomach was full, he couldn't get out. He was too big. A little devil.” (27:08)

• Baker and Preston realize Kenyon lightened his load by hiding the loot, explaining how he briefly gained ground.

6. Resolution: Reunion, Reward, and a New Beginning

(27:24 – 29:21)

• Two weeks later, Preston returns to the Haydens to deliver wonderful news: the bank’s reward for recovering the gold is more than enough to send the whole family to California.
• Jimmy is joyfully reunited with Cheeka, as the dog is gifted back to him by the grateful banker.
• The closing scene is pure radio-era sentimentality and joy:

  “That's the sort of scene that makes our job worthwhile. Come on, fella. This case is closed.” (29:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mr. Hayden's Quiet Desperation:

  "If I had the price, I'd buy tickets for the first boat out of Dawson. But I haven't the money. I can't even buy passage for your mother."
  (05:35)

• Jimmy’s Bravery:

  “I hope you sell her to someone who will be kind to her.”
  (06:15)

• Inspector Conrad Summarizes the Threat:

  “Takes a lot of skill to pick the lock on a bank door. And even more to open a safe without knowing the combination.”
  (11:37)

• On Sacrifice:

  “That year Jimmy gave up his dog so you might take the trip.”
  (23:54, Sergeant Preston)

• Happy Ending:

  “Why don’t you all go together?... Here, this is yours... That money’s for you, Hayden. From the banker. In appreciation. Jimmy has another reward — I have Cheeka.”
  (27:52 – 28:35)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Start of Drama (skip ads): 04:16
• Jimmy learns Cheeka must be sold: 05:00 – 07:00
• Sergeant Preston brings the puppy gift: 08:46 – 09:20
• Bank robbery plot begins: 10:22
• Finding Dooley’s body: 13:24 – 13:46
• At the Hayden Cabin (Mounties sheltering): 14:12 – 17:18
• Avalanche sequence: 20:57 – 21:39
• Puppy and gold found: 26:22 – 27:24
• Happy reunion, reward, and Cheeka’s return: 27:33 – 29:21

Tone & Style

The language throughout the episode is earnest, dramatic, and rooted in radio-era values of sacrifice, duty, and optimism. Dialogue is direct, heartfelt, and often tinged with emotion, especially in family scenes or moments of peril. The voices of Sergeant Preston and the other Mounties convey authority and reassurance; Jimmy’s voice rings with youthful earnestness and quiet courage.

Conclusion

This restored episode of Challenge of the Yukon is a moving and action-packed tale encompassing the drama of family sacrifice, frontier justice, forgiveness, and reward. It’s a time capsule of midcentury radio storytelling, combining the pulse of Western adventure with the warmth of human (and canine) compassion.

For more restored episodes and Western adventures, visit otrwesterns.com.