Podcast Summary: Ted Radford’s Mine | The Lone Ranger (01-07-52)

Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Title: Ted Radford’s Mine
Original Air Date: January 7, 1952 (Restored rebroadcast: September 2, 2025)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Lone Ranger tells a heartfelt and suspenseful story, blending classic Western themes of family, courage, and justice. Dan Reed, the Lone Ranger’s teenage nephew, befriends Mrs. Radford, who has travelled from Kentucky to reunite with her long-lost son, Ted Radford, believed to be a prosperous mine owner. Trouble brews when outlaws rob the local bank and take Dan and Ted hostage, setting off a rescue that entwines the Lone Ranger’s sense of honor with the redemptive power of truth and community.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Mrs. Radford’s Arrival & Reunion Hopes

• [04:08–06:45]
  • Dan meets Mrs. Radford on a stagecoach; she shares her emotional story about coming West hoping to surprise her son Ted, who she believes owns a mine.
  • She confides, “You remind me of my boy when he was about your age.” (Mrs. Radford, 04:18)
  • Dan is invited to visit once she’s settled, and promises to call on her.

2. The Reality of Ted’s Situation

• [07:21–08:50]
  • In camp, Tonto reveals to Dan and the Lone Ranger that Ted Radford isn’t a mine owner but a foreman, and that Ted’s stories to his mother were embroidered to make her proud.
  • “Tonto means that it isn’t true. The only gold mine here is owned by Mr. Stacy, the banker. I happen to know Ted Radford is one of the foreman out at the mine.” (Tonto, 07:30)

3. Bank Robbery in Flint Rock

• [08:26–10:17]
  • While Tonto visits town for supplies, a dramatic bank robbery occurs—outlaws Slick Marlowe and Les steal $30,000 and wound a townsman. The robbers are pursued by a posse but vanish after covering their tracks along the river.
  • “It took clever men with plenty of nerve to rob that bank in broad daylight.” (Tonto, 09:32)

4. Tracking the Outlaws and Dan’s Capture

• [11:17–14:07]
  • Dan, suspicious of two riders evading pursuit in the river, follows them and is ambushed. The robbers capture him with the intent to keep him hostage.
  • “You’ll learn better than to snoop where you’re not supposed to.” (Slick Marlowe, 13:51)

5. Ted Radford’s Predicament

• [14:07–16:52]
  • Meanwhile, Ted discusses the mine’s problems with the manager, seeking solutions to continue operations and recoup the bank’s losses.
  • Ted later stumbles into the outlaws’ lair, joining Dan as a hostage.

6. Conflict & Resourcefulness in the Mine

• [17:06–23:30]
  • Tied up, Ted and Dan work together to escape. Ted uses a sharp rock to cut his bonds, then frees Dan. They hatch a plan to feign captivity and surprise the outlaws upon their return.
  • “If I can work my way up to it, I can rub the rope against it until it cuts through. I’ll try it…” (Ted Radford, 22:31)

7. Climactic Confrontation & Escape

• [23:30–24:32]
  • When the outlaws return to execute their captives, Ted and Dan spring their trap; Dan escapes to seek help while Ted holds off the robbers but is knocked unconscious.

8. Rescue and Justice

• [24:44–27:49]
  • Dan finds the miners; the Lone Ranger and Tonto arrive at the mine just in time. In a burst of action, Tonto subdues the outlaws.
  • Mr. Stacy, the mine owner and banker, offers to reward Ted and Dan’s bravery by making Ted part-owner of the mine—a fitting resolution enabling Ted to truthfully call himself a mine owner as his mother believed.
  • “He saved my life and helped to catch the outlaws.” (Mr. Stacy, 27:00)

9. Resolution and Themes

• [27:16–27:49]
  • Ted faces the truth about his letters; Stacy offers his support, “I’ll have you and the manager…come there to live, too. What’s more, I’m giving both of you some shares in the mine so you can truthfully say you do own part of it…” (Mr. Stacy, 27:27)
  • Dan and Ted are celebrated for their courage, but it’s the Lone Ranger’s unheralded intervention that ensures justice.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You see, son, the last time I saw [Ted] was when he was about your age.”
  — Mrs. Radford, 04:18

• “Tonto means that it isn’t true. The only gold mine here is owned by Mr. Stacy, the banker…”
  — Tonto, 07:30

• “I was a fool to write stuff like that… I never thought you—”
  — Ted Radford, 20:06

• “Ted Radford is a brave man, Mr. Stacy. He deserves a reward for what he’s done.”
  — Tonto, 27:02

• “You see, he’s a real man and a fine American. He’s the Lone Ranger.”
  — Mr. Stacy, 27:49

Key Segments and Timestamps

• [04:08] Mrs. Radford reveals her purpose for coming West
• [07:21] Tonto exposes the truth about Ted’s status
• [08:26] Excitement as the bank is robbed
• [11:14] Dan tracks the outlaws and is captured
• [14:07] Ted plans how to save the mine
• [17:06] Ted and Dan’s ingenuity leads to their escape
• [23:34] Attempted murder and the captives’ desperate defense
• [24:44] Dan’s successful escape brings help
• [26:12] The Lone Ranger and Tonto rescue Ted
• [27:16] Mr. Stacy’s resolution and reward
• [27:49] Lone Ranger’s iconic exit and recognition

Tone & Style

The episode blends suspenseful action, rustic humor, and heartfelt drama—classic elements of The Lone Ranger. It foregrounds themes of honesty, redemption, and the importance of family, wrapped in the familiar camaraderie and moral clarity of Old Time Radio Westerns.

For listeners: This episode artfully balances classic Western adventure with a touching story about trying to live up to expectations and ultimately being rewarded for integrity and bravery. Even if you’re new to radio drama, the restored audio and vivid storytelling make “Ted Radford’s Mine” an immersive and rewarding listen.