Old Time Radio Westerns: "Todd Ford" | Frontier Town (1949)

Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode: "Todd Ford" – Frontier Town, 1949
Date: October 18, 2025

Overview

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns revisits the classic radio drama "Frontier Town," specifically the episode titled "Todd Ford." The story plunges listeners into the rough-and-tumble world of Dos Rios, a lawless frontier town, where mining claims can make or break a man’s fortune—and survival often hinges on cleverness, grit, and a little luck. Central to the tale is Chad Remington, the local lawyer and rancher, who aids the wounded and embattled prospector, Todd Ford, in his desperate struggle against the nefarious claim-jumper Rocky Carew and his henchman, Big Jake.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Setting the Stage: Dos Rios and Characters Introduced

• [05:29] Chad Remington introduces himself and the town of Dos Rios—a haven of both opportunity and danger:
  "Dos Rios means Two Rivers. And if Dos Rios sounds peaceful, well, it's no more peaceful than any other frontier town. Good folks and bad, God fearing and evil. I know, because not only am I a rancher, but I'm also the town's only lawyer."
• Cherokee O'Bannon, a livery owner with a dubious medical past and comic timing, is Chad’s companion.

2. Todd Arrives Injured: The Mystery Unfolds

• [06:43] Todd Ford arrives, slumped in the saddle, obviously shot.
• [07:08]
  Todd Ford: "Guess this was my lucky day."
  The trio quickly deduces Todd has been a victim of foul play, likely at the hands of claim-jumpers.
• [08:12] Todd formally introduces himself: "My name is Ford, Todd Ford. And if you can help me straighten this out and get my claim filed, I'll pay you any fee you want."

3. The Enemy: Rocky Carew and Big Jake Appear

• [08:29] Todd explains the threat: Rocky Carew, "a black hearted buzzard" notorious for acquiring claims through disappearance or murder of their original prospectors.
• [10:29] As the group heads to file Todd's claim, they encounter Big Jake, Carew’s thug, outside the land office. The tension escalates.

4. A Race for Legal Rights: Obstacles at the Land Office

• [11:50] Chad attempts to smooth things over with Jake:

  Chad Remington: "You mind if I look at that gun you're wearing?" [11:45]

• Jake responds with violence, knocking Chad out and rushing to file the claim under his own name before Todd can.

• [13:17] The claim is filed under "Jake Hunbright"—a legal but dirty move facilitated by violence and speed.

5. Suspicions of Betrayal: The Role of Althea

• [15:28] Todd suggests a woman—Althea—may have tipped Carew off about his strike:
  Todd Ford: "Her name's Althea. Thea's what I call her. And she works over in Big Strike. Oh, I guess you'd call her an entertainer. It works in the Bonanza Bar, place where Karoo hangs out."
• Cherokee offers cynical wisdom:
  Cherokee O'Bannon: "The 97th [kind of poison] is the one poison that no one has ever found a cure for. And that's female women." [15:40]

6. Confrontation at the Saloon: Carew’s Threat

• [17:32] Todd, Chad, and Cherokee confront Carew and Althea at the Bonanza Bar.
• [18:16] Carew delivers an ominous warning: Rocky Carew: "If I were in your boots, I'd turn them around toward the door and I'd walk out. I wouldn't stop until I was back..."
• Gunmen take positions, threatening the trio's lives, but Carew offers a reprieve until sundown.

7. Aftermath and Attack: Violence & Evidence

• [23:09] The group regroups at Todd’s diggings. At dawn, Althea pleads with Todd to leave before Carew’s gang kills him.
• [24:53] Todd resolves not to run but to expose Jake and Carew.
• [25:02] They discover Big Jake shot dead—eliminating a key witness to the foul play but find a clue:
  Chad Remington: "In Big Jake's inside shirt pocket was a map and description of Todd's claim in handwriting which Todd admitted was undoubtedly Carew's." [26:26]

8. The Legal Trap: Outsmarting Carew

• [27:56] Chad proposes a ruse: having Todd sign over the claim to Carew for $100 in a quit claim contract in Carew’s own handwriting.
• [28:30] The trap is sprung—Carew’s signature matches handwriting on the paper found with Jake, directly implicating him in the fraud and likely murder.

9. Dramatic Climax: Shootout and Sacrifice

• [28:37–29:06] As Carew reaches for his gun, violence erupts. Althea throws herself in front of a bullet intended for Todd, saving him.
  Cherokee O'Bannon: "Why, that fool female. She stepped right into that shot." [28:41]

10. Resolution and Reflection

• [29:44] Althea survives, and she reconciles with Todd—promising her future will be spent with him at his claim.
• [30:14] Chad offers a final reflection: Chad Remington: "Let this be a lesson to you, Todd. The most important thing that glitters doesn't have to be a nugget. It's usually a woman with a heart of gold." [30:23]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Comic Relief:
  Cherokee O'Bannon: "My rattlesnake oil was an absolute and positive cure for 376 diseases of men and bees." [06:22]
• Cynicism about Women:
  Cherokee O'Bannon: "The one poison that no one has ever found a cure for. And that's female women." [15:40]
• Poignant Reflection:
  Chad Remington: "The most important thing that glitters doesn't have to be a nugget. It's usually a woman with a heart of gold." [30:23]
• Dramatic Turning Point:
  Cherokee O'Bannon: "Why, that fool female. She stepped right into that shot." [28:41]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Event | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:29 | Introduction of Chad Remington and Cherokee O'Bannon | | 06:43 | Todd Ford arrives, wounded | | 10:29 | Encounter with Big Jake near the land office | | 13:17 | Jake files disputed claim | | 15:28 | Todd accuses Althea of betrayal | | 17:32 | Confrontation with Carew at the Bonanza Bar | | 23:09 | Retreat to Todd's claim; Althea’s plea | | 25:02 | Discovery of Jake Hunbright's body and evidence | | 27:56 | Setup of the quit claim ruse | | 28:37 | Althea throws herself in front of bullet | | 29:44 | Todd and Althea reunited; Life lessons | | 30:14 | Chad’s closing reflection |

Tone and Language

Rich in western vernacular and color, the narrative blends legal parlance (Chad) with witty folksiness (Cherokee) and raw frontier vulnerability (Todd and Althea). The tone vacillates between gritty suspense, humor, and sentimentality, capturing the essence of classic Western radio drama.

Conclusion

The "Todd Ford" episode of Frontier Town encapsulates the high-stakes drama and rough justice of the Old West—where wit and loyalty are often a man’s best protection. With a script colored by humor, danger, and heart, the story highlights both the best and worst of frontier society. Listeners experience a satisfying blend of adventure, romance, and clever legal maneuvering, all delivered with freshly restored audio that revives every gunshot and galloping hoofbeat for a new generation.