Old Time Radio Westerns: Trail City Murder | All Star Western Theatre (01-19-47)

Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Date: October 27, 2025 (Original Air Date: January 19, 1947)
Episode Theme: Digitally restored broadcast of the "All Star Western Theatre" with the musical talents of Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage, featuring the dramatic story "Trail City Murder." A classic Western adventure blending music, humor, and a whodunit on the frontier.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode transports listeners back to the 1880s for a tale of hospitality, betrayal, and murder on the frontier. The Riders of the Purple Sage, famed Western musicians, star in both musical interludes and the central drama. The story revolves around a murder at Trail City and the ensuing investigation by the humble yet sharp-witted cowboys who stumble into the intrigue.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Opening and Musical Performances

• [01:48–04:44]
  The show opens with a lively introduction and the Riders of the Purple Sage performing Western favorites. Songs include “Symphony of the Sage” and “Wait For Me, Mary,” setting a nostalgic and lighthearted tone.

"Yippee yay. At the break of the day I ride along with a song in my heart..."
([02:31] Narrator, Symphony of the Sage)

2. Arrival at the Ranch & Introduction to Characters

• [06:34–07:55]
  Foy, Al, and Jimmy, tired from their travels, seek lodging at a ranch owned by Bob and his sister Jane. The siblings display notable Western hospitality, welcoming the strangers in despite the late hour.

"We'd be mighty much obliged if you could feed us and give us a bunk for the night, friend. We're willing to pay you."
([07:19] Foy)

• The warmth and trust offered contrasts the underlying tension of the times, foreshadowing events to come.

3. Gold Rush and Its Impact

• [10:40–11:18]
  The conversation reveals a regional labor shortage due to a gold strike at Ore City, explaining the Fletcher family’s eagerness for help.

"A couple of weeks ago, some prospector supposedly struck gold up at Ore City near the state line... Everybody and their dog headed in that direction to get rich quick."
([11:22] Bob / Scott C. Clark)

4. The Murder and Initial Investigation

• [12:16–14:41]
  Jake, the foreman, and the late Mr. Fletcher are ambushed on their way home. News breaks that Mr. Fletcher has been killed, plunging the household into grief and uncertainty.

"Bob, your dad is dead... Who would have wanted to kill your father?"
( [12:25] Foy, Bob / Scott C. Clark)

• Foy quickly grows suspicious, noting inconsistencies in Jake’s story and physical evidence from the scene.
• Memorable moment: Foy deduces something is off due to the horses' lack of sweat and the trajectory of a bullet hole.

"If you remember when we went out to bring in Fletcher's body, those horses were as cool as a cucumber. They had either been walked from Sunset Path or carried. So what does that prove? It proves that somebody’s been lying."
( [14:44] Foy)

5. The Mysterious Letter and Will

• [16:12–18:14]
  Jake produces a letter claimed to be from Mr. Fletcher, dictating the division of property between his children and Jake himself. There’s confusion among the heirs regarding the letter's authenticity and intentions.

"I have a letter here... given to me by your father a couple of months before he was killed. He asked me not to open it until the proper time after his death..."
( [16:12] Jake / Scott C. Clark)

• The contents of the letter leave both Bob and Jane bewildered but accepting.

6. The Real Will and the Showdown

• [19:05–23:18]
  Lawyer Simpson arrives and, at Foy’s urging, reveals the existence of an official will, contradicting the earlier letter and awarding a greater share to Jake.

"I, James Fletcher, being of sound mind, do hereby bequeath one half of all my earthly holdings and possessions to my daughter Jane and my son Robert... Therefore, I bequeath to him [Jake Ballard] one half of said property."
( [21:28] Lawyer Simpson)

• Foy confronts Jake, accusing him of murder and forcing the late Fletcher to write the letter at gunpoint.

"Let Jake tell you he killed your father."
( [22:31] Foy)

• When pressed, Jake attempts violence but is subdued, confirming his guilt.

"All right, Jake. Now take it easy. If you try anything else, you're going to get more than just a slug in your hand."
( [22:35] Foy)

7. Resolution and Epilogue

• [23:18–24:05]
  With the crime solved and the estate secured, the cowboys decide not to settle down.

"A job? Who wants a job? I’d been satisfied just hanging around Jane Fletcher myself."
( [23:32] Foy)

• Light-hearted banter ends the drama as the group discusses their next adventure.

8. Musical Closings and Farewell

• [24:05–30:53] The Riders perform “The Leaf of Love,” “Train Whistle Blues,” and “Cowboy’s Heaven,” interspersed with gentle ribbing and final reflections.

"Here's one cotton we hope will please the folk. It's an old timer called the Train Whistle Blues."
( [26:20] Foy)

"I've been in the battle all day, searching the hills and the valley..."
( [28:57] Narrator, Cowboy's Heaven)

• A warm closing from the band invites listeners to return next week.

“So long and good luck to you all.”
( [30:53] Foy)

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• On hospitality:
  “These folks are full of nothing but hospitality. Yeah, from all the hospitality they're showing us, you'd think we were long lost cousins or something.” ([08:36] Foy)

• On suspicion:
  “I'm telling you, there's something powerful wrong about the whole thing. Especially this Jake Ballard. It don't make sense to me.” ([17:55] Foy)

• On greed and justice:
  “It's too bad, Jake, that you didn't wait because Jim Fletcher was even more liberal than you forced him to be.” ([23:10] Foy)

Important Timestamps

• [01:48] – Show opens, musical performance begins
• [06:34] – Cowboys arrive at the ranch, character introductions
• [12:16] – News of murder, start of the mystery
• [14:41] – Foy voices suspicion, investigates evidence
• [16:12] – The mysterious letter is read
• [19:05] – Lawyer Simpson’s entrance, legal drama intensifies
• [21:00] – The official will is revealed
• [22:25] – Foy confronts and exposes Jake
• [24:05] – Musical postscript: “The Leaf of Love,” “Train Whistle Blues,” “Cowboy’s Heaven”
• [30:53] – Farewell and invitation for next week’s episode

Tone and Style

The episode balances warmth, humor, and sharp wit emblematic of old-time Western radio, mixing light banter (“Now, wait a minute. Don't go trying to flirt with the man's wife!” [09:02] Foy) with genuine suspense and moral clarity. The musical interludes are woven seamlessly, providing a nostalgic backdrop to the unfolding whodunit.

In Summary

"Trail City Murder" offers all the hallmarks of classic radio Western drama: songs, saddle camaraderie, swift justice, and Western hospitality—all rendered with charm, suspense, and a generous helping of cowboy wisdom. The digital restoration delivers the experience with renewed clarity, making this episode a treat for both longtime fans and newcomers to the genre.