Podcast Summary

Old Time Radio Westerns

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode: Why Did I Leave Wyoming | All Star Western Theatre (02-16-47)
Date: November 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns features a restored 1947 broadcast of the beloved All Star Western Theatre. The central feature is a comedic musical sketch, “Why Did I Ever Leave Wyoming?”, led by the flamboyant radio comedian Jerry Colonna, with guest appearances by cowboy champion Monty Montana and the musical stylings of Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage. Set against the whimsical chaos and frontier charm of classic radio drama, the episode blends slapstick humor, homespun storytelling, and Western music, inviting listeners into a world where mistaken identities, mustachioed disguises, and heartfelt songs ride alongside wisecracks and cowboy lingo.

Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Introduction to the Show & Guests

• Host Cotton Seed Clark welcomes listeners and introduces “America’s great western singers, Boy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage,” the returning cowboy champion Monty Montana, and special comedy guest Jerry Colonna.
• Brief musical number: “Among My Souvenirs” by Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage (06:02).
• Jerry Colonna is introduced as the mustachioed comic “professor himself” (07:32).

2. Jerry Colonna’s Wild West Tall Tale

• Jerry Colonna, as the protagonist, starts with the catchy tune, "Why, oh why did I ever leave Wyoming?" (08:15).
• He claims a varied backstory—cowboy, fry cook, wild horse rider, windmill fixer—punctuated by a faithful horse named Silverware.
• The core story is a satirical Western narrative:
  • Comedic courtroom scene: Colonna is on trial for robbing the Wells Fargo office, leading to a string of one-liners and absurd exchanges with the judge (10:01–13:28).
  • Judge banishes Colonna from Wyoming with the memorable verdict:

    “...for the good of the grand and glorious state of Wyoming, this court gives you 24 hours to leave the state.” (13:28)

  • Colonna embarks on a wanderer’s journey, eventually landing in California.

3. Meeting Riders of the Purple Sage

• In Hollywood, Colonna meets the singers and partakes in a comically minimalist performance:

  “Your voices have plenty of timber. Now sing the rest of the song.” (15:18)

  • Foy Willing: “That’s all there is to it.”
  • Cotton Seed Clark: “We figured it was better to have the people wanting more than to give them too much.” (15:25–15:29)
• Colonna suggests they take their act to the Redwood Country; the group debates going on the radio, which Colonna dismisses as a "passing fancy" (16:28).

4. Return to Wyoming—The Comedic Rodeo Adventure

• The group decides to attend the Cheyenne Roundup in Wyoming. Colonna, still a wanted man, adopts a big black mustache as a disguise:

  “I've always wanted a mustache. That's it. I'll grow a big black mustache.” (18:16)

• Colonna humorously tests a theory of brushing a cow’s teeth with toothpaste "to see if she'll give dental cream."
• In Cheyenne, Colonna reunites with his comically oddball family and old friends; mistaken identities abound, especially with the mustache disguise (22:02).
• The group goes to the rodeo, encountering Monty Montana and engaging in more farcical banter and exaggerated boasts of Western skill (20:41–22:38).

5. Inevitable Discovery & Chase

• Despite Colonna’s efforts, his presence is discovered:

  “There he is, boys. The problem with the judgment. Out of the state!” (22:51)

  • A classic Western chase sequence ensues, with the sheriff hot on his trail.

6. Musical Coda & Sentiment

• The performance wraps up with the recurring song “Why, oh why did I ever leave Wyoming?”, blending humor with a touch of nostalgia and homecoming wistfulness (24:19–26:32).
  • Notable lyric:

    “Give me back my prairie and my saddle and wild game, where the hills are nice and curvy, and the women are the same.” (25:20)

7. Friendly Farewells & Final Reflections

• Jerry Colonna shares a warm, genuine moment with the cast and Foy Willing:

  “Thank you, Foy. I've been one of your listeners for a long time. And believe me, it's a pleasure taking part… not only to sing with your boys but to keep company with my good friend, Monty Montana.” (28:22)

• Monty Montana jokingly offers to teach Colonna to ride wild horses as thanks for his claimed mentorship (28:45).
• The episode concludes with “Cool Water,” a classic Western ballad performed by the Riders of the Purple Sage (29:24).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Jerry Colonna’s Zingers & Absurdities

• On his wrongful accusation:

  “No one. We were all in the back seat.” (12:08)

• On marital troubles:

  “Did you have an ace up your sleeve?”
  “No, I had a queen on my lap.” (12:58)

• On stupidity:

  “I'll have you understand my IQ is 82.”
  “Why, Colona, you're a moron.”
  “I am? Then I got a right to be stupid.” (13:24–13:28)

• On his mustache:

  “I've always wanted a mustache. That's it. I'll grow a big black mustache.” (18:16)

Group Banter & Self-Referential Jokes

• On their short musical performance:

  “We figured it was better to have the people wanting more than to give them too much.” (15:25)

• Colonna’s take on the future of radio:

  “Radio? Just a passing fancy. It'll never last.” (16:28)

Heartfelt & Humorous Western Songs

• “Why, oh why did I ever leave Wyoming?”—the comically poignant refrain connecting Colonna’s escapades with the wistful spirit of the range (24:19, 25:03, 25:45).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:05 – Episode proper begins; introductions and opening music.
• 06:02 – “Among My Souvenirs” performance.
• 07:32 – Jerry Colonna enters; comedic sketch setup.
• 08:15 – Opening of Colonna’s story/song “Why Did I Ever Leave Wyoming?”
• 10:01–13:28 – Courtroom comedy sequence.
• 15:05 – Minimalist “Timber” musical gag.
• 16:28 – Plan to attend Cheyenne Roundup; debating show business.
• 18:16 – Mustache disguise plan.
• 20:41 – Arrival at the rodeo, wild banter with Monty Montana.
• 22:02 – Family reunion gag; mistaken identities.
• 22:49 – Colonna is spotted; chase begins.
• 24:19 – “Why Did I Ever Leave Wyoming?” comedic ballad reprise.
• 28:22–28:51 – Foy Willing and Colonna exchange heartfelt remarks.
• 29:24 – “Cool Water” musical performance.

Tone, Style, & Atmosphere

• The episode leans fully into its playful Western parody, with rapid-fire puns, wordplay, and classic radio physical gags.
• Jerry Colonna’s outlandish delivery and the supporting cast’s deadpan responses evoke the easy camaraderie and fourth-wall-breaking humor of radio’s Golden Age.
• Musical breaks are woven into the comic plot, offering both humor and genuine Western nostalgia via tight vocal harmonies and sentimental lyrics.

Final Reflection

“Why Did I Ever Leave Wyoming?” stands as a lighthearted, madcap showcase of vintage American radio entertainment. It mingles the camaraderie of cowboys, the zany escapism of Jerry Colonna, and the timeless harmonies of Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage. Both longtime fans of old-time radio and newcomers can appreciate the blend of Western authenticity with vaudeville comedy, making this a signature sample of the genre’s enduring appeal.