Red Ryder (radio series)

Red Ryder was an American radio western series based on the popularity of the comic strip Red Ryder by Stephen Slesinger and Fred Harman. It debuted on February 3, 1942 on the NBC Blue Network [3] and was broadcast three days a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.[2] After the sixth episode Langendorf Bread became its prime sponsor.[1] The final episode was broadcast in 1951.[4]

This article is about the 1940s US radio show. For the American comic strip, see Red Ryder.
Red Ryder
GenreWestern
Running time15 minutes (7:30 pm–)
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home stationMutual Broadcasting System
SyndicatesNBC Blue Network, Don Lee Network
StarringReed Hadley
Carlton KadDell
Brooke Temple
Arthur Q. Bryan
Horace Murphy
Jim Mather
Robert Blake
Dan White (actor)
Tommy Cook
Frank Bresee
Henry Blair
Johnny McGovern
Sammy Ogg.
AnnouncerBen Alexander
Art Gilmore [1]
Written byPaul Franklin, Albert Van Antwerp [1]
Produced byBrad Brown [1]
Original releaseFebruary 3, 1942 (1942-02-03) [2] – 1951
Opening theme"The Dying Cowboy" (Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie)
Sponsored byLangendorf bread

History

Since "Red Ryder" aimed a young audience the violence was toned down a bit. Unlike the comics Red was not active as a lawman, but mostly worked as a cowhand. Only when the stories asked for it did he get involved in acting like a (deputy) sheriff.[1] Red also never killed his enemies, only shot their guns out of their hands. Another difference was the name of Red's sweetheart. In the comics her name was Beth Wilder, while on the radio she was named Jane Bruce.[1]

Originally the show was successful enough to beat its rival, The Lone Ranger, in radio ratings. However, when the network sold the series to the Mutual Broadcasting System it was no longer broadcast in the east side of the United States.[2] Mutual and Langendorf continued the series on the West Coast Don Lee Network through the 1940s at 7:30pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, always with the familiar organ theme, "The Dying Cowboy" ("Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie"). The introduction of television also meant the end of the radio series and its transfer to the small screen.

Cast

Club

The Red Ryder Victory Patrol, a club founded in 1942 to encourage people in conservation practices that would help the war effort, was directly inspired by the radio show's popularity. Young listeners could get application cards from their local grocery stores and mail them in. In return there would receive a membership card, a certificate, a secret decoder and a 32-page comic book about "Red Ryder".[1]

Sources
  1. French, J.; Siegel, D.S. (2013). Radio Rides the Range: A Reference Guide to Western Drama on the Air, 1929-1967. McFarland, Incorporated Publishers. p. 140. ISBN 9780786471461. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  2. Sher, A.J. (2013). Those Great Old-Time Radio Years. Xlibris US. p. 161. ISBN 9781483679099. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  3. Cox, Jim (2008). This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3848-8.
  4. Reinehr, R.C.; Swartz, J.D. (2010). The A to Z of Old Time Radio. Scarecrow Press. p. 217. ISBN 9781461672074. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  5. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 282.


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