Television
The Gene Autry Show
The Sheriff Is a Lady
Flying A Pictures
Season 2, Episode 25 (2-25)
Production #50
Network: CBS
Running Time: 30 minutes
Black and White
Original Air Date:
Sunday, March 23, 1952
Sponsor: Wrigley's Doublemint Chewing Gum
Brief Synopsis:
Gene and Pat find themselves up against a lady sheriff who mistakes them for gun-smugglers.
Detailed Synopsis:
On the way back from a trip filled with nothing but trouble, Border Patrol agents Gene Autry and Pat Buttram see wanted gun-smugglers Jack Wells and Gimme Porter and chase after them. Gene follows Porter, and they engage in a spectacular fight in a lake and on horseback. Pat goes after Wells and captures the criminal after smacking him repeatedly with a plant. At the moment Gene and Pat take the men into custody, a woman rides up and mistakes Gene and Pat for the bandits, letting the real outlaws escape. Gene throws her into the lake, takes her gun, and leaves with Pat. In town, Gene goes to see the sheriff to complain about the situation, while Pat wanders into a store. Gene is surprised to find that the same lady is the sheriff, Kathy Vale, who is still under the impression that Gene is an outlaw. She calls in Horace, her timid deputy, to lock up Gene and Pat, who entered the sheriff's decked out in a sombrero, poncho, and with a guitar. Kathy and Horace head out to send a telegram to alert the authorities of the "arrest." Meanwhile, Dodge Hartman, owner of the Golden Stallion saloon, enters the jail and laughs when he finds out that Gene and Pat are supposed to be Wells and Porter. Gene is instantly suspicious, believing that the only people who would laugh would be those who know the real men. Kathy receives a letter from the Border Patrol informing her of Gene and Pat's real identities. She then apologizes. A telegram that Gene took from Wells is signed with the initials "D.H.," leading Gene to want to investigate the Golden Stallion. Kathy will not write a search warrant, but suggests that Gene and Pat audition as entertainers at the saloon. Gene heads inside the Golden Stallion alone, while Pat, outside, recognizes the outlaw's horses. He leaves to get the sheriff. Wells and Porter, peering through a crack in the door recognize Gene, but he sees them too, and slams the office door, holding Dodge and the men at gunpoint. Wells and Porter break down the door and capture Gene. Kathy arrives and saves Gene's life during the melee that follows and all of the real outlaws are finally captured.
Cast:
| Character: | Performer: |
| Gene Autry | Gene Autry |
| Pat Buttram | Pat Buttram |
| Horace | Dick Jones |
| Kathy Vale | Elaine Riley |
| Gimme Porter | John Doucette |
| Dodge Hartman | Denver Pyle |
| Jack Wells | Myron Healy |
| Hurry Brown | Gregg Barton |
| Champion | Champion, World's Wonder Horse |
Songs:
| After Tomorrow | Gene Autry |
| Sing Me a Song of the Saddle | Gene Autry |
Crew:
| Executive in charge of Production |
Armand Schaefer |
| Directed by | George Blair |
| Producer | Louis Gray |
| Screenplay | Dwight Cummins |
| Director of Photography | William Bradford, A.S.C. |
| Film Editor | Jodie Copelan |
| Musical Director | Carl Cotner |
| Music Supervisor | Irving Friedman |
| Musical Score | Walter Greene |
| Assistant Director | Nathan Barragar |
| Recorded by | Glen Glenn Sound Company |
