Showing results for "The Dead Hand" in Westerns

Jake Paynter is a doomed man. Haunted by an abusive childhood and his participation in atrocities of the Civil War, he seeks the isolation of the Plains Cavalry as a White officer for an all-Black buffalo soldier troop. Now, he is in irons and certain to be hanged for killing his captain after refusing an inhumane order. Despite his best efforts to maintain isolation, he starts to make friends on his journey to trial. The people of the wagon train begin looking to him for leadership, and he reluctantly falls into the role.

This is the premiere episode of Hopalong Cassidy, which originally aired on January 1, 1950. The show was already a hit on television when Mutual Broadcasting began airing the radio version. A short time later, it moved to CBS, where it aired until 1952. Set on the Bar-20 Ranch, the show featured the adventures of "Hoppy" (played by William Boyd), his white horse, Topper, and his grubby old pal California Carlson (Andy Clyde).