Premier Collections: 
Fort Laramie, Volume 1
Liner notes written by Ivan G. Shreve, Jr.

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"The saga of fighting men who rode the rim of empire…"

With the introduction of "Gunsmoke" to the airwaves on April 26, 1952, network radio ushered in what came to be known as the era of "the adult western." "Gunsmoke," it can be argued, was definitely not your father's western — particularly in light of the fact that previous radio oaters concentrated on kiddy-oriented fare like "The Lone Ranger," "The Cisco Kid," and "Hopalong Cassidy."

Old-time radio fans are practically unanimous in their agreement that "Gunsmoke" was the greatest radio western of all time — but as to what would follow it in the Radio Hall of Fame...well, spirited arguments will usually be the result of such discussions. OTR historian John Dunning has nominated the short-lived 1958 series "Frontier Gentleman," a truly fine program and one of the bright lights in radio's declining years. But in the opinion of this author, "Fort Laramie" is a more-than-worthy contender; this series, heard over CBS Radio beginning January 22, 1956, should be seriously considered for the runner-up position, for reasons that will be outlined below.

To paraphrase a popular horse racing term, "Fort Laramie" was sired out of "Gunsmoke's" stables; its producer-director was Norman Macdonnell, and many of Laramie's high-quality scripts were contributed by the same scribes who wrote for "Gunsmoke": John Meston, John Dunkel, Kathleen Hite and Les Crutchfield, just to name a few. The realistic sound effects or "sound patterns" that made "Gunsmoke" a mesmerizing listening experience were also a big part of its sired show, thanks to the moonlighting efforts of Bill James, Ray Kemper and Tom Hanley.

"Laramie" also took advantage of the 'repertory company' of actors that worked frequently on "Gunsmoke," notably the likes of Lawrence Dobkin, Sam Edwards, John Dehner, Virginia Gregg, Ben Wright and Jeanette Nolan. "Gunsmoke's" lead actors, William Conrad and Georgia Ellis, were conspicuous in their absence on "Laramie," but co-stars Parley Baer and Howard McNear made the crossover; McNear, in particular, played the recurring role of Pliny, the fort's "sutler."

It was producer-director Macdonnell's intention to cast different performers in the roles of the main characters he created for "Laramie," and hiring Raymond Burr to play the part of the lead, Captain Lee Quince, is certainly evidence of that. At the time he was working on this series, Burr was a year-and-a-half away from the role that would make him a household name, that of Perry Mason on the long-running CBS-TV series. Pre-Mason, he was primarily recognizable on the silver screen in various villainous and (if you'll pardon the pun) "heavy" parts ("The Blue Gardenia," "Rear Window") but in the meantime he'd also built up an impressive radio resume, frequently cast alongside his good friend Jack Webb on programs like "Pat Novak for Hire" and "Dragnet."

Appearing alongside Burr in the supporting role of laconic Sergeant Ken Gorce was "Dragnet"/"Gunsmoke" veteran Vic Perrin, and Jack "Rocky Jordan" Moyles essayed the part of crusty Major Daggett, the fort's commanding officer. (In a rare break with the authenticity for which "Fort Laramie" was noted, the real commanding officer at the fort was a Lieutenant Colonel, but Macdonnell apparently preferred a shorter title.) Later, Macdonnell added another character to form a foursome: a not-yet-wet-behind-the-ears officer named Lieutenant Richard Siberts, played by another frequent "Dragnet" and "Gunsmoke" player, Harry Bartell. Siberts was originally a minor player introduced in Laramie's debut episode, "Playing Indian," but his presence was considerably "beefed up" by the seventh episode, "The Shavetail." (A "shavetail" was an epithet bestowed upon officers newly minted out of West Point; it was borrowed, according to OTR historian Jack French, from the custom of "shaving or docking the tail of an untrained horse so the troopers would be wary of such a mount.") Bartell was forty-two years old at the time he took on the role of Siberts, but it's a testament to the man's talent that he could convincingly play the youthful and inexperienced junior officer.

Although "Fort Laramie" was larded with the same talent that made "Gunsmoke" a radio classic, it was sadly overlooked during its all-too-brief run in 1956. In his book "On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio," author John Dunning points out that "Laramie" wasn't quite as intense as its sister program:

Producer Norman Macdonnell saw "Fort Laramie" as "a monument to ordinary men who lived in extraordinary times"; their enemies were "the rugged, uncharted country, the heat, the cold, disease, boredom, and, perhaps last of all, hostile Indians." Men died at Fort Laramie: some died of drowning, some of freezing, some of typhoid and smallpox. "But it's a matter of record," Macdonnell said on the opening, "that in all the years the cavalry was stationed at Fort Laramie, only four troopers died of gunshot wounds."

Perhaps the series' lack of gunplay contributed to its muted reception; after all, sitting around and listening to a half-hour of men dying of typhoid probably doesn't make for compelling radio. Still, though its run was short-and-sweet, "Fort Laramie" proved to be every bit as grand as the critically acclaimed "Gunsmoke." The gods of old-time radio must have recognized Laramie's potential as well; all forty episodes (forty-one, if you include the pilot) of the series have survived the ravages of time and are available to be enjoyed by new audiences today. And with that, First Generation Radio Archives is pleased to present the first twenty broadcasts of this outstanding series in this new Premier Collection.

Here are the entries offered in this twenty-episode, ten-compact disc set:

Playing Indian
Captain Quince has no sooner reported for duty when he must investigate an incident in which a settler and his family who have been wiped out by Arapahos. Things may not be as they seem, however; a glance at the scene of the massacre suggests that Indians may not have been involved. With Dan Riss, Joyce McCluskey, Lawrence Dobkin, Clayton Post, Paul Dubov and James Nusser.
Sunday, January 22, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

The Boatwright's Story
Yellow Knife is terrorizing homesteaders, so Captain Quince must lead a patrol to stop the individual responsible for selling Henry rifles to the renegade. With Lou Krugman, Bob Sweeney, Sam Edwards, Jan Arvan and Joe Cranston.
Sunday, January 29, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

Squaw Man
Will Granby offers help to Captain Quince when he learns that the Arapahos have wandered off the reservation in search of food. Quince promises Chief Gray Feather that he'll find buffalo for the tribe within forty-eight hours. With Edgar Barrier, Eleanor Tannen, Frank Cady and Ralph Moody.
Sunday, February 5, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

The Woman at Horse Creek
The soldiers at the fort take up a collection for Widow Anita Dennis, a woman now living alone on the prairie. It's not safe for a woman to be out there by herself — not with the threat of Indians...or even soldiers, for that matter. With Virginia Christine, Barney Phillips and John Dehner.
Sunday, February 12, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

Boredom
Private Southey, bored to tears with life inside the garrison, swipes a totem from a Cheyenne's grave while the cavalry is on a buffalo hunt. Soon, the vengeful Indians are only too happy to oblige with some necessary "excitement." With Vivi Janis, Joe Cranston, Parley Baer, Jack Kruschen, Sam Edwards and Howard Culver.
Sunday, February 19, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

The Captain's Widow
The resentful widow of Captain Philip Wentner pays a visit to the fort, with an order from the Secretary of War allowing her to retrieve her late husband's body. Wentner's remains, however, occupy Indian ground — and Major Daggett refuses to allow her to trespass in the territory. With Virginia Gregg, Helen Kleeb, Joe Cranston, James Nusser and Jack Kruschen.
Sunday, February 26, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

The Shavetail
When a band of renegade Indians ambushes Lieutenant Siberts and his men, stealing 35 horses and killing one soldier in the process, the young officer is reprimanded by Captain Quince for disobeying orders. Nevertheless, Major Daggett is determined that the leader of the renegades, Squaw Dog, be dealt with in the proper cavalry manner. With John Dehner and Joe Cranston.
Sunday, March 4, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

Hattie Pelfrey
Wounded during an attack by the Arapahos, Captain Quince is forced to seek shelter with Trooper Harrison in the cabin of one Hattie Pelfrey, a frontier woman with a lot of larceny in her heart. With Virginia Gregg, Sam Edwards and John Dehner.
Sunday, March 11, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

The Beasley Girls
"They took the Beasley Girls" are the dying words of the last survivor of an Indian massacre on a wagon train. Captain Quince decides to barter for their return by exchanging them for recently captured Sioux Chief Big Elk. With James Nusser, Lou Krugman, Lillian Buyeff, Sam Edwards and Lawrence Dobkin.
Sunday, March 18, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

The Coward
An old friend of Lee's, Lt. R.C. Wendt, has been assigned to the fort...but he arrives with a dubious trail of transgressions, including the unpardonable sin of cowardice. Believing the charges to be groundless, Quince asks Daggett to assign him to his company. With John Dehner, Paul Dubov, Clayton Post and Lynn Allen.
Sunday, March 25, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

The Lost Child
The fort is visited by Major Barlow, an officer assigned to survey all of the posts of the cavalry. Barlow's temperament is not unlike that of his hero, General George Armstrong Custer, and he displays this arrogance as the men of Fort Laramie investigate the disappearance of a young boy that his stepfather claims was abducted by Indians. With Lawrence Dobkin, Clayton Post, Ralph Moody and Dick Beals.
Sunday, April 1, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

Stage Coach Stop
As preparations are under away for the fort's ball, several braves under the command of Yellow Horse plot to spring their chief from the Fort Laramie stockade. With Jeanette Nolan, Sam Edwards, Frank Cady, Shirley Mitchell, Eleanor Tannen, Howard McNear and Jack Kruschen.
Sunday, April 15, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

The New Recruit
Why would a man who served in the army, but was never really a soldier, decide to re-enlist? Will Banyon has done so for strange reasons of his own -- but his return to Laramie doesn't sit well with Sergeant Gorce. With Lawrence Dobkin, Lou Krugman, Sam Edwards, John Dehner, Paul Dubov and James Nusser.
Sunday, April 22, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

Capture
A dying Indian named Red Horse asks to see his son, Snowfoot, before he's dispatched to the happy hunting ground. But the young renegade refuses to bid his father goodbye, for that would mean setting foot on the reservation. With Jeffrey Silver, Ralph Moody, Lee Millar, Frank Cady and Lou Krugman.
Sunday, April 29, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

Never the Twain
Lieutenant Siberts is barely able to conceal his dislike of "squaw man" Dan Tolliver, the best scout on the post. But Siberts' attitude changes when Tolliver saves the life of the daughter of an Indian chief after she is bitten by a rattlesnake. (This episode, a true highlight of the series, was written by radio legend William N. Robson.) With John Dehner, Ralph Moody, Don Diamond, John Stephenson and Lillian Buyeff.
Sunday, May 6, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

War Correspondents
David Harkness, a reporter from The New York Star, is granted access to the fort to do a story on the men stationed there. His ultimate aim, much to Captain Quince's consternation, is to tell the "truth" about "the real West." With Sam Edwards, Parley Baer, Lawrence Dobkin and Lou Krugman.
Sunday, May 13, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

Gold
A treaty with the Indians that bars passage through the Bozeman trail is threatened when a group of white men get a bad case of gold fever. With Frank Gerstle, Virginia Gregg, Howard McNear, Ralph Moody and Clayton Post.
Sunday, May 20, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

The Sergeant's Baby
Captain Quince is placed in charge of the garrison during Major Daggett's absence. When the wife of one of the departing soldiers goes into labor, Quince pressures a reluctant Gorce into helping him play midwife. With Virginia Gregg, Richard Crenna, Helen Kleeb and Anne Morrison.
Sunday, May 27, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

Don't Kick My Horse
Private Joby Turler is fervently devoted to his eleven-year-old horse, Bella Shannon. Unfortunately, this devotion jeopardizes the lives of the men of Fort Laramie when they're surprised by an Indian attack. With Virginia Gregg, Barney Phillips, Lawrence Dobkin, Tim Graham and Jack Kruschen.
Sunday, June 3, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

The Young Trooper
A 13-year-old boy named Jed, survivor of an Indian massacre, enlists in the cavalry by lying about his age. But apparently his age it not all that he's lying about. With Eve McVeagh, Frank Cady and Jeffrey Silver.
Sunday, June 10, 1956 – 30:00 – CBS, sustaining

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