Unappreciated shows [#02]: Luke Slaughter of Tombstone

Sam Buffington

Luke Slaughter of Tombstone is a little-known 1958 Western in which there are only 16 known shows. It was produced by famed producer William N. Robson - therefore you know this is a quality program.

Slaughter (aptly played by veteran actor Sam Buffington) was a former Civil War hero who turned to cattle herding after the war was over.

Slaughter has a reputation as being being tough as nails and there really isn't any job too big to handle. He's almost a comic book Western hero in a way; he's not quite real like Paladin or Matt Dillon.

That doesn't hinder the series at all. It's just an exciting Western that's a bit different from the others of the same time period on radio and on TV.

The most-exceptional thing about the series though is the amazing sound quality that remains intact after all of these years. It's even better than you think it will be when I say the sound is "superb."

The show is so unappreciated that it sadly does not even have a Wikipedia entry.

Find the 16 shows here.

The toughest guys in old-time radio

Who are the toughest guys in the old-time radio world? Here's my list of the top five and why:

# 1 Superman (The Adventures of Superman) - This one isn't even close. His skin can't be pricked; that right there makes him tough - shoot, even his cape can't be torn. If that's not a sign of toughness, then what is?

# 2 Tarzan (Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle and various other Tarzan serials) - As far as mortal man goes, Tarzan would rank number one. He can wrestle and kill cheetahs, lions, giant snakes - you get the point.

Sometimes he gets locked in a prison or tied up but along with his incredible strength he is also smart - and manages to find a way out.

A fight between Superman and Tarzan might be fun to watch (hear) but Superman would probably win easily.

# 3 Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke) - Matt is the toughest guy on the planet not named Superman or Tarzan. Often, he will set his guns aside and just take to fisticuffs and pound the living daylights out of someone, especially if they have done some kind of no-good to Kitty or Chester. He simply never loses a fistfight.

# 4 Paladin (Have Gun Will Travel) - Even without his pistols, he's tough. He's quick on the draw too; after all, he's a hired gun.

Would love to see (hear) him in a fistfight with Matt Dillon.

# 5 Sergeant Preston (Challenge of the Yukon) - Listen closely and you'll see that Preston can hold his own with anyone in a fistfight. His trusty dog King provides help at times and therefore, the mountie is farther down the list than the others.