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Jim Beshires: an audio interview about Westerns

Jim Beshires is the founder and president of the Old Time Radio Researchers organization, easily the finest OTR group around, in my opinion.

Jim is one of the nicest people I have met in the OTR hobby.  He lives close to me and I find him to be just like a friendly neighbor, even though I have never met him in person.

He and I have formed a friendship and he has been kind enough to answer some questions (via audio) in what can only be called a very unique interview.

This interview focuses on one of Jim's favorite subjects, the Western.  He's consented to do other interviews like this in the future and so I'm sure he won't be a stranger to you on this blog anymore.


OTR BUFFET: Jim, thank you for joining me and doing the interview.  I am glad we could finally do this interview, albeit it will be in a most unconvential way.

Jim Beshire's answer::




OTR BUFFET: I know that Westerns are one of your favorite type of old-time radio programs. Could you tell us about when you first began listening to Westerns and which shows?

Jim Beshire's answer::



OTR BUFFET: Let's start with Gunsmoke. It seems that Gunsmoke is the King of Westerns by default - even though there are many good radio Westerns. Tell me what you think of when you think of Gunsmoke?

Jim Beshire's answer::



OTR BUFFET: Gunsmoke had adult themes and really wasn't meant for children but you know children listened to it. Did you listen to it during the series run?

Jim Beshire's answer::



OTR BUFFET: Between Parley Baer as Chester and Howard McNear as Doc, which character did you like better and which actor do you think was a better one (throughout their radio careers) Baer or McNear?

Jim Beshire's answer::



OTR BUFFET: Are there any episodes that stand out for you as being special Gunsmoke episodes?

Jim Beshire's answer::



OTR BUFFET: How would you rate the Gunsmoke radio series against the TV series?

Jim Beshire's answer::



OTR BUFFET: Moving on to Have Gun, Will Travel. What is your opinion of John Dehner as a radio actor?

Jim Beshire's answer::



OTR BUFFET: Compare Dehner to William Conrad...

Jim Beshire's answer::


OTR BUFFET: Luke Slaughter of Tombstone is an underrated show. What are your thoughts on the show in general?

Jim Beshire's answer::



OTR BUFFET: There are the so-called "Kiddie Westerns." Would you talk about your favorite ones?

Jim Beshire's answer::



OTR BUFFET: Jim, thank you so much for doing this interview with me. I truly learned a lot and enjoyed your answers. I promise you, when we get together again to do another interview, it will be about science fiction!

Jim Beshire::





©Jimbo 2010/2011

Review: Challenge of the Yukon

Call me kid-like but I find favor in a lot of the juvenile shows of times past. The Challenge of the Yukon is one of my favorites.

This show was the third juvenile series produced by radio station WXYZ in Detroit (the others being The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet.) Each had remarkable similarities, such as the announcers, actors and to a large extent, the structure of the show. Even the scripts are similar in nature and I can imagine a lot of script reworking for the various shows.

The plot revolves around Canadian Royal Mounted policeman Sgt. Preston and his dog team of Huskies, led by the ever-smart, always loyal Yukon King or just plain old King.

King was as big a part of the show at solving crimes as was Sgt. Preston; while Preston would do the detective work that involved interaction with the townsfolk, King did all the other detective work, often sensing a bad character even before a crime had been committed! The dog also could maul a criminal with the best of them and was always doing crazy stuff like saving people. He was Lassie on steroids.

Preston was a very calm, easy-going, nice man and most everyone loved him. King too had his fans. But get them angry or threaten either of them and you had made an enemy. Preston had a gun barely rarely used it, he'd rather let King take a bite out the criminal and it was more fun on radio, anyway.

This isn't serious radio - but it's fun radio.

I always got a kick out of the sponsor - Quaker Puffed rice and Quaker Puffed Wheat saying the cereal was "shot from guns." This really had nothing to do with the radio show as they had been saying this since the very early days of the 1930's and Sgt. Preston debuted (locally) in 1938.

There were more than 500 shows made (probably closer to 1000.)  Three different actors played Sgt. Preston but most people remember Paul Sutton as the Sergeant, because he also played him on TV.

Some of the shows are 30 minutes and the rest are 15 minutes long.

I really like the show.  I give it 3 and a half to 4 stars.

Challenge of the Yukon theme was popular with Canucks

According to Billboard Magazine, the theme to the radio show, Challenge of the Yukon sold like hotcakes.

And yes, I'm on a Challenge of the Yukon kick today...

Part of ABC advert in 1949 with some kid shows

Casey Kasem on Challenge of the Yukon?

Yep.  At least according to Casey!

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.

Stuff I'd buy if I was a millioniare [#03]

Stuff I'd buy if I was a millionaire [#02]

Challenge of the Yukon dog trading cards!