Tune in on Sunday night at 6pm for the 499th episode of Radio Theatre of the Wild West on KSVY. The Sunday, September 11 show features a return to the “show-within-a-show” originally scripted Western melodrama:  “Hijinks and Hilarity at the Holy Mountain Mine.” In Sunday’s episode we continue with the serial tale of Bear Claw Bob and Old Cougar Face as they find gold and romance on the banks of the Yuba River. Murderin’ Mike has surrendered to the authorities for his evil deeds, and Eli Walker and Old Cougar Face purchase 8 mules-worth of presents with the $10,000 reward----and return to find that gold miners have discovered their valley!

“In the Sunday, August 28th show  Radio Theatre of the Wild West returns to the writings of Mark Twain and the fictional town of St. Petersburg on the Mississippi River. In Chapters 6 to 10 of Tom Sawyer, our heroes Tom and Huckleberry Finn find adventure and danger in the local cemetery as they seek to see spirits, but instead witness the grisly murder of Dr. Robinson. Butch Engle performs as Tom Sawyer, George Webber will voice the character of Huckleberry Finn, and CW Bayer brings to life Dr. Robinson and the Sheriff.”

In this original, scripted presentation, our three Western hosts recount the amazing story of Fremont’s journey over the Rocky Mountains in the winter of 1849. Fremont will appear, courtesy of the KSVY Time Machine, and also legendary trapper and guide Old Bill Williams, of whom it was once said: “nobody who knew him walked in front of Old Bill during starvin’ times.” With CW Bayer as Fremont, George Webber as Old Bill Williams, and Butch Engle as Rattlesnake Dan.

On Sunday, August 14 Radio Theatre of the Wild West presents the original radio play: “An Uneasy Future: General Vallejo, Count Haraszthy, and Joaquin Murietta in San Francisco in 1852.” This scripted audio entertainment tells the entire plausible (and completely made up) story of how General Vallejo and Count Haraszthy of Sonoma help the noted bandit Joaquin Muiretta escape capture by Harry Love and his Texas Rangers. Featuring Butch Engle as General Vallejo and Rattlesnake Dan, CW Bayer as Virginny, Joaquin Muiretta, and Harry Love, and George Webber as Count Haraszthy, John-Charles Fremont, Ho Po, Eleonora Haraszthy, and the Hedgehog.

“Western Hijinks and Hilarity at the Holy Mountain Mine”---Episode Three.  In our third podcasted episode of this original, scripted western melodrama our heroes decide what to do with Murderin’ Mike, who has appeared at the door of the Holy Mountain Mine saying that he has had a religious conversion, and is willing to be taken in for justice. After much discussion, Eli Walker and Old Cougar Face make the dangerous journey to Downieville with Murderin’ Mike to turn him into the law, and get the $10,000 reward. Starring Butch Engle as Murderin’ Mike, Bear Claw Bob and Kawan the talking fox, CW Bayer as Eli Walker and Aristotle Freeman, and series creator George Webber as Old Cougar Face, Miss Peggy, and the Reverend.

This amazing tale features Mark Twain, General Vallejo and Count Haraszthy of Sonoma. You will discover how they met, became friends, and how, between Sunday, May 29 and Friday, June 3 of 1864, a fortune was lost by one of them, and disaster narrowly averted for the other two. Every part of this tale is historically accurate, other than those sections completely made up. Starring Butch Engle as General Vallejo, CW Bayer as Mark Twain, and George Webber as Count Haraszthy.

Journey along with the master as we bring to life two famous short stories by Mark Twain. The first: “A Californian’s Tale,” is a heartfelt and evocative story of days gone by in the mining districts in the foothills of the Sierra. Writing in the first person, Mark Twain recounts meeting a lonely miner in an abandoned town, living in a perfectly appointed small cabin. The miner, Henry, invites Mark to stay and meet his wife, who has gone to visit her folks a few months after the wedding. In the second tale, “The Great Beef Contract,” is an absolutely hilarious send up of the vast bureaucracy created by the Civil War. 30 barrels of beef follow Sherman from place to place, but Sherman (always moving during his Civil War campaigns in the South) never receives the thirty barrels of beef, and the owner spends years trying from one government agency to the next in attempting to get paid. Reading like a stand-up comedy routine, “The Great Beef Contract” reveals Twain as a master entertainer.

  In our second podcasted episode of this original, scripted western melodrama our heroes mine for gold and drink Aristotle Freeman’s unique whiskey sours, while Miss Peggy and Bear Claw Bob appear to have fallen in love. Starring Butch Engle as Bear Claw Bob and Kawan the talking fox, CW Bayer as Eli Walker and Aristotle Freeman, and series creator George Webber as Old Cougar Face, Miss Peggy, and the Reverend. Musical interludes are provided by Sonoma Jazz artist Dick Conte, as we play cuts from his not-yet-released CD by the Dick Conte Trio: “Nuages (clouds) ---featuring Dick Conte on piano, Steve Webber on bass, and Billy Hobson on drums.