Gene Autry Show: The Double Switch

The Gene Autry Show: The Double Switch

Originally Broadcast: Sunday, August 27, 195 at 7 PM ET on CBS

Plot: Autry is a rancher working with the townspeople to donate money to the state government for road improvement and then has to hunt down thieves when the money is stolen.

Analysis: This is probably one of the more complicated plots on Gene Autry to date and I’m not sure my summary does an adequate job. That alone makes this episode well worth watching just as an intellectual exercise.

It occurs to me that while I’ve spent a lot of time discussing Gene Autry in these episodes, I’ve neglected Pat Buttram, the constant sidekick/comic relief for the show. Buttram, like so many other actors of his era, got his start on local radio before moving west to try his luck in the movies. He started off in the sidekick roll to Roy Rogers, the “other” big cowboy of the era along with Autry, but since Rogers already had some established sidekicks, Buttram didn’t last. So, in 1948, he switched over to sidekick with Autry, a role he would keep through Autry’s movies, serials all the way into the television series. Believe me, I can tell you in advance we’ll be seeing more of Buttram beyond Autry, so if this seems short, that’s why.

Oh, and we have our regular “bad guy” appearance by Alan Hale, Jr. in this episode as well.

Bottom Line: As I said at the top, this is one of the tightest plots of all the Autry episodes we’ve seen so far. Parts are a touch predictable, but it’s pretty solid and tremendously fun to watch and try and puzzle out as you are going along.

The Double Switch in included on Gene Autry Show – The Double Switch (http://www.amazon.com/Gene-Autry-Show-Double-Switch/dp/B00005B6KF/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1285101803&sr=1-1). It’s difficult to find a copy since Image has discontinued the DVD, but try Amazon Sellers or eBay if you want to check it out.