Title: Death Valley Days Films
Inclusive Dates: 1952-1959

Call Number: DF 659-DF 671; DF 750-DF 769; DG 007-DG 012

Quantity: 39 film reels (16 mm)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society Archives / Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research
Contact Information

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

This collection consists of 39 episodes from the half-hour western anthology television series Death Valley Days.

Note:

There is a restriction on use of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Country of production: United States
Director: Stuart McGowan
Producer: Dorrell McGowan
Writer: Ruth C. Woodman
Narrator: Stanley Andrews

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-df659

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This collection consists of 39 episodes from the half-hour western anthology television series Death Valley Days, which aired in syndication from 1952 to 1975. The series, created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman as a broadcast radio program, featured true stories of the old American West, particularly in the Death Valley region. Each episode began with an introduction by the series host, which changed over the course of its syndication. Hosts included Ronald Reagan (1965-1966), Robert Taylor (1966-1969), and Dale Robertson (1969-1972); though the longest running was “The Old Ranger” from 1952 to 1965, played by Stanley Andrews. Death Valley Days was produced by three different companies (McGowan Productions, Flying 'A' Productions, and Filmster Productions) over the course of its full 18 season run.

The series was sponsored by the Pacific Coast Borax Company and featured many of its products such as 20 Mule Team laundry cleaner and powder-less hand soap and Shocking de Schiaparelli perfume, but others as well such as Delta brand rice during Death Valley Days.

Approximately 452 episodes of Death Valley Days were produced; however this collection contains only 39 episodes from the series, predominantly from seasons 1, 2 and 8, including the first episode, “How Death Valley Got Its Name” (1952) and “Olvera” (1959) starring actor Cesar Romero. All the reels in this collection are 16 mm, black and white prints with sound and have a running time of approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Several of the episodes in this collection feature commercial promotions for 20 Mule Team products, California Gold Label Beer; a product of the California Brewing Company of San Francisco, California; as well as promotions for mail-in order Western art. The visual quality of these prints is generally good overall although it differs between individual reels. Episodes are arranged chronologically by original air date in this finding aid.

Use Restrictions

No duplication or public screening without consent of copyright holder.

Acquisition Information

Presented by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Accession Number: M91-143

DF 750	“How Death Valley Got Its Name,” 1952 Note: Director: Stuart E. McGowan Producer: Louis Gray, Dorrell McGowan Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Stanley Andrews, Phyllis Coates, Brad Johnson
DF 664	“She Burns Green,” 1952 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Screenplay: Ruth C. Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: James Griffith, Donna Martell, Allan Nixon, Hank Patterson
DF 751	“The Death Valley Kid,” 1952 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Richard Emory, Ann McCrea, Bruce Edwards
DF 661	“The Lost Pegleg Mine,” 1952 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Gilbert Frye, Gloria Eaton, Andy Clyde, Ralph Sandford, Lyle Talbot, Patric Mitchell
DF 752	“The Little Bullfrog Nugget,” 1952 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Gail Davis, Hal Smith
DF 753	“Self-Made Man,” 1952 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: William Henry, Doris Merrick, House Peters Jr.
DF 754	“The Little Dressmaker of Bodie,” 1952 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Richard Alexander, Ray Bennett, Myron Healey
DF 667	“The Chivaree,” 1952 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Screenplay: Ruth C. Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Tyler McDuff, Joyce Jamison, Harry Lauter, Roy Regnier, Eula Morgan
DF 662	“Cynthy's Dream Dress,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Virginia Lee, Brad Johnson, Helen Brown, Steve Conti, Diane Carroll, Lyle Talbot, Keene Duncan
DF 755	“The Rival Hash Houses,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Jane Frazee, Gordon Jones, Minerva Urecal
DF 756	“The Lady with the Blue Silk Umbrella,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Ernestine Barrier, Kathleen Case, Rick Vallin
DF 659	“Swamper Ike,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Jock Mahoney, Margaret Field
DG 007	“The Bell of San Gabriel,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Kathleen Case, Gil Frye, Jack George, David Leonard, George J. Lewis, Melody McGowan
DF 671	“Claim Jumpin' Jennie,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Screenplay: Ruth C. Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Wallace Ford, Irene Barton, Karen Sharpe, Harry Harvey, Robert Cunningham, Charlie Stevens, Guy Wilkerson
DF 663	“The Bandits of Panamint,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Sheila Ryan, Rick Vallin, Gloria Winters, Glase Lohman, Howard Negley
DF 757	“Sego Lilies,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Charles Hayes, John Halloran, John Dierkes
DG 008	“Little Oscar's Millions,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Writer: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Percy Helton, Claire Carleton, John Frank, Helen Brown, George Norris, Beverly Cotterell, Ralph Sandord, Keith Richards, Byron Foulger, Wade Crosby Note: Sprocket damage and shrinkage at beginning. Several segments have been spliced for repair.
DG 009	“Land of the Free,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: James Adamson, Felix Nelson, Gail Davis, Kirk Riley, Coulter Irwin, Edyth Elliott, Willa Curtis, Frank Richards, House Peters Jr., Jack O'Shea
DF 758	“The Diamond Babe,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Jil Jarmyn, Ann Savage, Charles Victor
DG 010	“Little Washington,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Screenplay: Ruth C. Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Sally Mansfield, Jim Davis, Louise Arthur, John Eldridge, Marian Mosick, Louise Franklin, Bernice Simmons, Glase Lohman, Kenne Duncan
DF 759	“Solomon in All His Glory,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Phylliss Coates, James Griffith, Gloria Winters
DG 011	“Which Side of the Fence?,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Richard Emory, Lyn Thomas, Earle Hodgins, Hal K. Dawson, Keith Richards, James Seay, Ellye Marshall
DF 669	“Whirlwind Courtship,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Writer: Ruth C. Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Michael Hathaway, Robert Lowery, Susan Cooke, George Pembroke, Nan Leslie, Jean Wright, Russell Hicks
DF 670	“Dear Teacher,” 1953 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Dorrell McGowan Writer: Ruth C. Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Nancy Hale, Donna Corcoran, Michael Moore, Paul McGuire, Vivi Jains, Geraldine Wall
DF 666	“One In A Hundred,” 1953 Note: Director: Jesse Hibbs Producer: Nat Perrin Writer: Milton Geiger Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Phyllis Coates, Michael Forest, Linda Watkins, Robert Griffin, George Mitchell, Larkin Ford
DF 760	“Little Papeete,” 1954 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Richard Avonde, Regina Gleason, Emily Heath
DF 761	“Lotta Crabtree,” 1954 Note: Director: Stuart McGowan Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Sharon Baird, Gloria Jean, Emily Keath, Richard Avonde
DF 762	“Olvera,” 1959 Note: Director: Danny Dare Producer: Nat Perrin Screenplay: Arthur Rowe Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Cesar Romero, Michael Dante, Victor Millan, Anna Navarro, Roy Engel
DF 668	“Gates Ajar Morgan,” 1959 Note: Director: Charlie Haas Producer: Nat Perrin Writer: Earl Baldwin Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Don Wilson, Christ Alcaide, Sue Randall, Phil Harvey, Roy Barcroft
DF 763	“Sam Kee and Uncle Sam,” 1959 Note: Director: Edward Ludlum and Frank McDonald Producer: Gene Autry and Armand Schaefer Screenplay: Budd Lesser, Ruth Woodman Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: James Douglas, Benson Fong
DF 660	“The Grand Duke,” 1959 Note: Director: Bernard Kowalski Producer: Nat Perrin Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Alex Davion, John Lupton, Dolores Vintina, Rodolfo Acosta
DF 764	“Fair Exchange,” 1959 Note: Director: James Sheldon Producer: Armand Schaefer, Gene Autry Screenplay: Ruth Woodman and Dorothy Schuyler Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Robert Griffin, George Mitchell
DF 765	“The Scalpel and the Gun,” 1959 Note: Director: Edward Ludlum and Frank McDonald Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Robert Sabaroff Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Lin McCarthy, Richard Shannon
DF 766	“Indian Emily,” 1959 Note: Director: Edward Ludlum Producer: Nat Perrin Screenplay: John Alexander Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Jolene Brand, Burt Metcalfe, Meg Wyllie, Bartlett Robinson, Bing Russell
DF 767	“Hang 'Em High,” 1959 Note: Director: Edward Ludlum and Frank McDonald Producer: Armand Schaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Robert Sabaroff Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Paul Birch, Arthur Space, Laurie Caroll
DF 665	“Tribal Justice,” 1959 Note: Director: John English Producer: Nat Perrin Story/screenplay: Alva Anderson, Bill Danch, Budd Lesser Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Richard Angarola, Robert Warwick, Rudy Solari, Kathy Reed
DG 012	“The Little Trooper,” 1959 Note: Director: Nat Perrin Producer: Nat Perrin Writer: John Alexander Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Lennie Bremer, Lew Gallo, Bryan Russell, Mary Munday, Tom Palmer, John Pickard, Luis Gomez
DF 768	“Ten Feet of Nothing,” 1959 Note: Director: Edward Ludlum and Frank McDonald Producer: Armand Scaefer and Gene Autry Screenplay: Budd Lesser Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Stanley Andrews, James Drury, Lew Gallo
DF 769	“Somewhere in the Vultures,” 1959 Note: Director: Alan Crosland Jr. Producer: Nat Perrin Screenplay: Budd Lesser, Richard Landau, Fran Van Hartesveldt Host: Stanley Andrews Cast: Paul Richards, Kathleen Crowley, Frank Ferguson, Darlene Fields, Edward Kemmer, Pamela Duncan