Raymond Burr stars as a nasty and belligerent treasure hunter, bullying his way with a partner and a local prospector to find the “Lost Dutchman Mine” in the Southwest US. The script is by Charles B. Smith. There are many legends about the mine. The name “Peralta” comes from the name of a Spanish-appointed governor of New Mexico in the 1600s. The family is claimed to be owners of the mine at some point in the long past, but that is disputed as an idea created by modern writers. Not that it matters, but the story follows the concept that if you have a map related to the Peraltas, you will be able to fine the mine.
There is another part of the legend of the mine that whoever looks for it is not likely to succeed or return. Many died in the attempt to finding its location. In this case, individual greed takes over the party, and the make side deals and alliances against each other, and any trust they had between them erodes as they get closer to where they are certain the mine is.
History says they will not find it, and none of them will come back alive. It’s a good story and drags a bit in the beginning. But one of them gets hurt during the search. That’s when the story gets interesting and there are surprises in the end. That is, even though history turns out to be right. It’s worth sticking with the opening and very predictable scenes.
The performances are good and Burr is wonderful as the rotten, selfish, and untrustworthy mastermind who is too smart for his own good.
The program was recorded on Friday, March 1, 1957. Rehearsal began at 1:00pm and were closed at 6:30pm. Recording commenced at 6:30pm and concluded at 7:00pm.
The surviving recording is likely an Armed Forces Radio aircheck. It has narrow range, and seems to have some station drift. It is listenable, but it is hoped that an AFRS transcription might surface at some time in the future.
For information about the Mine and whether or not it actually exists, Wikipedia is a good resource https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Dutchman%27s_Gold_Mine
There is also a 1953 book, which can be borrowed at The Internet Archive. It is by Sims Ely, and titled The Lost Dutchman Mine. The subtitle says it is “the fabulous story of the seven-decade search for the hidden treasure in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona.” https://archive.org/details/lostdutchmanmine00elys
LISTEN
TO THE PROGRAM or download in FLAC or
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https://archive.org/details/TSP570310
THE CAST
Raymond Burr (Henry Cracker), Stacy Harris (Willis), Junius Matthews (Lowney), George Walsh (Narrator)
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