This episode is notable because it's one of the earliest appearances of one Charles Buchinsky, later known as Charles Bronson. He plays Willie 'Killer' Conley, a boxer who somehow unknowingly got mixed up with some jewel robbers. Roy, Dale, and Pat try to straighten him up with the help of his grandma. In the meantime, Pat takes some physically hilarious lessons from Bronson and Roy later fights Bronson himself in a boxing match that the thieves try to use to their advantage. As usual, there's humor and action galore to keep the kiddies entertained and for film buffs like myself, the chance to see one of the earliest appearances of one of the future film icons of the last century. Worth a look for fans of all of the above.
4 Reviews
And In This Corner..............................
bkoganbing3 November 2010
In the second season of the Roy Rogers Show, Roy and Dale Evans had as a member of the cast, a future film legend acting under his real name of Charles Buchinsky. It wasn't much of a stretch for Charles Bronson who before he became an actor did do some prize fighting and it certainly showed in the boxing scenes.
The plot has Roy and Dale escorting Sarah Padden to the training camp of her grandson, Charles Bronson who is in training for a big fight. What he doesn't know is that the camp is being used as a blind by his handlers who are former convicts as is he. They recently robbed a bank and also are in that particular spot because they buried some jewels they heisted before going to jail.
Pat Brady was in their for some comic relief as always and he had some interesting scenes sparring with Charles Bronson. Years later I saw Bob Hope on one of his shows do a boxing skit with then champ Larry Holmes and this scene reminded me of that skit.
I'm certainly glad this episode was preserved.
The plot has Roy and Dale escorting Sarah Padden to the training camp of her grandson, Charles Bronson who is in training for a big fight. What he doesn't know is that the camp is being used as a blind by his handlers who are former convicts as is he. They recently robbed a bank and also are in that particular spot because they buried some jewels they heisted before going to jail.
Pat Brady was in their for some comic relief as always and he had some interesting scenes sparring with Charles Bronson. Years later I saw Bob Hope on one of his shows do a boxing skit with then champ Larry Holmes and this scene reminded me of that skit.
I'm certainly glad this episode was preserved.
"Willie ain't hurting Mr. Rogers too much, is he?
classicsoncall16 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I just saw Charles Bronson in a 1961 episode from 'One Step Beyond' in which he also portrayed a boxer, the story was called 'The Last Round'. It immediately reminded me of this show which I pulled out of my collection to take another look at. This program appeared almost a full decade before the One Step Beyond story, and Bronson's physique, though impressive even here, is lighter in build and much less muscular than in the later show. The difference is so noticeable that one is inclined to think steroids, but I don't think they were a factor as early as 1961 when the other show aired.
In any event, Bronson portrays an ex-con following a two year prison sentence for assault, trying to go straight as a boxer. Problem is, he's fallen in with some other former jailbirds who set up 'Killer' Conley's training camp on Roy Rogers' ranch. The area where the training camp is located was used by yet another partner who buried some stolen jewelry on the property, so the bad guys scurry around with shovels turning up loose dirt looking for the jewels in what seemed just a convoluted excuse for a story. But then again, this was 1952 when writing didn't have to make much sense, especially for a TV show aimed at youngsters.
What's also comical is the way the bad guys can't remain consistent calling Bronson's character by name. He's known as Willie by his grandma Abigail (Sarah Padden), but the outlaws alternately refer to him as Bill and Billy. The trainer even mistakenly calls him Brady right after Willie knocked out Roy's sidekick Pat Brady in a sparring bit.
Well Roy Rogers was always my favorite TV and movie cowboy and this was one of my favorite shows as a kid. All the regular players are here including Dale Evans, and animal pals Trigger, Buttermilk and Bullet. Oh, and I can't forget Pat's reliable old jeep Nellybelle!
Bronson's character gets to mix it up with Roy too, knocking him out when trainer Gauley (Frank Jenks) distracts Roy. Later on, Roy gets in some good licks in a rematch, but then again it was Roy's show. I don't think he could have really knocked Bronson cold, even with Pat Brady in a two-on-one match.
The hilarity as usual is provided by Brady who always got laughs with his goofy mannerisms and expressions, and he closes things out in this story when Killer Willie tries to give him a few boxing pointers. As usual, Pat doesn't pay attention and sees stars as the show comes to an end. Happy Trails indeed.
One last trivia note - if you stick around until the very end of the program, you won't see Charles Bronson in the closing credits. Back then, he was going by his real name - Chas Buchinski!
In any event, Bronson portrays an ex-con following a two year prison sentence for assault, trying to go straight as a boxer. Problem is, he's fallen in with some other former jailbirds who set up 'Killer' Conley's training camp on Roy Rogers' ranch. The area where the training camp is located was used by yet another partner who buried some stolen jewelry on the property, so the bad guys scurry around with shovels turning up loose dirt looking for the jewels in what seemed just a convoluted excuse for a story. But then again, this was 1952 when writing didn't have to make much sense, especially for a TV show aimed at youngsters.
What's also comical is the way the bad guys can't remain consistent calling Bronson's character by name. He's known as Willie by his grandma Abigail (Sarah Padden), but the outlaws alternately refer to him as Bill and Billy. The trainer even mistakenly calls him Brady right after Willie knocked out Roy's sidekick Pat Brady in a sparring bit.
Well Roy Rogers was always my favorite TV and movie cowboy and this was one of my favorite shows as a kid. All the regular players are here including Dale Evans, and animal pals Trigger, Buttermilk and Bullet. Oh, and I can't forget Pat's reliable old jeep Nellybelle!
Bronson's character gets to mix it up with Roy too, knocking him out when trainer Gauley (Frank Jenks) distracts Roy. Later on, Roy gets in some good licks in a rematch, but then again it was Roy's show. I don't think he could have really knocked Bronson cold, even with Pat Brady in a two-on-one match.
The hilarity as usual is provided by Brady who always got laughs with his goofy mannerisms and expressions, and he closes things out in this story when Killer Willie tries to give him a few boxing pointers. As usual, Pat doesn't pay attention and sees stars as the show comes to an end. Happy Trails indeed.
One last trivia note - if you stick around until the very end of the program, you won't see Charles Bronson in the closing credits. Back then, he was going by his real name - Chas Buchinski!
Everyone Calls Her Grandma
hogwrassler7 September 2020
Roy, Pat, and Dale come across a boxing training camp for Willie "Killer" Conley on Roy's land. Roy allows them to stay, but does not know that they are really crooks looking for stolen loot buried somewhere in the area. Willie, played by Charles Buchinsky (later Bronson) isn't in on the fact that the money is stolen. Later, Roy, Pat, and Dale find elderly Abigail Conley walking down the road. She is Willie's grandmother, and "everyone calls me Grandma." Grandma is reunited with Willie and then Roy sets about getting to the bottom of what these strangers are really up to. Both Roy and Pat get to spar a couple of rounds with Willie, and Roy looked comfortable in the ring. Grandma is played by Sarah Padden, who made a career of playing grandmas in numerous B-movies. In 1958, she was uncredited in the movie "No Time for Sergeants." Her photo was used as the picture of Sergeant King's mother which sat on his nightstand. Another good second season episode and Sarah Padden really stands out.
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