Ep 7. Self-Made Man

Death Valley Days is an American western television series that originally aired on the ABC network from 1952 to 1970. The show was created by Ruth Woodman and follows the stories of various frontier people and their experiences in different parts of the western United States.

Season 1, Episode 7, Self-Made Man, follows the story of a man named George Abernathy, who is determined to make a name for himself in the town of Tucson, Arizona. George is a hardworking man who wants to be his own boss, but he has trouble finding work that will pay him enough to start his own business. He soon learns that the only way he can make a living in Tucson is to work for the powerful Murphy family, who control much of the town's economy.

George begins working as a clerk for the Murphys' general store and quickly rises through the ranks, becoming their top salesman. He becomes friends with the Murphys' daughter, Alice, and soon falls in love with her. However, Alice is engaged to a man named Tom, who works for her father. George knows that he will never be able to compete with Tom, so he decides to focus on his work instead.

As George becomes more successful, he starts to have a different opinion of the Murphys and their business practices. He sees how they exploit their workers and manipulate the town's economy for their own benefit. George realizes that he does not want to be a part of such a system and starts to plan his own business.

George's opportunity comes when a group of miners arrive in town looking for work. The miners are hardworking men who have been mistreated by their former employer. George sees their potential and decides to hire them to work in his own store. He takes out a loan and opens his own business, which he calls the People's Store.

The Murphys are not happy with George's new business venture and try to sabotage him. They spread rumors about him and cut off his supply of goods. However, George is determined to succeed and finds a way to overcome every obstacle that comes his way. He becomes a respected member of the community and a hero to the workers he employs.

Self-Made Man is an inspiring episode of Death Valley Days that highlights the importance of hard work, determination, and standing up for what is right. It shows how one man can make a difference in a corrupt system and change the course of his own life and the lives of those around him. The episode features strong performances from the cast and a powerful message that still resonates today.