"Death Valley Days" was a half-hour television series which was produced for local television stations and ran from 1952 to 1970. The host was the "Old Ranger" (actor Stanley Andrews) who appeared as an Old West lawman who introduced the story. The episode "Lotta Crabtree" was first broadcast on January 5, 1954. Lotta Crabtree (1847-1924) was a singer and dancer who performed as a child starting in 1856 and who retired in 1892 as a famous stage actress. The story is set in California starting with Lotta's arrival in 1853 and her performances in the Gold Rush mining communities and then in San Francisco. At one point during a performance as a child Lotta is rewarded by people throwing various coins onto the stage. The coins are standard film prop or imitation coins including various Los Angeles Rubber Stamp Company President Monroe coins.

The Old Ranger appears seated at a desk and introduces the program.

Mary Ann Crabtree and her daughter Lotta arrive in San Francisco where they are met by a man sent by Mary Ann's husband John Crabtree who is in Grass Valley chasing gold.

The man tells the women "San Francisco's full of actors, everything from minstrels to Shakespeare." The two women head for Grass Valley in the gold-mining region and Mrs. Crabtree discovers that her husband is still broke. She opens a boarding house. The famous Spanish dancer Lola Montez sees Lotta dancing and approaches the parents.

Lola believes that Lotta could become a professional stage performer and offers to instruct her. Lotta's mother supports the idea but her father believes that Lola is a "bad woman". The mother points out that the family is not financially well off.

Customers in mining towns would throw coins at performers which they liked.

Mrs. Crabtree sees the money but worries about living off her daughter.

The coins are Los Angeles Rubber Stamp Company President Monroe Motion Picture prop coins and smaller prop coins.

White metal, 38 mm, 20.68 gm
Obverse: President James Monroe facing half left surrounded by circle and wreath, no text
Reverse: Bird of Paradise and man kneeling in temple surrounded by eight-pointed star, no text

Mrs. Crabtree soon becomes Lotta's manager and Lotta grows into a woman.

Mrs. Crabtree discourges male admirers as she wants Lotta to continue performing.

Lotta is now performing all over the country as a singer, dancer, and stage actress.

At one performance the Mayor of San Francisco greets Lotta.

The Mayor presents her with a diamond tiara "for the queen of the theater" and a bagful of double eagles ($20 gold coins).

Lotta replies:

The Old Ranger ends the story with:

Stanley Andrews as The Old Ranger
Gloria Jean as Lotta Crabtree
Sharon Baird as Young Lotta
Kay Stewart as Mary Ann Crabtree
Paul Weber as John Crabtree
Yvonne Cross as Lola Montez
Director: Stuart E. McGowan
Writers: Ruth Woodman