Talented Recruits: Fort Laramie (July 8, 1956)

“Talented Recruits” is an episode of Fort Laramie, the old-time radio show, first broadcast July 8, 1956. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Two colorful drifters—a medicine show operator and a former riverboat entertainer—arrive at Fort Laramie to enlist in the cavalry. Captain Quince and the recruiting sergeant must sort out these unconventional recruits and determine whether they have what it takes to serve.

Fort Laramie, at the recruitment office and gate

Characters: Captain Lee Quince, Sergeant, Finney, Granville Marywether, Arnie Butkin, Peony, Major

Listen for: The comic exchanges between the recruits as they attempt to enlist, particularly Marywether's theatrical flourishes and references to his medicine show.

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.