ep043 The Prehistoric Monster: Ranger Bill

Ranger Bill, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“ep043 The Prehistoric Monster” is an episode of Ranger Bill, the old-time radio show that aired from 1950 to 1962. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Rangers Bill Jefferson, Henry Scott and their companions Stumpy and Grey Wolf help a travelling circus recover a rhinoceros that has escaped from its cage at night. The circus owner, Jeff Clean, has called for help after his men failed to track the animal across the canyon country. Bill and Henry search from a helicopter while the others follow the trail on foot, and Stumpy argues about his old rifle Betsy and the new Weatherby that Bill has brought along. The men work out a plan to drive the beast into a box canyon, and the episode ends at the canyon where the animal is found.

Canyon country near Canyon City, with a travelling circus camped beside Highway 18

Characters: Bill Jefferson, Henry Scott, Stumpy, Grey Wolf, Jeff Clean, Shorty, Lefty

Listen for: Stumpy's arguments with Bill and Grey Wolf over his rifle Betsy and the new Weatherby, and the helicopter chase that drives the rhinoceros toward the canyon

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.