ep087 The Mad Bison: Ranger Bill

Ranger Bill, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“ep087 The Mad Bison” 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

Ranger Bill and his rangers, Lefty and Lee among them, return to their ranch after a stallion is badly mauled in the range. Lefty finds the injured horse, Whitey, and the hoof tracks left behind puzzle the men. Lee and Lefty confer with Bill, and the rangers learn that the attacker is Old Snort, a buffalo bull who was driven out of his herd after losing a fight to a younger bull. The ranchers are angry and demand that the animal be caught before more damage is done. Bill and the rangers set out to track the bull across the rough country, where the trail goes cold and the rangers must keep moving to find it again.

A ranch and the surrounding open range in spring, with a horse barn, cabins, and rugged canyon country nearby.

Characters: Ranger Bill, Lefty, Lee, Stumpy, Grey Wolf, Henry, Old Snort, Whitey

Listen for: The rangers' description of the buffalo bull's behavior after losing his place in the herd, and the ranchers' demands that the animal be caught.

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.