River Of Fire: Ranger Bill (March 2, 1955)

Ranger Bill, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“River Of Fire” is an episode of Ranger Bill, the old-time radio show, first broadcast March 2, 1955. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Officers O'Rourke and Ryan, walking their beat in Nadi Pine, notice a strong smell and find the river covered with fuel oil. Ranger Bill Jefferson and his companions Cal, Stumpy and Grey Wolf are called in to locate the source of the leak. They suspect the pipeline that crosses the river on a bridge, and the sheriff warns townspeople to stay indoors while firemen work to disperse the oil. A storm is approaching, and the danger grows as the crew struggles to find and stop the leak.

Nadi Pine, a river town with a pipeline bridge over the Shady River, during a stormy night

Characters: Bill Jefferson, O'Rourke, Ryan, Cal, Stumpy, Grey Wolf, Sheriff Hopper, Henry Scott

Listen for: The officers' discovery of the oil on the river and the rangers' climb across the pipeline bridge in the storm

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.