Water Tank Rescue aka Smart Alecs Water Tank Inspection: Ranger Bill (January 18, 1961)

Ranger Bill, old-time radio on Stupid Potato

“Water Tank Rescue aka Smart Alecs Water Tank Inspection” is an episode of Ranger Bill, the old-time radio show, first broadcast January 18, 1961. Listen free on Stupid Potato: no sign-up, no app.

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What happens

Ranger Bill investigates when two boys, Henry and Alec, go missing in Naughty Pine after sneaking into the town's new water tank. Henry and Alec climb inside the unfinished tank and become trapped at the bottom as crews begin filling it overnight. Bill, Stumpy and Cal search through the night for the missing boys, while the boys struggle in the rising water. The episode is part of the Ranger Bill series and originally aired on January 18, 1961.

The town of Naughty Pine, including a new water tank under construction

Characters: Ranger Bill, Stumpy, Henry, Alec, Cal, Mike, Mrs. Carden

Listen for: The boys' attempt to signal for help inside the tank and the search that follows

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.