Christmas Present: Tales of the Texas Rangers (December 24, 1950)

“Christmas Present” is an episode of Tales of the Texas Rangers, the old-time radio show, first broadcast December 24, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

On December 21st, 1931, during the Depression, two armed men dressed as Santa Claus rob the newly opened Panhandle Equity Bank in North Texas, escaping with $63,800 in cash. Texas Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate the crime, which left the bank guard, Miss Keene the teller, and bank vice president Leon Peabody all knocked unconscious.

North Texas, Panhandle Equity Bank and surrounding area, December 1931

Characters: Jason Pearson, Texas Ranger, Leon Peabody, second vice president of Panhandle Equity Bank, Miss Keene, bank teller, Lovett, bank guard, Police Chief

Listen for: The ranger's investigation into the smooth bank robbery and his deduction that one of the robbers was tall based on the positioning of a getaway car's seat and rear-view mirror.

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.