The Rub Out: Tales of the Texas Rangers (February 3, 1952)

“The Rub Out” is an episode of Tales of the Texas Rangers, the old-time radio show, first broadcast February 3, 1952. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

At a border town boxing match, young fighter Johnny Buck collapses during his bout and is rushed to the hospital, where doctors suspect he may have been poisoned. His manager Mike Morales, who was absent from the fight despite being Buck's corner man, becomes the prime suspect when Buck dies. Rangers investigate Morales's disappearance and his troubled relationship with his sister Nina, who has been secretly seeing Johnny Buck.

A border town featuring a boxing arena and hospital, with a dressing room and waiting room

Characters: Johnny Buck, Mike Morales, Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Haines, Nina Morales, Slim Corey, Chico Valdez, Doc Signlon

Listen for: The revelation of why Mike Morales disappeared from the fight and what happened between him and Johnny Buck the night before

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.