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"Ranger Bill" is a classic Christian radio program from the 1950s, produced by Moody Radio.

The show features over 200 episodes and stars Miron Canaday as Ranger Bill, a forest ranger in the fictional town of Knotty Pine, located in the Rocky Mountains. Alongside his friends Stumpy Jenkins and Grey Wolf, Ranger Bill tackles various adventures and moral dilemmas, often with a strong Christian message.

The show remains a beloved piece of old-time radio history and is still enjoyed by many fans today.

Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradio
Listen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/
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Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Entertainment Radio

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Transcript
00:00Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland. Struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails,
00:24fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill.
00:30Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes,
00:39all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. The weather is warm
00:52around Knotty Pine, unseasonably warm. In the southern part of the state, the snow is melted
00:58and the forests are dry, tinder dry. A weather change is coming across the south end of the
01:05state. A cold front is trying to push its way through. The warm front resists and the warm and
01:11cold air mix it up but good. A huge out-of-season thunderhead forms. The storm giant rises 30,000
01:20feet into the air. Suddenly, the monster lashes out at the dry forests with bolts of lightning.
01:26Savagely, rangers in their fire towers hold their breaths because they know what this savage attack
01:32of lightning could mean. The raging monster stops its fury for a minute, as if gathering all its
01:38strength for the final punch. Then the haymaker comes racing out of the sky, a blinding streak
01:44of fire. Rangers watch with eyes filled with apprehension. The smoke begins to rise skyward.
01:52The Rangers jump to their instruments to make a fix and grab their phones. Hello, Kurt, that last
01:57one did it. Splashed fire all over the valley. Get the boys rolling. Kurt, there are three fires from
02:03what I can see here. One at F6, the second at H3, and the third at C15. That last bolt really slapped
02:09at us hard. Hello, Kurt. I can count half a dozen fires now. You remember that 90-foot tree we used
02:15for landmark? Well, it's gone. Fire. Forest fire. Six separate blazes. Three more makes nine. Then
02:26one makes ten. Ten fires in a dry forest with a good wind fanning the fire like a bellows. Soon,
02:34Bill and his Rangers are going to be right in the thick of the biggest forest fire they've ever
02:38fought. And for one of them, it's almost the last one. Right now, the fellas are gathered around the
02:44teletype machine at Ranger headquarters in Knotty Pine. Great jumping horn toads, Sonny. That there bolt of lightning kicked up ten fires. Those boys downstate are going to have their hands full, I'm afraid. Look here.
03:02Positional fire show 25 square miles covered. Well, it'll be 50 before they can do anything about it, Gray Wolf. I'll get it.
03:11Ranger headquarters, Bill Jefferson speaking. Bill, this is Kurt Douglas. Oh, yes, Kurt. How are things down there? Pretty bad, Bill. We need help. Can you come? Yeah, we'll come down right away, Kurt. How much help do you need?
03:29Every man and all the equipment we can get. And hurry. The fire's rapidly getting out of control. We'll start loading the flat cars right away. Get going as soon as the train's loaded. Sounds good to me.
03:39All right, Joe. Pull your bulldozer up on that car and bring it forward so Matt can bring his behind you. Okay. Matt, you follow him up on the flat car. Okay? I did it.
04:06Here's a message from Colonel Anders, Bill. He just came in over the teletype. I wonder what the old boy will have to say. He wants you to take charge of fighting the fire. That's going to change things. What do you mean, Bill? You and I are to fly down. That means we'll have to get hold of Gray Wolf and Stumpy and put them in charge of the train.
04:36You fellas understand what you're to do now? Ah, we do. Me too, sonny. We'll have this here train flying down the track in no time at all. Good, Stumpy. Be sure you set up radio contact right away after you've started. Henry will keep you posted on developments. All right, let's go. Don't get that flying machine too close to the fire, Bill. You might get your wings singed.
05:06Hey, Kurt. Hey, Kurt. Gene, how long you been running? You better sit down and rest before you have a heart attack. Later, later. Listen, people in Silver Springs and Claytown are trapped. They can't get out now and we can't get in. I just come from as close by as we could get. Are you sure about this, Gene? You think I'd run all this way if I wasn't?
05:34Well, no, I guess you wouldn't. What can we do? I can't send the men through a wall of fire. If only Bill and his men were here. You got it. At least try to help those trapped folks. There's women and children in there too. Don't you think I know it? What would you suggest? Send the men through in asbestos suits.
05:51They'd never make it. Exploding or falling tree would get every one of them. If they did get in, how'd they get the people out? Yeah, how? All we can do is stand by and let them burn. I don't know, Gene. Right now, I wish my name was Solomon.
06:21Wow, look at the size of that fire, will you? Uh-huh. That's the biggest one we've ever fought, I'm afraid, pal. Yeah, we fought some pretty tough ones too. I'll see if you can contact Kurt on the radio, will you? All right.
06:44Bill Jefferson calling Kurt Douglas. Bill calling Kurt. Come in, Kurt. Over. Bill, am I glad you're here. We're fighting a losing battle. Silver Springs and Claytown are cut off with no hope of rescue. My men are spread so thin along the line you can see through them. I need help, pronto. Over.
07:06Kurt, I'm going to fly over Silver Springs and Claytown and see what can be done to get those people out of there. I think we can land helicopters on the main street and take the folks out that way. Then I'm going to look over the rest of the fire and land about where you are now. Have a look at that clearing, will you? Make sure there aren't any hidden logs. Over.
07:30Will do. Thanks, Bill. You don't know how grateful I am that you came down here to take charge. I was almost at my wits' end. I'll be waiting, over and out. Henry, call the helicopter base and tell them to stand by with every flying banana they've got. Check. Then we'll go over and have a look at Silver Springs and Claytown.
08:00Look at that iron horse! Shoot smoke out its nose, will you? The engineer's really leaning on the throttle. That's plenty good. We need all speed we can get. Yep. Hey, have you got the talking machine set up? Yes, it's ready.
08:26Hey, brakeman, what you got your hand on that signal cord for? A hot box on one of the middle cords. Hot box? You ain't going to stop this here train, are you? Doctor, right away. Oh, look here. You can't stop this congestion. We've got to get to the fire. Dad, have some snacks. We'll be stopped permanently.
08:57The flying bananas can land on the main street all right, Bill? Yeah, I'm sure they won't have any trouble, Henry. Look at those poor people waving at us. I'll call the copter base and tell them to take off. You got the bullhorn ready to announce that rescue is on the way. How long do you think it'll take the copters to get here?
09:22Oh, 20 minutes. Bill Jefferson calling copter base. Ranger Bill calling copter base. Take off. Take off. Let me have your reply. Copter base calling Bill. Copter base calling Bill. The boys are lifting from the field now. We'll be at the town in 20 minutes. Over. Thanks for your help. Over and out.
09:52Attention. Attention, please. In 20 minutes, helicopters will land on your main street for rescue. Keep off the street where the copters are landing. There will be enough room for everybody.
10:22Here comes Bill. I hope he's got good news about the two towns.
10:51I'm quite sure he has, Gene. There's one ranger who knows his business.
10:54Bill, how come they got him getting rescue help for Silver Springs?
11:12It's all right, Kurt. Helicopters are landing now and taking the boats off.
11:17That's wonderful, Bill. How does the fire look from the air?
11:20Pretty bad, Kurt. Lightning really spliced fire all over the place. Henry, you use the plane radio and find out where Stumpery and Graywolf are with the train.
11:31All right. I'll be glad when reinforcements get here. I'm better getting tired.
11:37I can understand, Gene. You've got heavy equipment, too. You got the map?
11:43Yeah, here it is.
11:45Take just a few minutes to draw the fire fronts in. Then we can see just where we are.
12:07Here we go, boys. You'd better board.
12:10You said it, young feller. If we miss the caboose, we'll have to wait for the next train or walk. Up we go.
12:29Hey, you're the lights flashing on your radio.
12:32Step inside, men. Close door, please.
12:35It's either Bill or Henry.
12:41Graywolf and Stumpery. Henry calling Graywolf and Stumpery. Come in, fellas. Over.
12:47Hello, Henry. You try get us long.
12:50No, I just started. Why?
12:52Train have hot box and we stop for hour to let axle cool. Train just start again now.
12:58Wow, that's tragic. We need you fellas back. And the equipment, too. How long before you be here?
13:06About four hours, Henry.
13:23Well, now we've got a good idea of the size of the fire.
13:26It was bad, but not this bad.
13:29Yeah. How many men have you got fighting now, Kurt?
13:33Ninety-five. Not nearly enough.
13:35I should say not.
13:37Bill, I just talked with Stumpy and Graywolf.
13:39How soon will they be here, Henry?
13:41Four hours.
13:43Four hours? What kind of train have they got?
13:46One of the cars threw a hot box and they had to wait an hour to cool it.
13:50Henry, four hours from now, the fire is liable to be halfway across the state.
13:54That train's got a hundred and fifty men and heavy equipment that I could use right now.
13:59Can't use helicopters this time.
14:01Yeah, that's right. But we're gonna give it the old college try just the same.
14:06You got some ideas, Bill?
14:08Yeah. Now listen closely. This might work if the wind doesn't shift.
14:13Go ahead, Bill. Anything's better than standing around here with our hands in our pockets.
14:17Kurt, pull your men off the left flank and take them up this valley.
14:21Work your way up this ridge and cut a fire lane as you go.
14:25That'll hold the fire on the left flank.
14:27Right. Now Gene, take your men and do the same thing on this ridge over here.
14:33I get your idea, Bill. We'll have the fire hemmed in on both flanks.
14:37That's the idea.
14:39Meanwhile, Henry and I will take the rest of the men, work our way around in front, and try to backfire.
14:45I'm not sure we can do it in this wind, but at least we'll have the fire on the left flank.
14:49We can do it in this wind, but at least we'll have the fire hemmed in on both sides.
14:53Let's get a move on, Gene.
14:55Right. See you later, Bill.
14:57Okay, fellas.
14:59Hey, Bill. Why the peculiar look on your face?
15:02Well, I didn't mention it, Henry, but I'm scared to death of a wind shift.
15:07This cold front moving in could do it. And at the wrong time.
15:12You're thinking of a trap?
15:14Yeah. Kurt and his men would have a bad time of it if the wind shifted.
15:17What'll we do?
15:19You stay with the plane. Keep the radio open. I'll take the pack radio.
15:24Okay.
15:26Think you can get the plane off that cow pasture?
15:28Bill, I'll try my best.
15:30I'll try my best to get there.
15:32What's the matter?
15:35What's happened, Henry? The wind shifted.
15:39What do we do about Kurt and his men?
15:42Should I take off?
15:43Should I take off?
15:45No. We haven't had time to get to the ridge. We've got to go after it.
16:02What do we do now, Bill?
16:05That wind change is driving the fire right towards the forest and mountains.
16:10Well, there's nothing we can do right now, Kurt.
16:13Pull the men back. They look exhausted.
16:16All right, boys. We've got to get out of here.
16:20Back to fresh air. There's nothing we can do now.
16:25I'll call Gene. This boy's injured.
16:29They're wasting their time now. The fire's taking the left flank by storm.
16:35I guess you're right.
16:37Henry, find out how the boys in the middle sector are doing.
16:43Bring them back with you before they drop dead.
16:46Okay.
16:48Keep a sharp eye on the fire, Henry.
16:51Kurt, let's get back to the radio truck and count noses.
17:07All your men here, Kurt?
17:09Yeah, except those in the middle sector.
17:11They'll come back with Henry.
17:13Bill, I'm beat. So are the men.
17:17And how?
17:19Two men have fractured ankles. Six with serious burns. Twelve with minor burns.
17:25And the rest are exhausted and half blind from the smoke and ashes in the wind.
17:30It's a mess, all right. We didn't have a fighting chance the way the fire started.
17:34Ten of them at one crack.
17:36Yeah, I know.
17:37How's it going with the rest of the boys?
17:39They got casualties, too.
17:41Henry's heading this way, and by the look on his face, he's got bad news.
17:44Can it get any worse?
17:46Okay, let's have it, pal.
17:48Hey, Bill, the fire's jumped the river and it's cutting around the mountain up ahead.
17:52Great Scott, the land's completely out of control.
17:55Not yet, men. We're going to stop it.
17:58How?
18:00I don't see how you could do it now, Bill.
18:02We're going to make our stand on top of that wooded mountain.
18:04We? How are we going to get up there to make the stand, Bill?
18:08Not your men, Kurt. The firejumpers are going to fight this battle.
18:21Understand your orders, Thad?
18:24Sure do, Bill. We'll bring all the dynamite we can.
18:27That's fine, Thad. Get your firejumpers rolling. Over and out.
18:32All right, lads. Let's get to the planes.
18:49There they are. The Flyboys.
18:52This is the third time they've circled. They usually jump on the second pass.
18:57Maybe something's wrong upstairs, Bill.
18:58Yeah, that's what I was thinking. We'll soon find out.
19:02Bill, Bill, we can't jump on that mountaintop. The fire's completely surrounded it.
19:08That's right, Thad. That's at the foot of the mountain.
19:12You've got the whole top to land your men and gear on.
19:15That's right, Bill. The only hitch is that the fire's creeping like mad up the mountain from both sides.
19:22It's a death trap.
19:24Thad, what are you talking about? That's no death trap.
19:28Set your dynamite charges and blow the sides of the mountain down on the fire.
19:33That'll divide the fire and roll it back.
19:36Then we can put it out with the ground crews.
19:39You've jumped into situations like this before.
19:42Not when we've been surrounded by fire, Bill.
19:45What's more, the men refuse to jump. They say it's sure death.
19:50It will be if you fellas don't stop arguing.
19:53Now get out of that plane and set up the explosives. That's an order.
19:58All right, you guys. We've got to jump. You hear?
20:02That's no good, Bill. They won't budge. Any suggestions?
20:08Yes. Land your plane in the clearing next to us.
20:12I'll show those fellas how to jump into that fire and how to come out alive, too.
20:29Bill, are you sure you should make the jump?
20:32Pretty dangerous. And you can't fight the fire alone.
20:35I don't intend to, pal.
20:37I'm going to lead the fire jumpers down onto the top of that mountain.
20:41Bill, we're all aware that you've saved the day many a time by quick thinking and close timing.
20:46But you're taking an awful chance this time.
20:48Kurt, it's natural for the men to refuse to take an uncalculated risk.
20:52I'll buy that.
20:54But since when have I ever ordered men into a death trap?
20:58When did I ever expend human lives like Cracker Jack?
21:02You're doing it now, boss.
21:05Oh, so it's you, then. You're the one leading this mutiny, huh?
21:10Yeah, and one of it. The rest of these guys ain't got the nerve to stand up against you.
21:15But I ain't jumping into that death trap for nobody. Not even you.
21:19Not even if I jump first, Ren?
21:21Yeah, you could jump 50 times and that wouldn't convince me.
21:24The idea is to come out alive.
21:25Come out alive?
21:27Granted. And how about the two big towns on the other side of the mountain?
21:32There are hundreds of people in there who haven't got a chance.
21:35If the fire gets past the mountain, it'll sweep right into those homes in half a day.
21:41The fire will spread a hundred miles wide.
21:44We couldn't possibly get all those citizens evacuated.
21:48Now, Red, how about that? You've got to have a conscience.
21:51I got a conscience, all right.
21:52Don't let me murder the men I've been working with for years.
21:56I think Red's right, Bill. It's too risky.
21:59There. I've got something to chip in here.
22:02What's the matter with you guys?
22:04Bill's only trying to do the job he's promised to do.
22:07Remember the oath you fellas took when you came into the Rangers' service?
22:11We never promised to sacrifice our lives to be willfully murdered.
22:15Red, you'd better read the oath over again.
22:17Our job is to protect human lives and private and public property,
22:22even if it does cost us our lives.
22:25I challenge any man here to name the time I ever led or ordered him into a death trap,
22:31knowing that it was such when we went in.
22:35While you fellas stand here balking, hundreds of trees are burning that could be saved.
22:40The fire's getting wilder and more uncontrolled every minute we waste here.
22:44Thad, what do you say?
22:46I'll jump with you, Bill.
22:48Don't listen to him, fellas. The bosses are all scheming up against us.
22:52They'd kill us to make their own name look good.
22:55Red Smith, you get into that plane with the rest of the firejumpers
23:00or face immediate dismissal from the Rangers' service.
23:03Why, I could have your badge right now for the slanderous remarks you've made.
23:07Now, either you're a man and willing to live up to your oath, or you're not a man.
23:11And if you're not a man, the Rangers' service has no further need of your services.
23:16Now, get this straight, Red Smith, and get it real straight.
23:21I order you and the rest of the firejumpers onto that mountaintop.
23:26You will follow me out of the plane.
23:29And if you don't want to take my orders, then say so and get out, right now.
23:36You're the boss.
23:37I'll jump.
23:51Thad, there's no time to waste.
23:53We'll jump on the first pass over the mountain.
23:56We've already lost precious time.
23:59We can't do the job the way I want it to.
24:02We'll plant the trap, and then we'll jump.
24:04We can't do the job the way I want it to.
24:07We'll plant the dynamite right in the shockproof boxes.
24:11Be sure the lids are torn off.
24:13Then we'll head for a cave about a thousand yards up the mountain.
24:16I know right where it is.
24:18Okay, Bill, I understand.
24:20Stand by!
24:24Let's go!
24:35There they go, right down into that furnace.
24:39I sure hope Bill isn't making a mistake.
24:42If Red hadn't taken up so much time, the fellas would have a better chance.
24:46About an hour, we'll know what happened.
24:48I guess everybody has to make a mistake once in a while.
24:52Only this one may cost Bill his life, and those under him.
24:56Ah, I agree.
24:58Nobody lived long on that mountaintop.
25:05Are all the crates buried, Ted?
25:08Yeah, the tops are torn open, too.
25:11Now let's run for the cave.
25:13A thousand yards, straight ahead.
25:16I'll bring up the rear to be sure all the men get there.
25:19Okay, Bill.
25:21All right, follow me, fellas! On the double!
25:24Come on!
25:26Come on!
25:28Come on!
25:30Come on!
25:31Follow me, fellas! On the double!
25:33Come on!
25:35Step on it, men!
25:37This thing's gonna crawl in ten minutes!
25:41We got to be in the cave when that happens!
25:52We got them all, Thad?
25:54Yeah.
25:56Thirty of them, Bill.
25:58We'll each keep watch over half.
25:59Okay.
26:01Make them lie down on the floor of the cave.
26:08When's the dynamite going off, Bill?
26:11Won't be long now, Thad.
26:17My kid's dead!
26:19I gotta have air to breathe! I'm getting out of here!
26:22Nobody leaves this cave!
26:24And you're not gonna die, either!
26:30You lied to us, boss! You lied!
26:33I'm getting out! I'm getting out!
26:35Shut up, you!
26:37The first man that tries and gets a bullet through his leg!
26:39I thought you were on our side, Red.
26:41Not anymore, I'm not.
26:43We're in this together, and we're gonna keep at it for good.
26:45Thanks, Red.
26:47Don't worry.
26:49We're all coming out together, too.
27:00Bill.
27:02Bill.
27:04I'm gonna... I'm gonna pass out.
27:07I think...
27:09I think you made a mistake.
27:11Boss.
27:13Right or wrong,
27:15I followed orders.
27:17I kept my oath.
27:21Hang on a bit longer, Red.
27:24Thad?
27:26The dynamite's going off in his head.
27:29Any second now.
27:36Bill! Bill!
27:38Bill, it worked!
27:40I can breathe again!
27:42Hey, Thad.
27:44Thad, let's get the men outside.
27:46Where they can breathe fresh air again once more.
27:49We've won!
28:00Hey, Bill.
28:02Bill, look at the front page of the paper.
28:04They've written the whole story out.
28:06You fellas are heroes.
28:08Hey, who gave the papers that story?
28:11We were just doing our job.
28:13They've got no right to put something like...
28:15I know them, Bill.
28:17Red.
28:19Yeah, I gave them the story.
28:21But why, man?
28:23Well, for the simple reason that anybody who can figure as close as you did
28:25get the job done and come out alive.
28:26Well, he deserves some credit.
28:28That's all I gotta say.
28:41We'll see you next week for more adventure with...
28:44Ranger Bill!
28:56Hi there, boys and girls.
28:58This is Ranger Bill.
29:00And I'm Bill.
29:02And I'm Bill.
29:04And I'm Bill.
29:06And I'm Bill.
29:08And I'm Bill.
29:10And I'm Bill.
29:12And I'm Bill.
29:14And I'm Bill.
29:16And I'm Bill.
29:18And I'm Bill.
29:20And I'm Bill.
29:22And I'm Bill.
29:24And I'm Bill.
29:26And I'm Bill.
29:28And I'm Bill.
29:30And I'm Bill.
29:32And I'm Bill.
29:34And I'm Bill.
29:36And I'm Bill.
29:38And I'm Bill.
29:40And I'm Bill.
29:42And I'm Bill.
29:44And I'm Bill.
29:46And I'm Bill.
29:48And I'm Bill.
29:50And I'm Bill.
29:52And I'm Bill.
29:54And I'm Bill.