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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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Fun
Transcript
00:00Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous
00:22trails, showing rare courage in the face of disaster, in the air, on horseback, or
00:41in a screaming squad car. Ranger Bill, his mind alert, a ready smile, unswerving, loyal
00:58to his mission. And all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done.
01:11Will you ask the blessing, Henry? Okay, Bill. Our Father, we are thankful for this food,
01:21and I care for us that it represents. We thank Thee for this day and all that Thou dost send
01:27us to learn and do in this day. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Amen. Well, thanks, pal.
01:35That prayer of yours is getting more and more to the point every day, Henry. What do you
01:40mean, Stumpy? Well, thanking God for the day. But with all this talk of the whole world
01:45being blowed sky high, it's getting to be more and more of a blessing to have one more
01:50day to live. You said it, old-timer. And it's also more and more of a responsibility for
01:56the Christian to live close to God. Now, I'll say, I never found it very easy to live as
02:01though the Lord was coming back any minute. But I don't have any trouble at all remembering
02:06that we might be blasted into His presence any second. Well, maybe this Cold War is a
02:11blessing in disguise. Maybe a lot of people are now making their peace with God through
02:15Christ just because they realize that they might suddenly have to face God. I'll be glad
02:23to get up and reheat this lunch if you fellas want to go on a-talking. Oh, I forgot all
02:28about it. As long as you're going to be around for a while yet, you might as well eat up.
02:33I didn't know I was going to start such a serious conversation. Well, interruption's
02:38over. Let's eat. Hey, is Henry here? Oh, interruption number two. Hi, Freddy. Oh, we're just getting
02:46a bite to eat. Oh. I'll wait. Well, why doesn't anyone start eating? Um, Freddy, I'm not sure
02:58I mean, uh, do you have to just stand there and stare at us? Me? Yeah, sure does things
03:04to a fella's appetite. Yeah, why don't you sit over there and look through some of those
03:09forestry magazines until we're through? Okay. I never tried to eat before with someone just
03:18looking at me. Well, now that Freddy is occupied, let's eat lunch before it's completely cold,
03:24okay? Freddy, Freddy, what did you come over to see me about? Oh, good. You done? I wasn't
03:44very hungry. Let's go outside. It's a good thing you weren't hungry, pal. We're having
03:50a big dinner tonight. Thanks, Bill. Come on, Freddy. Now, uh, what was it that you wanted
04:03to see me about? I want you to help me build a fallout shelter. A what? You know, a fallout
04:09shelter. In case of a bomb, you just run into it and you have food and shelter and stuff.
04:15Um, Freddy, where do you plan on building this shelter? In the basement of our house.
04:20I got a booklet all about it, but I forgot to bring it to show you. Well, do your parents
04:24know what you plan on doing? Sure. My dad's getting all the stuff we need. He says it'll
04:30save him about $500. Save him that much? I guess he could buy a fallout shelter to put
04:36in the basement for about that much, but he says if I'm careful and follow all the directions,
04:41we ought to have a good one for practically no money at all. My dad was the one who said
04:45I ought to ask you to help. Well, it does sound like it ought to be fun. As long as
04:51your folks say it's okay, why not? Sure. Why not? Hey, I'll go and tell Bill where I'm
04:57going and I'll be right back with you, Freddy. Great.
05:12Now I figured we'd build it right over here where the coal bin used to be. It's not right
05:16under the house, but it's attached to it and all we have to do is clear it out and patch
05:22it up a bit and we have three of the walls done already. I can't get over you, Freddy.
05:27What do you mean? Well, every time in the past that we've done something together, we've
05:32always gotten into some kind of trouble. But this time, well, your parents know what you're
05:38going to do and approve. You have all the instructions. You even have some pretty good
05:43ideas. I've given this idea a lot of thought. I guess you have, and it sure looks like it's
05:49paying off. Come on, let's get moving this junk out of the old coal bin. That way we
05:55can see how much work it'll take to make the three walls good and solid.
06:09There, that's the last of it. I think we ought to rearrange the way we pile this junk, Freddy.
06:22Looks like it's about to topple right over. Never mind that, Henry. We'll take all that
06:26stuff out of the cellar anyhow. Let's look at the old coal bin here. No sense in moving
06:31it twice. Hmm, looks like this old coal bin was really made to last. Sure, it wouldn't
06:42do any good to have the sidewalk come crashing through here now, would it? Well, you think
06:46it's strong enough for a fallout shelter? I don't think so. What we'd better do is patch
06:51up all the cracked places and holes in the walls and put new supports along the sides
06:56and across the top. That way we know it'll hold. Okay, Freddy. Looks like your father's
07:02got enough materials to build two shelters. I guess we have more than enough extra to
07:07play with. Let's get some of that ready-mix concrete. The sooner we get these three walls
07:13in shape, the sooner we can start putting on the front wall and the door. Boy, is this
07:17gonna be great.
07:27May I be excused from the table? Sure, pal. On your way to Freddy's house? Right. How's
07:38that shelter you're building coming along? Oh, it's terrific. No kidding. You've been
07:43working on it for a couple of days now. We'd like to get a look at it sometime soon. We're
07:48going to start building the front wall today, Bill. We've got the other three walls and
07:52ceiling reinforced, and that booklet Freddy's got showed a swell way to put in shelves and
07:57even cots for sleeping. I'm glad to hear it. You'll have more than just a thick wall room.
08:03Your idea is to live down in them things for two weeks at least, ain't it? That's right.
08:09Well, we're taking care of it all. Boy, Bill, I can't get over the way Freddy is going at
08:15this. You know how he usually sort of skips over instructions and only half does whatever
08:21he's trying to do? Uh-huh. Well, not so this time at all. He's really trying to be careful.
08:26Oh, once in a while he tries to slide by something, but he's really a whole lot more careful than
08:32I've ever seen him. You know, it just might be possible that our friend Freddy is growing
08:37up. Well, he sure is a lot more fun to work with. I've got to get going. After we really
08:44have something to show you, I'll ask Freddy if you can come over and see it. Good. We'll
08:49appreciate that, pal.
08:50Well, Ranger Bill Jefferson, come in. I've been wondering when you'd be dropping in. I've tried
09:08to stay away as long as possible, Harold, but my curiosity has the best of me. Come on in.
09:13Thanks. Why don't you have a chair? Thank you. Henry and Freddy have been busy at it down there
09:19for over a week, and if I do say so myself, I think they're doing a very reputable job.
09:24Well, Henry has been very excited about it. He's already started talking about building two more,
09:30one at home and one under the ranger station. I know who he'll get to help. Yeah, so do I.
09:37Are they down there now? They are, as usual. They said something a little while ago about
09:44coming up to get me later. I guess they're pretty near finished. Well,
09:48then I picked a good time to drop in. You certainly did, Bill.
09:52Who is that at the door, Harold? It's Bill Jefferson, Ann. He's come to take
09:57a look at the fallout shelter. Oh, Bill, it's so nice to see you.
10:01Thank you. If you don't mind my saying so, it's a pleasure to have you visit us for this kind of
10:06reason rather than your usual visit to try to talk me into going to church.
10:09Harold! Oh, that's all right, Ann.
10:12You give me half a chance, Harold, I will try. Then I'll try not to give you half a chance.
10:18Harold, such talk! Actually, Bill, the way I feel,
10:22I live in a clean Christian country. I don't break the commandments. I go to church once in a while
10:27and even look at the Bible on occasion. Why be a fanatic about religion? I'm okay as is.
10:33Bill isn't a fanatic, Harold. I know, Ann, but some people seem to fit
10:39better in a religious framework, like pastors and missionaries and the like.
10:42Most pastors and missionaries were once just plain ordinary people, Harold. As a matter of fact,
10:50I don't know one who wasn't. Well, you know what I mean. If men like you
10:54want to go into a lot of extra studying of the Bible and all kinds of meetings and so forth,
10:58fine. More power to you. But that stuff is just not for me.
11:03You believe that your shelter is finished as is, huh?
11:07Huh? Oh, yes. That's good. All this talk about shelters.
11:15My shelter's okay as is. I like that. Well, the boys ought to be up any time to take us on the
11:2250-cent tour. While we're waiting, would you like a little, a cup of coffee or something?
11:28I don't go to any trouble. No trouble at all, is it, Ann?
11:32Not at all, Bill. I just sit there, you two, and talk, and I'll bring in something to munch on
11:36with the coffee. Well, I didn't plan on staying
11:39for any length of time, Harold. So? You got more than you expected.
11:44Where else can you find that kind of thing these days?
11:47Well, there's something in that, all right. Oh, you disappointed me, Bill.
11:52Disappointed you? I expected you to pick that right up and say
11:55something about finding more than you expect in God.
11:59You know all you need to know, Harold, even most of the language.
12:04All you really need now is a complete commitment of yourself into God's hands.
12:09Maybe later, Bill. Right now, my shelter is okay as is.
12:14Harold, have you been rearranging things out here in the pantry?
12:18No, I haven't. Why? I can't find anything.
12:22I was sure that we had... Oh, I know.
12:26What's the matter? Do you suppose Freddy's been
12:29taking things downstairs to that shelter they're building?
12:33He has. He's a little premature. That thing hasn't even finished yet.
12:38Well, you know how Freddy is. Sometimes he does rush things a bit.
12:42Well, then that's probably what happened. Just bring in the coffee, Ann.
12:47That'll be plenty. Yes, please, Ann.
12:49Don't go to any trouble. Fellas will probably be coming up any minute now.
12:53I hope so. They haven't even let me down there
12:56to see what they've been doing since about three days ago.
13:00I guess we're all pretty anxious to see the shelter. I do hope they hurry.
13:16Freddy, what's all this stuff? Modern food. What's it look like?
13:21Already? Well, the door isn't even bolted on yet.
13:24It almost is. Boy, it sure was heavy carrying it over.
13:28All these bolts seem to be holding it in place all right, though.
13:32As soon as I get this last one tightened down, we can try shutting it.
13:35Can I help you, Annie? Nope.
13:38The others seem to be holding it okay.
13:45There. Hooray, it's done.
13:48We don't know that for sure. We haven't tried this door.
13:51Well, try it. Try it. Okay. Well, stand back.
13:57It works. Well, it closes anyway.
14:01Uh-oh. What's the matter?
14:03Well, that was pretty stupid. What was?
14:06We should have tried it from the outside. What if it doesn't open?
14:10Stop saying what if and try it. Okay.
14:18What's the matter? It doesn't seem to want to open back up.
14:24Let me help, too. Okay.
14:30Boy, that's as tight as it can be. How could it close and not open back up?
14:36I don't know. Maybe it's weight and momentum of the swing force it shut.
14:41We haven't got enough weight or strength to open it.
14:44What are we gonna do? I'm not sure.
14:48Let me throw my weight against it a couple of times and see if it does any good.
14:56What was that?
14:59Oh, it beats me. Something falling outside.
15:04Oh, I know. That pile of junk we were going to take out.
15:09It must have fallen over. I knew we should have stacked it better.
15:14It's been just ready to fall ever since we started working the shelter.
15:17It must have fallen in front of the door. Yeah, how do you like that?
15:21I will never get this thing open. Don't say that. What are we gonna do?
15:26Boy, I don't know. I guess all the cement in this new wall is pretty well set by now, huh?
15:32I tried it this morning. It's solid. Yeah, wouldn't you know it?
15:37And there isn't enough... Wait a minute. What are those pipes up there?
15:43I don't know. We just build around them. Why?
15:47Well, if they go up into the house, maybe we can signal for help on them.
15:51You mean bang on them? Sure.
15:54Does your father know any Morse code? No, I don't know. Why?
15:58Well, I could tap out an SOS. Well, do it, Henry.
16:02I'm not so sure I like it down here. What if this light burns out or something?
16:17Up until a little while ago, I thought they might have gone to sleep down there,
16:20but that crash in the basement says they're still at work.
16:23I know what you mean.
16:29What's that?
16:33It's SOS. That's what you mean. Sounds like someone tapping it on a pipe.
16:40Those boys. You know what that crash was a little while back?
16:44What are you talking about, dear? They're testing the shelter.
16:48That crash was probably the bomb dropping, and they ran into their shelter.
16:52Now they're sending out messages for help to see if anyone else survived.
16:57Some fun. Oh, hadn't we better go down and rescue them?
17:01I don't think so, Ann. It'd spoil their fun.
17:04We'll just wait for them to come up and tell us that the shelter's a success.
17:08And they know that because they've already put it to the test.
17:10It doesn't seem to be getting through to them up there.
17:26I guess my father doesn't know code.
17:29We'll just have to think of something else, Freddy.
17:31Hey.
17:32Did you think of something?
17:33Yeah.
17:34What was it?
17:35We don't need to do a thing. We can just sit here and wait for them to come back.
17:40We can just sit back and relax in here.
17:42What are you talking about?
17:44What time is it?
17:46Almost five in the afternoon. Why?
17:48Well, if we don't come up pretty soon, at least for supper,
17:53they'll probably wonder what happened to us and come and see.
17:56We won't even have to try to get them here. They'll just come.
18:00Freddy, sometimes you really do amaze me. That's perfect.
18:05What are we getting so excited about?
18:07I don't know about you, Henry, but I'm sprawling out on this cot and relaxing.
18:11We got food and water. Might as well make ourselves at home.
18:15Yeah. I might as well lie down over here.
18:20We could pretend this is the real thing, Henry.
18:23Up there, the whole place has been leveled by the blast and we're the only survivors.
18:28Well, that's nothing to play about, Freddy.
18:31Think of all the people who would be killed in such a thing.
18:33So many people suddenly coming face to face with God.
18:38So many people wishing they'd spent their whole lives differently.
18:42Wishing they'd accepted God's gift of forgiveness in the death of Jesus Christ.
18:47You know, that's why Jesus was killed.
18:50Just so that those of us who were sinners could be forgiven by God and be born into his family.
18:56Just so that we wouldn't have to be afraid to face God when we die.
18:59Boy, Henry, I wish you wouldn't talk so much about dying.
19:03That's why I wanted to build this shelter, so we wouldn't die.
19:07I know, Freddy, but even with this shelter, we all have to die sometime.
19:13I don't want to talk about it anymore.
19:15I'm going over and get something to eat. Might as well enjoy our...
19:20Hey.
19:21What's the matter?
19:22Look at the floor. We got an inch of water in here.
19:25What?
19:26Water?
19:27I don't know, but we got to find the leak and plug it.
19:30We sure do.
19:32With that door stuck the way it is, we can't have water pouring in here.
19:35I hope we're not flooding the whole basement.
19:37I hope we are.
19:39You do?
19:40That's right.
19:40If this water is flooding the whole basement, it'll take longer to fill up in here.
19:45But the water is only coming in here.
19:48Hey.
19:50Why isn't the drain working in here?
19:52I don't know.
19:53Hey.
19:55Why isn't the drain working in here?
19:57Drain?
19:58Yeah. Didn't the instructions say something about a drain?
20:01Well, maybe they did.
20:03I know they did.
20:05I thought you were taking care of it.
20:07Yeah, but it would have been a lot of trouble to make it.
20:10We wouldn't have been done with this shelter for another week at least.
20:13Oh, fine.
20:14We haven't got any time to worry about that now, Henry.
20:17We've got to try to stop the water coming in here.
20:20Yeah, look at it.
20:21Just since we discovered it, it must have come up another inch.
20:26It's really coming in fast.
20:28There's the leak.
20:29Up there on that pipe you were hitting.
20:31I see it.
20:33Come on.
20:36Boy, it must have been an old pipe.
20:38It's leaking in a lot of places and just running down the wall.
20:43Can we fix it?
20:44I don't know, Freddy.
20:46Why don't you try tightening it with that pipe wrench?
20:49Okay.
20:51Uh-oh.
20:53You broke the pipe right off.
20:55Now what are we going to do?
20:58I don't know.
21:00It's funny, though.
21:01The shelter you made to keep you from being killed might be the very thing that will cause it to happen.
21:22Harold, I'm worried about the boys.
21:26We haven't heard anything from them for a long time.
21:28Worried?
21:30Nothing to worry about.
21:32For once, we know right where Freddy is.
21:34That he's even in the shelter.
21:36I think for about the first time, we don't have to worry.
21:39I think I'll take a look just the same.
21:41Sure, go ahead.
21:43But if they get mad about you spoiling the surprise, don't blame me.
21:46Well, the fellas do seem to be taking a longer time than I'd figured on.
21:51Well, that crash we heard a while back and taps of S.O.S. explain that.
21:55They're waiting out the initial contamination period.
21:58Yeah.
22:00Once they're satisfied that the shelter is all right, they'll be up to take us on a tour.
22:05Seriously, Bill, I think these shelters are a good idea.
22:08You do, huh?
22:09Right down there in the basement, plenty of access to take all we need to on a moment's notice.
22:13And then what?
22:15Then what?
22:16I don't care.
22:17Let them blast away.
22:18We'll be safe.
22:19For how long, Harold?
22:21Well, for at least two weeks, probably more.
22:24And then what?
22:26What are you trying to get at?
22:28I was just wondering what happens next.
22:30I mean, after your supply of food runs out and you have to come up, then what?
22:36Well, by then, things will be under control.
22:38I hope so.
22:40You decide what you're going to do.
22:41I hope so.
22:43You sound to me like a man who hasn't got a shelter and is jealous of those of us who do.
22:47Not at all, Harold.
22:48I just think it's more important to settle the ultimate problems before the immediate ones.
22:54I mean, sure, you may be able to postpone death.
22:58Many fine doctors are doing it all the time.
23:01But it does come, sooner or later.
23:04And God is unchanging.
23:06I'm no worse than anyone else.
23:08And all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
23:11Look, let's forget it, huh?
23:13I don't care to...
23:14Well, I suppose they're all right.
23:16They've got the door on and closed.
23:18And all that junk they moved out from the old coal bin is scattered across the floor.
23:23Sure, they're all right.
23:24They're just putting that shelter through its final stages of testing, that's all.
23:28I hope they don't take much longer.
23:41It's up to my chin, Henry.
23:43And I'm standing on the cot.
23:46Sooner or later, we'll have to hold on to what's left of that pipe to stay above the level, Freddy.
23:52I only hope it'll hold us.
23:53I'm gonna have to grab it now.
23:55Go ahead.
23:56I've still got about another foot.
24:00It seems to be holding you, Freddy.
24:03Of course, with the water holding you up, you don't weigh as much.
24:06I hope it'll hold us both.
24:08Henry, are we just gonna stay in here and let ourselves be drowned?
24:12Please, do something.
24:14I've been praying, Freddy.
24:16So far, that's all I can think of to do.
24:19I don't see any answer.
24:21Well, when the water gets right up to the top of the door,
24:25I'm gonna try to push it open again.
24:27Maybe all the weight of the water will be enough to manage it.
24:31Henry, well, what's it like to meet a friend?
24:34I don't know, Freddy.
24:35All I know is that Jesus is going to be the judge.
24:38But how can he be?
24:40How's he going to know how much anybody did wrong?
24:43Well, he'll know.
24:45But he wouldn't even have to, Freddy, because every person living deserves hell.
24:49There isn't a righteous man alive.
24:51Then you ought to be as scared as me.
24:54Except that Jesus, the only righteous man, died for me.
24:58My life is in the hands of the devil.
25:00Except that Jesus, the only righteous man, died for me.
25:03My life is dedicated to his keeping.
25:06When I face God, it'll be on the basis of how good a man and
25:09how complete a punishment Jesus went through.
25:12Quick, Henry.
25:13What do I do to be the way you are?
25:16Just accept God's gift to you, Freddy.
25:18Just put your name in that verse.
25:21For God so loved Freddy, that he gave his only begotten son,
25:25that if Freddy believeth in him, he shall not perish.
25:29But have everlasting life.
25:31Oh, Henry, I want to do that.
25:34I have to.
25:36Then pray to God, Freddy.
25:38And remember, if we make it out of here alive, you've given your life to God.
25:58That's funny.
25:59What's the matter, dear?
26:01I can hardly get any pressure in the tap at all.
26:03Took the longest time to fill that pot with water.
26:06Maybe the city is working on the main.
26:08I'd think that too, except that they always come by and tell you when they're going to.
26:13I wonder if there's a pipe split somewhere.
26:15Downstairs.
26:17Hey, the fellas, they might have broken something while they were working down there.
26:22I didn't see any water down there when I looked a little while ago.
26:25But it might be inside the shelter.
26:27With them.
26:27Come on, let's get down there and see.
26:30Oh, get this stuff out of the way.
26:45Just make a path to the shelter door.
26:50Look, there's water coming out from under it.
26:53Here we are.
26:56My door must be stuck or they'd be out of there.
26:59Let's pull it open.
27:01Be careful.
27:02You stay back, Ann.
27:03This place is full of water.
27:05It'll come rushing out in a big hurry.
27:06All right, pull.
27:07Yeah.
27:08It's moving.
27:09Come on.
27:21Freddy.
27:22You all right, Henry?
27:23Freddy?
27:26Just in time, Bill.
27:28The water was up to the ceiling.
27:30We thought we were dead.
27:32Let's get them upstairs and into something warm.
27:49So the water kept getting higher and higher.
27:51And Henry kept telling me about how important it was to get right with God.
27:56And I did.
27:57He gave his life to Jesus down there.
28:00I think he'll stick by it now that we've been taken out of there.
28:03I sure will, Henry.
28:05Boy, it sure was a strange thing praying for God's forgiveness.
28:10I could feel him do it.
28:11Really, Dad?
28:13You haven't had anything to say at all, Harold.
28:16What's the matter?
28:18Nothing.
28:19I think it's a little more than nothing, Harold.
28:22What's on your mind?
28:24Well, I was just thinking about all this.
28:27Freddy might have been killed in that shelter.
28:30That shelter wasn't a shelter at all.
28:33I didn't pay close attention to the instructions, Dad.
28:38I thought it was too much trouble to make the drain.
28:40And you're thinking that you maybe haven't taken the instructions
28:44seriously on your shelter, Harold?
28:47Maybe.
28:48What shelter is that, Dad?
28:51I guess all shelters are not alike.
28:53A faulty one or a wrong one
28:56is like having no shelter at all.
29:04Well, Freddy's father looked into his Bible a lot more carefully, boys and girls,
29:09and finally took the same step that Freddy did, placing his life in the hands of God.
29:15We hope you have, too, and found the true shelter.
29:18We'll see you next week for more adventure with...
29:21Ranger Bill!
29:31Ranger Bill is produced in the radio studios of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.