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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
00:23trails, showing rare courage in the face of disaster.
00:28In the air, on horseback, or in a screaming squad car.
00:54Ranger Bill, his mind alert, a ready smile, unswerving, loyal to his mission.
01:04And all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done.
01:09I can't believe it, Bill, I just can't believe it.
01:39How many years has it been?
01:41I don't know, old timer, a good many.
01:44And how many times have we tried this?
01:47Well, at least a dozen, probably more.
01:50And now, at last, we're on our way.
01:53For two glorious weeks of, uh, I'm almost afraid to say it, vacation.
02:02Always in the past, something has come up, Stuffy, but this time we made it away without
02:07a single interruption.
02:08Well, like I said, Bill, I just can't believe it.
02:11Even Henry was happy to see us go.
02:14Glad to get rid of us might be a better way of putting it.
02:18He's heard us talking about taking a vacation for so long and not actually getting it that
02:23I think he was almost happier than we were to see us go.
02:26And what a vacation, Bill.
02:29No forest, no horses, no fire towers, just miles and miles of serene blue seas.
02:36Yes, I think it'll be a real tonic for us, Stuffy.
02:40They say that the sea air is good for you anyhow, and what better way to take it than
02:45on a quiet cruise around the Caribbean.
03:06Your elderly friend seems to get along very well with children, Ranger Jefferson.
03:16Stuffy has always been a hit with them, Captain.
03:19If he were a little heavier set, I think I'd almost believe in Santa Claus.
03:25Well, the old-timer watches his weight a little too closely for that to ever happen.
03:30But with his white beard, I can see what you mean.
03:34Well, Ranger Jefferson, are you enjoying our cruise?
03:39Very much.
03:40Both Stuffy and I have been enjoying every bit of it.
03:43Especially those stops at the small islands, meeting some of the islanders.
03:47Well, if there's anything at all we can do to make it more enjoyable, just let me know.
03:52Thank you, Captain.
03:53Now I have to check out a few things.
04:04I keep thinking I've left something running.
04:15You'll get used to the sound of the engine, Stuffy.
04:18I think I'll just stretch out a bit for lunch today.
04:22Today?
04:23It seems to me you've just stretched out a bit before every meal, every day of this cruise.
04:30Well, it's a sheer pleasure to have no adventure to work out, no mystery to solve, no...
04:38Hey, what's the matter with this ship?
04:42What do you mean?
04:43Haven't you noticed?
04:44We've been slowing and slowing.
04:47Sounds to me like we're going to stop.
04:49Probably another island to look at.
04:52That can't be.
04:53I looked at the schedule of events first thing this morning.
04:56We ain't due to stop at an island until late this afternoon.
04:59Come on, let's go up on deck and find out why we've stopped.
05:19I'd say folks seem pretty curious, Bill.
05:23I see that, Stumpy.
05:26Excuse me.
05:27Yes?
05:28Could you tell us what's going on?
05:30It's hard to say.
05:31I've only heard rumor myself.
05:32It seems that island out there isn't on the map.
05:35Ain't the island big enough?
05:37Well, it isn't terribly big as islands go.
05:39A couple of miles in each direction, I'd say.
05:41How did a rumor like that get started?
05:43I don't know.
05:44I just heard it myself.
05:45And when the ship came to a standstill, well, that seemed to clinch it in many minds.
05:49Hey, looky there.
05:50The captain looks like he's going to say something.
05:52Friends, may I have your attention, please?
05:55Yes, sir.
05:56Keep it down here.
05:58No doubt many of you have already heard, but I'd better make it official.
06:03The island you see off there is unknown to me.
06:06It's a bit unusual, because I've been sailing this route for the last five years.
06:12I'm sure we're not off course, yet I can't explain the presence of that island.
06:18Well, I guess it wasn't a rumor.
06:20That's the strangest thing I've ever heard of.
06:23It's unusual, all right.
06:25I'm rather at a loss to know exactly what to do.
06:30I suppose as long as we're here and it's here, we might as well at least circle it
06:35and see what it looks like.
06:37But beyond that, well, I hope this doesn't spoil your voyage.
06:42Looks as though this little added bit of mystery is improving the cruise for a lot of people.
06:47I reckon they don't get a lot of excitement where they come from.
06:50You probably see plenty of adventure where you're from.
06:53Didn't someone tell me that you two were state police officers or something?
06:57Forest Rangers.
06:58Oh, yes.
06:59I'm Bill Jefferson.
07:00This is Stumpy Jenkins.
07:01Oh, nice to meet you.
07:02Howdy.
07:03My name is Fred Robbins.
07:04Actually, this mystery island business intrigues me more than most people, I think.
07:08Oh?
07:09Yes, I'm a newspaper reporter when I'm at home and working.
07:12What do you think of it, Mr. Jefferson?
07:14The newspaper business?
07:15No, the mystery island.
07:17Well, I'm afraid I don't know very much about such things, Mr. Robbins,
07:21but I find a little hard to swallow.
07:24You think it's a hoax?
07:25I'll just sit back and watch.
07:27You mean to say you think the captain is pulling a fast one, Bill?
07:31I don't really know, Stumpy.
07:33But I do know that the islands, like that one, don't appear overnight.
07:37Might have been an undersea eruption or something.
07:40Well, that could cause Earth to be piled up and form an island, Mr. Robbins.
07:44There's one with dry land trees on it, as old as the ones on that island are.
07:49The foliage alone makes that island at the least, I'd say, 100 years old.
07:54Well, that's all well and good if this is all a hoax.
07:57But if it isn't, and the captain really doesn't know anything about the island,
08:01that makes it even more of a mystery.
08:04Because there doesn't seem to be any natural way to account for the island being there.
08:08Well, at least we'll be getting a good look at it in the next few hours.
08:11While the captain follows through on his idea of circling it,
08:14I suggest we just watch it, as intently as everybody else,
08:17and see if we can make any sense out of this whole thing.
08:33Well, we've been all around the island,
08:36and all we can really tell is that it has a large beach,
08:41a forest, and a couple of small mountains.
08:44How it got there, what other secrets it might hold,
08:47is still unknown to us.
08:51It's been suggested that we go ashore on the long boats,
08:55and explore the island, see what's there.
09:00I know that all of you will not be interested in such an excursion.
09:05Some of you are a little apprehensive of the unknown.
09:09Some of you are seeking some new thrill.
09:12Well, I'll post a paper outside the dining room entrance,
09:15and as you go for lunch today,
09:18sign your name if you're interested in exploring the island.
09:22Enough express interest.
09:24We'll take time from the cruise to do so this afternoon.
09:31Well, it looks as though we'll get a chance to get a better look.
09:34I suppose so.
09:36You are going to sign off, aren't you, Bill?
09:38Ah, come on, Bill.
09:40We don't want to miss going ashore and looking around.
09:43I have every intention, Stuffy.
09:46I was just wondering how curious you were about this mystery island.
09:50Ah, diggity!
09:52A couple of woodsmen like yourselves ought to be able to throw a lot of light
09:55on what the island's all about.
09:57I think I'll stay close to you in the group.
09:59All right, now I suggest we eat a hearty lunch.
10:02If we're going to be exploring that island this afternoon,
10:05we want to be well fortified for the trek.
10:08♪
10:27Glad you decided to come along, Ranger Jefferson.
10:30Maybe you can keep us from getting lost.
10:33Well, uh, maybe.
10:35Stay close together, though.
10:37I've asked Forest Ranger Bill Jefferson, one of our guests,
10:40to stay up ahead with me and...
10:42Oh, good, Gruntus, that's fine.
10:45Well, um, what do you make of it, Ranger Jefferson?
10:48I'd say you've been here often enough to become a little careless, Captain.
10:52Huh?
10:53If I were coming ashore for the first time,
10:56I might not have spotted that path quite so easily,
10:59or been so sure of myself in leading the group.
11:04I'll remember that next time.
11:06Part of the trip?
11:09You're pretty sharp, Ranger Jefferson, pretty sharp.
11:12Yes, this is the part for all those on board
11:15who've always wanted to escape to an unknown island.
11:19You won't give it away, will you?
11:21You planning to?
11:23Back on the ship, I'll announce it.
11:25It would kill the thrill of it if I told them while we're still here on the island.
11:29Okay.
11:32Well, Ranger, what do you make of this island?
11:35Well, Captain, the trees and shrubbery make it at least a hundred years old.
11:40Probably more.
11:41I don't see any signs of life, except for the birds, of course.
11:45I'd say it was a bonafide island, all right.
11:48What were you and the Captain talking about, Bill?
11:51The island, friend.
11:53It's a pretty place, ain't it, Bill?
11:56How do you suppose you got here?
11:58Oh, just like all the other islands in this part of the world.
12:03Well, I guess we'd better be starting back for the longboats.
12:07I'm a little disappointed, Bill.
12:10We didn't even run into Robinson Crusoe while we were here.
12:14I'm afraid this is just a very ordinary island, Stumpy.
12:18Not much of a story for you, Fred.
12:22Say, I thought he was right here.
12:25So did I.
12:27Must have wandered off with some of the others.
12:30Oh, well, let's get back to the ship.
12:32The mystery will be all cleared up very soon.
12:52You've all been wondering
12:55what those of us who went ashore this afternoon found.
12:59Well, I guess it's time for a report.
13:02We found an island.
13:05Yes, this was a very ordinary island
13:08that's been here, according to Forest Ranger Bill Jefferson,
13:11for at least a hundred years, probably more.
13:14What made this island something a little more special
13:17than any other island is that,
13:20we told you we'd never seen it before,
13:23that it was a mystery island.
13:25Well, it wasn't.
13:27We talked about it all the time.
13:30You see, we advertise this trip
13:33as including everything you've ever wanted.
13:36Many of you have always wanted to escape
13:39to some unknown desert island somewhere.
13:42Well, we've provided you with that island this afternoon.
13:50Did you know about this all along, Bill?
13:53I guessed it, Stumpy.
13:55How about that? Sure fooled me.
13:58I guess I've always wanted a desert island.
14:01I don't think so, old-timer.
14:03I think you just want a little excitement today.
14:06Well, I guess I got a little of it anyhow.
14:09I have a feeling we've lost Mr. Robbins, Bill.
14:12Oh? I haven't seen him since we came aboard.
14:15I've had the ship search from one end to the other.
14:18Even a stowaway couldn't have escaped that search.
14:21I'm sure that he's not here.
14:23That means only one thing, of course.
14:26He's still back on the island.
14:28But why?
14:30That's something we'll have to ask him when we find him.
14:33We're going back, huh, Bill?
14:35Captain, I suggest we make another trip
14:38to the mystery island, just the 3 of us.
14:41This time, we've got something a little more
14:44like a real mystery on our hands.
14:53Oh, here are some footprints, Bill.
14:56All over here in the sand.
14:58And they're far enough away from where the group went
15:01that they couldn't have been caused by them.
15:04Hmm, that's strange.
15:06What is?
15:08These footprints.
15:10Up until now, all the footprints we've found
15:13have been made by persons wearing shoes.
15:16These are barefoots.
15:18Oh, I see.
15:21These are barefoots.
15:23Hey, that's right.
15:25What do you make of it?
15:27Looks to me like someone got tired
15:29of shaking sand out of their shoes.
15:31It might be as simple as that.
15:33It might not.
15:35Let's keep looking.
15:37Huh, it seems as though
15:39we've been over every inch of this island.
15:42Well, we've covered about a third of it.
15:45Uh-oh, look here, Bill.
15:47What have you found, Something?
15:49What is it, old-timer?
15:51Here, kind of under this bush.
15:53Looks like somebody ain't interested
15:55in being discovered.
15:57Say, the rest of the group
15:59must have been here a long time ago.
16:01I don't think so.
16:03I don't think so.
16:05Say, the remains of a small fire.
16:08I think you're right.
16:10Looks as though it was hastily
16:12but purposefully hidden.
16:14Might be as old as a week,
16:16depending on what the weather
16:18has been like here.
16:20A week?
16:22Looks to me like we're getting more
16:24and more in the way of odd clues.
16:26Let's hope we find Fred Robbins soon,
16:28that he can supply us with some
16:30of the answers we're looking for.
16:35Hold it a minute, fellas.
16:37What's the matter, Bill?
16:39Listen.
16:41I don't hear anything.
16:43Of course, that's it.
16:45What's it?
16:47What are you two talking about?
16:49Well, up until now,
16:51the air has been filled
16:53with the sound of jungle burns.
16:55But they've stopped,
16:57at least in this area.
16:59What does that mean?
17:01It means that there's something
17:04near here that's scaring them.
17:06Fred Robbins, maybe?
17:08I hope that's all it is.
17:10Let's move a little more slowly,
17:12just to be on the safe side.
17:18Hold it.
17:20Look up ahead.
17:22Where?
17:24Oh, I see him.
17:26Oh, it's Robbins, all right.
17:28Looks like he's trying to hide
17:30all clouds down like that.
17:33Maybe we make ourselves known to him.
17:37Expecting company, Mr. Robbins?
17:39What?
17:41Oh, it's you, Bill.
17:43I can't tell you how glad I am to see you.
17:45Yes, you look real anxious to see us,
17:47hiding like that.
17:49Hiding? Yes.
17:51But not from you.
17:53There isn't anyone else to hide from on this island.
17:55That's what you think.
17:57Oh, hold on there, young fellow.
17:59You're trying to tell us that someone else lives on this island?
18:01Someone...
18:03or something.
18:05Why? What happened?
18:07Well, I started up toward the place
18:09where I'd seen the...
18:11the thing.
18:13It was a small path,
18:15not as well marked as the one we'd been on.
18:17I started along it in the direction
18:19whatever it was had been going.
18:23I moved along as quietly as possible,
18:25yet as quickly,
18:27hoping to catch up, enough to get a look.
18:30I was just rounding a small bend in the path
18:32when there he was,
18:34staring me right in the face.
18:36He?
18:38I don't know what he was.
18:40A man? A big animal? A what?
18:42I just don't know.
18:44I took one look
18:46and ran as fast and as hard as I could to get away.
18:48This is how far I got
18:50before I...
18:52I stepped on a branch or something
18:54and twisted my ankle.
18:56At least you can believe that part of the story.
18:59Look at my ankle.
19:01Look at the size of her.
19:03Seems to me that before we leave this island,
19:05we'd better find out just exactly
19:07who or what else is here.
19:11Looks to me like
19:13if we're going to be looking for this critter,
19:15we'd better get a move on.
19:17It's a dandy little storm heading this way.
19:19Why don't we just head back for the ship
19:21and forget it?
19:23Why? Because there really isn't such a creature?
19:25No.
19:27And I don't like the idea of seeing him again.
19:29I'm afraid we can't do that, Fred.
19:31There's no telling what we might find.
19:33Even the possibility of a demented person
19:35or one in need of help.
19:37We can't leave
19:39whoever he is here without seeing if he's in need.
19:41He's right.
19:43If we're going to track this creature down,
19:45we'd better do it in a hurry.
19:47That storm isn't going to wait too long to rain on us.
19:57The storm's about on us.
19:59Look over there, a cave.
20:01Just in time.
20:03We can hide in there out of the rain.
20:05Let's make tracks, fellas.
20:13Just in time is right.
20:15This cave is a lifesaver.
20:17I'm sure sorry I couldn't
20:19travel any faster.
20:21That angle of mine.
20:23I think you knew the ride well.
20:26I might be hearing things.
20:28I was thinking the same thing, Stumpy.
20:30What are you talking about?
20:32A sort of breathing sound.
20:34It ain't coming from any of us.
20:36Don't seem to be coming from much of any particular place.
20:38Just all around us.
20:40I hear it, too.
20:42So do I.
20:44What do you make of it, Bill?
20:46I think rather than interrupting our search
20:48for the other being on this island,
20:50the rain has led us to this place.
20:52It's called the cave.
20:55The rain has led us to him.
20:57In here?
20:59Yes. It's probably hiding farther back in the cave.
21:01These cave walls are just right to act
21:03as a megaphone and magnify
21:05the sound of his breathing.
21:07But if we can hear him,
21:09can't he hear us?
21:11I don't know. It doesn't always work out that way.
21:13Maybe, maybe not.
21:15Well, what do you think we ought to do?
21:17Well, we were
21:19looking for him, weren't we?
21:21I guess so.
21:23Come on, Stubby.
21:25You and I will lead the way back.
21:27Let's find out what this is all about.
21:39Looks like some sort of a light
21:41way back there.
21:43Yeah.
21:45Maybe he doesn't know we're here.
21:47I hope so.
21:49I suppose so do I.
21:52That lighted area is getting a little...
22:00He went that way, Bill.
22:02Out through this door.
22:04What happened?
22:06He must have been waiting for us.
22:08He shouted and ran off.
22:10Did you see him? Did you see what he looked like?
22:12Not very well.
22:14Enough to know that he's a man.
22:16Are we going after him, Bill?
22:18No, Stubby.
22:21He could have us lost in no time at all.
22:23Besides, in the storm, his trail
22:25would be impossible to follow.
22:27What are we going to do?
22:29Wait for him. Right here.
22:31Wait?
22:33I have a feeling that if we just continue on
22:35toward that lighted area back in the cave,
22:37we'll find his home.
22:39Such as it is.
22:41He's bound to come back sooner or later.
22:43That's probably true.
22:45But what happens when he does?
22:47I guess we'll just have to wait
22:49and see.
22:59No sign of him yet.
23:01Maybe he isn't coming back.
23:03He'll come.
23:05Say, look at these. Old newspaper clippings.
23:07Newspapers?
23:09Yeah, they're quite old.
23:11Let's see them if I may, Kenton.
23:13Sure. Here you are.
23:16Very interesting.
23:18Seems to be one big story here.
23:20Oh?
23:22All about a young man who inherited
23:24twenty-five million dollars.
23:26It's a rather bad picture in here.
23:28Twenty-five million?
23:30Whistle.
23:32And unless I missed my guess,
23:34our strange friend running around
23:36on this island
23:38and the young man who inherited
23:40the twenty-five million
23:42are one and the same.
23:45And also, unless I missed my guess,
23:47he felt the need to escape
23:49to this unknown island
23:51soon after the inheritance.
23:53You do not miss your guess.
23:55How was I?
23:57I presume it was also you
23:59who decided it would be unwise
24:01to follow me into the storm.
24:03That's right.
24:05I've been watching you.
24:07You seem to know your way in the woods.
24:09Well, we might as well
24:11introduce ourselves.
24:13I'm Forest Ranger Bill Jefferson.
24:15This is my friend
24:17and fellow ranger, Stumpy Jenkins.
24:19This is newspaper reporter Fred Robbins.
24:21This is Captain...
24:23Never mind all this.
24:25Who is this creature?
24:27If I'm not mistaken,
24:29Mr. James Archer,
24:31millionaire and hermit.
24:33I am.
24:35But why?
24:37With twenty-five million dollars,
24:39you can do pretty well what you wanted to.
24:42You more closely approach
24:44that state of bliss here.
24:46You want to tell us about it?
24:48Why not?
24:50You found me.
24:52You've not been scared off
24:54or tricked off.
24:56And I am an old man.
24:58Why would you seek this place out?
25:00Especially with all that money?
25:02All that money?
25:04A chain.
25:06That's what it was to me.
25:08Dragging me into the company
25:11crank designs on it.
25:13But good is a fortune.
25:15But it means that you can no longer know
25:17whether your friends are your friends
25:19or whether they're just
25:21interested in your money.
25:23You just decided the only way out
25:25was to hide from the world, eh?
25:27Yes.
25:29Why not?
25:31I'll tell you why not.
25:33Because you, with all your money,
25:35haven't made the world one pinch better
25:37than it was when you ran away from it.
25:39What did it ever do for me?
25:41It gave you $25 million to use.
25:43That's what it did.
25:45My father earned that money.
25:47And how much did you come into life with?
25:49And how much are you going to leave with?
25:51If you weren't as old as I am,
25:53Jenkins,
25:55I wouldn't take this kind of talk.
25:57Now that I'm here, you will take it.
25:59A fellow like you makes me
26:01pretty angry.
26:03Especially when I think of all the good
26:05you could have done with that money.
26:08There's many people living right now
26:10who are almost penniless,
26:12living in constant sacrifice
26:14to see that other folks hear about
26:16the way Jesus Christ remakes a man.
26:18Religion?
26:20No, sir. Jesus Christ.
26:22Now there was a man
26:24who everybody turned against,
26:26even his closest friends.
26:28He didn't run off somewhere and hide, either.
26:30He stuck to his job.
26:32Because this perfect man didn't run away,
26:34rather was killed.
26:37You and me, we're anything but perfect.
26:39And we made right with God.
26:41I haven't got any stack
26:43of sins against me.
26:45God will take me when I die.
26:47All the things you
26:49didn't do make a stack
26:51higher than I can see.
26:53My God's word says that if you
26:55see something good to do, and don't do it,
26:57it's a sin.
26:59Mr. Archer,
27:01you're in the same kettle of fish
27:03we all are in.
27:05You've got the forgiveness of God through the death of Christ.
27:07And there ain't gonna be no alibis
27:09when you meet God
27:11face to face.
27:13Well, I know that we have to get back to the ship.
27:15I can't hold up the crews any longer
27:17for this, uh, whatever he thinks he is.
27:19We do have to get back,
27:21Mr. Archer. But if you'll come along
27:23with us, we'll be glad to show you more
27:25of what God's word has to say about all this.
27:27Yeah. There's a
27:29parable I want you to look at.
27:31It's about burying money.
27:34Come back?
27:36I don't think I can.
27:38Well, then let's go.
27:40Here, Mr. Archer,
27:42you take this.
27:44A Bible?
27:46That's right. I've had this little book
27:48around for a long time.
27:50There's some marks and notes in there
27:52that you can overlook. Just be sure to read
27:54God's words to you.
27:56This ship stops by every month.
27:58If you read this Bible and feel like you'd like
28:00to come back to civilization,
28:03just hop the ship and ride back.
28:05You'd better shave first before you do a thing like that,
28:07mister.
28:09Now, come on, let's get back.
28:11We'll be expecting to hear from you, Mr. Archer.
28:13That's right. My address is right inside the cover.
28:15I appreciate what you've said
28:17and done.
28:19I'll read it,
28:21and then I'll see.
28:33Mr. Archer did read Stumpy's old Bible,
28:35boys and girls,
28:37and he did see.
28:39He saw himself in need of being right with God,
28:41that running away didn't clear himself.
28:43And he saw Jesus,
28:45God's own Son, sinless,
28:47pleasing to God in every way,
28:49nailed to the cross for the sinners
28:51that we all are.
28:53Mr. Archer's back now, putting his money into his life work,
28:55serving God.
28:57We hope your life is being spent in the same way.
28:59Well, see you next week
29:01for more adventure with
29:03Ranger Bill!
29:13Ranger Bill is produced
29:15in the radio studios of the Moody Bible Institute
29:17in Chicago.