Script #104 Title correction

On November 25, 2008 I posted a blog titled "Bim the first half-hour Ranger Bill." The blog itself is correct, but the blog title is not correct. Script #104 is the first half hour Ranger Bill show, but "Bim, the Dog" is not Script#104. I do not have an official title for that script, and there is no audio for this show at this time.

The story of Script#104 is about a train bringing a load of African animals to the Knotty Pine Zoo. The train wrecks just outside of Knotty Pine releasing many of those wild and dangerous African beasts. Bill and his men must find and capture or kill these animals before they themselves are killed by these savage beasts.

Let's call this one "Escape of the African Animals" for now. I'll update that title whenever I get official news from Moody Audio.

You can find "Escape of the African Animals"- Script#104 on our Zoomshare home page to read or download. Just click on the link to "RB scripts, photos, and more." Enjoy this exciting adventure.

My apologies for this title mix-up.

RB-007 Miracles

Henry takes his friend Fred to church. The sermon is about how and why God uses miracles. Fred doesn't believe in miracles or in God.
The two boys go on a hike in the north country. A small dam bursts sending a rush of water toward them. Fred falls into Half-Mile Gully, is hurt and can't get out. Stumpy tries to reach the boys ahead of the flooding, but he's too late. All Bill and Stumpy can do is pray and watch. Will the boys get out of the gully before the flood waters hit or will they be washed away? Will God send a miracle?

New RB stories at Moody Audio

Moody Audio now has 5 newly discovered Ranger Bill stories!!! Three of those stories are two episodes long, so they are 1-hour long stories! I believe that none of these new-found shows has been aired in over 40 years! I've already mentioned "The Spirits and the Spirit." I have just learned about the other three stories. All these shows are available at Moody Audio's web site (www.moodyaudio.com). Enter "Ranger Bill" in the search box at the top of the Moody Audio home page to find the Ranger Bill order form. If you don't see a link to the form on your first results page, click to the second or third page to see Ranger Bill stories and CD sets.
Here are story descriptions for all four stories:
1. The Town That Wouldn't Move - (1 episode story) - The town of Big Rock must be moved to make way for a new hydro-electric dam. The government has made the townspeople fair offers for their lands and homes. The entire town refuses to leave and is ready to resort to violence to keep their property. Bill is asked to mediate the dispute.
2. The Church at Bent Creek (2 episodes) - A young pastor and his wife move to the little town of Bent Creek to restart an abandoned church there. No one will go to the church because folks think it is haunted by ghosts. At times the church organ plays by itself, strange noises are heard, and the church lights blink wildly. Bill and Stumpy can find no explanation except ghosts.
3. Muscle and Prayer (2 episodes) - Big, strong Frenchy DeSalle is scared to death when he finds some animals crushed to death. He knows it is Boris "The Bear," the man who killed Frenchy's father when he was a boy. Frenchy scarred Boris then. Boris has been looking for Frenchy ever since.
4. One Million Years Ago (1 episode) - A scientist Mr. Conrad Vlandingham and his assistant Morgan are in the Bad Lands, supposedly digging for dinosaur bones. They are the only people in the valley who didn't see live dinosaurs wandering in the valley at night.
5. The Spirits and the Spirit (2 episodes) - Bill and Stumpy take a vacation to South Amercia to see an abandoned Portuguese fort lost in the jungle near the Amazon River. The local residents fear the fort. They believe that the ghosts of the dead soldiers killed by slaves haunt the fort.

Ranger Bill Actors

1. Ranger Bill Jefferson and Stumpy Jenkins played by Miron S. Canaday, Jr.
2. Henry Scott played by Dr. Roger Compton
3. Gray Wolf played by Ed Ronne, Sr.
4. Frenchy DeSalle, Houseboat Charlie and many, many others played by Rex Brenner
5. Announcer, Ranger Ralph Carpenter, others - Bill Pearce
6. Announcer - Walter Carlson
7. Ranger Jane Reeves, other women and also children - Flo Schmid

Knotty Pine Gazette - A Christmas Devotion

"And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
"And the angel said to them (the shepherds), 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'" Luke 2:7, 10-11 NAS
Christmas has finally arrived. We all eagerly await presents, brightly decorated trees, Christmas programs, presents, family gatherings, big dinners with all the trimmings, and, did I mention, presents. But on that first Christmas, what was it like for the baby Jesus? He was born in a stable. Have you ever been to a stable? They are smelly, dirty places even right after they are just cleaned and given fresh hay. And why was Jesus born there? Because there was no room for them in the inn. There was plenty of room in the inn. In fact there were homes and rooms all over Bethlehem that Mary could have used to give birth to Jesus, but no one would make room for them, for Him, Jesus.
Yet God gave us his most precious Gift, Jesus, then and there so that Jesus might give us a gift no one else could give us, His love, to be poured out on the cross for the full and total forgiveness of our sins. And some day Jesus will give us eternal life - life with Him forever. What a gift. What a Savior. What a Jesus!
A merry and joyous Christmas everyone!!!

RB-201 Christmas Bells

It is just a few days before Christmas. Officer Pat O'Roarke is working hard late in the evenings making and fixing toys for Christmas gifts for poor children. Pat suffers a severe heart attack. He is gravely ill and barely clinging to life. Pat seems to find strength to live from the sound of the church bells at Knotty Pine Church.
Elderly Herman Schmidt takes care of the church bells. The bells break down while Pat is struggling to survive. Herman is unable to climb the tower to fix the bells because he suffers from severe arthritis.
Bill and the rangers try to fill in for Herman but can't seem to locate the problem. How will they fix the church bells? Will Officer Pat live to see Christmas?

Hear a "new" 2-part RB story on HisKids player

Moody Audio has just discovered a 2-part Ranger Bill story called "The Spirits and the Spirit." HisKids.Net has graciously added both parts of this story to it's audio player just for the Ranger Bill Fan Club, in addition to our regular weekly episode. From now through the New Years holiday, you can find links to both half-hour episodes of "The Spirits and the Spirit" at the bottom of the drop-down menu on the HisKids player.
I believe that these two "The Spirits and the Spirit" episodes haven't been broadcast since sometime in the 1960s. This is quite a Christmas gift from both Moody Audio and HisKids.
I have already listened to this story more than once and enjoyed it thoroughly! I heartily encourage you to add "The Spirits and the Spirit" to your play list for today!
The story is an adventure Bill and Stumpy have while vacationing in South America. The boys visit an old Portuguese fort lost in the forests near the Amazon. The local residents believe that the fort is guarded by the spirits of the dead Portuguese soldiers who once lived there.

Jimmy's Christmas Miracle

Little Jimmy Benson is a great example of faith. Jimmy cannot walk and is weak and ill. Yet in spite of this he is a happy and hopeful child. Jimmy firmly believes that God loves him and will do what's best for him.
Ranger Bill thinks Jimmy might be cured. Bill does his best to find doctors who can help Jimmy. Bill asks his church board for money for Jimmy and is turned down because of one board member's hard heart. Can Bill influence the church board to help, or will he have to go somewhere else for help... or will Jimmy remain a cripple? Will God give Jimmy a Christmas miracle?

Putting Jesus Back Into Christmas

Thanksgving Day has passed and the Calendar now reads "December." We are now in the Christmas season, what many churches call Advent. We Christians now look forward to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph, shepherds, the star, and the Wise Men on Christmas Day. Manger scenes with the baby Jesus and signs with "Merry Christmas" are popping up everywhere this time of year - in front of churches, in stores, outside offices and city halls all across America.
OH! I'm sorry. This is 2008. Christians around the world will be celebrating the birth of the Savior. The rest of the world - even here in the USA - will be ignoring this event because it is offensive to some. There will be no manger scenes or "Merry Christmas" signs except around churches or in front of Christian homes. The most you can expect to see is "Season's Greetings" or other similar signs at stores or at government buildings.
In response to this lack of Jesus in 2008, Knotty Pine resident Bill Jefferson, aka Ranger Bill, has rented space on the Knotty Pine town square to wish every one a "Blessed Christmas in Jesus the Christ."
The Ranger Bill Fan Club would like to join Ranger Bill in wishing you all of God's greatest blessings in and through Jesus Christ our Savior!
Send us and email at rangerbillclub@aol.com and let us know about others who have gone out of their ways to put Jesus back into Christmas this year, and we will share those acts of faith and love here on our blog.

Episode Title Change

The story "Chief Gray Wolf" (RB-204) has been renamed "Chief of the Dakotas." Phil Shappard of Moody Audio says that in going through those original Ranger Bill scripts he has found that story's script and discovered that the original title was indeed "Chief of the Dakotas."

RB#005 "Burning Sands"

Bill and the boys return from working out on the trail to find that 70-year-old desert rat (prospector) Joshua Webb is missing. The rangers find Joshua nearly dead on the edge of the desert. They convince him to settle down in town. Joshua sneaks back into the desert to his secret prospecting grounds. Bill and the fellas risk 120-degree heat and other desert dangers in search of Joshua. Where will Bill search? Can our rangers find him in time? Can they survive the desert themselves?

Thanksgiving Greetings

Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson and all his crew - Henry, Stumpy, Gray Wolf, Tom, Jane Reeves, Rocky McGuire and the rest of the rangers - as well as all the many folks around Knotty Pine - Sheriff Cal, Frenchy DeSalle, Moose McBain, Houseboat Charlie, Maggie Murphy, Mary Lu, Mom Jefferson, and so many more want to wish all the Ranger Bill fans a -

Blessed and Joyful Thanksgiving.

And that goes double for the Ranger Bill Fan Club and me, Ranger Dave. May the Lord of the harvest fill you with his joy and happiness in Jesus' tremendous love for us that he would come to this earth to share with us in all that is life and then to give His precious life for us so that we all might have eternal life through Him. But not only did Jesus give his life for us, He also rose from death so that we can know and rejoice that He has the power over death and will bring all believers to live with Him in an everlasting feast of thanks for all He is and does. God bless you all!!!
In Christ,
Ranger Dave

Knotty Pine Gazette - Thanksgiving Events

Free Thanksgiving Meals
All the Soup Kitchens in the tri-county area will be open and serving Thanksgiving meals from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm on Thanksgiving Thursday November 27, 2008. Soup Kitchens will be serving turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, corn, pumpkin pie, and more. Meals will be served on a first come first served basis, and no proof of need is required. Also several area VFW posts and many churches will also be providing Thanksgiving meals. Please check with the VFW post or church in your area to see if and when meals will be served.

Holiday Worship Service
The Knotty Pine Ministers Association informs the GAZETTE that all the churches in town have agreed to gather at Knotty Pine Church Thanksgiving morning at 10:00 am for a joint Thanks Worship Service. The service will feature a mass choir, congregational hymn singing, and a Thanksgiving message from KPC pastor Dr. Walter Singleton titled "God's Bounty in Jesus." Weather permitting, the congregation is invited to walk with the mass choir one block to the town square for more singing. The morning's activities will conclude with the ringing of bells all across town beginning with all church bells. Anyone with a hand bell, cow bell, or any other kind of bell is invited to join the church bells.

Knotty Pine Devotion - Along the Trail

Whenever I travel to Knotty Pine and Big Pine National Forest, I have found several similarities between hiking the trails there and my daily walk with God. I'd like to share with you something of what I have learned.
The Shady Mountains and the Rockies in general inspire wonder and awe whether seen from an airplane high in the sky or from ground level driving along on a highway. But you can't experience the power, the overwhelming size, and the beautiful details of these marvelous creations of the Master Designer until you hike a mountain trail. You will probably get hot and tired, thirsty and achy. But you will see and hear and feel things that will help you know that God is real and is the all-powerful creator.
There are dangers in traveling these trails and in life's trail - of forgetting and taking for granted. When we are thrilled with creation we can forget His love for us in Jesus our Savior. We can begin to take His many blessings for granted. Then in our pains and in the rush of our daily activities we can forget God's love and power and Jesus.
The disciples saw "no one but Jesus" on the mount of Jesus' transfiguration. We daily need a faith conscious of Jesus and what He has done for us on Calvary. Then we can rest and be renewed in the love of God, who promises to use His power to protect us as we travel life's trail.

Ranger Bill and Mark Trail similarities

Dave, I've recently heard a couple of Mark Trail radio episodes from around the same time period as the RB episodes, and the similarities between the Mark Trail and Ranger Bill programs are too obvious to be only coincidence! I was kind of shocked...

Both feature a rugged, dedicated "ranger" charged with protecting the environment...the intros are very much alike, with both featuring a list of things the hero overcomes to get the job done, and both play thunder and other similar sound tracks in the background. Both end the show by shouting out the hero's name! If you have a minute, take a listen to a Mark Trial radio program, and I think you'll see what I'm talking about. If you don't have one handy, I can email you one.

Pretty amazing "coincidence", or did the Mark Trail folks copy the formula of a winning show? Very curious set of similarities...

God bless you,

Bill Whicker

-------

Thanks, Bill, for letting us know about Mark Trail.



The Mark Trail radio show began in January of 1950. Ranger Bill started oct. 2, 1950. Mark Trail began in 1946 as a comic strip and then expanded to include the radio show in 1950. Mark was a pipe-smoking journalist and environmentalist in the comics and was a forest ranger on the radio. The radio show was sponsored by Kellogs Pep cereal. The Mark Trail show began each week with:
"Kellogs presents the adventures of Mark Trail -
battling the raging elements,
fighting the savage wilderness,
striking at the enemies of man and nature.
One man's name resounds from snow-capped mountains down across the sun-baked plains -
Mark Trail!
guardian of the forest,
protector of wildlife,
champion of man and nature -
Mark Trail!"

Does this sound familiar? Check out the first Ranger Bill opening - very similar.

RB004 "The Hermit"

Bill and Ranger Tom are checking over the forest one last time before winter closes in. They come upon an old abandoned miner's line shack that now has an old hermit living in it. The hermit sends the boys away at the point of a gun.

Ralph, visiting from Col. Anders office, tells the fellas that the hermit is a famous brain surgeon from the east who is grieving the death of his best friend Jim who died while the doctor was operating. The doctor blames himself for his friend's death.

A climber injured in a fall on Old Baldy desperatly needs brain surgery in to live. Bill confronts the hermit/doctor asking him to save the climber's life.

"Getting with the Wrong Crowd" correction

Dave:

The description of the "Wrong Crowd" is in error. It says Bill thinks George double-crossed him. Bill stuck with him till the end believing there was an explaination to the disappearing money and convinced George was innocent. It was other people of the town that thought George did some double-crossing. Thanks for your work on the web site.

-Ron

Thanks, Ron, for the correction.

"Bim, the Dog," the first half hour Ranger Bill

The program labeled RB009 is actually “Bim the Dog” (program #104) instead of “Ben the Dog”. I caught this reading the script. I am now updating the spreadsheet with the original program numbers and dates when available. By the way, Ranger Bill ran with the quarter-hour format starting with program #1 which aired on Monday afternoon October 2, 1950 at 4:45pm up through program #103 that was recorded on September 22, 1952 and was aired the following Monday afternoon, September 29, 1952 at 4:45pm. Ranger Bill #104 was the first program to air in the new half-hour format with a new airing date on Saturday afternoon. The first half-hour length Ranger Bill program (#104) was recorded on Wednesday, October 1, 1952 at 6:15pm and aired three days later on Saturday, October 3 at 12:30pm. Attached is a copy for your enjoyment. Please share it with the group! Have a great day!

Phil Shappard

("Bim, the Dog" is on the RBFC Zoomshare home page (http://rangerbill.zoomshare.com/) and can be downloaded or viewed there.)

Right below the Bim file is another document Phil sent. This paper seems to be a proposal sheet outlining some possible Ranger Bill characters. The paper describes Bill, Henry and Col. Anders. It also mentions a little girl who was not used and also an old timer Jed who may have developed into Stumpy. The file is called WMBI RB characters.

"Getting with the Wrong Crowd"

Young George Bruce returns to Knotty Pine after spending time in refrom school. George needs to find a job to stay out of the school. Bill gets the boy a delivery job with Frenchy DeSalle and his loggers. George is sent out to pick up the loggers' payroll of $2500 and doesn't return. Bill thinks he may have been double-crossed by George.

Knotty Pine Gazette - Nov. 2008

It's Snowvember in Knotty Pine



Yes, it's November here in Knotty Pine and that means snow. Meteorologists at TV station KNOT report that most of the region in and around the Shady River have experienced from light to very heavy snow fall so far this November. Most of the region including Central City and Junction City have received at least four inches of snow in the last week. Heavier snows have fallen in the upper elevations of the Shady Mountains and other parts of the Rockies. Especially hard hit was the Big Six Mountains and Culver's Peak. The Big Six Lodges are open and report fair to good skiing with an astonishing two to four FEET of freshly fallen snow.



Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson informs the Gazette that he has daily ski patrols on duty in the Big Six region. Rangers are working hard this week knocking down snow build-ups on the mountain peaks. Ranger Bill tells the paper that avalanche prevention is his men's number one concern right now.



Ranger Bill also tells us that there is a warm-up forcast in the next week and that flooding in the valleys below the Big Six and along the Shady River are possible. Rangers and county engineers are watching water levels at bothMid-Mountain Dam and Pine Ridge Dam.



Veterans Day Memorial



Mayor Thompson will lead the Veterans Day Parade on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The Parade will begin on the north end of Main Street and proceed through the center of town ending at Knotty Pine Cemetary. Memorial Services for Knotty Pine's war dead will be held in the cemetary after the parade where a wreath will be placed in front of the Veterans Memorial.



The Knotty Pine High School band, area veterans groups, and several of Knotty Pine's ministers will participate in the parade and memorial service.



The parade begins at 11:00 am, and the public is encouraged to attend. There will be no school or mail service on Tuesday.



Farmers Give Thanks for Banner Year



Farmers throughout the tri-county area and around Big Pine Forest region report above average crop yields for 2008. Large crop yields combined with rising farm produce prices have combined for what appears to be the most profitable year for area farmers in over 50 years.



In thanks for their bounty, many the Canyon County farm bureau is planning to give of their time and produce this Thanksgiving. You will be seeing many area farmers helping at the Central City Shelter, serving Thaksgiving meals to the poor and less fortunate. Also the bureau plans a canned goods delivery to shelters and homes in the county the week before Thanksgiving.

Ranger Bill Openings

There are roughly 200 Ranger Bill episodes that I am aware of. The show numbers, titles, and first airing dates were provided by Moody Audio. AKA titles are Ranger Bill Fan Club titling.

* Note:
Opening #1 -
"Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill. Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snows, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done."

Opening #2 -
"Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, showing rare courage in the face of disaster, in the air, on horseback, or in a screaming squad car. Ranger Bill, his mind alert, a ready smile, unswerving, loyal to his mission. And all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done."

Show Descriptions RB011-RB020

Show #, Title, Opening, First Aired, Description

RB011
Death's Half Mile
1
7/20/1955
Bill looks for ways to protect motorists on a dangerous stretch of highway.

RB012
The Eviction of Ma and Pa Skunk
1
9/14/1955
A family of skunks moves into a recently purchased home before the new owners arrive.

RB013
The Man Who Couldn't Remember
1
7/6/1955
The rangers find a man with amnesia in an abandoned shack singing hymns. The man appears to be a minister.

RB014
Disaster Alert
aka Danger! Gasoline Leak
1
N/A
A leak from a gas station storage tank dumps 500 gallons of gasoline into the KP Bank.

RB015
The Hunted
1
10/10/1956
The rangers out on ski patrol hear the cry of an unknown big cat. The cat is a jaguar that threatens the cattle on nearby ranches.

RB016
Hidden Treasure
aka Trouble at the Flying Double Bar Ranch
1
2/29/1956
Lester Winters inherits the family ranch when his dad died. But the bank must foreclose on unpaid loans on the ranch. The fellas need to find the ranch's missing cattle to help pay bills.

RB017
Overflow
1
9/12/1956
2 days of hard rain and heavy spring thaws threaten to damage Big Ridge Dam. Bill is given 3 hours to warn all the farmers and ranchers in the valley below before floodgates are opened.

RB018
Tony's Place
aka Standing Firm for What Is Right
1
4/28/1954
Tony's Market is damaged when Tony won't give Ed Blake's gang money immediately for baseball uniforms they want. One boy in the gang, Mike, alone is willing to stand up to the gang and its leader.

RB019
Sultan, King of Beasts
1
11/7/1956
Big, powerful show lion, Sultan, defies and scares his trainer, Flick Martin.

RB020
If the Lord Is for Us,
Who Can Be Against Us
1
11/10/1954
Bill tells how he was persecuted by his sarge as a Navy medic serving with the Marines, and how he saved the sarge's life. Young army serviceman Ted Sloan in a similar situation.

Show Descriptions - RB001-RB010

Show #, Title, Opening, First Aired, Description

RB001
20 Fathoms Under the Sea
1
5/26/1954
Bill and the boys go deep sea fishing with old salvage man Ben Benson. An old Nay sub used for training is stuck on the bottom and Ben can but won't help because his son died on a salvage job.

RB002
A Boy and A Bomb
1
N/A
Bill gets secret orders to escort Hal Dever to the Army proving grounds to test a bomb timing device. Hal is a single father who ignores his son Jim. The boy takes the timer and starts it ticking.

RB003
Getting with the Wrong Crowd
1
3/28/1956
George Bruce returns to Knotty Pine after spending time in reform school. Townsfolks refuse to accept him or help him. Bill gets him a delivery job with Frenchy DeSalle's logging operation where he loses the payroll.

RB004
The Hermit
1
12/21/1955
A hermit who moves into a cabin in Bill's territory turns out to be a desperately needed brain surgeon.

RB005
Burning Sands
1
5/16/1954
Elderly desert prospector Joshua Webb is told by his doctor to stay in Knotty Pine for his health, but the lure of gold takes him back to the desert anayway. Bill and the boys must brave 120 degre heat to rescue Jushua.

RB006
The Fire Bug
1
8/11/1954
Randolph Thompson's coal fired railroad engines threaten the big pines in the forests along his rail lines.

RB007
Miracles [aka Pray for a Miracle]
2
12/20/1961
Henry and Freddy go on a hike where Freddy has to wrestle with his faith and miracles. The boys need a miracle when Freddy falls into Half-Mile Gulley and breaks his leg, while flood waters from a broken dam threaten to drown the boys. Only a miracle can save them.

RB008
They Called It (Him) the Jinx(?)
1
11/5/1955
Tom Farris called in to be foreman of bridge project over 1200ft deep Dead Man's Gorge. The crew is afraid of the jinx on Tom from accidents caused by pushing his men.

RB009
Bim, the Dog
1
3/9/1955
A brave dog protects his family then serves his country.

RB010
Hit and Run
1
4/13/1955
Two boys hide after hitting an elderly pedestrian.

Pendleton Valley Fire

We have an update on the first Ranger Bill story Pendleton Valley Fire. We originally reported that Pendleton Valley Fire was a two-part story. We have since read through the scripts we have (Ranger Bill scripts #1 and #2). This story doesn't end with show #2. It looks as if the story goes on for at least one or two more episodes.

We know that Colonel Anders and his men are fighting a tough fire in Pendleton Valley. The colonel sends Ranger Bill and Henry to Pineridge Dam to blow it up and flood the fire if Pendleton Valley gets out of control. We can tell you that Bill is attacked by a rattler and injured while he and Henry are on their way to the dam. Will they get there? Will they blow up the dam? How will they be able to destroy enough of the dam to flood a fire? That we don't don't know. We all will have to wait and see.

How Many Ranger Bill Episodes?

Phil Shappard of Moody Audio tells the Ranger Bill Fan Club that he now has roughly 370 Ranger Bill scripts that have been rescued from the dark recesses of a closet at Moody Bible Institute. Phil hopes to scan all these scripts as time permits. But this may take some time because he has many other duties with Moody Audio that must come first.
Moody Audio also now boasts 206 half-hour episodes of the show for sale on their web site. We here at the club have 220 half-hour episodes. We call the additional 14 shows that we have the "missing episodes." These are shows that have probably been lost or damaged beyond usability. And from the script numbering that we have seen so far, it appears that there are 162 of the 15-minute episodes broadcast from October 2, 1950 until approximately February of 1954 when the half-hour shows began. These numbers suggest that WMBI aired a new 15-minute Ranger Bill every week for about three and a quarter years with few if any interruptions! Compare that with today's TV broadcasts where rough;y 25 new shows are aired each season.
If the club's numbering is correct then there are 162 15-minute shows and 220 half-hour shows for a grand total of 382 Ranger Bill episodes!
We don't know how many complete stories there are in the 15-minute shows at this time. We were guessing that one story covered two 15-minute shows. Now it looks as if the stories may include three or more episodes and that stories' lengths may vary.

New Photos

We have some new photos from Ranger Marty on our Zoomshare pages at http://rangerbill.zoomshare.com/. Enjoy the wonders and colors of fall. Just click on the photos link to see our Forest Images photos.

And speaking of photos, how do you like Stumpy? Actually this fellow is a real-life ranger. His name is Ranger Joe. I found a photo of him on the Inernet and felt he was the perfect Stumpy. Joe was kind enough to share this photo with us. Email me and let me know if Joe looks like Stumpy to you. This picture of Stumpy, uh I mean Joe is also in our Forest Images collection. There is another photo following Ranger Joe's photo of a female ranger taking to some students. Think of this ranger as Ranger Rocky.

Welcome to the Ranger Bill Fan Club

This Ranger Bill Fan Club blog site is now officially up and running.

Ranger Bill is the story of the adventures Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson; senior Ranger Stumpy Jenkins; Ranger Gray Wolf, a Dakota Indian; and Bill's ward Henry Scott. The fellas live and work in the small town of Knotty Pine, situated near the Rockie Mountains. Knotty Pine is along the banks of the Shady River and south of the Shady Mountains.

Ranger Bill is a classic Moody Broadcasting radio program from the 1950s. Originally broadcast from 1950 through 1964, Ranger Bill continues to be broadcast on roughly 200 radio stations and at this web site in streaming audio provided by His Kids.Net.

The Ranger Bill Fan Club is here to provide you with the most up-to-date information available on Ranger Bill, its cast and crew, audio and printed resources, and more.

Welcome to the world of Ranger Bill!

The Very First Ranger Bill Show!!!

"Pendleton Valley Fire" is the very first Ranger Bill program ever broadcast, first aired on October 2, 1950. This is a 2-part story aired in 15-minute segments.

In this show Colonel Anders is leading his rangers in fighting a huge fire in the Pendleton Valley. The fire is getting too big for the firefighters to control. So Colonel Anders sends Ranger Bill, Henry, and Stumpy high in the mountains above Pendleton Valley. Bill and the boys must reach an earthen dam to blow it up and save the firefighters and the valley from the massive fire.

Cleveland Moody radio station WCRF is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. So what does that have to do with Ranger Bill and the "Pendleton Valley Fire?" As part of their celebration, WCRF performed a humorous reenactment of "Pendleton Valley Fire." The WCRF crew mentioned that the original Ranger Bill cast and crew would often perform a Ranger Bill story at Chicago area churches. They also revealed that many of these early 15-minute episodes were cliff-hangers.

WCRF also has some Ranger Bill treats on their web site, an mp3 audio file from that first Ranger Bill episode and copies of episodes 1 and 2 so you can read the entire "Pendleton Valley Fire" story and find out what happens to Colonel Anders and his men and what Bill does to rescure them.

Visit the WCRF web site at http://www.wcrfradio.org/ and follow the links to their 50th anniversary to liten to and download the Pendleton Valley audio and scripts.

And don't forget our own Ranger Bill script, "The Fire Bug," the story of Randolph Thompson's coal-burning engines. Visit our files on Zoomshare at http://rangerbill.zoomshare.com/ and click on the "Fire Bug" link.