T A L E S O F T H E T E X A S R A N G E R S
--------- --- ----- --------- -------------
1950 - 1952
First Show: Jul 8, 1950 Last Show: Sep 14, 1952
Number Shows: 97 Audition Show: none known
Series Description:
This show was one of the more successful radio shows of the early
1950's, airing for 3 years. Directed by Stacey Keach, Sr., TALES
OF THE TEXAS RANGERS broadcast coast-to-coast every Sunday on NBC.
Don't mistake this series for a Western. It's a modern (1950's)
police drama featuring the oldest and most respected law enforcement
body in North America. "Tales" related true cases from the police
files and is sometimes considered a forerunner of today's TV series
starring Chuck Norris.
Joel McCrea stared as Texas Ranger Jace Pierson, the main character
of this series.
Log Comments:
Few vendors carry this series and information on it is somewhat
sparse. Broadcast dates of the first and last shows are known and
were used to figure show numbers.
Dates with "title not known" in the title field may be either no
broadcast or unknown title. This log assumes a broadcast was made.
There are 10 shows that appear to have been rebroadcast. These have
an "(R)" at the end of the title field.
Chronological Log:
Date Day Num Title
------------ --- --- ------------------------------
.... 8 show Summer series ....
Jul 08, 1950 Sat 1 "Just A Number"
Jul 15, 1950 Sat 2 "White Elephant"
Jul 22, 1950 Sat 3 "Apache Peak"
Jul 29, 1950 Sat 4 "The Trigger Men"
Aug 05, 1950 Sat 5 "Quick Silver"
Aug 12, 1950 Sat 6 "Broken Spur"
Aug 19, 1950 Sat 7 "Fools Gold"
Aug 26, 1950 Sat 8 "Open Range"
... start of first season ....
Sep 02, 1950 Sat 9 "Play For Keeps"
Sep 09, 1950 Sat 10 "Dead Or Alive"
Sep 16, 1950 Sat 11 "Candy Man"
Sep 23, 1950 Sat 12 "Open And Shut"
Sep 30, 1950 Sat 13 "Clean Up"
...... moves to Sundays ......
Oct 08, 1950 Sun 14 "Living Death"
Oct 15, 1950 Sun 15 "Dead Give-away"
Oct 22, 1950 Sun 16 title not known
Oct 29, 1950 Sun 17 "Soft Touch"
Nov 05, 1950 Sun 18 "The White Suit"
Nov 12, 1950 Sun 19 "Blood Relative"
Nov 19, 1950 Sun 20 title not known
Nov 26, 1950 Sun 21 "Hanging By A Thread"
Dec 03, 1950 Sun 22 "Room 114"
Dec 10, 1950 Sun 23 "The Lucky Dollar"
Dec 17, 1950 Sun 24 "The Cactus Pear"
Dec 24, 1950 Sun 25 "Christmas Present"
Dec 31, 1950 Sun 26 "The Devil's Share"
Jan 07, 1951 Sun 27 "Dead Head Freight"
Jan 14, 1951 Sun 28 "Death In The Cards"
Jan 21, 1951 Sun 29 "Blood Harvest"
Jan 28, 1951 Sun 30 title not known
Feb 04, 1951 Sun 31 "Loggers Larceny"
Feb 11, 1951 Sun 32 "The Hatchet"
Feb 18, 1951 Sun 33 "Sweet Revenge"
Feb 25, 1951 Sun 34 "The Trap"
Mar 04, 1951 Sun pre-empted
Mar 11, 1951 Sun 35 "Blind Justice"
Mar 18, 1951 Sun 36 "Death By Adoption"
Mar 25, 1951 Sun 37 "Breakdown"
Apr 01, 1951 Sun 38 "Pressure"
Apr 08, 1951 Sun 39 "Bad Blood"
Apr 15, 1951 Sun 40 "Conspiracy"
Apr 22, 1951 Sun 41 "Canned Death"
Apr 29, 1951 Sun 42 title not known
May 06, 1951 Sun 43 "No Living Witness"
May 13, 1951 Sun 44 "Paid In Full"
May 20, 1951 Sun 45 "Square Dance"
May 27, 1951 Sun 46 "Joy Ride"
..... off for the Summer .....
Sep 30, 1951 Sun 47 "Death Shaft"
Oct 07, 1951 Sun 48 "The Wheel Chair Killing"
Oct 14, 1951 Sun 49 "Play For Keeps" (R)
Oct 21, 1951 Sun 50 "Fugitive's Trail"
Oct 28, 1951 Sun 51 "The White Elephant" (R)
Nov 04, 1951 Sun 52 "Helping Hand"
Nov 11, 1951 Sun 53 "Open And Shut" (R)
Nov 18, 1951 Sun 54 "Wild Crop"
Nov 25, 1951 Sun 55 "The Blow Off"
Dec 02, 1951 Sun 56 "Dead Give-away" (R)
Dec 09, 1951 Sun 57 "Death Plant"
Dec 16, 1951 Sun 58 "Pickup"
Dec 23, 1951 Sun 59 "Christmas Play-off"
Dec 30, 1951 Sun 60 "Killer's Crop"
Jan 06, 1952 Sun 61 "Birds Of A Feather"
Jan 13, 1952 Sun 62 "Clip Job"
Jan 20, 1952 Sun 63 "Blood Trail"
Jan 27, 1952 Sun 64 "Night Chase"
Feb 03, 1952 Sun 65 "The Rub Out"
Feb 10, 1952 Sun 66 "Hitchhiker"
Feb 17, 1952 Sun 67 "Cold Blood"
Feb 24, 1952 Sun 68 "Bright Boy"
Mar 02, 1952 Sun 69 "The Iceman"
Mar 09, 1952 Sun 70 "Dream Farm"
Mar 16, 1952 Sun 71 "Prelude To Felony"
Mar 23, 1952 Sun 72 title not known
Mar 30, 1952 Sun 73 "Night Hawk"
Apr 06, 1952 Sun 74 "Troop Train"
Apr 13, 1952 Sun 75 "Uncertain Death"
Apr 20, 1952 Sun 76 "Illusion"
Apr 27, 1952 Sun 77 "Address Unknown"
May 04, 1952 Sun 78 "Little Sister"
May 11, 1952 Sun 79 "Unleashed Fury"
May 18, 1952 Sun 80 "Smart Kill"
May 25, 1952 Sun 81 "Jailbird"
Jun 01, 1952 Sun 82 "Sell Out"
Jun 08, 1952 Sun 83 "Illegal Entry"
Jun 15, 1952 Sun 84 "Travesty"
Jun 22, 1952 Sun 85 "Knockout"
Jun 29, 1952 Sun 86 "Ex-Con"
Jul 06, 1952 Sun 87 "The Boomerang"
Jul 13, 1952 Sun 88 "Fingerman"
Jul 20, 1952 Sun 89 "Round Trip"
Jul 27, 1952 Sun 90 "Stick-Up"
Aug 03, 1952 Sun 91 "Double Edge"
Aug 10, 1952 Sun 92 "Last Stop"
Aug 17, 1952 Sun 93 "Cover-Up"
Aug 24, 1952 Sun 94 "Three Victims"
Aug 31, 1952 Sun 95 "Misplaced Person"
Sep 07, 1952 Sun 96 "Alibi"
Sep 14, 1952 Sun 97 "Drive-In" (last show)
References:
* "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All
Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514
Other Logs or Books:
* TALES OF THE TEXAS RANGERS log, Jerry Haendiges Productions, 13808
Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com)
* TALES OF THE TEXAS RANGERS log, Audio Classics Archive, Terry
Salomonson, P.O. Box 347, Howell, MI 48844-0347
(http://www.audio-classics.com)
Reader Feedback:
* Ron Bowser noted that the show of March 4, 1951 was pre-empted.
This was announced at the end of the show of Feb. 25.
* Ron Staley supplied the date of the first show.
* Art Lortie sent info from the Library of Congress, listing shows
2 thru 15 and pointed out duplicate titles (with different dates).
* Stephen Sorensen corrected Jace Pierson's name (was "Jake").
Last Update: Feb 04, 2005
This log is informational only and does not imply that I have these
shows for trade or sale. The shows are still protected under
copyright law and should be obtained only from authorized dealers.
The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis.
Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M.
Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).