Tales of the Texas Rangers was a popular western police procedural radio drama that aired on NBC from July 1950 to September 1952. Often described as a western version of Dragnet, the show featured stories based on actual Texas Ranger case files from 1928 to 1948.
Show Overview
Protagonist: Movie star Joel McCrea starred as Texas Ranger Jayce Pearson.
Modern Setting: Unlike typical 19th-century westerns, this show featured 20th-century cases where Pearson used modern forensic science and laboratory techniques to solve crimes.
Signature Elements: Pearson often worked with local sheriffs and relied on his horse, Charcoal, to navigate rugged terrain. Each episode typically opened with a description of the Texas Rangers as a legendary 50-man force covering over 260,000 square miles.
Episode Summaries
"Just a Number"
Original Air Date: April 19, 1950 (Audition) / July 8, 1950 (Series Premiere).
Plot: The story begins when a young boy discovers a horrific scene at the Evans ranch. A local sheriff calls in the Texas Rangers to investigate a triple murder. Ranger Jayce Pearson must use keen observation and precise questioning to track down the killer responsible for the brutal crime.
"White Elephant"
Original Air Date: July 15, 1950.
Plot: Ranger Pearson investigates the murder of a man found dead in a car parked on the shoulder of a road. The investigation is linked to a prior incident involving a hobo jumping off a freight train after a scuffle with a brakeman.
Alternative Version: Note that a later TV adaptation with the same title involved someone trying to frighten off buyers from an empty house by shooting at them, leading to the discovery of a gold coin and a pack rat's nest as clues.
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