Riders Radio Theater
Summary: Riders Radio Theater was a half hour, weekly, cult favorite/public radio show performed live by the two-time Grammy Award-winning western and comedy band Riders In The Sky in Nashville and Cincinnati from 1988-1995. Called at the time "the fastest half hour in radio," each show featured western music, wacky commercials, the National Polka Countdown, characters and comedy bits of all sizes and descriptions, and a cliffhanging serial adventure... all liberally sprinkled with country and folk music guest stars and legends. It was the Golden Age of High Yodeling Adventure and it deserves to live again!
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- Artist: Riders In The Sky
- Copyright: All rights reserved
Podcasts:
Tumbleweed Valley is in a fine mess. Sheriff Drywall, dressed in Charlie's clothes with pillows stuffed under his shirt, is locked in his own maximum security cell. Miss Marm, bound and gagged, is tied to the railroad tracks. As the afternoon sun begins its descent, the Riders head to their friends' rescues… featuring Sons of the San Joaquin!
It's evening of the same day of Miss Marm's rescue and Charlie's capture. The Phantom of the Valley, Riders In The Sky and Miss Marm are relaxing around the fire watching Sidemeat roast pinto beans on a long stick. But a still free Slocum has plans to release 300 pounds of doofus…
On the desert that was once Tumbleweed Valley a little water would be most welcome, but in the land beneath the ground a little more water will mean the end of Riders In The Sky. As the Riders patiently wait for the Phantom of the Valley to remember exactly how to open the secret door, the water line continues to rise… featuring Vicki Bird!
A 300-pound flaming ball of fire resembling the doofus Charlie has blazed into town and leapt into the water trough in front of the ARID Land Development Company. But with the river – and trough – bone dry, the fireball bounces out of the trough and continues down the road into the city…
After the Riders’ Phantom 309 Truck Stop successfully diverted the toxic waste trucks, Slocum caught on and thwarted the environmental efforts. As America’s Favorite Cowboys fled the scene on Turbo’s trusty back, henchman Charlie launched a virtue-seeking missile directly in their path. Is this the end of Riders In The Sky?!
The Phantom of the Valley partnered with the homeless Woody Paul, Too Slim and Sidemeat to thwart Slocum’s evil plan. The crusaders for water rights opened up they mysterious Phantom 309 Truck Stop, diverting all trucks hauling toxic waste. Now, in Tumbleweed City, a mysterious lone figure plods down the town’s dusty main street…
After taking over all the ranches that border the headwaters of Tumbleweed River, Slocum has diverted the water into the caverns underlying the valley. As part of his evil scheming, Miss Marm is also trapped in the soon to be water-filled caverns. As the land begins shriveling to dust, the Phantom approaches… featuring 78 RPM!
Charlie has kidnapped Miss Marm and is holding her as a “guest” in the old Millers Cave. Believing to be hot on the trail, High Sheriff Drywall and his posse of the Riders have unknowingly lost that trail and have been chasing themselves in circles around a big mesa in the middle of nowhere. Meanwhile, Charlie is driving a tanker truck of nitroglycerin though a tunnel, where instead of turning on a nitro-stabilizing system, he switched on the radio…
Bad times have come calling all over Tumbleweed Valley. After Miss Marm refused all of Slocum’s offers to acquire her ruined prune farm, the evil villain sent evil henchman Charlie in the dead of night to kidnap her. It is the morning of Miss Marm’s abduction, and the Riders – minus Ranger Doug – arrive at Miss Marm’s cozy ranch house for news of the Ranger’s whereabouts… featuring Ranch Romance!
The evil villain Slocum is out to take over Tumbleweed Valley’s water rights. Through various nefarious means he’s acquired several ranches along the river, including the famed Triple X Ranch, and all that stands in his way is Miss Marm’s ruined prune ranch. It’s a beautiful morning in the valley, but to Miss Marm, things couldn’t be bleaker…
Literally anything that could go wrong for Riders In The Sky has done so: America’s Favorite Cowboys were evicted from Triple X Ranch, Miss Marm’s prune farm has gone to ruin, and as the Riders now sit out by a lonely campfire, all hell broke loose. It began to rain, a rampaging grizzly tore through their camp, and a crazed gang of headless machine gunners started blasting away. Is this the end of Riders In The Sky?! Featuring Jerry Clower!
As faithful listeners will no doubt recall, in a former serial Ranger Doug – thinking then he was the Phantom of the Valley – saved Miss Marm’s Prune Orchard and received a congratulatory kiss. The kiss was so powerful it brought back Ranger Doug’s memory, but a gunshot from Charlie proved the battle was not over…
Charlie, fitted in a combination of a spacesuit and spaceship, was shot into space to retrieve Spamium, but returned empty-handed. Meanwhile, the blast from the rocket gun and its resulting reverberations caused a stampede… revealing what may be the last remaining Studebaker Golden Hawk… featuring Jamie Hartford!
It’s morning in Tumbleweed Valley. The Riders have finished an early breakfast, and they eagerly await the arrival of the Pony Express. A geographical goof by Too Slim brings a subsequent letter from the Department of the Interior, and the evil villain Slocum has outfitted Charlie in a spacesuit for undoubtedly dubious purposes…
Slocum, wanting to test out his rocket gun, gave Charlie a headset and wireless microphone, sent him to the mouth of the barrel and told him to crawl inside. Meanwhile, back at the famed Harmony Ranch, Riders In The Sky are gathered in their kitchen for a signature Sidemeat meal. But when a dreary radio tune plays across the airwaves, the city falls into a deep depression… featuring Skeeter Davis!
