Amazing Short Film on Old Time Radio Sound Effects: "Back of the Mike" (1938)

[Music]

[Radio Announcer's Voice]
And now, we come to the thrilling final
episode of our radio drama.

Old Pete Belden, driver of the Jitney from
Carsonburg to Copper Springs has a double load today.

Pete's ancient bus is carrying the "Flying Bee" payroll and the passenger, his niece Betty.

Little do Pete and Betty suspect as they chug over the desert wastelands

that just around the next curve, Shifty Sam Hicks and his henchmen lie in wait.

[Music]

[Pete] It hasn't been the same without you,
Betty. But now that you're back, you'll

find nothing's changed and nothing's
happening.

[Betty] Nothing's happened?!
Why, I heard you had two new horses I can't wait to give them a run.

[Pete] You be careful where you ride these days.

Got a band of rustlers operating in the neighborhood.

Oh, poo. You don't seem very scared carrying the payroll in every month.

But, you better stick close to home.

[Betty's voice] Alright, uncle, don't worry.
Now, how is the new....

[Sound of tire popping and air escaping]

[Silence]

Stay right there, buddy. Where's the Flying Bee payroll?

Here is is, Sam.

Give it here. And, tie him on the horse.

What about the girl? We didn't count on her being along.

We'll tie her in the car. Let's get going.

[Silence]

[Horses galoping]

[Radio Announcer] Meanwhile, Betty, frantic in her uncle's danger

has undone her bonds and is starting for help in the crippled car.

[Car engine starting]

[Sound of well pump and water flowing]

[Car engine]

[Betty's voice] Sheriff Tom! Hurry, Hurry!

[Sheriff Tom] Betty, where's your Uncle Pete?

[Betty] We were held up, Tom.

Three men. They took the Flying Bee payroll
and headed up toward Pine Gap and they

took uncle with them.

[Sheriff Tom] Come on in the house quick!
We'll get the boys together, we'll go after them.

[Betty] No, I'll take the Jitney into town and
get my car.

[Sheriff Tom] Alright, Betty.

[Small engine starting]

[Telephone ringing]

Hello?!

Bring up the boys, May. Tell them meet me
at Pine Creek forks. The Flying Bee payroll

has been robbed. Pete Bell has been
kidnapped. Tell the boys to ride.

[Sheriff] Hey, George! Where'd
you put that ammunition?

[George] It's in your desk.

[Sheriff] Which drawer?

[George] The middle one.

[Woman's voice] I declare. I'll never get these
dishes done. It's like a storm coming up too.

Hello, what is it?

[Woman's voice off screen] -Unintelligible- The Sheriff is rounding up a posse.

[Woman's voice] I'll call him, May. He's out in the yard.

[Woman's voice off screen] Send him to Pine Creek Forks. Hurry, Sophie!

[Cows mooing, Chickens cackling, Rooster Crowing]

[Woman] Fred! Oh, Fred.

[Man's voice off stage] Heeellllooooo!

[Woman's voice] Posse, Fred! Sheriff wants you at Pine Creek forks. They're ridin'.

Oohh, alright. [Horse neighs in the background]

Hello, Boss. Betty? [Farm animal sounds in the background, sound of farmer milking a cow]

[Fred] Hey, Joe. We're saddlin'. Tom wants a posse. Somethin' stirrin,' I reckon. [Farm animal sounds in the background]

[Joe] Alright, Fred. -Unintelligible- [Farm animal sounds in the background]

[Fred] See 'ya later, Ma! [Sound of horse galopping away].

[Ma] Be careful, Fred. [Sound of horse galopping away]

[Telephone ringing]

Hello, May. They've gone. Have 'ya got the other boys?

[May] Some of 'em...-Unintelligible-

[Sound of hammer striking metal, telephone ringing].

Hello?

[Woman's voice] -Unintelligible- payroll robbery. Meet the Sheriff at Pine Creek Forks.

Pick up Bill and Frank on the way.

I'm ridin', Harry. Hitch up that there wagon all the way.

[Music]

Where's your Pa, Junior?

[Little boy's voice] He's back on the far section with the reaper. [Sound of reaper, metal turning]

Hey there, -unintelligible- get down off of that!

[Junior's Pa] I can't hear 'ya!

[Junior's Pa] Wait a minute. Now, what you say?

Somebody held up the Jitney. Probably the Hicks gang.

Bring your horse they've headed for
Pine Creek.

Guess they're going through the camp. Hurry up and I will meet you at Frank's.

[Announcer's Voice] And so as the storm breaks around them, the Sheriff's Posse

gathers at Pine Creek forks prepared for action.

[Thunder; Heavy rain]

Men, Hicks's gang have been around
this country too long. We're going to

clean them out, today. But, we got to
remember that ol' Pete Bell is with 'em.

We don't want them to get hurt.
Alright boys! Let's head out!

[Horses galloping fast; thunder roaring; wind howling].

C'mon, men. We're gaining on 'em.

-Unintelligible-

Ride, fellas. They probably have fresh horses at the creek.

Hold up, here! We'll set fire to the gap
and stop 'em.

[All in unison] Whoa!, Whoa boy!

Slim, you chop a couple of them small trees.

[Slim] Right!

We'll spread a fire they can't get through.

These are pretty green for burnin', Sam.

The grass is as dry as tinder here. That'll get it started.

Shorty, we get some of that dead
wood burning in a hurry.

[Man's voice off screen] Grass is catching on. It's dry alright.

How about the trees, Slim? About ready?

[Slim's voice off screen] Move back! She's comin' now.

[Fire sizzling in the background]

Got another one. Fire the bank. The Posse is closing in on us.

[Fire sizzling in the background]

[Man's voice off screen] Here they come! We'd better hold them off till this fire gets too hot to cross.

[Men shouting off screen]

That fire sure too hot for us here.
And, they get out of range anytime they
want them out.

Looks like they'll give us a slip.

Why couldn't you get through in my car, Sheriff? They might do something to uncle if we don't hurry.

I'll bet we could get through in the car if we got a good start.

It is worth a try. Who would drive it?

Don't forget he's my uncle, Sheriff. I'll drive it through myself.

You'll drive nothing. Get out and get
behind the trees.

[Man's voice off screen] They mountin' up, Sheriff! They're headin' down the creek.

Alright, Jake. Let's go! Two of you men come with us.

The rest, of you, keep firing.

[Men shouting in the background]

[Music]

[Music; intermittent gunshots]

[Uplifting Music]

[Announcer's Voice] And so, we leave old Pete safe and sound with Betty in her new car.

And to our friends of the radio audience, we bid a pleasant good night.

[Music]