Old Time Radio Westerns – Episode Summary

Episode: The Killer Whale | Challenge of the Yukon (03-13-52)
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Release Date: October 1, 2025

Overview

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns presents a digitally restored classic radio drama from Challenge of the Yukon, featuring Sergeant Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police and his loyal dog, Yukon King. The adventure, "The Killer Whale," is set amidst the icy expanse of the Yukon during the gold rush era, blending suspense, treachery, and indigenous legend as Sergeant Preston and his companions become entangled in a hunt for a lost treasure — and a battle with both outlaws and the untamed power of the sea.

Key Discussion Points and Storyline

1. Setup: The Treasure Hunt and the Capture

• Professor Emmett Sheridan and two fellow professors are searching the Northwest Indian totem poles to locate fabled buried gold, seeking to decipher a mysterious stone tablet.
• The outlaws, led by Sergei Rostov (a Russian) and Captain Ralph Bradford (a whaler skipper), capture the professors and take them to a remote logging camp on Alexander Bay, hoping to force them to reveal the gold’s location.

  “We know the treasure is buried at the foot of a sun and raven totem.” – Sergei Rostov [04:31]

2. Conflict Among the Villains

• Rostov and Bradford spar over motives: Bradford wants to chase whales instead of lost treasure, especially the legendary “Big Blue.” Rostov, however, convinces Bradford to retrieve a crucial carved section from the killer whale totem pole, believed to be a key to decoding the treasure’s location.
• Bradford is dubious about stealing the totem, aware it's of great value to the local tribe, but is persuaded through Rostov’s cajoling and his own growing desperation.

3. Sergeant Preston and Ted Sheridan Investigate

• Sergeant Preston and Ted (the professor's son) arrive at the Tongass Indian village, questioning the chief and examining the killer whale totem for clues.
• The chief recounts the legend of the killer whale totem:

  “A long time ago a boy ... was given the power to create and control the killer whales ... The whales destroyed his evil brothers. And then the boy ordered the whales never again to harm human beings.” – Ted Sheridan [08:22]

• They learn the professors left with Captain Bradford’s ship.

4. Deception and Capture Aboard the Whaler

• Bradford, following Rostov’s plan, pretends to agree to take Sergeant Preston and Ted to Moose Bay but instead has his crew ambush and tie them up the moment they step aboard.
• Yukon King, Preston’s dog, evades the crew and hides in the hold.

5. Theft of the Totem and Escalating Danger

• Bradford’s crew chop down the killer whale totem and load the carved section onto the ship, fulfilling Rostov’s demands.
• As a gale gathers, the ship sets out to sea. Preston and Ted, still prisoners, note the severe storm and realize the treacherous situation.

6. Legend Meets Reality—The Attack of Big Blue

• When the crew sights a gigantic whale (“Big Blue”), all but the cook go after it in longboats, against Preston’s warning:

  “This may be the break we’ve been looking for, Ted. ... The whole crew’s being ordered into the longboats and only the cook will be left aboard.” – Sergeant Preston [17:27]

• Yukon King is called by Preston and chews through the ropes to free his master and Ted.
• On deck, they watch as Big Blue capsizes both whaleboats, leaving the men to drown in the stormy sea.

7. Shipwreck and Survival

• The whaler, now only manned by Preston, Ted, and the cook, is battered by the gale, loses its rudder, and is eventually driven aground but survives intact.
• The mate confesses:

  “They should never have stolen it. It brought the curse of the killer whale on the whole crew.” – The Mate [21:35]

• Preston, Ted, and the cook use the debris and the salvaged totem piece to build a raft, determined to reach Alexander Bay, help Ted's father, and bring the rest of the gang to justice.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What could they want with a totem pole?” – Ted Sheridan [15:57]
• “Big Blue, the last of the killer whales. What do we do now, Sergeant?” – Ted Sheridan [23:52]
• “Should he be blamed or should the captain?” – Sergeant Preston, reflecting on the tragic fate of the whalers [23:38]
• “We'll make a raft... That piece of the killer whale totem will do as part of it.” – Sergeant Preston, turning disaster into hope [23:58]

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:33 | Opening theme and scene-setting narration | | 03:15 | Rostov and Bradford discuss the professors and the totem’s secret | | 05:03 | Discussion of the killer whale totem and the plan to steal it | | 08:10 | Chief, Preston, and Ted examine the totem and learn about the legend | | 11:00 | Preston and Ted are lured on board Bradford’s ship and ambushed | | 15:50 | Preston and Ted, imprisoned, witness the theft of the totem via the cabin porthole | | 17:07 | Crew sights Big Blue and prepares for a fateful whale hunt | | 18:54 | Yukon King frees Preston and Ted | | 20:24 | The disastrous attack by Big Blue, as witnessed from the storm-tossed ship | | 21:32 | Reflection on the “curse” of the stolen totem; discussion with the mate | | 23:34 | Aftermath: Only the raft remains, with the group resolved to go to Alexander Bay and rescue Sheridan|

Episode Tone and Style

The episode maintains the vivid, suspenseful atmosphere characteristic of vintage radio westerns, peppered with brisk dialogue, maritime peril, and attention to local legend and lore. The drama is earnest and adventurous, blending suspense with moral reflections and the indomitable optimism of heroic characters. The digital restoration, as highlighted in the podcast introduction, brings out the environmental sound effects—the howl of wind, crack of wood, and splash of waves—immersing the listener in the high-stakes narrative.

Conclusion & Next Adventure Preview

Sergeant Preston, Ted, and the cook survive the wrath of both whale and sea. They prepare to trek to Alexander Bay to confront the remaining outlaws and rescue the professors. The legend of the killer whale totem intertwines with the fates of both villains and heroes, serving both as a plot device and a moral lesson capping the episode:

“Big Blue has taken care of the captain and his men. It’s up to us to take care of the other members of the gang. When your father’s free and the gang’s in jail, this case will be closed.” – Sergeant Preston [24:10]

For Listeners

This adventure exemplifies the classic radio western: a mix of action, myth, and moral stakes. Even without prior episodes, listeners are swept into a world where law, legend, and the wilds of nature clash. The restored audio highlights lend new life to the vintage script and performances, making for an immersive historical listening experience.

Note: All advertisements, sponsorship messages, and non-content segments were omitted from this summary.