Rock of Ages Program

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The Rock of Ages Program is an annual living history program conducted by the interpretive staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It is traditionally a lantern-guided tour through the front section of the Big Room featuring characters from the park’s storied past. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Rock of Ages Program is presented to you in the vein of a radio theater podcast. Revisit this page as we release nine episodes over the next few weeks. Sit back, relax, and listen to our park’s history…

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January 14, 2021

Troglobite

Transcript

Transcript

Troglobite

[Radio scanning stations, crackles into doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” and continues to play in the background.]

INTRO: Hello, everyone! Welcome to the final episode of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages will take on a different form as we all adapt to the challenges of this year. This project has been made possible by the diligent work, research, time, and vocal talents of the interpretive staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. In this episode, we have some fun. We travel forward in time, imagining how stories about this place have been shared, and how they might continue to be shared in the future. So, for the last time, sit back, relax, and enjoy our future.

[Music fades to silence.]

[Clapboard clacks closed. Deep, otherworldly, suspenseful sci-fi music plays in the background.]

NARRATOR: The year is 2030. [Quiet male voice in the background echos “2030.”] Carlsbad Cavern is quiet, water dripping from the ceiling, its appearance not dissimilar to the way it looked a century ago in 1930, when it became a national park. Delicate soda straws and stoic stalagmites watch the drama of the [stopwatch ticks] years unfold before them [stopwatch fades to silence] . A lone person shuffles past Lower Cave [quick footsteps echo in cavern chamber]; a ladder sticking out of the darkness. Her head turns as—slowly—a figure emerges from the pit. Is it a caver? A visitor who has lost their way?

MONSTER: [Growls quietly in the distance.]

NARRATOR: Maybe it’s someone’s gurgling stomach, ready for lunch. . . .

MONSTER: [Growls loudly as it emerges from the pit. Continues to growl quietly in the background.]

NARRATOR: That’s no rumbly tummy. Our unidentified crawling creature reaches the top of the ladder, and a flashlight beam swings around to shed light on it. How appalling! Disgusting! It’s unhinged! This unimaginable being clamors out of the depths of the cave! It blinks into the light! Has it ever seen the light of day?

MONSTER: [Growls loudly.] NARRATOR: It disembarks the ladder—keeping three points of contact—and makes its move!

[Footsteps echo in cavern chamber.] Perhaps our heroine can escape, [monster growls loudly, threateningly] or perhaps terror welds her to the cavern floor. She screams!

ACTOR: [High-pitched scream, monster growls loudly over top.]

NARRATOR: What can it be? How did it come to be? Has it been here all along? Waiting, lurking, try— DIRECTOR: Cut!

[Clapboard clacks closed, background music stops, film equipment reset.]

ACTOR: Uch. It’s not working, is it?

DIRECTOR: It’s just—it’s just not believable!

MONSTER: [Voice very muffled as speaks through mask.] What am I supposed to be?

DIRECTOR: What was that, Jim?

MONSTER: [Louder, voice still very muffled.] What am I supposed to be?

ACTOR: [Frustrated.] We can’t hear you through the monster costume. You’ve gotta take the mask off.

MONSTER: [Unzips mask, pulls it over his head. Sighs in relief as able to breath, voice a little breathless.] I’s, I was saying—what am I supposed to be? I think I’m messing up because I don’t fully understand the character. How did I get into the cave? Did I adapt here?

DIRECTOR: You’re overthinking this. You’re a cave monster!

ACTOR: I think what Jim is trying to say is that in order for us to be believable, we need some amount of truth in the scene.

DIRECTOR: The truth is that you’re genuinely afraid of this actual, real cave monster. The truth is—we’re in an actual cave! I could’ve done this for half the budget on a green screen—or even just done a horror podcast—[defensively] but instead we’re here, in the footsteps of many great filmmakers who have found inspiration in this place.

ACTOR: Yes, we know—[sarcastically] gargoyles and dinosaurs and spiders, oh my!

DIRECTOR: Our viewers won’t overthink this, so you don’t need to overthink this. The cave is scary. Life in the cave is scary. We’ve got our permit to film—we can use it how we want—provided we stay on trail and don’t touch the formations, etc., etc. End of story.

ACTOR: You’re wrong!

DIRECTOR: I’m sorry, what?

ACTOR: How we represent the cave does matter! There’s history here in these walls, of discovery and exploration, lives of people come and gone. The future is here, too! How did you get the idea for this film? Microbes completely alien to us, found in this park! Why not start from reality? Sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction.

DIRECTOR: And we can still have some of that truth on screen! But, who’s going to watch a film about microbes?

MONSTER: [Thinking out loud.] So . . . am I a troglobite? A troglophile?

DIRECTOR: Not now, Jim.

ACTOR: Believe it or not, we can do both. As an actor, I have to start from something real.

DIRECTOR: No. As an actor, you have to hit your mark and say your lines—

ACTOR: Wow! [Angrily] That’s considerate and totally how you should talk to your actors—

DIRECTOR: I don’t get paid to manage your feelings—

[They argue, speaking over each other.]

ACTOR: That is rich. . . .

DIRECTOR: You just need to say your lines—

ACTOR: I am here—

DIRECTOR: —as written!—

ACTOR: —using my artistic integrity—

DIRECTOR: —and watch your talking back—

ACTOR: —to portray this—

DIRECTOR: —you were—

MONSTER: [Loud and forceful over the argument.] TROG-LO-BITE!

[The Director and Actor’s argument comes to a sudden stop.]

ACTOR: [Confused.] Trilobite?

MONSTER: No, troglobite!

DIRECTOR: I’m sorry, Jim, but what on earth is a troglobite?

MONSTER: A creature that’s adapted to live permanently in a cave.

ACTOR: [Dismissively.] And what about it?

MONSTER: Am I one? Not me, Jim, obviously, but my character—the monster. If so, then, consider that for the moment—I’ve never set foot outside this cave, never seen the sun, never even known it existed. Not that I would need it. I’d know how to get my energy from the world around me, from other critters living in the cave, maybe from chemical interactions in the rocks themselves. [Excitedly.] And now, there are guests in my home. Could you imagine? Heck, I would probably be more afraid of these intruders than they are of me. [Pauses.] Wh-what? [Hesitantly.] Did I say something wrong?

ACTOR: Jim . . . that’s really good.

DIRECTOR: Could we work that into the scene somehow?

ACTOR: [Thoughtfully.] What if . . . what if instead of cowering from fear in the corner, my character was more curious, leaning forward?

MONSTER: And, what if, instead of being menacing and threatening, I was hesitant, experiencing something new?

DIRECTOR: [Excitedly.] Yes, yes! That adds so much more depth! All right. Reset, everyone, and we’ll try this again.

[Film equipment is set up in the background and footsteps echo as actors move back to position.]

ACTOR: Even if we nail this scene, that still doesn’t change the fact that the cave monster slowly eats every member of the main cast until my character’s the only survivor. . . .

DIRECTOR: Yeah, well, we’re not changing the whole script. We’ve already shot half of it, and I’m still making a horror film, not a documentary. [Concedes a little.] But maybe my next film could tackle microbes, or extinct bats, or gnomes, or a visit from Amelia Earhart—

ACTOR: Or maybe a team of explorers could use balloons to reach never-before seen cave chambers!

DIRECTOR: Nah. No one will ever believe that.

ACTOR: Despite the clichés, it is a good script. And maybe it will inspire people to look deeper, to come to this cave or others, to think about all the unbelievable—but true—things that have happened here, about everything that we’ve learned from this place.

DIRECTOR: And everything we have yet to learn.

ACTOR: Exactly!

DIRECTOR: Hmph. All right, that’s enough of that. Places, everyone! Lights . . . camera . . . action!

[Clapboard clacks closed. Deep, otherworldly, suspenseful sci-fi music plays in the background.]

NARRATOR: The lights fade out on our future storytellers. They have found their own way to connect with the cavern and share it with others. [Music fades to silence.] It’s hard not to think of the many people, known and unknown, who have walked through the echoing chambers of Carlsbad Caverns National Park and found their own lives taking incredible or unexpected turns in the midst of the mystery and grandeur. Maybe it is fitting that a site so extraordinary has its own share of extraordinary history. There are stories at Carlsbad Caverns that dance within the realm of possibility, some that stretch the limits of the imagination, and some so wild that they help you believe in the impossible. In whichever directions these stories pull you, whatever chords they strike, whatever questions they raise, remember . . . they are only the beginning. The unbelievable story of Carlsbad Caverns National Park is still being written.

[Doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages” begins and continues to play in the background.]

OUTRO: And for the final time, we hope you enjoyed this episode of Rock of Ages. This episode featured the voices of rangers Colin Walfield as Jim, slash, the Monster, Sally Carttar as the Actor, Abby Burlingame as the Director, and Aubrey Brown as the Narrator. This episode was researched and written by Abby Burlingame. Recording production was done by James Gunn and Anthony Mazzucco, music and audio engineering by Gabe Montemayor, with Abby Burlingame and Aubrey Brown [whispers of previous episodes begin] at the creative helm.

[Narration stops, whispers of previous episodes continue to fade in and out, overlapping each other.]

COLONEL BOLES: —the great honor of experiencing our traditional Rock of Ages Ceremony—

AMELIA EARHART: —be in control of my own destiny—

JOHN BROADBENT: —We still have some brave visitors up at the surface—

DR. VERA SMALL: —in complete darkness—we find life— NARRATOR: —believe it, or not!—

WALT DISNEY: —I’m flabbergasted!—

HANNAH LOVECRAFT: —I do feel like an astronaut—

DR. CONSTANTINE: —that hike was worth it in more ways—

EUGENE DAVIS: —Dwayne and Eugene, the Davis Brothers, together forever—

TOM BEMIS: —All we can do now is hope the stalagmite anchor will hold and wait for word from the top.

[Whispers of previous episodes stop, outro narration continues.]

So, for the last time, we just wanted to say: Thank you for listening . . . and happy trails!

[Music crescendos, fades to silence.]

In this episode, we have some fun. Travel forward in time with us to 2030, and imagine how stories about this place might continue to be shared in the future.

January 13, 2021

Up, Up, and Away!

Transcript

Transcript

Up, Up, and Away!

[Radio scanning stations, crackles into doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” and continues to play in the background.]

INTRO: Hello, everyone! Welcome to this episode of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages will take on a different form as we all adapt to the challenges of this year. This project has been made possible by the diligent work, research, time, and vocal talents of the interpretive staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Today, we rewind to 1985 and ascend to new heights in the cavern using a creative and colorful technique to reach places formerly considered unreachable. Sit back, try not to float away, and listen to our park’s history.

[Music fades to silence.]

NARRATOR: A group of Carlsbad Caverns employees gathers in the Big Room on the evening of December 15, 1985, after the park has closed for the day. There is a party-like atmosphere, enhanced by the hundreds of brightly colored balloons held by several of the observers. It has taken many nights of perseverance and infinite patience, but the intrepid explorers are finally ready to reap the fruits of their labor. Everyone waits with bated breath for cave specialist Ron Kerbo to ascend a rope dangling from a stalagmite two hundred fifty-five feet above their heads. Among the group is Tom Bemis, a young man who played a crucial role in making this daring feat possible.

[Water drips in the background. Voice echoes in the cavern chamber.]

TOM BEMIS: Well, this here is the moment of truth. After months of planning and days of failed attempts to get into that hole up there, we’re finally getting Ron Kerbo on rope to see if there’s anything to it. A couple months ago, I was down here in the Big Room and I saw Kerbo looking up at that hole in the ceiling there with a spotting scope. Since he’s the Chief of Cave Resources, he’s a busy man with a lot going on, so this must be a pretty big deal if he’s taking the time. I’ve had my eye on this lead for a while, too, because of where it is right here at the intersection of these two fractures. There’s a whole bunch of cave passage down here in the Big Room, so the hope is that we’ll find more along these same fractures above us. The problem was that the hole in the ceiling is almost impossible to get a person up into. No way would anyone rock climb up there, and no way could we convince the National Park Service to let us build a two hundred fify-five-foot scaffold to the ceiling. But, you know cavers. We see a problem like that as a challenge. If it’s an impressive enough lead, we’ll find a way to put someone in it. So, we did! Sometimes inspiration comes from interesting places. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh provided just the inspiration we needed. Pooh used balloons to lift himself up to get the honey out of a honey tree. Why not do something similar to explore leads way up in the ceiling? Balloons aren’t a new idea. They’ve been used in cave exploration before, even here in Carlsbad Cavern. But it’s been a few years since the climb at the Three Monkeys, and we have some more things figured out since then. No amount of balloons in the world could possibly lift a honey bear, much less a human, but they could lift a rope using the right mechanism, if you had enough. This contraption here isn’t the first device we tried; but we are as determined as Winnie the Pooh to find the caving version of honey: a virgin lead. There have been many hands on this balsawood frame; different players helped pick the right shape and tether and getting just the right amount of lift. We learned at the Three Monkeys that fishing line is too weak to guide the frame, and we know that a hoop isn’t going to cut it because of the shape of the opening up there. So, this is what we’ve come up with: a balsawood hook hanging from helium balloons, guided up around that stalagmite by parachute cord. Along the way, we ran into the problem of lift. Latex balloons squeeze helium gas, which makes it just a little denser and heavier. We knew that we needed a lightweight container for the helium that would let the gas fill the space as efficiently as possible. I had an idea. I was pretty adventurous as a kid. You know, like a lot of kids are. I liked to test the boundaries of what I could get away with. A friend and I wanted to make balloons once, and we came up with the idea that, since, you know, natural gas is lighter than air, we could fill dry cleaning bags with it, and they would float. This actually worked pretty successfully until my mother caught on to where all her dry cleaning bags [soft chuckle] were going off to. But, before she put an end to the balloons, they worked pretty well. They held onto the gas without leaking all over the place—if you seal them up right, that is. The natural gas gave them just enough lift to count as real balloons. This was the idea I brought to the table for this operation. Unlike latex, the bags let the helium expand and aren’t so heavy that they ruin the whole project. So, we’ve added them to the bundle and sent them up into the ceiling. Now, here we are a little farther down the road, ready to send Kerbo up the rope to see if all this effort was for nothing. After several nights of prep work, and many, many balloons later, we have finally secured the climbing rope. All we can do now is hope the stalagmite anchor will hold and wait for word from the top.

[Caving gear rattling as climber approaches rope and secures ascenders.

RON KERBO: [Voice echoes in cavern chamber.] On rope!

[Rope feeding through ascender as Kerbo begins to climb. Fades into the distance as he goes higher. Water drips.]

RON KERBO: [Voice echoes long and deep as he shouts from a great distance.] IT GOES!!!

[Echo fades to silence.]

NARRATOR: The Spirit World was one of the biggest discoveries in the park’s recent history, in no small part to the contraption carried high into the ceiling by little more than party balloons. Filled with glistening, ghostly white formations, blood red clay, this bizarre landscape is deserving of its name. Infrequent expeditions climbed the rope over the years to map the Spirit World. On October 31, 2013, the Spirit World revealed its final secret. Surveyors updating the original map noticed a ledge that had been overlooked in previous expeditions. “If it blows, it goes!” is a common mantra among cave explorers, and that ledge led to a passage large enough to drive a bus through. The explorers followed the passage until they suddenly emerged into another large room, which they aptly named Halloween Hall in honor of that fateful night. While the days of helium balloons may be over, imagination continues to push the boundaries and technology of cave exploration at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

[Doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages” begins and continues to play in the background.]

OUTRO: We hope you enjoyed this episode of Rock of Ages. This episode featured the voices of rangers Gabe Montemayor as Tom Bemis, and Aubrey Brown as the Narrator. This episode was researched and written by Sally Carttar. Recording production was done by James Gunn and Anthony Mazzucco, music and audio engineering by Gabe Montemayor, with Abby Burlingame and Aubrey Brown at the creative helm. Join us soon for our next episode. Thanks for listening. . . . See ya next time . . . and happy trails!

[Music fades to silence.]

Rewind with us to 1985 and ascend to new heights, as cavers in the Big Room use a creative and colorful technique to reach places formerly considered unreachable.

January 9, 2021

Boys of the Cave

Transcript

Transcript

Boys of the Cave

[Radio scanning stations, crackles into doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” and continues to play in the background.]

INTRO: Hello, everyone! Welcome to this episode of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages will take on a different form as we all adapt to the challenges of this year. This project has been made possible by the diligent work, research, time, and vocal talents of the interpretive staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. On this episode, we tackle a story of sacrifice. We are honored to tell the story of these individuals and their connection to Carlsbad Cavern. Stay with us as we engage with our park’s history.

[Music fades to silence.]

NARRATOR: August 12, 1941. Fourteen hundred and twenty officers and men of the 200th Coast Artillery visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park, days before being shipped to the Pacific theater of World War II. Seven of those young men—boys, really—have strong ties to the park. Some are the sons of employees and early explorers, while some served as National Park Service Rangers prior to enlistment. Each youth is fresh-faced, ready for adventure and to take on the world! Dwayne and Eugene Davis are proud members of this small group of seven known as “The Cavern Boys.” They are the sons of famous photographer Ray V. Davis, who took the first photos of Carlsbad Cavern. Ray used funds from his own pockets to introduce the cavern’s grandeur to the world. The boys spent a lot of time in this underground world exploring and assisting their father in capturing the awe-inspiring images. The Davis Brothers have parted company from the other five members of the Cavern Boys to experience the cavern one last time as just brothers, delighted in reliving their youthful escapades.

[Water drips in the background. Voices echo in the cavern chamber.]

DWAYNE: Gosh, Gene. I’m so glad they included the cave on our farewell tour. We have seen a lot of great sites in our state, but we are lucky that home is our last stop.

EUGENE: It sure is swell to see the cavern one last time, Dwayne. Our last stop before shipping out! We get to spend our final days seeing home, and share it with the other Cavern Boys, too! Never thought I’d say it, but I’m gonna miss this place.

DWAYNE: Lots of memories down here. . . . [Breathes a heavy sigh.]

EUGENE: I remember Dad dragging us out here and making us lug around his bulky camera equipment.

DWAYNE: [Animated.] The great photographer Ray V. Davis trudging down into the unknown with hundreds of pounds of camera equipment on his back, just to bring back the first photos of Carlsbad Cavern.

EUGENE: [Soft chuckle.] Yeah, hundreds of pounds of equipment and two rambunctious boys! We must have been more of a handful than a help.

DWAYNE: Remember when we tried to get through that crack in the wall and you got stuck? Dad had to pull you out by your belt? [Both laugh.]

EUGENE: Hmph. “We?” I remember you telling me to go first and assuring me I could fit, no problem! [Mockingly.] “It opens up on the other side!”

DWAYNE: Oh, come now, Eugene. What are brothers for? It’s not worse than the time you told me to go down into that pit and you pulled the rope up behind me, then you ran off. You left me yelling down there for hours!

EUGENE: [Laughs] Oh, Dad was fuming made! But it served you right for all the other shenanigans you started. Besides, you should know better than to listen to your older brother.

DWAYNE: [Little more sober] We’ll have to listen to each other to get out of this war and back home safe. [Pauses, a little nervous.] We’ll look out for each other, right?

EUGENE: Yes, brother, I’ll always have your back. We will take care of each other. Dwayne and Eugene, the Davis Brothers, together forever. [Hands slap against each other in a secret handshake, fingers snap.] Don’t worry, little brother. Where we’re going, we’re not likely to see a lot of action.

DWAYNE: Well, I suppose our caving exploits are over for now, but we will get to make tracks out of here and have an adventure in new places, see the world!

EUGENE: On to far off exotic countries! To make the world a better place. And to come home with new stories to tell.

DWAYNE: With the 200th Coast Artillery boys with us, it will sure be a hoopla of an adventure.

EUGENE: That’s for sure! We’ve been training and working hard together. These past few months have really felt like having a whole troop of long-lost brothers. We’re now a well-oiled machine, anticipating each other’s needs.

DWAYNE: Number one coast artillery unit in the country!

EUGENE: Now to show the rest of the world what we can do.

DWAYNE: Sure hope we’ll see these caves again. It’s been such an important part of our lives here in Carlsbad. We spent so many hours in this cave growing up. I’m going to miss this these rocks.

EUGENE: I’ll sure miss the cavern’s cool temperature. I heard it’s H-O-T [emphasizes each word] hot and humid where we’re going. [Pause to imagine.] The Pacific theater. . . .

DWAYNE: We can handle it if we can handle a summer running around outdoors in Carlsbad. Not to mention all the training we did at Fort Bliss. Talk about hot!

EUGENE: Hey! You think they have caves on those islands?

DWAYNE: I don’t think we’ll have much leisure time to explore them if they do have caves. We must concentrate on our mission. We’ll be back down here in Carlsbad Caverns before you know it!

EUGENE: I’m sure Dad will drag us down here as soon as we get back home. He can’t stay away from the cave. DWAYNE: Come on, brother. Let’s catch up with the rest of the boys!

EUGENE: You think Jimmie can convince Colonel Boles to let us go into some of the non-tourist parts of the cave? Maybe Jimmie can sneak us into non-tourist areas? I mean, he is . . . was . . . his best ranger.

DWAYNE: Great idea! I’m sure Jimmie, Malcolm, Russ, John, and Jack would love to have one last excursion here together.

EUGENE: Yeah. Carlsbad Cavern is their home away from home, too. Let’s go find them.

TOGETHER: “Cavern Boys!”

[Someone shushes them in the distance, as two sets of footsteps run into the distance.]

NARRATOR: Most of the men of the 200th Coast Artillery see their voyage to the Pacific as another adventure, expecting to be gone only one year. It is not until the ships sail past Hawaii that the men learn that they are going to the Philippines—a place they have to look up on the map. Little do they know that their tropical vacation will soon turn into a four-year nightmare. They are the best anti-aircraft regiment of the U.S. forces stationed in the Pacific. When the Japanese attack Clark Air Field shortly after bombing Pearl Harbor, the troops do their utmost to ward off the enemy fighters, to no avail. The troops are the first to fire and the last to lay down their arms. They surrender only when there is no option left. Dwayne, Eugene, and the other soldiers are marched by force to San Fernando, 60 miles north of Clark Airfield, as Prisoners of War. The “Bataan Death March” quickly becomes one of the most harrowing events of World War II. No food, no water, short periods of rest under the full blaze of a scorching noonday sun. Prisoners who speak to each other, or who stop for any reason, are executed on sight. Dwayne and Eugene, knowing the danger, speak in hushed tones.

[Sporadic gunfire sounds in the distance. Leaves rustle as soldiers march through thick brush, a stream quietly babbles nearby. Dwayne and Eugene speak softly to avoid attracting attention.]

DWAYNE: Where are they taking us, Gene? We’ve been marching for days!

EUGENE: Straight to San Fernando. We’ve done plenty of hiking in difficult terrain before, but 60 miles without food and water? No breaks?

DWAYNE: My mouth is so dry my spit is coming out as sand.

EUGENE: Try not to think about it, Dwayne. Remember what happened to Harris when he tried to drink from that stream over there? Dispatched nearly as soon as he looked at it. He may not have been a Cavern Boy, but the Carlsbad community will be devastated. Such a bright star.

DWAYNE: [Pauses.] Wish they would at least let us sit in the shade. This sun is brutal.

EUGENE: [Trying to be optimistic.] Oh, this isn’t nearly as bad as that time we hiked all over the backcountry of Carlsbad Caverns looking for that one cave. [Imitates his father’s voice.] “Just head north of the main cavern a ways, then left once you make it to the bottom of the wash,” Dad said. “It’s easy! Just stay in the dry riverbed. Impossible to get lost!” he said.

DWAYNE: [Also imitates his father.] “It’ll be a quick excursion.” [Laughs] We only had one small canteen of water to share between us. Nothing but each other for shade.

EUGENE: We wandered around for hours, merely to end up right where we started. The only cave me managed to find was Carlsbad Cavern itself!

DWAYNE: And only then because we saw the elevator tower.

EUGENE: When Mr. White took us out there, all he had to do to find it was spit from the entrance of the main cavern.

DWAYNE: [Disparagingly.] Wish I could spit right now. . . .

EUGENE: [Ignores Dwayne’s comment.] We should have been warned when he refused to enter the cave with us, though.

DWAYNE: At least he waited for us to come out after that monsoon. I’ve never seen a cave fill with water so fast! It’s a miracle we were able to make it out.

EUGENE: “Kissing the ceiling” for each breath to get out of that cave was far more of a miracle than us surviving this death march.

DWAYNE: I’d give anything to be kissing Sally right now.

EUGENE: [Encouragingly.] We can survive anything, if we stick together. Just gotta keep putting one foot in front of the other, brother. You’ll be holding her again soon. We’ve been luckier than most to have made it this far.

DWAYNE: Yes. We’ve made it this far without serious illness, despite starvation and dehydration. We have our lives. We have our dignity. And most important, we still have each other.

[Sporadic gunfire continues in the distance. Sounds of marching suddenly stops.]

DWAYNE: We’ve stopped, Eugene! I think we’ve made it!

EUGENE: See, little brother? Carlsbad Caverns has trained us well. Bataan has nothing on the Davis Boys!

NARRATOR: Dwayne and Eugene Davis survived the Death March. They sent a postcard to their parents to let them know they were well as soon as they could. Their father was so overjoyed that he composed the poem “We Heard from the Boys Today” and published it in the Carlsbad Current-Argus to celebrate their return.

RAY DAVIS: Well, we heard from the boys today. The sun was brighter; how dull it had been lately. There was a moon last night, how beautiful and romantic it was; Strange; there has not been a moon for so long. Yes, we heard from the boys today. I cried; but this time I felt better, I had always felt worse before. To our friends; so many times we had said, no word. But today OH BOY— My back is sore and my hand is numb from the good wishes of those good friends Yes, we heard from the boys today. I wanted to celebrate; I wanted the whole town to celebrate; Yet, I cannot celebrate until my boys’ comrades had been heard from also. The cash register had a bright cheerful ring today; So long it had been a dull sickening thud. Yes, we heard from the boys today. I smiled at my wife and gosh, she’s still beautiful, and suddenly I recall How she has enabled me to keep my chin up, and now I am looking forward To the greatest day of my life—when the boys come marching home; And once more we can see Old Glory, the symbol that has cost us so much, And yet which means so much. And here I am “Fiddlin’ while Rome Burns.” Yes, we heard from the boys today. (Ray V. Davis—dedicated to my two sons, Lieutenant Dwayne and Sergeant Gene, taken prisoner on Bataan.)

NARRATOR: A little over a year later, the Davis Brothers left the Prisoner of War Camp and boarded the Arisan Maru, one of the many transport units known as “Hell Ships,” because of the horrifying conditions. The Japanese did not mark these vessels as transporting Prisoners of War, in full defiance of the Geneva Convention. U.S. forces fired upon the Arisan Maru, not knowing the precious lives it contained. Both Dwayne and Eugene were lost at sea on October 24, 1944. The brothers, along with Russ Haney, were the only casualties to the Cavern Boys.

[Piano slowly plays “Taps” in the background.]

Ray Davis was never reunited with his brave boys, but he welcomed home the other Cavern Boys as his own. Malcolm Bull and John Moseley returned to work for the National Park Service. Jack Rupe became an Eddy County Sheriff, and later, a U.S. Marshal. Jimmie Harrison, always a favorite of Superintendent Thomas Boles, never returned to his dream of living the ranger life. Ray Davis hosted reunions for all the local Bataan Veterans as a way to honor Dwayne and Eugene, but he always held a special place in his heart for the Cavern Boys of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, the men who fought valiantly beside his sons, and whose legacies live on in the daily activities of park employees, volunteers, and families.

[Music slowly fades to silence.]

OUTRO: Thank you for listening to this episode of Rock of Ages. This episode featured the voices of rangers David Tise as Dwayne Davis, Anthony Mazzucco as Eugene Davis, Daniel Pawlak as Ray V. Davis, and Aubrey Brown as the Narrator. This episode was researched and written by David Tise, Kialey Day, and Aubrey Brown. Recording production was done by James Gunn and Anthony Mazzucco, music and audio engineering by Gabe Montemayor, with Abby Burlingame and Aubrey Brown at the creative helm. Join us for our next episode, coming soon! Thanks for listening. . . . See ya next time . . . and happy trails!

On this episode, we tackle a story of sacrifice and tell the story of two brothers of the 200th Coast Artillery as they visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park days before being shipped to the Pacific Theater of World War II.

January 8, 2021

Why'd It Have to Be Bats?

Transcript

Transcript

Why'd It Have to Be Bats?

[Radio scanning stations, crackles into doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” and continues to play in the background.]

INTRO: Hello, everyone! Welcome to this episode of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages will take on a different form as we all adapt to the challenges of this year. This project has been made possible by the diligent work, research, time, and vocal talents of the interpretive staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This time on Rock of Ages, we’re joining one Dr. Constantine in 1957 as he completes his groundbreaking research on bat skeletons found inside the park. What mysteries await him in those dusty bones? Sit back, mind the bats, and listen to our park’s history.

[Music fades to silence.]

NARRATOR: July 24, 1957. 45 minutes southwest of Carlsbad Cavern, former Naval captain and renowned bat expert Dr. Denny G. Constantine has arrived at his research station in Slaughter Canyon. He enters what is known as New Cave after a grueling hike 500 feet up the cliff face, loaded down with equipment. He’s alone in the darkness with only a couple of lanterns and his thoughts for company. Dr. Constantine has devoted his research to the study of rabies for the past several years, a disease on the rise that has only recently been observed in mammals across North America. Its sudden appearance in 1953 has caused a stir in the scientific community. Its prevalence in areas with bat colonies is of great curiosity, and these extremely mobile creatures may provide the answer to the sudden widespread occurrences in other mammals. And where there are bats, there is Dr. Constantine. Today is no exception. Dr. Constantine sets off in search of answers surrounding this curious disease as exhibited in the Mexican free-tailed bat. However, a chance observation of the extinct bat skeletons found within New Cave leads him to wonder about another matter entirely.

[Water drips in the background. Dr. Constantine’s voice echoes in the cavern chamber.]

CONSTANTINE: Bats. [Heaves a heavy sigh.] Why’d it have to be bats? My old shipmates were right: choose your rate, choose your fate. And mine . . . is bats.

[Heavy cases set down, latches open as Dr. Constantine begins to unpack. Equipment is set up on the cave floor and field table.]

[A bit facetious.] Half-mile hike uphill in a hundred and ten-degree heat just so I can freeze in a cave to study . . . bats. [Huffs loudly.] Why couldn’t I pick something easy, [with rising enthusiasm] something tropical, like the nesting habits of . . . of flamingos! That’s it; flamingos in the Caribbean. White sandy beaches and easy to find, easy to spot giant pink birds. [More reflective.] Of course, where’s the fun in doing something that easy? Besides, bats are far more fascinating, anyway. [Shakes it off.] Enough self-pity; time to get to work.

[Places lab equipment on table, unscrews containers, instruments rattle.]

So far, I’ve learned a lot about rabies transmission among living species of bats, but not their extinct counterparts. Is it truly a recent phenomenon in North America, or has it been around longer, unnoticed? The hike up here may have been a pain, but pulling fossils from a trenched guano mine beats digging through fresh guano in Carlsbad Cavern. And far fewer pesky tourists.

[Reads aloud as he scribbles in his notebook, pencil scratches on pages.]

Date: July 24, 1957. Location: New Cave, Fossil Alley. Outside Temperature: Hot as Hades. Internal Temperature: 57-degrees. Now to remove these bones from sediment without breaking them.

[Brushes dirt, scrapes sediment with a small pick. Sounds of delicate excavation continue in background.]

These skulls are a lot easier than those darn wing and leg bones farther up in the cave. I’ll just carefully scrape away 10 square centimeters of sediment at a time, for consistency’s sake. Whatever skull happen to be in that sector will be the sample, even though bats only have one head.

[Delicately brushes loosened dirt away from bones.]

Time for some measurements. [Reads aloud as he scribbles in his notebook, pencil scratches on pages.] Sample number zero one, tack, one eight, tack, eight three. Let’s see. . . . Skull length: 17.4 millimeters. Height of braincase: 5.8 millimeters. Width of braincase: 9.1 millimeters. Alveolar width across molars: 8.1 millimeters. [Slightly befuddled.] Wait. . . . [Pauses.] This can’t be right.

[Paper rustles as he flips through notebook.]

Taxonomy and structure of the wing bones tell me these should be free-tailed bats [pauses] . . . but these skulls are way too big, even for Pleistocene relatives. And the skulls are much squarer, if I’m not mistaken. I must have measured wrong. Let’s try again and get it right this time.

[Water drips in the background as Dr. Constantine’s pencil scratches across notebook.]

No. My measurements were correct. These can’t be Mexican free-tailed bats; the measurements are at least ten, maybe even thirteen times larger! But, they are free-tails; just not any I’ve ever seen. Did I just discover an unknown extinct species? Surely someone else knows about these bats. They can’t be isolated to this one cave. I’ll have to check references once I get back to the university, but this could be a huge discovery! If these are indeed a previously unknown species, that hike was worth it in more ways than one.

[Water drips in the background as Dr. Constantine continues to mutter measurements aloud. Pencil scratches across notebook. Scene fades to silence.]

NARRATOR: Dr. Constantine wrote a letter to one of his colleagues on May 19, 1958 confirming his suspicions about the Pleistocene-aged skeletons found in what is now Slaughter Canyon Cave. He recognized almost instantly that this species is distinct from the Mexican free-tailed bat, also known as the Brazilian free-tailed bat, which inhabits the region today. Fossils of this previously unknown species have not been found anywhere except in Slaughter Canyon Cave and in some guano deposits in Carlsbad Cavern. Dr. Constantine continued his rabies research at Carlsbad Caverns National Park for many years after this discovery. He determined that the transmission of rabies from bats directly to humans is almost non-existent unless the person handling the infected bat is bitten. Unlike other mammals, bats infected with the disease do not become aggressive and attack for no reason. When they do bite humans and other creatures, it is in retaliation for being harassed. But, it is not this groundbreaking research that immortalized Dr. Constantine. It was a result of his efforts to identify the bones in Slaughter Canyon Cave, and his ability to recognize the unique skeletal features as distinct from modern free-tailed bats, that his legacy lives on at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It was with pleasure that this extinct species was named after the man who discovered it: The Constantine’s Free-tailed Bat.

[Doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages” begins and continues to play in the background.]

OUTRO: Thank you for listening to this episode of Rock of Ages. This episode featured the voices of rangers Rick Taylor as Dr. Denny Constantine, and Aubrey Brown as the Narrator. This episode was researched and written by Rick Taylor and Aubrey Brown. Recording production was done by James Gunn and Anthony Mazzucco, music and audio engineering by Gabe Montemayor, with Abby Burlingame and Aubrey Brown at the creative helm. Join us for our next episode, coming soon! Thanks for listening. See ya next time . . . and happy trails!

[Music fades to silence.]

In 1957, we listen as Dr. Constantine completes his groundbreaking research on bat skeletons found inside the park. What mysteries await him in those dusty bones?

December 31, 2020

Rock of Ages

Transcript

Transcript

Rock of Ages

[Radio scanning stations, crackles into doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” and continues to play in the background.]

INTRO: Hello, everyone! Welcome to this episode of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages will take on a different form as we all adapt to the challenges of this year. This project has been made possible by the diligent work, research, time, and vocal talents of the interpretive staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Tonight, we bring you back to 1939, with Bertha Bailey and Thomas Boles as they begin their plans for the world’s first underground radio broadcast, featuring Jim White and Robert Ripley. Sit back, relax, and listen to our park’s history.

[Music fades to silence.]

NARRATOR: Welcome to 1939! History will be made at Carlsbad Caverns National Park when Robert Ripley of the “Believe It or Not!” fame conducts his very first underground public radio broadcast from inside the Big Room. A few days prior to the broadcast, Robert Ripley’s script writer and multiple engineers from the Columbia Broadcasting company arrive at Carlsbad Caverns National Park to begin the initial preparations for one of the most unique ranger-led programs ever presented inside the cavern. Over 1,000 feet of cable and wiring has been brought down into the cavern, allowing Ripley to easily converse with his studio back in New York City, broadcasting to audiences around the globe! Listeners will be taken on an ear-view tour and told a few believe it or nots about the “World’s most beautiful natural caverns, the famous Carlsbad Caverns of New Mexico.” Joining script writer Miss Bertha Bailey is Superintendent boles himself and one of his cave guides, Carmen McClean, who have prepared a special demonstration for her.

[Voices echo in cavern chamber.]

BOLES: Ah, Miss Bertha Bailey! Welcome to Carlsbad Cavern! The most inspiring place of beauty in North America, if I do say so myself.

BAILEY: Superintendent Boles, this is spectacular! I’m at a loss for words. . . . Well, truth be told, when we first met in New York five months ago, your tales of towering cave formations seemed too good to be true. [Soft giggle.] Believe it or not!

BOLES: Let’s skip the formalities. Call me Colonel. Colonel Boles. After all, a cave this grand requires leadership fit for an eagle. You never know when one of these rocks are going to step out of line.

GUIDE: [Groans in exasperation.]

BOLES: [Laughs good-naturedly in response.] And with that, allow me to introduce our finest cave guide, Miss Carmen McClean. Without her and the rest of our great ranger staff, my job would be exceedingly difficult. Their success in showcasing the wonders of this strange environment to thousands of global travelers is a true believe it or not!

GUIDE: It is a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. My parents are avid listeners of the “Believe It or Not!” show; it’ll be a real surprise for them to hear my voice on the radio!

BAILEY: Your voice?

GUIDE: Colonel Boles and I thought it would be real neat if I were to show—

BOLES: [Coughs in warning over top of her.]

GUIDE: [Hesitantly.] . . . w-were to showcase the true beauty of the cave.

BAILEY: Would not the audience be better served hearing about the Carlsbad Cave from professional promoters, such as Colonel Boles himself, or perhaps even the Governor of this enchanting state?

BOLES: Certainly, but who better to express the true breathtaking qualities of this magnificent cavern than our best guide? She and the other guides can bring this cavern to life better than anyone.

GUIDE: I wouldn’t go that far, Colonel Boles. You, after all, have [with teasing emphasis] SUNG its praises the world over. But to give you audience a better appreciation for all the wonders of this cavern, Ms. Bailey, Colonel Boles has come up with a little surprise.

BAILEY: [A little concerned.] Surprise? Now, Colonel Boles, because of the uniqueness of this broadcast, we must stick to the precise format and script.

BOLES: Yes, let’s chat about our plans for the radio broadcast, the first ever conducted underground, I might add. I remember the challenge when we first installed electric lights inside the Big Room. One thousand feet of microphone wiring—no problem! I spoke with Bob himself on the phone earlier this week.

BAILEY: Yes, he mentioned to me that a former guano miner . . . [confused pause, paper shuffling] uh . . . [more paper shuffling] a Mr. Jim White, agreed to share his story with our radio listeners?

BOLES: [Laughs.] You can call him an old guano miner, if you’d like, but this strange environment is Jim’s domain; for years he’s been the cavern’s chief explorer!

BAILEY: [Excited.] I just know that our audience is going to love hearing about his adventures!

BOLES: Well, [slight chuckle] he agreed to join Mr. Ripley and I right here, in this exact spot, Friday night. No guarantees as to how much he will talk, however. Jim is a man who [pauses before cautiously continues] gives very direct answers. I should get you a copy of Jim White’s Own Story, just in case. As for our famous underground ceremony, Mr. Ripley thought it was best to surprise you! It will make your experience underground more authentic.

BAILEY: I can promise you the talk of majestic caverns out here in the desert sure has Mr. Ripley and I excited. It’s simply difficult to match his ideas to his travels. . . . [Resignedly] Well, as long as we can rehearse any performance and synchronize our timing with the studio, I’m . . . open to ideas. I trust your judgement, Colonel Boles; I know you’ve handled trips into the cavern thousands of times. How would you normally conduct a tour of these magnificent caverns?

BOLES: I am thrilled you asked, Bertha. Please, find a seat and extinguish your lantern, so that mine may be the only one illuminated.

BAILEY: [Slightly nervous.] All right. . . . [Lantern handle squeaks. Bertha blows out the candle.]

BOLES: In a moment, you will get an idea of true darkness. [Speaking like a showman.] I want you to reflect on what you have seen here this afternoon. Those architects of nature, water, and gravity have created the thousands of stalactites hanging from the ceiling and the giant stalagmites around us. It is truly an underground cathedral, grander than any church on the surface. People travel the world seeking out things of great age and wonder, like the pyramids of Egypt, or the Redwoods of California. Now to my left is one of the major outstanding formations of this cavern. Years ago, several of the world’s most distinguished geologists, determining by height and volume, computed its age and estimated it to be fifty million years old. Now, fifty million years is a long time. It has stood here ten times longer than the oldest pyramid. It was fully grown before the biggest Redwood was but a sapling. Hence the name, “Rock of Ages,” built in darkness and in silence. Huge, beautiful, wonderous, magnificent, unmatched by the hands of man! And this is just one of the many wonders here in the Carlsbad Caverns of New Mexico. This is the memory we want you, Bertha, to carry via radio to hometowns and home states, an [emphasizes each syllable] ear-view trip through the cavern today. Many people may soon travel great distances to visit us, but now here we are all together, sharing this auditory moment in the most beautiful cave on Earth. The hymn, “Rock of Ages,” has been sung to you in churches, in Sunday schools, but never in an underground cathedral such as this. Millions have come before you, and millions more shall visit, because of [emphasizes each syllable] folks just like you, who produce these wonderful broadcasts and allow our voices to be heard by ten million citizens of the world!

[Lantern handle squeaks. Colonel Boles dramatically inhales and blows out the candle.]

[Water drips in the background.]

SOPRANO SOLOIST: [Voice echoes deeply in cavern chamber as she begins the hymn “Rock of Ages.” Water continues to drip in background.] Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in thee Let the water and the blood From thy wounded side which flowed Be of sin the double cure Save from wrath and make me pure

FULL QUARTET: Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in thee Let the water and the blood From thy wounded side which flowed Be of sin the double cure Save from wrath and make me pure

[Echo of final chord slowly fades into the dripping darkness]

NARRATOR: Robert Ripley himself arrived at Carlsbad Cavern on June 2, 1939. At 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the broadcast was live on the air from seven hundred fifty feet below the ground. From the bowels of the earth, Ripley chatted with park superintendent Thomas Boles, the governor of New Mexico John Miles, and explorer Jim White. This episode of “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” was a smashing success. The famous ranger rendition of the “Rock of Ages” hymn was heard not just in the expansive cavern, but also in America’s largest cities, smallest towns, and in homes all over the world. Listeners who tuned in to this first, one-of-a-kind underground broadcast were treated to just some of the unbelievable tales of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Brought directly to their ears, the unique auditory journey through the cavern inspired the curiosity of many audience members, who quickly planned their own visits to this grand cavern. Three hours after the extraordinary broadcast, Robert Ripley left the cave and was on the road to El Paso. He arrived home in New York the next afternoon and was able to take a comfortable nap on the surface of the earth, dreaming sweetly of the wonders below . . . believe it, or not.

[Doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages” begins and continues to play in the background.]

OUTRO: Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Rock of Ages. This episode featured the voices of rangers James Gunn as Colonel Thomas Boles, Pam Cox as Bertha Bailey, Jane Santaella as Carmen McClean, and Aubrey Brown as the Narrator. Alongside the singing talents of Kelli Housley, Jane Santaella, Brian Cole, Dave Brumbaugh, and Gabe Montemayor, this episode was researched and written by Anthony Mazzucco, with additional research by Kelli Housley, and additional dialogue by Aubrey Brown. Recording production was done by James Gunn and Anthony Mazzucco, music and audio engineering by Gabe Montemayor, with Abby Burlingame and Aubrey Brown at the creative helm. Thanks for listening . . . and happy trails!

[Music fades to silence.]

Journey with us to 1939, to the famed Rock of Ages ceremony, and follow Bertha Bailey as she meets park superintendent Colonel Thomas Boles and prepares for a very special version of the ceremony.

December 30, 2020

The Magical World of Carlsbad Caverns

Transcript

Transcript

The Magical World of Carslbad Caverns

[Radio scanning stations, crackles into doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” and continues to play in the background.]

INTRO: Hello, everyone! Welcome to this episode of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages will take on a different form as we all adapt to the challenges of this year. This project has been made possible by the diligent work, research, time, and vocal talents of the interpretive staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Our episode today takes us on a stroll through the cave in 1963 alongside some well-known voices, who are looking to glean inspiration from the spectacular sight before them. So, sit back, relax, and listen to our park’s history.

NARRATOR: Even the most famous artists of our time need to find inspiration somewhere. Walt Disney looked to the most inspirational places he could imagine, the national parks, through his entire entertainment career. He and his wife, Lillian, arrived at Carlsbad Caverns National Park for a surprise visit on May 16, 1963. Walt has dreamed of visiting Carlsbad Cavern since childhood. The day he saw the first colored photographs of the cavern in a National Geographic article, “Carlsbad Caverns in Color” in 1953, he knew he had to make this dream a reality. So enchanted was he that he even brought a copy of that issue to read on the long flight from Los Angeles to New York. Since they are flying over New Mexico anyway, the Disneys decide this is the perfect opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Though their visit is unexpected, Superintendent During is delighted to offer a private tour of the Big Room to perhaps the most celebrated entertainer of this century.

[Water drips in the background, voices echo in cavern chamber.]

DURING: Welcome to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Mr. and Mrs. Disney! We’ve cleared the Big Room for you to enjoy the wonders of the cavern without a lot of other visitors infringing on your time.

WALT: [With a sense of awe] I’m flabbergasted! I’ve dreamed of coming here since I was a child. But, you really didn’t have to give us a private tour, Superintendent During. I love people!

DURING: Nonsense, it’s no trouble. You’ll enjoy the cavern much more without a lot of commotion, believe me. But [heavy sigh] I’m afraid I have an important matter to attend to. I’ll rejoin you later on to escort you out of the cavern. Enjoy your visit, Mr. and Mrs. Disney!

[Footsteps echo on the cave trail as Superintendent During walks away, fade into distance.]

WALT: I’m flabbergasted, Lillian. I never thought it would be so enchanting.

LILLIAN: The cavern looks magical! It’s just like the panoramic picture from the National Geographic article we were reading on the plane.

WALT: It does! But, there is something nifty about seeing the cave in person. Look at all the details of the smooth sweeping arches and rough popcorn texture.

LILLIAN: Yes, Walt. Look at this column! It’s almost like a frozen waterfall.

WALT: These whimsical and beautiful limestone formations are making me consider Upton Sinclair’s “The Gnomobile.” I mean, this cave would be a great setting for a movie.

LILLIAN: Oh, yes. The family of gnomes who live in California’s redwood forest and get crowded out by deforestation in an ever-increasing human population, right?

WALT: Yes! However, a kindly human takes them to each of the nation’s national parks in search of other gnomes who face extinction in a crowded world.

[Pause]

WALT [loud voice]: I am the nifty gnomobile, Before my name all nations kneel;

LILLIAN [laughs]: I’m neat and nice in all my motions, But sometimes have annoying notions;

WALT [jokingly]: And when I have a nut that loosens . . .Then I become an awful nuisance.

LILLIAN [jokingly]: Take notice not to drive too quick—I’ll knock your noodle like old Nick;

WALT [deep breath]: But know enough to nurse your speed, And I will never fail your need.

[Both laugh in delight.]

LILLIAN: Walt, couldn’t you finish by bringing them here to live with another family of gnomes in Carlsbad Cavern? This would be the type of place lonely gnomes might flee to.

WALT: [Contemplates the idea.] Hmm. What a wonderful idea, my dear. I seem to remember that the displaced gnomes end up finding a cave to live in. They even created their own industry with smokestacks belching out black smoke. [Pause] There is a terrific problem of lighting the cavern sufficiently for filming, though. It’s so vast! I don’t think it would be possible to capture it on film with all the lights in the world! [Pause] We should send some of our artists down to do some sketches. Maybe we can find other uses for the cave?

LILLIAN: I remember you talking about creating a new ride at Disneyland that has to do with pirates. Could you use cave scenes?

WALT: The Pirates of the Caribbean experience! Picture this, Lillian: instead of a pathway, we can have a water course that travels through the passages of a coastal cave.

LILLIAN: [Teasing.] Are you going to put live sharks in the water just like you wanted to put alligators in the jungle boat ride?

WALT: [Chuckles.] Golly! No. I can imagine creating scenes of what’s most important to pirates.

LILLIAN: Looting, plundering, sea battles . . .

WALT and LILLIAN: [Exaggerated, excited whisper] . . . and a hidden treasure!

LILLIAN: . . . in a cave nobody knows exists.

WALT: I’m so . . . [deep intake of breath, overwhelmed] . . . flabbergasted!

LILLIAN: You can put stalactites that are dripping water from the ceiling, and stalagmites rising up out of the water.

WALT: With a pirate sitting on top!

LILLIAN: Look, here’s the Painted Grotto. Look at how magnificent it is, all the colors and delicate formations. It’s a cave within a cave!

WALT: [Gasps with sudden inspiration.] We can end the ride with the treasure hidden in a secret grotto.

LILLIAN: Behind a false wall! WALT: It is magical! It would be hard to replicate this type of beauty, though.

LILLIAN: I love the inspiration you glean from national parks, Walt.

WALT: So, do I. The differing landscapes and wildlife impress me. Carlsbad Cavern has shown me that there is beauty above ground—and below.

LILLIAN: I agree! These caverns are wonderful! They are so free-form. The contrast between the lights and shadow create a sense of the unknown . . . of mystery, depth.

WALT: I know; I feel like a big kid! I’m flabbergasted! I still don’t believe it!

LILLIAN: We have been talking for years about coming to visit and have finally managed to fit it in.

[Footsteps in the distance grow louder as they approach.]

DURING: Mr. and Mrs. Disney? I apologize for not being able to walk with you the entire way. But I hope you’ve had a splendid time. What do you think about our cavern?

WALT: I feel impressed and deeply inspired by this fantasy created by nature. It’s truly magical. The massive formations and spaciousness of the caverns are difficult to absorb. Superintendent During, you folks really have something here!

LILLIAN: We are going to have to go home and reevaluate ourselves.

NARRATOR: And reevaluate themselves, they did. Walt and Lillian Disney never forgot their unbelievable journey seven hundred fiftty feet below the surface. Walt Disney was instantly captivated by the famous Carlsbad Cavern. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” attraction at Disneyland was the last that Walt Disney personally had a hand in creating before his death in 1966. Although his movie The Gnomobile does not feature a cave as does the book, the inspiration Disney derived from Carlsbad Cavern is clearly evident in other animated films and future documentaries. There are many scenes of awe-inspiring beauty that are subtle tributes to Disney’s fateful visit to this magical world below. Disney artists visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park to create the underwater fantasyland in the 2001 animated feature, Atlantis. The cavern even makes a parodied appearance in Disney’s A Goofy Movie. The majestic Carlsbad Cavern has thrilled guests the world over, some perhaps subconsciously through the beautiful images created by Disney and other visual artists. Motion pictures have the ability to capture the imaginations of audiences throughout the world. They have the ability to shape our perceptions of what was, is, and could be. No icon has done that better than Walt Disney, and his advocacy for protecting the wonders of our national parks, such as Carlsbad Caverns, is evident in everything he created.

[Doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages” begins and continues to play in the background.]

OUTRO: We sure hope this episode left you flabbergasted! This episode featured the voices of rangers Max Berlin as Superintendent Henry During, Dave Brumbaugh as Walt Disney, Margaret Gray as Lillian Disney, and Aubrey Brown as the Narrator. This episode was researched and written by Margaret Gray and Kialey Day. Recording production was done by James Gunn and Anthony Mazzucco, music and audio engineering by Gabe Montemayor, with Abby Burlingame and Aubrey Brown at the creative helm. We hope you’ll join us for our next episode! Thanks for listening. . . . See ya soon . . . and happy trails!

[Music fades to silence.]

This episode takes us stroll through the cave in 1963, alongside some well-known voices, who are looking to glean inspiration from the spectacular sight before them.

December 23, 2020

Microbes in Space!

Transcript

Transcript

Microbes in Space!

[Radio scanning stations, crackles into doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” and continues to play in the background.]

INTRO: Hello, everyone! Welcome to this episode of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages will take on a different form as we all adapt to the challenges of this year. This project has been made possible by the diligent work, research, time, and vocal talents of the interpretive staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Our episode today leaves Carlsbad Cavern itself and takes us to another famous cave in the park—Lechuguilla Cave—where deep underground two scientists look for signs of life unlike anything we’ve seen before. So, sit back, relax, and listen to an alien world. . . .

[Music fades to silence.]

NARRATOR: Leading microbiologist Dr. Vera Small and her research assistant, Hannah Lovecraft, are currently thirteen hundred feet below the surface. They are sitting around a tiny, unassuming cave pool in the heart of Lechuguilla Cave, no more than a foot in length and half as wide. They are surrounded by stygian darkness, save for the dim light of their headlamps, focused entirely on the pool. Dr. Small has journeyed into the wild depths of Lechuguilla so many times that the novelty of it has worn off, but for Hannah, this expedition is a rite of passage. As the two women work shoulder to shoulder in near silence, Hannah reminds Dr. Small of why she began this study, and they both realize the magnitude of what they hope to accomplish.

[Two sets of footsteps echo on the cave floor. Bags set down, water splashes as a spoon is dipped in the pool, water sample trickles into container. Voices echo in the cave.]

DR. SMALL: And the pH reading?

HANNAH: 7.92.

DR. SMALL: Awesome. Here—Hannah—store the vials securely.

[Lid screwed tight.]

HANNAH: Secure. [Sarcastically.] Now we just have to crawl several hours to the surface with them.

DR. SMALL: [Patronizing.] True, and the last thing we want to do is contaminate them.

HANNAH: [Sheepishly.] Oh, yeah. Yeah, of course, Dr. Small!

DR. SMALL: You are one of a very select group of people to ever have set foot here. Which is why we are here. If humans haven’t touched this small room, this small cave pool, what might the organisms that call this inhospitable environment home be able to teach us?

HANNAH: Maybe how they live here? Oh, sorry, was that rhetorical?

DR. SMALL: No, you’re exactly right. Almost a thousand feet below the surface—almost sealed off from all contact with the surface—in complete darkness—we find life. [Pauses, speaks almost to herself in wonder.] How do they live here? A tiny bit of carbon makes its way down from the surface . . . the tiniest influence of the sunny world far above. But we still have so much to learn on what conditions let them thrive. [Speaking directly to Hannah.] I can’t wait to take a look at these under the microscope and show you how cool the Lechuguilla pool samples are. Forms and shapes you’ve never seen before, that you couldn’t dream up. Even in the macroscopic, you’ve seen some wild things—cotton candy-like fluff clinging to walls. In other caves we’ve seen what looks like snot hanging above us—only it’s dripping sulfuric acid. Unnerving, but beautiful. And it’s all alive—full of microbes. It’s beguiling, foreign, alien! That’s why to understand what’s beyond earth, we can start inside it. [Takes on a teaching role.] Okay. So . . . if you’re life trying to eke out an existence on another planet, say Mars, what are you up against?

HANNAH: Uh . . . temperature?

DR. SMALL: Right! Wild temperature swings, even over the course of a single day. What else?

HANNAH: Atmospheric pressure . . . and no oxygen, and, uh . . . give me a minute, I know this. . . . UV radiation exposure!

DR. SMALL: Exactly. Its rough on the surface. Now, what if I told you that communities of microbial organisms taken from this cave survived a laboratory experiment simulating Mars-like conditions? [Becomes excited as she continues.] It’s a bit extreme to expect to find life on the surface today, but if it could have survived, made its way into the subsurface—that’s one really promising place to look for life on other planetary bodies. [Becomes even more excited.] And evidence for caves on the moon and Mars keeps growing! And even if we don’t directly find life, we may be able to discover evidence—“signatures” of past life—fossils, geochemical changes, isotopic shifts, weathering patterns! And we can use this cave as a massive, complex laboratory to conceptualize what this evidence might look like!

HANNAH: And it’s easier to get here than to the surface of Mars. Not that getting here was easy.

DR. SMALL: Indeed. I doubt I’ll ever get off this planet. But this is the closest I’ve found so far on Earth. Not that Earth will ever run out of surprises, especially in places like this.

HANNAH: I do feel like an astronaut down here, sometimes. Carrying everything in and everything out. In darkness all the time, unable to tell if it’s day or night, working and living with a small team.

DR. SMALL: Maybe one day you could be part of a team that sets foot on the moon or another planet.

HANNAH: [Quiet, considering the possibility.] Huh.

DR. SMALL: Well, right now, I’d like to set foot back in camp for some delicious rehydrated pasta.

HANNAH: Right behind you.

[Bags being packed and zipped. Two sets of footsteps echo on the cave floor, fade to silence as water drips into the cave pool.]

NARRATOR: Microbes have stood the test of time like no other lifeform. Nowhere else on the planet can you find life as ancient and persistent as microbes in a virgin cave like Lechuguilla. The story of their survival is intimately recorded in the pristine pools of water, in the beautiful formations, in the very air within the cavern. Microbes were the beginning of life on this planet, and they will be the last lifeforms to remain. Scientists are using the information gathered in the quiet darkness of caves to test the boundaries of human existence. These microbes are helping to fight the increasing number of deadly bacteria resistant to antibiotics, to find possible cures for certain types of cancers. The pursuit of life on celestial bodies, and the continuance of that life, is intimately tied to cave exploration. Microbes adapted to living in extreme environments like caves have inspired us to look beyond ourselves and beyond the heavens for answers to human survival, for it is the research conducted in the depths of Lechuguilla that has illustrated how incredible, how varied, and how precious all life is.

[Doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages” begins and continues to play in the background.]

OUTRO: We hope you enjoyed this episode of Rock of Ages. This episode featured the voices of rangers Kialey Day as Dr. Vera Small, Laura Steele as Hannah Lovecraft, and Aubrey Brown as the Narrator. This episode was researched by Grace Housman, and written by Abby Burlingame. Recording production was done by James Gunn and Anthony Mazzucco, music and audio engineering by Gabe Montemayor, with Abby Burlingame and Aubrey Brown at the creative helm. Join us for our next episode, coming soon! Thanks for listening. . . . See ya soon . . . and happy trails!

[Music fades to silence.]

This episode leaves Carlsbad Cavern itself and takes us to another famous cave in the park—Lechuguilla Cave—where deep underground two scientists look for signs of life unlike anything we’ve seen before.

December 22, 2020

Doomsday

Transcript

Transcript

Doomsday

[Radio scanning stations, crackles into doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” and continues to play in the background.]

INTRO: Hello, everyone! Welcome to this episode of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages will take on a different form as we all adapt to the challenges of this year. This project has been made possible by the diligent work, research, time, and vocal talents of the interpretive staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. In our episode today, we wait with bated breath inside the cave . . . in 1961, to see what effect setting off a nuclear bomb 34 miles away might have on the cave. Sit back, do your best to relax, and listen to our park’s history.

[Music fades to silence.]

NARRATOR: The time is 11:45 a.m. on the morning of December 11, 1961. John Broadbent, chief ranger at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and Melinda Raven, news reporter for the Carlsbad Current-Argus, stand near Crystal Spring Dome in the Big Room. They watch as water drips from the ceiling into the cave pool at their feet. Except for park rangers Paul Spangler and Walter O’Neal, who are posted at Green Lake and Mirror Lake, they are the only people in Carlsbad Cavern on this tension-filled day. The cavern is eerily silent as a seismograph rhythmically records data in the Underground Lunchroom. Everyone is deeply engrossed in their assignments to monitor the cavern for unusual activity, waiting for the big event at 12 o’clock noon.

[Steady ticking of a stopwatch and dripping water]

[Voices echo slightly in the cavern.]

MELINDA: This is not your typical Sunday at Carlsbad Caverns, is it, Ranger Broadbent?

JOHN: [Amused] I expected this to happen: our usual Sunday deluge of visitors driving their cars up the corkscrew road to the Visitor Center and Cavern slowed to a trickle. They must be holed up in their bunkers at home! Of course, we scheduled a break in cave tours for the Project Gnome blast. We still have some brave visitors up at the surface, watching the basin below and waiting for the explosion.

MELINDA: Why did you pursue this special assignment—to be in the cave when the bomb goes off—and how did Park Superintendent Oscar Carlson react?

JOHN: I grabbed the opportunity to be part of history, to watch the cave pools for vibrations when the nuclear test happened. We easily obtained a permit, and we are happy that we could include you, Ms. Raven.

MELINDA: My watch says 11:50 a.m. Let’s review some basic facts about Project Gnome.

JOHN: I recall Dr. Edward Teller on the Atomic Energy Commission’s Nuclear Test Film. . . .

[Musical chimes, film reel playing in the background]

TELLER: The great violent power of nuclear explosions can be used for peaceful purposes. We call this Project Plowshare. The reason for the name is obvious. For quite a few years, in the Livermore Laboratory, we have tried to find ways to bend this power to useful purposes—geographical engineering—move great amounts of earth, build canals and harbors, use nuclear explosives as high explosives have been used, for the purpose of man . . . and to make new kinds of chemicals. Here I have with me a piece of salt from a mine in New Mexico. We make an explosion to find out the power of nuclear explosions in this new medium: salt.

[Film reel slowly winds down]

MELINDA: As I was saying, about Project Gnome, which is part of Project Plowshare: 34 miles southeast of here, as the crow flies, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission is about to ignite a five-kiloton nuclear bomb twelve hundred feet underground in rock salt.

JOHN: I bet that they will iodize the salt! [Chuckles]

MELINDA: Some local citizens are distressed about this experiment. Potash miners fear that it will wreck their mines; farmers worry that it will contaminate their soil. They say that the Atomic Energy Commission regards their homeland as expendable. Does the AEC regard the caverns as expendable? What are your thoughts on the subject, Ranger Broadbent?

JOHN: There has been outstanding cooperation among all the federal agencies involved in this project—the Atomic Energy Commission, the U.S. Public Health Service, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and the National Park Service. While I am inside the cave, Superintendent Carlson is at the Project Gnome blast site with a front row seat to the spectacle! We have full confidence that the impact on the cave and the community will be minimal. Our colleagues at the Atomic Energy Commission have assured us that they apply atomic bombs like a master carpenter applies a saw: with precision.

MELINDA: Do you predict that rocks will fall from the ceiling? Or that stalactites will break?

JOHN: No. The dynamiting construction workers have been doing on the road leading up to the Visitor Center has probably caused more noise and vibration in the park than Project Gnome will. In five minutes, I will be excited if I can even see a vibration in the pool.

MELINDA: You seem awfully self-assured for a man who would be speaking about the fragility of the caverns on a typical workday! If a mere touch from a visitor can damage the cave—

JOHN: Distance and millions of tons of rock will shield us from the bomb.

MELINDA: I presume that if this blast succeeds, there will be more atomic bombs deployed in southeast New Mexico, perhaps to excavate oil wells or potash mines. Can you still protect the cave while using this potent technology?

JOHN: If future blasts are proposed, we will evaluate them on a case by case basis. My agency is committed to protecting the cave. I have great rapport and trust with our colleagues in the Atomic Energy Commission. They are committed to building an atomic age economy. I look forward to working with them again.

MELINDA: In the event of an atomic war with the Soviet Union, how would you feel about using Carlsbad Caverns as a fallout shelter?

JOHN: This is the “Peaceful Atom” we’re talking about here, Ms. Raven.

MELINDA: If World War III suddenly happened, would you personally take shelter in the cave?

JOHN: If that happened, I would have a lot of work to do rounding up park visitors. A park ranger’s job never ends. However, I might send my wife and children into the cave.

MELINDA: You are very sure that the rocks that surround us would protect us from the initial shock of a nuclear blast sent by Russia, but what about the radioactive fallout?

JOHN: [Thoughtfully] That question . . . merits further study.

MELINDA: It’s 11:57 a.m. by my watch.

JOHN: I’ll watch the pool. Ranger Spangler and Ranger O’Neal are watching their pools.

[Steady ticking of a stopwatch fades into the background, continues in the background]

JOHN: And the seismograph is running in the Underground Lunchroom.

MELINDA: The Doomsday Clock reads two minutes to midnight.

[Steady ticking of a stopwatch and dripping water continues, then fades into silence.]

NARRATOR: Not a ripple of water. Not a jump of the needle. Not a whisper of air. When the second hand ticked its final course to that momentous hour, life inside of Carlsbad Cavern continued without fanfare. Project Gnome proved what all the rangers already knew: in the event of a nuclear attack, Carlsbad Cavern would be the ideal location to protect the citizens from the resulting shockwaves. Preparations to turn Carlsbad Cavern into a fallout shelter were quickly set in motion. Barrels full of supplies of food and water were brought down into the cavern and placed in Pickle Alley. Large freezers were constructed for cold storage. Tightly sealed cartons contained blankets and other items necessary to combat the chilly cavern environment were quietly tucked away in discrete corners. However, Melinda Raven’s apprehension about nuclear fallout making its way into the cavern was a valid concern. Carlsbad Cavern would be able to house every person living in the City of Carlsbad. The cavern’s natural breathing could very well trap the poisonous, radioactive material citizens would want to escape. Thankfully, its true merit as a natural fallout shelter was never tested.

[Doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages” begins and continues to play in the background.]

OUTRO: We hope you had as much fun listening to this episode as we did making it. This episode featured the voices of rangers Grace Housman as Melinda Raven, Ross Studlar as John Broadbent, and Aubrey Brown as the Narrator. This episode was researched and written by Ross Studlar with additional research by Colin Walfield. Recording production was done by James Gunn and Anthony Mazzucco, music and audio engineering by Gabe Montemayor, with Abby Burlingame and Aubrey Brown at the creative helm. Join us for our next episode, coming soon! Thanks for listening. . . . See ya next time . . . and happy trails!

[Music fades to silence.]

In 1961, we wait with a Park Ranger and a reporter inside Carlsbad Cavern, as a nuclear bomb is set off 34 miles away.

December 20, 2020

Maiden Voyage

Transcript

Transcript

Maiden Voyage

[Radio scanning stations, crackles into doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” and continues to play in the background.]

INTRO: Hello, everyone! Welcome to this episode of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages will take on a different form as we all adapt to the challenges of this year. This project has been made possible by the diligent work, research, time, and vocal talents of the interpretive staff at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Today, we travel to 1928, where superintendent Colonel Thomas Boles meets with a special guest, one who is known for her daring feats above ground, rather than below. Sit back, relax, and listen to our history.

[Music fades to silence]

NARRATOR: Miss Amelia Earhart, the only woman air passenger to make the Atlantic hop, never makes any flying dates, which has served her well on this avian journey through the Southwest. Her attempts to leave Pecos, Texas to land in El Paso have been foiled by bouts of engine trouble. Ralph Sparks, a member of the El Paso Aero Club, retrieved her after the second forced landing and invited her to stay has a guest with him and his wife until her plane can be repaired. On this lovely afternoon of September 9, 1928, Mr. and Mrs. Sparks decide to introduce this vibrant aviatress to a world completely alien to her, but no less enthralling than taking wing. Used to soaring thousands of miles high in the glorious blue yonder, Amelia is unprepared for the captivating wonderland hundreds of feet beneath her feet as Superintendent Thomas Boles escorts her through his favorite showground of Carlsbad Cavern, the Lower Cave.

[Two sets of footsteps echo on a dirt trail, leather boots squeak. Footsteps come to a stop, voices echo in cavern chamber.]

BOLES: My dear Miss Earhart, although you have had the great honor of experiencing our traditional Rock of Ages Ceremony mere moments ago, I wish to officially welcome you to the Lower Cavern—and the Carlsbad Cave National Monument itself!

EARHART: Yes, it has all been quite magnificent—thank you once again for the warm welcome!

BOLES: [Formally, taking on a ringleader persona] Now, ma’am, I want to showcase these magnificent architects of nature. Glistening stalactites and towering stalagmites surround us—from the tallest columns to the miniscule, marvelous cave pearls hiding at your feet. This underground cathedral is grander than anything made by the hands of man! Have you—

EARHART: [Interrupting] And how! What a wonderful sight to behold!

BOLES: Yes! Just 5 years ago, our dear president found it necessary to reserve this natural wonder as a national monument. He agreed that there are formations in such unusual number and beauty of form to make this cavern superior to other caves! I do hope to have Congress approve this as a national park someday soon. Hopefully, our esteemed legislative colleagues agree that this cave is as unique as President Coolidge says it is! Why, I know—

EARHART: [Interrupting] Why, I met the man just this year. Quite the honor I daresay! He is a quiet man, though. . . .

BOLES: What a spectacular coincidence! You may have visited purely by accident, Miss Ear—

EARHART: [Interrupting] Please, call me Amelia!

BOLES: Of course. [Chuckles] Amelia. Your visit may have been a perfect storm of coincidence—just think! By coming here, you have brought together a cavern our president smartly preserved and a woman he met after a significant historic flight! Such a remarkable and extraordinary event indeed!

EARHART: [Modestly] Please. Colonel, it was just a quick jump over the pond.

BOLES: 21 hours is no easy feat, ma’am!

EARHART: True! But to be honest . . . I felt much like a . . . sack of potatoes. I dream of the day I am more than simply a passenger.

BOLES: Now, don’t be quick to discount your achievement. Just one year ago some “potatoes,” as you call them, died in the attempt!

EARHART: [Sighs] Yes, yes, I know. But to be in control of my own destiny, my own plane, [small laugh] make the journey as a fly boy myself. . . . I know I could make the journey on my own one day.

BOLES: I don’t doubt it, Ms. Ear—[laughs] Amelia. Why, I could see a fine pilot such as yourself earning recognition worldwide—maybe even medals!

EARHART: [Laughs] Sure, that’ll be the day—a lady receiving prestigious awards. . . .

BOLES: Don’t be so quick to shoot it down! After all, I tell my daughter every day anything is possible.

EARHART: And you both should know I am quite aware of the hazards. I want to do it because I want to do it. Tell your daughter that women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.

BOLES: Well said! Especially after that momentous decision 8 years ago. You proved yourself up to that challenge mere months ago!

EARHART: True! Now that we have the vote, what can’t we do?! It is the ’20s, after all!

[Both laugh]

EARHART: Well, Colonel Boles, I must say, this cave is just the bee’s knees. I wonder if you might grand me a small favor?

BOLES: [Slightly hesitant] Of course! How could I deny a simple request from someone so beloved?

EARHART: Well, as you know, I am a tad adventurous. . . .

BOLES: [Chuckles] You slay me! I do believe you are greatly underselling yourself there. “A tad” is a bit of an understatement, if I do say so myself!

EARHART: [Cautiously] Meaning no disrespect to you, sir . . . after all, I am quite overwhelmed by the wonders Hades’ realm contains. . . .

BOLES: [Enthusiastically] Isn’t it the most splendid place you’ve ever seen?!

EARHART: . . . but . . .

BOLES: Ma’am! You insult me!

EARHART: [Quickly] Not to say it’s not swell! But my only wish is to see a place no man—or woman—has seen before. . . . How marvelous an experience would that be?

BOLES: I should have expected as much! [Clears throat, continues in ringleader-type patter] Miss Amelia Earhart, on behalf of the Carlsbad Cave National Monument, I hereby give this lantern to your possession. Proceed into the darkness until no footsteps or disturbance of the soft cavern floor can be seen. Then you shall know—no eyes have gazed upon that room but yours!

EARHART: Thank you! [Small laugh] I assure you, Colonel, I am not one to shy away from danger!

BOLES: I trust you will take the utmost care in protecting the new underground realm you discover. And please, Miss Earhart, despite your declaration—don’t take any wooden nickels!

EARHART: [Small laugh] Of course! I will proceed with the utmost care and caution!

[Footsteps echo on dirt trail, fade into distance. Water drips. Footsteps turn into a ticking clock marking the passage of time. Colonel Boles’s thoughts become so loud they echo deeply through time and space as if he is speaking out loud. Water and clock continue in the background.]

BOLES: . . . My, it has been some time now. I wonder how our dear pilot is faring. I . . . do hope she can find her way back here. However would I explain the disappearance of such a well-known plot? Could she . . . sh-she won’t lose her way, right? [Quickly] I worry for nothing. I know she will find her course. Is that . . . do I hear footsteps? [Pauses, water drips] No . . . just water. [Clock ticking] My, my, it has been almost a half hour! I wonder if she’ll speak kindly of her visit. This could turn into fantastic publicity for the park, if she reflects well on her time here. . . . But . . . if it turns out poorly . . . [Sighs deeply, quick footsteps echo on dirt trail, become louder as Amelia gets closer]

BOLES: [Quietly in relief, to himself, normal cave echo returns] Ah, thank goodness! [Spoken to Earhart] Our intrepid explorer returns!

EARHART: [Breathless and excited] Oh, Colonel Boles, I have never been so fascinated in my entire life!

BOLES: [jokingly] I dare say, Miss Earhart, you are covered in dirt! Do you plan on taking half the cavern with you when you leave? As pleased as I am to have you here, taking anything from this monument would be a crime!

EARHART: [Laughs heartedly, brushes dirt off her clothes] I sincerely apologize, my dear Colonel. [Brushes and pats dirt off her clothes.] What a splendid adventure that was! Though my heart will always fly high in the sky, I would love to return and spend more time exploring the hidden realms of your beloved cavern.

BOLES: I would be delighted to have you return! Why, we could use a brave adventurer like you on our exploration party this winter!

EARHART: [gasps] Whistle me Dixie, that would be the cat’s meow! After all, adventure is worthwhile in itself!

BOLES: Oh, Miss Earhart, I formally invite you back to join our exploration party to run out several of the tunnels and pits previously unknown and unexplored by mankind.

EARHART: [Teasing] Unexplored to man-kind, but woman-kind shall discover them quite readily!

BOLES: [Good naturedly] Quite right, my dear Amelia!

EARHART: What a delight this day has been! Colonel Boles, you can tell everyone that even people who cross the Atlantic in an airplane can get a thrill in visiting the Carlsbad Cave!

BOLES: I will, indeed!

EARHART: If only I had the opportunity to stay longer—alas, I must head off to El Paso tomorrow! I have been delayed long enough. Although, this has been quite the distraction from my journey, I must say!

BOLES: Miss Earhart, one final question before we head out. . . .

EARHART: Yes?

BOLES: [Half-jokingly] Might you wish to join our crew here at the Carlsbad Cavern? We could use someone with your enthusiasm in our guide force!

EARHART: [Enthusiastically] Of course! Point me in the direction of the paperwork—where do I sign?

BOLES: [Chuckles] If only my rangers were half the woman you are. Tell me, what is your secret?!

EARHART: Honestly, [pauses thoughtfully] Colonel . . . I don’t want to miss a moment. And why do I do it? For the fun of it all. Why else would anyone do anything?

BOLES: [Thoughtfully] Well said, ma’am. Well said, indeed. Let’s get that paperwork started.

[Two sets of footsteps echo on dirt trail, fade into distance.]

NARRATOR: Sometimes a wing and a prayer leads to the most delightful and unexpected experiences and opportunities, as Amelia Earhart can attest. Even people who cross the Atlantic in a solo airplane can get a thrill in visiting Carlsbad Cavern! She signed papers that day to become an explorer of the cavern. Amelia had every intent of returning to Carlsbad Caverns National Park to make good on her promise to run out a few pits and tunnels in the cavern, even as soon as the following December or January. Although the allure of charting virgin passages deep in the belly of the earth was undeniable, in her heart flying high against the sun was her true calling. She went on to make headlines for her daring avian adventures, including being the first woman to earn the Congressional honor of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Nearly 10 years after her fascinating experience in Carlsbad Cavern, Amelia Earhart embarked on her boldest escapade: to be the first woman to fly around the world. Where Amelia is today, we may never know, but her daring spirit lives on in the heart of every visitor who delights in the wonders of Carlsbad Cavern.

[Doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages” begins and continues to play in the background.]

OUTRO: Well folks, we sure hope you enjoyed this episode of Rock of Ages. This episode featured the voices of rangers James Gunn as Colonel Thomas Boles, Kelli Housley as Amelia Earhart, and Aubrey Brown as the Narrator. This episode was researched and written by Kelli Housley. Recording production was done by James Gunn and Anthony Mazzucco, music and audio engineering by Gabe Montemayor, with Abby Burlingame and Aubrey Brown at the creative helm. Join us soon for our next episode. Thanks for listening . . . see ya soon . . . and happy trails.

[Music comes to an end.]

In our first episode we travel back to 1928, where Superintendent Colonel Thomas Boles meets with a special guest, one who is known for her daring feats above ground, rather than below.

December 19, 2020

Welcome to Rock of Ages!

Transcript

Transcript

Welcome to Rock of Ages!

[Radio scanning stations, crackles into doowop rendition of the hymn “Rock of Ages,” and continues to play in the background.]

NARRATOR: Welcome to Rock of Ages Radio Theater. Rock of Ages is an annual living history program conducted by the interpretive staff here at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The highlight of this program is the re-creation of the historic “Rock of Ages Ceremony,” which was regularly conducted in the Big Room from 1928 to 1944 by park superintendent Thomas Boles. This program was brought back to life in 2000 and has been a crowd favorite every holiday season for the past 20 years. It is traditionally a lantern-guided tour through the front section of the Big Room featuring characters from the park’s storied past.

This annual program offers a one-of-a-kind experience to be immersed in the wonders of Carlsbad Cavern, and to be introduced to some of its more colorful individuals. The COVID-19 Pandemic has inspired us to take a unique spin on this unique program. The 2020 Rock of Ages program is presented to you as a completely audial experience in the vein of a radio theater broadcast.

The special Rock of Ages Radio Theater series will be released in 9 episodes. Each episode will be available to listen to and/or download on the park website. Carlsbad Cavern is home to many incredible and inspiring stories that push the boundaries of imagination in the exploration, creation, and enjoyment of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The unbelievable tales surrounding the cavern dare visitors to believe in the impossible. When it comes to Ranger Lore, stories passed down from generation to generation of park guides, sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.

This project has been made possible by the diligent research, writing, vocal, and production talents of our interpretive staff here at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. We hope you enjoy this year’s Rock of Ages as much as we enjoyed making it. Sit back and relax as you listen to just some of the many unbelievable tales in our park’s history.

[Music fades to silence]

We’re thrilled to welcome everyone to our unique radio theater Rock of Ages experience.