Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

287 Episodes

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The Rooks: Whiskey, Trouble, and a Shot in the Dark

2026-02-1021:04

Originally Aired: October 6, 1957 In Gunsmoke #287, “The Rooks,” Marshal Matt Dillon returns from a grueling trial in Wichita only to find Dodge City under siege by two cocky cowhand brothers, Clay and Jess Rook. With Dillon laid up by illness, the Rooks bully their way through saloons, smashing bottles and pushing townsfolk to their limits. When the violence escalates to murder, Dillon must rise from his sickbed to restore order. A tense showdown in a dark livery stable brings grim resolution—and the question of what makes a man pull the trigger. Cast: William Conrad, John Dehner, Vic Perrin, Harry Bartell, Lawrence Dobkin, James Nusser, Barney Phillips, Don Diamond, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis Tags: western, drama, gunfight, DodgeCity, WilliamConrad, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, cowboyjustice, classicradio, shootout, lawandorder, oldtimeradio, saloon, frontierlife, brotherhood, USMarshal

Another Man’s Poison

2026-02-1020:32

Originally Aired: September 29, 1957 In Gunsmoke #286, “Another Man’s Poison,” Marshal Matt Dillon is drawn into a volatile triangle when Sally Bogan’s past resurfaces in Dodge City. Long believing her first husband drowned at sea, Sally is now confronted by Jeff Lightly—very much alive—and his sudden return puts her current marriage to Ben Bogan in jeopardy. As jealousy and wounded pride flare, Dillon struggles to keep the peace between two men determined to settle the matter with guns. The crisis reaches its breaking point when Sally makes a decisive choice that neither man expects, forcing both to face an uncomfortable truth about love, possession, and pride in the Old West. A tense moral drama that undercuts frontier bravado with bitter irony. Cast:William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis Tags: western, drama, loveTriangle, jealousy, marriage, frontierJustice, MattDillon, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, GunsmokePodcast, moralConflict, showdown, 1950sradio

Custer: A Killer Walks Free into Destiny

2026-02-0221:30

Originally Aired: September 22, 1957 In Gunsmoke #285, “Custer,” Marshal Matt Dillon arrests a suspicious drifter, Joe Trimble, for the brutal murder of a reclusive old rancher. But just as Dillon prepares to take him to trial, a U.S. Army major arrives with shocking news—Trimble is actually a deserter from the 7th Cavalry under an alias. Though Matt is convinced of Trimble's guilt, the Army demands custody. In a chilling twist of justice, Trimble escapes a civil conviction only to be sent back north to rejoin the very unit preparing for a fateful expedition against the Sioux. A slow-burning moral dilemma unfolds, ending with a haunting name—Colonel George Custer. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear Tags:Western, justice, murder, army, desertion, trial, MattDillon, WilliamConrad, 7thCavalry, Custer, Sioux, LittleBighorn, oldtimeradio, frontierjustice, militaryvsjustice, 1950sradio, classicwestern, suspense, historicalforeshadowing, Gunsmoke

Child Labor: A Brother’s Bond and a Bronco’s Revenge

2026-01-2219:28

Originally Aired: September 15, 1957 In Gunsmoke #284, “Child Labor,” two orphaned Texas boys arrive in Dodge hoping to find their uncle—but instead fall under the influence of shady rancher Oren Seibert, who hires them to break wild horses. Seibert promises a fair deal, but delivers exploitation and danger, driving the younger brother to his death and the elder to thoughts of revenge. Marshal Dillon must stop a grieving boy from becoming a killer, and reckon with the cost of broken trust. A heartrending story of loss, justice, and the raw pain of growing up too fast in the Old West. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear Tags:Western, drama, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, childlabor, family, orphans, horsebreaking, revenge, frontierjustice, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, tragedy, exploitation, classicwestern, brotherhood, abuse

Looney McCluny: The Fool’s Gold Murder

2026-01-2121:41

Originally Aired: September 8, 1957 In Gunsmoke #283, “Looney McCluny,” a quirky old prospector named Pop McCluny returns to Dodge City with another sack of what everyone assumes is worthless fool’s gold. But when he’s found murdered in his shack, the town is shocked—and Marshal Dillon realizes someone believed Pop’s tales of striking it rich. As suspicion falls on a slick out-of-towner, the real culprit turns out to be far closer to home, and far more chilling. A case of jealousy, greed, and deception, this episode asks: what’s more dangerous—hidden wealth or the illusion of madness? Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear Tags:Western, mystery, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, murdermystery, oldprospector, foolsgold, greed, deception, twistending, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, betrayal, assayoffice, crime

Jobe’s Son: A Father’s Name and a Son’s Shame

2026-01-2021:27

Originally Aired: September 1, 1957 In Gunsmoke #282, “Jobe’s Son,” a broken old rancher named Jobe Harley finally sees his prayers answered when his estranged son Tad returns after four years. But the reunion is not what Jobe had hoped. Tad is bitter, brash, and proud of a life of violence and crime. As Marshal Dillon watches the young man stir up trouble around Dodge, Jobe grapples with the hardest choice of all—protecting his only child or preserving the family name. When Tad plots a reckless bank robbery, Jobe’s quiet but devastating response reshapes the meaning of justice and legacy on the frontier. A deeply emotional episode about hard choices, moral lines, and the price of fatherhood. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear Tags:Western, drama, family, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, redemption, legacy, fathersandsons, crime, bankrobbery, frontierjustice, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, morality, tragedy, loyalty, classicwestern, namesake

Grass: A Sod-Hut Stand and a Coward’s Courage

2026-01-1921:47

Originally Aired: August 25, 1957 In Gunsmoke #281, “Grass,” Matt Dillon encounters Harry Pope, a skittish Easterner trying to start a quiet life on the prairie. But Pope’s isolation and fear of Indians are not all in his head—he’s the target of cruel harassment by local cowhands Joe Carter and Earl Brant. When Pope defends himself one night with deadly results, Marshal Dillon finds himself weighing the difference between a frightened man’s self-defense and cold-blooded murder. As tensions boil and frontier justice looms, the truth behind the torment reveals a bitter commentary on cowardice, cruelty, and what it really means to be brave in the Wild West. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear Tags:Western, drama, frontierjustice, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, sodbuster, prairie, mistakenidentity, selfdefense, vigilantejustice, 1950sradio, classicwestern, oldtimeradio, mentalhealth, loneliness, moralconflict, grass

The Peace Officer: A Marshal’s Mission and a Saloon Girl’s Escape

2026-01-1820:58

Originally Aired: August 18, 1957 In Gunsmoke #280, “The Peace Officer,” U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon rides to Tascosa to help replace a corrupt sheriff, only to find himself the target of a deadly ambush. Along the way, he encounters Stella Harkney, a saloon girl desperate to escape the clutches of Clegg Rollins—the very man Dillon’s been sent to confront. As the two flee across the prairie, pursued by gunmen and haunted by secrets, they forge a fragile alliance. But back in Dodge, the danger hasn’t passed—and the final showdown is as personal as it is violent. A tale of justice, jealousy, and quiet heroism on the frontier. Cast: William Conrad, Virginia Christine, Lawrence Dobkin, John Gaynor Tags:Western, drama, frontierjustice, WilliamConrad, StellaHarkney, Tascosa, 1950sradio, gunsmoke, oldtimeradio, corruptsheriff, saloongirl, escape, classicradio, lawandorder, westernpodcast, vintageaudio

Jayhawkers: Cattle Drives, Kansas Hatred, and a Gunman's Justice

2026-01-1720:43

Originally Aired: August 11, 1957 In Gunsmoke #279, “Jayhawkers,” Marshal Matt Dillon rides out with a Texas trail herd to help ease tensions between Kansans and bitter cattlemen—only to find himself embroiled in a deadly ambush by marauding Jayhawkers. When a trusted drover is murdered and suspicion falls on a newcomer named Studer, Dillon’s instincts prove true. As violence flares and tempers rise, Matt must act fast to deliver frontier justice before Dodge becomes a war zone. A rugged, character-driven tale of vengeance, law, and uneasy truces on the open range. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis Tags:Western, cattle drive, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, Jayhawkers, frontierjustice, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, ambush, betrayal, TexasvsKansas, classicdrama, suspensepodcast, vintageradio, traildrama

Big Hands: A Stranger’s Strength and a Widow’s Secret

2026-01-1619:58

Originally Aired: August 4, 1957 In Gunsmoke #278, “Big Hands,” Marshal Matt Dillon encounters a murder mystery when a homesteader’s wife brings her husband’s body into Dodge, claiming he was shot by a stranger with massive shoulders. As Dillon investigates, the description leads him to Bull Logan, a drifter with a criminal past. But when the widow inexplicably denies recognizing the man, the Marshal’s suspicions grow. With the truth buried beneath loneliness and lies, Dillon must uncover a deadly pact forged in desperation. A stark, emotional tale of frontier justice, hard choices, and the burden of survival. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis Tags:Western, mystery, frontierjustice, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, BullLogan, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, classicdrama, loneliness, betrayal, murdermystery, suspensepodcast, DodgeCity, homesteader, vintageaudio

Cow Doctor: A Debt Beyond Money

2026-01-1521:35

Originally Aired: July 28, 1957 In Gunsmoke #277, “Cow Doctor,” Doc Adams is lured out to the homestead of Ben Pitcher under false pretenses—only to find he's been summoned not for a man, but to treat a cow. Doc does his duty, but the deception proves costly when his absence leads to a woman’s death back in Dodge. Enraged, Pitcher turns violent and stabs Doc, who barely survives. But when Pitcher himself falls gravely ill, it's the same Doc who risks his life again to save him. A powerful tale of stubborn pride, moral duty, and unexpected redemption on the frontier. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis Tags:Western, medicaldrama, WilliamConrad, HowardMcNear, forgiveness, frontier, betrayal, redemption, gunsmoke, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, morality, cowdoctor, stubbornpride

Kitty Caught: Hostage on the Prairie

2026-01-1420:23

Originally Aired: July 21, 1957 In Gunsmoke #276, “Kitty Caught,” a routine morning turns to horror when Kitty is taken hostage during a bank robbery by the infamous Carp brothers. With her life hanging in the balance, Marshal Dillon and Chester set out on a desperate and agonizingly cautious pursuit—knowing one wrong move could get Kitty killed. A tense standoff unfolds at a remote prairie cabin, culminating in a deadly rescue. A taut, emotionally charged episode that tests the limits of courage, patience, and marksmanship. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis Tags:Western, hostage, suspense, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, rescue, bankrobbery, outlaw, prairie, survival, gunsmoke, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, tension, sharpshooting, frontierjustice

Bloody Hands: The Marshal’s Breaking Point

2026-01-1319:59

Originally Aired: July 14, 1957 In Gunsmoke #275, “Bloody Hands,” Marshal Matt Dillon brings in notorious outlaw Jack Brand, killing three of his gang in a brutal shootout. But the bloodshed haunts him, and when another killer, Joe Stanger, provokes him to a showdown, Dillon hesitates—and resigns. For a brief moment, he tries to live a peaceful life, free from violence. But when Stanger murders a woman and another innocent man, Dillon faces the truth: some men are born to fight the darkness, whether they like it or not. A powerful tale of duty, fatigue, and reluctant heroism. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, John Dehner, Lawrence Dobkin Tags:Western, redemption, burnout, WilliamConrad, reluctanthero, justice, JoeStanger, bloodshed, marshal, resignation, gunsmoke, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, morality, gunslinger

Word of Honor: A Doctor’s Dilemma

2026-01-1219:30

Originally Aired: July 7, 1957 In Gunsmoke #274, “Word of Honor,” Doc Adams returns to Dodge after disappearing for two days—summoned by outlaws to save a dying boy. But when the boy dies, Doc finds himself sworn to secrecy under threat of death. The victim turns out to be Hank Worth, the son of a powerful rancher, and Marshal Dillon is under pressure to find the killer fast. As vengeance looms and tensions rise, Doc must weigh the value of his promise against the need for justice. A gripping story of loyalty, integrity, and peril on the frontier. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, Harry Bartell, Georgia Ellis Tags:Western, moralconflict, oath, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, justice, integrity, honor, secrecy, frontierlaw, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, doctor, gunsmoke

The Buffalo Hunter: Death in the Hollow

2026-01-1120:38

Originally Aired: June 30, 1957 In Gunsmoke #273, “The Buffalo Hunter,” Marshal Matt Dillon investigates the suspicious death of a buffalo skinner who suffered a horrifying accident—being doused in molten lead. As Dillon digs deeper, he uncovers the greed and cruelty of the man responsible: the ruthless hunter Gatliff. But justice is a long ride across the prairie, and when Gatliff descends into madness, his brutal end is delivered not by the law—but by the land he helped desolate. A haunting frontier tale of murder, guilt, and retribution amid the dying herds of the American West. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, Richard Deacon, Harry Bartell, Jack Moyles Tags:Western, buffalo, frontierjustice, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, greed, madness, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, tragedy, buffalohunter, moltenlead, revenge, nativejustice, gunsmoke

Home Surgery: Desperation on the Prairie

2026-01-1122:02

Originally Aired: June 23, 1957 In Gunsmoke #272, “Home Surgery,” Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester come across a desperate teenage girl named Tara Hortree whose father lies dying from blood poisoning after a horse accident. With no doctor for miles and the only man who promised help suspiciously missing, Dillon is forced to attempt a brutal, risky operation himself—amputating the man’s infected leg. As the truth about Ben Walling’s betrayal comes to light, the stakes rise, and justice takes on a deeply personal meaning. A harrowing tale of courage, isolation, and frontier justice. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear Tags:Western, frontiermedicine, survival, suspense, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, homesurgery, justice, betrayal, bloodpoisoning, isolation, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, drama, mattdillon

Summer Night: A Baby, a Lie, and a New Beginning

2026-01-0523:16

Originally Aired: June 16, 1957 In Gunsmoke #271, “Summer Night,” the dusty trails of Dodge are left in silence as a wagon train rolls west—leaving behind something unexpected: a newborn baby. When Marshal Dillon finds the infant abandoned at Doc’s office, a quiet search begins for the mother. But the woman who returns may not be who she claims to be. As truths unravel in the heat of the prairie night, an unexpected act of compassion leads to a second chance for love, family, and redemption. A delicate tale of loss, longing, and human connection under the wide Kansas sky. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear Tags:Western, drama, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, classicradio, abandonedbaby, compassion, motherhood, redemption, DodgeCity, babyadoption, emotionaldrama, summernight, oldtimeradio, moralitytale, heartwarming, frontierlife

Dodge Podge: A Father’s Fury and a Fatal Mistake

2026-01-0424:13

Originally Aired: June 9, 1957 In Gunsmoke #270, “Dodge Podge,” a troubled father’s rage blinds him to the truth. Leif Sutter is determined to mold his son Packy into a hardened cattleman, forbidding him from fraternizing with the gentle, educated sheepherder Jason Roe. When Packy disappears, Sutter’s obsession spirals into deadly vengeance. Despite Marshal Dillon’s warnings, the elder Sutter mistakes violence for justice—and kills the one person he never meant to hurt. A tragic tale of pride, projection, and the peril of letting fear masquerade as strength. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear Tags:Western, drama, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, classicradio, fatherandson, tragedy, JasonRoe, LeifSutter, sheepherder, DodgeCity, mistakenidentity, comingofage, emotionaldrama, frontierjustice, oldtimeradio, moralitytale, toxicmasculinity

Ben Tolliver’s Stud: Pride, Payback, and the Price of a Horse

2026-01-0324:59

Originally Aired: June 2, 1957 In Gunsmoke #269, “Ben Tolliver’s Stud,” a drifting horseman’s pride—and a stolen stud—ignite a deadly conflict. When Ben Tolliver flees his abusive employer, Jake Creed, with a horse he believes he's earned, Creed vows revenge. Marshal Dillon tries to keep the peace, but pride and cruelty escalate matters. As tensions build and a beloved animal suffers, justice hangs in the balance. What begins as a wage dispute ends in death, with a brutal twist of irony that leaves even vengeance hollow. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear Tags:Western, drama, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, classicradio, horsetheft, justice, cowboydrama, pride, revenge, BenTolliver, JakeCreed, Mustang, moralitytale, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, frontierjustice, suspense

Pal: A Dog, A Drunk, and Domestic Desperation

2026-01-0223:32

Originally Aired: May 26, 1957 In Gunsmoke #268, “Pal,” a stray dog poisoned and half-dead sets off a chain of chaos in Dodge City. When Chester rescues the animal—dubbed Pal—he unwittingly becomes entangled in the twisted marriage of Spiny Murphy and his brutal wife, Mal. As the dog recovers, tensions rise, secrets surface, and violence looms on the horizon. Marshal Matt Dillon must confront not just domestic abuse but the bitter consequences of pride, alcohol, and misplaced loyalty. A darkly humorous yet sobering tale of man, beast, and the boundaries of ownership. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear Tags:Western, drama, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, classicradio, dogstory, domesticabuse, ChesterProudfoot, darkcomedy, Pal, oldtimeradio, moralitytale, DodgeCity, vintageaudio, frontierjustice, emotionaldrama, twistedrelationships

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