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Welcome to Gunsmoke: Old West Stories, a podcast that takes you back to the rugged plains of 1870s Dodge City, Kansas. Rediscover the timeless tales of bravery, justice, and survival in the American frontier with our re-broadcasts of the classic Gunsmoke radio program.
First airing on April 26, 1952, Gunsmoke was celebrated as the first adult western radio show, renowned for its superb storytelling and exceptional production quality. Join Marshal Matt Dillon, portrayed by the incomparable William Conrad, as he faces the challenges of maintaining law and order in a tumultuous town. Alongside him are unforgettable characters like Chester Proudfoot (Parley Baer), the steadfast deputy; Kitty (Georgia Ellis), the resilient saloon owner; and Doc Adams (Howard McNear), the town’s compassionate physician.
What sets Gunsmoke apart is not just its stellar cast and engaging plots but the immersive sound effects that bring each scene to life. Every gunshot, horse gallop, and whisper of the wind transports you directly to the heart of the Old West.
Whether you're a longtime fan or a new listener, Gunsmoke: Old West Stories promises to deliver gripping adventures and a nostalgic journey through one of radio’s most iconic series. Tune in and let the legends of Dodge City captivate your imagination.
245 Episodes
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Originally Aired: December 23, 1956
In Gunsmoke #246, “Beeker’s Barn,” a bitter snowstorm forces estranged couple Will and Harmony Ross to take shelter in the barn of Harmony’s father, Jethro Beeker—a man who disowned her two years prior. As tensions rise and old wounds reopen, Harmony goes into labor, setting the stage for an emotional reckoning between father and daughter. With Marshal Dillon and Doc on hand, the night becomes a crucible of forgiveness, new beginnings, and the fragile threads that bind family together. A holiday episode that weaves heartache and hope with Gunsmoke’s signature grit.
Cast: William Conrad, Ralph Moody, Vic Perrin, Virginia Gregg, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:drama, family, snowstorm, reconciliation, childbirth, western, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, VirginiaGregg, holidayepisode, 1950sradio, classicdrama, oldtimeradio, emotionaldrama, fatherdaughter, redemption, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: December 16, 1956
In Gunsmoke #245, “Cherry Red,” fiery widow Cherry Odell is still clinging to hope that her long-absent husband Slim will return—until a handsome stranger named Red Larned rides into Dodge with a shocking revelation. Claiming to be Slim’s former partner, Red tells Cherry her husband is dead—killed by Indians. But Marshal Dillon has reason to believe Red is lying, especially when a Wells Fargo bulletin paints a darker truth. As lies unravel and loyalties are tested, a secret guest at Cherry’s ranch might prove deadly. A suspenseful tale of betrayal, identity, and a woman caught between grief and vengeance.
Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer, Sammy Hill, Vic Perrin, Bill Lally
Tags:western, betrayal, widow, outlaw, stagecoachrobbery, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, suspense, deception, lescrutchfield, revenge, frontierjustice, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: December 9, 1956
In Gunsmoke #244, “Braggart’s Boy,” the son of frontier loudmouth Cleave Cleveland arrives in Dodge dressed like a dime-novel cowboy, fresh from Philadelphia. While Cleave has spent years crafting a reputation as a fast gun, the reality is far less impressive. When his son Tom tries to live up to the legend, he provokes a deadly encounter with notorious gunfighter Brawley Starr. Marshal Matt Dillon must intervene before a legacy of lies ends in bloodshed. A poignant story of fathers, sons, and the damage done by pride and false bravado.
Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer, Lawrence Dobkin, Sam Edwards, John Dehner
Tags:western, family, fatherandson, pride, deception, comingofage, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, gunfighter, lescrutchfield, moralconflict, identity, frontierdrama, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: December 2, 1956
In Gunsmoke #243, “Speak to Me Fair,” a young Kiowa boy stumbles into Dodge, gravely wounded and unable to speak—his tongue brutally cut out. Marshal Matt Dillon, outraged by the boy’s mutilation, begins a tense investigation that points toward a ruthless cattleman, Silas Trach, whose own livestock has been disappearing. As Matt unravels the twisted motives behind the attack, he uncovers not only cattle rustlers exploiting the nearby Kiowa tribe, but a violent hatred lurking under Trach’s calm frontier veneer. A harrowing story of cruelty, justice, and the cost of silence.
Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer, Harry Bartell, Vic Perrin, John Dehner
Tags:western, injustice, nativeamerican, childabuse, cattletheft, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, marshalldillon, frontiercrime, lescrutchfield, suspensepodcast, silence, mutilation, kiowa
Originally Aired: November 25, 1956
In Gunsmoke #242, “Tail to the Wind,” mild-mannered homesteader Pessy Neller refuses to be bullied, even when the ruthless Burke Reese and his son Spike escalate their campaign of intimidation—burning property, sabotaging wagons, and terrorizing his wife. Marshal Matt Dillon steps in to confront the cowards in public, determined to shame them into retreat. But when the Reeses end up mysteriously hanged in Neller’s chicken yard—victims of a conveniently taut clothesline—the line between justice and accident grows humorously thin. A darkly comic tale of frontier comeuppance and quiet revenge.
Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer, Ralph Moody, John Dehner, Helen Kleeb
Tags:western, justice, retribution, darkcomedy, accidentalhanging, homesteader, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, lescrutchfield, marshalldillon, vengeance, frontierdrama, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: November 18, 1956
In Gunsmoke #241, “Brother Whelp,” the return of outlaw Stead Rudger stirs old tensions and buried betrayals in Dodge City. Stead’s discovery that his former fiancée married his younger brother during his long absence sets off a slow-burning fuse of vengeance. But with the lives of his brother Tom, his old flame Tessie, and a six-month-old child hanging in the balance, Marshal Matt Dillon must play his own high-stakes hand to prevent a deadly family reckoning. A tense and emotional showdown, where the past haunts the present and love is tested by blood.
Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Vic Perrin, John Dehner
Tags:Western, family, vengeance, emotional, forgiveness, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, BrotherWhelp, oldtimeradio, drama, gunfighters, familydrama, 1950sradio, classicwestern, estrangedsiblings, moralchoices, redemptionarc
Originally Aired: November 11, 1956
In Gunsmoke #240, “Pretty Mama,” Marshal Matt Dillon is called to a remote ranch where Hank Marvel has been mysteriously shot dead. His young son, Beanie, claims to have seen a suspect—but Matt’s instincts tell him there’s more beneath the surface. As the investigation leads to a volatile cowhand, Jack Teague, and the alluring young widow, June Marvel, Matt must untangle a web of lies, suppressed emotions, and tragic misunderstandings. What begins as a straightforward murder inquiry becomes a haunting portrait of misplaced love, maternal desperation, and a child's misguided sense of justice.
Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer, Gene Bates, Butch Bernard, John Dehner
Tags:western, drama, tragedy, familysecrets, childcrime, moralconflict, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, frontierjustice, suspensepodcast, lescrutchfield, psychologicaldrama, mattdillon
Originally Aired: November 10, 1956
In Gunsmoke #239, “Crowbait Bob,” Dodge City’s Marshal Matt Dillon receives a strange request from a dying drunk—make a will and protect a mysterious box until after his death. As the ailing Crowbait Bob drifts toward his final breath in a jail cell, the motives of estranged relatives and the quiet compassion of saloon owner Kitty Russell converge around his last possessions. What’s in the box isn’t gold or silver, but something far more revealing: the story of a forgotten war hero and a life steeped in sorrow, regret, and quiet dignity. A poignant tale of legacy, memory, and unseen kindness.
Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear
Tags:Western, drama, legacy, emotional, redemption, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, CrowbaitBob, oldtimeradio, mystery, dignity, U.S.Marshal, familydrama, confederatecurrency, vintageamerica, 1950sradio, classicwestern, podcasthistory
Originally Aired: October 28, 1956
In Gunsmoke #238, “Dirty Bill’s Girl,” a new face in Dodge turns more than a few heads. Rose, a striking blackjack dealer, runs a table so hot it draws in both gamblers and trouble. When Marshal Dillon starts watching her play, he finds she’s not just a cardsharp—she’s a woman with a mission. Rose has been tracking one man across the frontier for four years, and now she’s found him: Elko Dean, the gunman who killed her father, the notorious gambler “Dirty Bill” Prawley. With a sawed-off shotgun hidden beneath the table, she means to settle the score. But when Matt steps between vengeance and justice, the final hand is played at point-blank range—and it’s the Marshal who has to cheat to save three lives.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Virginia Christine, Vic Perron, John Daner
Tags:western, frontier, DodgeCity, vengeance, gambling, justice, revenge, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, VirginiaChristine, VicPerron, JohnDaner, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sradio, radioDrama, lawandorder, cardsharp, DirtyBill, femmevengeance
Originally Aired: October 21, 1956
In Gunsmoke #237, “Til Death Do Us,” a sanctimonious farmer, Jezreel Cobb, and his cowed wife, Minerva, drift into Dodge—and into danger. After shots are fired at their buggy, Matt Dillon follows a rumor to a braggart gunman who claims he was offered $300 to kill Cobb. When the gunman forces a showdown at the Long Branch, Matt drops him—but the truth is darker than hired vengeance. Back at the Cobb place, Matt learns Minerva paid for the killing after decades of beatings “for her transgressions.” When Jezreel suspects the plot and reaches for his hickory stave, Minerva meets him in the barn and calmly empties her gun. In a chilling, matter-of-fact confession served with warm plum pie, she tells the Marshal: Jezreel won’t be beating her anymore.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Virginia Gregg, Ralph Moody, Don Diamond, John Daner
Tags:western, frontier, DodgeCity, MarshalDillon, domesticabuse, selfdefense, moralhypocrisy, saloon, LongBranch, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, VirginiaGregg, RalphMoody, DonDiamond, JohnDaner, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sradio, radioDrama, justice, grimtwist
Originally Aired: October 14, 1956
In Gunsmoke #236, “Gunshot Wound,” Jim Nielsen returns to Dodge with a bullet still lodged near his heart and revenge burning in his soul. After surviving a fight with the Mailer brothers two months prior, Nielsen learns his wound is fatal—and decides to take the men who shot him with him to the grave. Despite Marshal Matt Dillon’s efforts to stop a renewed bloodbath, Nielsen’s grim resolve leads to two more deaths and one chilling realization: vengeance offers no peace. A sobering tale about pride, inevitability, and the futility of violence.
Cast: William Conrad, Harry Bartell, Vic Perrin, Lawrence Dobkin, Jess Kirkpatrick, Harley Bear, Howard McNair, Georgia Ellis
Tags:western, revenge, fatalwound, pride, tragedy, JimNielsen, MailerBrothers, MattDillon, WilliamConrad, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, 1950sradio, Gunsmoke, moralityplay, fatalism, justice, drama, lawman
Originally Aired: October 7, 1956
In Gunsmoke #235, “The Gambler,” a refined riverboat gambler named Clint Ascom arrives in Dodge City with one mission: to find and kill a man he’s never met—Jim Cass. Marshal Matt Dillon intervenes, puzzled by the animosity toward the mild-mannered, gunless Cass. As the mystery unfolds, it’s revealed that a dark secret from Cass’s past—an impulsive killing on the Cincinnati waterfront—has come back to haunt him. But vengeance proves complicated when both men are forced to confront the human cost of hatred. A powerful morality tale about revenge, perspective, and the weight of past sins.
Cast: William Conrad, Lawrence Dobkin, Ralph Moody, Harley Bear, Howard McNair, Georgia Ellis
Tags:western, revenge, gambling, riverboat, morality, redemption, hatred, JimCass, ClintAscom, MattDillon, WilliamConrad, classicwestern, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, vintagepodcast, Gunsmoke, psychologicaldrama, justice, pastsins, riverboats, DodgeCity
Originally Aired: September 30, 1956
In Gunsmoke #234, “The Brothers,” the arrival of legendary lawman Leif Tugwell in Dodge stirs up tension, especially with a hot-headed young gunslinger, Trace Gore, eager to make a name by taking him down. Marshal Matt Dillon tries to keep the peace, unaware that Tugwell is hiding a debilitating illness that has ended his days as a gunfighter. As pride and reputation clash with reality, the episode builds to a suspenseful confrontation that’s more psychological than physical. A deeply human story about aging, ego, and what it means to let go.
Cast: William Conrad, Vic Perron, Sam Edwards, Harley Bear, Howard McNair, Georgia Ellis
Tags:western, legend, pride, illness, aging, confrontation, mentorship, LeifTugwell, TraceGore, DodgeCity, MattDillon, WilliamConrad, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, vintagepodcast, 1950sradio, suspensefuldrama, moralityplay, redemption, brotherhood, Gunsmoke
Originally Aired: September 23, 1956
In Gunsmoke #233, “Box o’ Rocks,” a humble old prospector named Packy Roundtree is supposedly laid to rest—until Marshal Matt Dillon pries open the coffin and finds only rocks. As it turns out, Packy faked his death to escape the brutal Jeb Cruder, a sadistic bully with a grudge and an eye on Packy’s secret silver strike. When Cruder uses violence to uncover Packy’s hiding place, the showdown turns deadly in a most unexpected way. A darkly comic tale of fear, deceit, and explosive justice from an unlikely hero.
Cast: William Conrad, Ralph Moody, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer
Tags:Western, silvermine, revenge, fakefuneral, justice, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, PackyRoundtree, darkcomedy, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, cowardhero, frontierjustice, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: September 16, 1956
In Gunsmoke #232, “Thick 'n Thin,” long-time partners Odie Perkins and Brace McCoy are at war—over sour grits. What starts as a spat over cooking spirals into a full-blown feud, with bullets flying between barn and house on their shared homestead. Marshal Matt Dillon steps in to restore order, but it’ll take more than jail time and lectures to mend this stubborn friendship. Enter Summer Dove, a wise and capable Kiowa woman with culinary skills that could bring even the most bullheaded cowboys back to the table. A witty and warm episode exploring pride, reconciliation, and the small things that matter most.
Cast: William Conrad, Vic Perron, Barney Phillips, Peggy Rea
Tags:Western, friendship, feud, reconciliation, comedy, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, Kiowa, SummerDove, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, ruraldrama, foodfight, suspensepodcast, barnlife
Originally Aired: September 9, 1956
In Gunsmoke #231, “Belle’s Back,” Belle Ainsley returns to Dodge after three years away—and immediately stirs up old memories, deeper secrets, and dangerous consequences. She claims she was abducted by the outlaw Jess Crider and forced to flee, but her younger sister Phyllis isn’t buying it. When Phyllis vanishes, Marshal Matt Dillon suspects Crider is back, hiding somewhere near Dodge. What follows is a tense, emotional showdown that reveals fractured family ties, youthful rebellion, and a tragic love gone wrong. A complex character drama set against the hard edges of the frontier.
Cast: William Conrad, Virginia Christine, Ralph Moody, Sammy Hill
Tags:Western, familydrama, outlaw, redemption, sisters, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, fugitives, JessCrider, VirginiaChristine, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, emotionaldrama, suspensepodcast, dodgecity
Originally Aired: September 2, 1956
In Gunsmoke #230, “Old Pal,” Marshal Matt Dillon is stunned when fresh clues suggest that his close friend Jim Rankin—believed murdered during a robbery in El Paso—may actually be alive and involved in the very crime that supposedly killed him. As Dillon follows the trail, he uncovers a tangled web involving stolen banknotes, a calculating saloon girl named Lily, and a gambler with secrets of his own. With emotions running high and loyalties tested, Dillon must confront the painful truth about a man he once rode beside—and decide whether justice or friendship comes first. A suspenseful tale of betrayal, deception, and the heavy burden of memory.
Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis
Tags:Western, betrayal, friendship, marshal, fugitives, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, deception, saloon, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, lawandorder, bankrobbery, shootout, suspensepodcast, drama
Originally Aired: August 26, 1956
In Gunsmoke #229, “No Sale,” Kitty and Sam are offered a suspiciously high price for the Long Branch Saloon by two strangers—Brice and Temple. When Kitty declines, threats begin to fly, and it becomes clear the buyers have a deadly backup plan: kill Sam if Kitty won’t sign. With Marshal Dillon on alert and a surprise arrival from Abilene gambler Glenn Horn, a trap is laid to expose the con. But when the gunplay starts, only one man walks away. A tense tale of extortion, bluff, and grit in Dodge City.
Cast:John Dehner, Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, Harry Bartell, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:Western, saloon, conmen, extortion, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, DodgeCity, longbranch, gamblers, classicdrama, bluff, shootout, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: August 19, 1956
In Gunsmoke #228, “Annie Oakley,” a bitter love triangle erupts into murder on the plains near Dodge. When Kate Kinsman’s husband is shot dead with a Sharps rifle, all signs point to Ed Dolliver, the man she accused of pursuing her. But Marshal Dillon isn’t convinced by appearances—or by Kate’s tearful accusations. As a trap is laid with a note, a decoy, and a deadly shot from over a thousand yards, the truth about Kate’s past and her desperate hunger for attention is revealed. A chilling portrait of manipulation and misplaced pride on the American frontier.
Cast:Jeanette Nolan, Harry Bartell, Paul Duval, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:Western, murder, sharpshooter, manipulation, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, DodgeCity, jealousy, classicdrama, femmefatale, annieoakley, justice, psychological, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: August 12, 1956
In Gunsmoke #227, “Snakebite,” an old drifter named Pony Thompson rides into Dodge for his annual drink—only to have his dog shot in cold blood by a cruel stranger. When the shooter turns up murdered, suspicion falls on Pony. But as Marshal Dillon digs deeper, he uncovers a darker betrayal: a partner’s treachery, a lie about guilt, and a man who chose a snakebite over a jail cell. A quiet tragedy unfolds on the frontier, where even justice can come too late.
Cast:Joseph Kearns, Vic Perrin, Lawrence Dobkin, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:Western, murder, betrayal, snakebite, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, classicdrama, justice, DodgeCity, drifter, wrongfuldeath, suspensepodcast, noirwestern
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