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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.
264 Episodes
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Originally Aired: May 5, 1957
In Gunsmoke #265, “How to Kill a Friend,” Marshal Matt Dillon faces more than just another hired gun—he faces a ghost from his own past. When two crooked gamblers return to Dodge with a gunman in tow, Dillon is stunned to discover it’s Tope Marlin, a man he once rode the range with, now soured by betrayal and hate. Tope has one job: kill Dillon. But as old memories resurface and the line between law and loyalty blurs, both men are forced to confront what they’ve become. A tense and emotional standoff follows, ending in a tragic, inevitable duel between old friends.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, John Dehner, Harry Bartell, Lawrence Dobkin
Tags:Western, drama, suspense, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, gunfighter, betrayal, DodgeCity, classicwestern, emotionaldrama, TopeMarlin, hiredgun, revenge, vintageaudio, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: April 28, 1957
In Gunsmoke #264, “Medicine Man,” Hart Finney rolls into Dodge City with his wife and a wagon full of “muscle, bone, blood, and nerve tonic,” hoping to make a few sales before heading out. But when saloon-owner Grant Medford suddenly claims the land Finney’s using, Marshal Dillon finds himself caught in a legal tangle—and a moral one. As Medford pushes harder, tension builds, leading to a public showdown that puts law, pride, and fists to the test. An episode that questions justice, dignity, and what it means to stand your ground.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Virginia Gregg, Vic Perrin
Tags:Western, drama, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, medicine show, DodgeCity, frontierjustice, classicwestern, legaldrama, GrantMedford, HartFinney, snakeoil, vintageaudio, landdispute, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: May 12, 1957
In Gunsmoke #266, “Sheep Dog,” Marshal Matt Dillon is caught between justice and heartbreak when Orlin Barker, the son of an old friend, shoots an unarmed man during a drunken poker game. As the boy disappears into the prairie, rumors and resentment swell in Dodge, spurred on by mob leader Riff Kelso. While Matt tries to keep law and order, Jeb Barker must confront a harrowing truth about his son—and ultimately make the hardest decision of his life. A powerful tale of loyalty, moral reckoning, and the deep cost of doing what’s right.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:Western, drama, moralconflict, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, familytragedy, justice, DodgeCity, classicwestern, vigilante, SheepDog, mobjustice, fatherandson, vintageaudio, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: April 21, 1957
In Gunsmoke #263, “Bear Trap,” Dodge City's aging liveryman Andy Weaver is known for his tall tales—but when ex-convict Hod Logan returns with a grudge, Andy’s life is suddenly in real danger. As Marshal Matt Dillon tries to anticipate Logan’s next move, a more sinister plot unfolds: a nighttime robbery with murder on the agenda. What follows is a suspenseful standoff and a surprising moment of courage from the man no one ever believed. This episode blends character depth with tension and redemption, offering a heartfelt tribute to unexpected bravery.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:Western, drama, suspense, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, redemption, beartrap, gunfight, DodgeCity, classicwestern, heroism, HodLogan, AndyWeaver, vintageaudio, frontierdrama, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: April 14, 1957
In Gunsmoke #262, “Saludos,” Marshal Matt Dillon must track down a brutal killer after a young half-Indian woman named Sochi rides sixty miles with a bullet wound to reach Dodge City. Her husband has been murdered in cold blood by a white stranger, and though she cannot describe the man, she’s certain she’ll recognize him. With only three suspects seen entering Choctaw Basin, Dillon rounds them up and brings them back—hoping the journey will reveal the murderer. A suspenseful game of nerves unfolds, culminating in a quiet yet powerful confession.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:Western, drama, mystery, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, justice, ChoctawBasin, classicwestern, psychologicaldrama, posse, vintageaudio, murdermystery, frontierjustice, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: April 7, 1957
In Gunsmoke #261, “Rock Bottom,” Van Tover’s quiet ranch life is shattered when a deadly figure from his past returns to Dodge after twelve years. Once a quick-tempered gunman, Van gave up his weapons to raise a family—until Largo Greeland, a vengeful gunslinger with a grudge, tracks him down. Torn between protecting his loved ones and confronting an old enemy, Van reclaims his pistol for one last showdown. Marshal Matt Dillon must intervene before vengeance claims more lives, in a taut drama of fear, pride, and deadly resolve.
Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Harry Bartell, Gene Faith, Barney Phillips, Ben Wright
Tags:Western, drama, revenge, redemption, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, gunfighter, oldtimeradio, frontierjustice, showdown, DodgeCity, classicradio, 1950sradio, westernpodcast, audiotheater, suspense
Originally Aired: March 31, 1957
In Gunsmoke #260, “Chicken Smith,” a quiet, unassuming hen farmer becomes the unlikely center of a deadly love triangle. When Chicken Smith's young, restless wife Ellie begins sneaking into town for secret meetings with the menacing saloon owner Pragg Looner, tensions boil over. A brutal street fight and rising suspicions set the stage for a midnight confrontation in the midst of a torrential flood. But in Dodge City, justice doesn’t always wait for the law. With cold calculation, Chicken takes up the same shotgun he uses to fend off hawks—and brings his own brand of frontier justice. A grim tale of dignity, betrayal, and the raw edges of frontier manhood.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:Western, frontierjustice, betrayal, suspense, storm, shotgun, jealousy, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, classicradio, 1950sradio, crime, vigilante, oldtimeradio, drama, noirwestern, Chickensmith, PraggLooner, flood
Originally Aired: March 24, 1957
In Gunsmoke #259, “Saddle Sore Sal,” a fiery young woman named Sally Burkoff rides into Dodge from the panhandle with vengeance in her sights. After being swindled out of her family’s savings by a slick cattle trader, Sally attempts frontier justice with a single-shot rifle. But Marshal Dillon intervenes, and with a bit of creative con-artistry from Doc and a local shopkeeper, they turn the tables on her swindler, getting Sally her money back—and then some. A gritty tale of frontier justice, deception, and redemption in the Old West.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear
Tags:Western, frontierjustice, swindle, panhandle, revenge, WilliamConrad, classicradio, SallyBurkoff, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, Gunsmoke, cattletrade, radiofiction, redemption, docadams, mattdillon
Originally Aired: March 17, 1957
In Gunsmoke #258, “Spring Freshet,” Marshal Matt Dillon walks into a saloon hold-up and finds himself unarmed and outnumbered, with Kitty taken hostage by a pair of wanted outlaws. As Dodge City reels under the tension, Matt plays a high-stakes bluff involving sacks of what might—or might not—be gunpowder. With lives hanging in the balance and tempers ready to ignite, it’s a deadly waiting game in the loft above Miles' store. A gritty psychological standoff that questions courage, cunning, and control.
Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer, Lawrence Dobkin, Ben Wright, John Dehner
Tags:Western, standoff, bluff, hostage, DodgeCity, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, 1950sradio, classicwestern, gunpowderbluff, outlaws, oldtimeradio, suspense, MarshalMattDillon, vintageaudio, drama
Originally Aired: March 10, 1957
In Gunsmoke #257, “Grebb Hassle,” U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon faces a tangled homecoming when Elvin Greb returns to Dodge after two years of exile. Though claiming reform, Elvin quickly reveals his true colors, acting as a lookout in a botched bank robbery that ends in his death. But the trouble is just beginning—his younger brother Billy, caught between loyalty and conscience, is drawn into the dangerous legacy Elvin left behind. As Matt struggles to prevent the boy from falling into the same outlaw path, he must also pursue the remaining culprits hiding nearby. A grim tale of family, betrayal, and the haunting pull of the past.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear
Tags:Western, outlaw, familydrama, redemption, Gunsmoke, MattDillon, classicradio, betrayal, DodgeCity, lawandorder, 1950sradio, brotherhood, vintagepodcast, morality, oldtimeradio
Originally Aired: March 3, 1957
In Gunsmoke #256, “Colleen So Green,” a soft-spoken Southern belle named Colleen Tawney arrives in Dodge City with a tale of orphanhood and stolen savings. Wide-eyed and helpless, she quickly enchants the men of Dodge—Doc, Chester, Bull Rieger, and even the suspicious Marshal Dillon. But behind the green eyes and fluttered lashes lies a con artist of rare skill. As Colleen collects gifts, sympathy, and even property, Dodge’s good intentions unravel in a comic tale of charm, gullibility, and comeuppance.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear
Tags:western, conartist, femmefatale, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, 1950sradio, grifter, humor, southerncharm, smalltowndrama, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: February 24, 1957
In Gunsmoke #255, “Impact,” Marshal Matt Dillon grows wary when a string of “accidents” begin to befall tough-as-nails widow Ellie Larkin. The source of his suspicion? Lonnie Welch—a drifter turned surrogate son who seems a little too eager to inherit her ranch. As Matt probes deeper into Lonnie’s past, a shocking pattern emerges, leading to a night of fire, betrayal, and deadly self-defense. A slow-burn thriller of manipulation, misplaced trust, and the price of loneliness.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear
Tags:western, betrayal, inheritance, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, 1950sradio, loneliness, arson, manipulation, ruraldrama, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: February 17, 1957
In Gunsmoke #254, “Doubtful Zone,” Marshal Matt Dillon is drawn into a case that's more heartache than crime when a store break-in leads him to a runaway girl named Willie Beeper. Fleeing a brutal home life and dry farm drudgery, Willie wants only a fresh start—with a stolen pistol, a stolen shirt, and a bottle of Paris perfume she couldn’t resist. As her reckless choices close in around her, the law catches up—but so does tragedy. A poignant story of youth, desperation, and the quiet cruelties that drive a child too far.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear
Tags:western, comingofage, tragedy, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, 1950sradio, runaway, hardship, dryfarm, girlpower, bittersweet, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: February 10, 1957
In Gunsmoke #253, “Hellbent Harriet,” a woman’s grief sharpens into something more fierce when her husband, Jim Morney, is found dead—his injuries blamed on a fall from his horse. But Harriet Morney, as strong and unyielding as the Kansas land she works, is certain it was murder. Suspecting a neighbor with motives of greed and lust, Harriet trusts not only her instincts but the earth itself to deliver the truth. What follows is a riveting tale of deception, desperate gambits, and a reckoning forged in storm and soil.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear
Tags:western, revenge, frontierjustice, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, 1950sradio, mystery, femalepower, intuition, dramaticreveal, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: February 3, 1957
In Gunsmoke #252, “Cold Fire,” Marshal Matt Dillon investigates a baffling case of embezzlement and death when $20,000 in gold vanishes from the Dodge City bank vault. All clues point to Marvin Gross, a mild-mannered teller living under the strict eye of his mother. When Marvin dies resisting arrest, it seems like a tragic open-and-shut case—until a last-minute realization sends Dillon racing to the train depot, uncovering a truth more chilling than the crime itself. A poignant and haunting tale of manipulation, guilt, and maternal obsession.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear
Tags:western, betrayal, suspense, crime, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, 1950sradio, moraldrama, familytragedy, greed, psychologicaldrama, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: January 27, 1957
In Gunsmoke #251, “A Woman Called Mary,” Marshal Matt Dillon confronts a case that demands more than just the law—it calls for justice of the heart. When Red Sutter cons a lonely woman, Buffalo Mary, out of her savings, a prison sentence seems certain. But Dillon proposes an alternative: let Red work off his debt through hard labor, hauling water and chopping wood for Mary. As the days turn into months, Red's punishment becomes his redemption. A quietly powerful tale of conscience, dignity, and the slow road to forgiveness.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear
Tags:western, redemption, justice, frontierlife, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, 1950sradio, characterdrama, secondchances, smalltownstories, lawandorder, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: January 20, 1957
In Gunsmoke #250, “Categorical Imperative,” Marshal Dillon defies a raging snowstorm to recapture Clay Macklin, an unrepentant cattle rustler who’s almost certain to walk free due to lack of evidence. As the elements test their endurance, a near-fatal accident on the ice forces Dillon to rescue the very man he pursued—sparking an unexpected shift in Macklin’s hardened perspective. A philosophical tale of duty and principle, this episode reflects on the essence of justice and why a man upholds the law even when the outcome is all but predetermined.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, John Dehner, Ben Wright
Tags:drama, justice, escape, snowstorm, duty, philosophy, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, redemption, cattlerustling, oldtimeradio, classicdrama, 1950sradio, prisonerescape, LesCrutchfield, suspensepodcast
Originally Aired: January 13, 1957
In Gunsmoke #249, “Ozymandias,” Marshal Dillon is tasked with serving an eviction notice that could uproot homesteader Sloat Carson from the only land he’s ever known. The order comes from Burke Cragar, a domineering rancher obsessed with owning every inch of Blue Sage Valley—soon to be renamed after himself. But when Cragar’s embittered son Crowdy steps forward to challenge his father's ruthless ambition, long-buried family tensions ignite. The episode’s title echoes Percy Shelley’s poem—a warning about pride, legacy, and the futility of empire. A powerful meditation on justice, resentment, and the cost of one man’s obsession.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:drama, eviction, landdispute, familyconflict, western, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, legacy, fatherandson, justice, 1950sradio, classicdrama, oldtimeradio, pride, obsession, suspensepodcast, Ozymandias
Originally Aired: January 6, 1957
In Gunsmoke #248, “Devil’s Hindmost,” Marshal Dillon finds himself trying to avert tragedy when a jealous farmer, Buck Webber, becomes convinced his estranged wife Rancy is being wooed by a suave gambler named Frisco Bates. As Rancy seeks independence and respect, Buck's anger boils into deadly intent. But when three shots ring out in the night, it’s not the gambler who lies dead—it’s Rancy, killed by her own husband in a tragic mistake. A powerful tale of pride, misunderstanding, and the devastating cost of impulsive violence.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:drama, jealousy, murder, mistakenidentity, western, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, betrayal, tragedy, domesticviolence, 1950sradio, classicdrama, oldtimeradio, fatalmistake, suspensepodcast, LesCrutchfield
Originally Aired: December 30, 1956
In Gunsmoke #247, “Hound Dog,” Marshal Dillon finds himself mediating an unlikely and emotional conflict when a reclusive trapper’s beloved old dog is shot and killed. At first, suspicion and resentment fall on a nearby homesteader—but the truth is far more complicated, involving a frightened boy, a mistaken shot, and the deep loneliness of a man who had only his dog for company. As tensions rise and tempers flare, Dillon must defuse a situation that could easily turn deadly. A tender and surprisingly hopeful story about redemption, friendship, and healing in the unforgiving West.
Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis
Tags:drama, redemption, dog, friendship, forgiveness, western, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, loneliness, comingofage, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicdrama, boyanddog, suspensepodcast, LesCrutchfield
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