Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

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

Originally Aired: August 5, 1956 In Gunsmoke #226, “Sweet and Sour,” Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester return from Wichita only to cross paths with Rena Decker, a seemingly innocent young woman with a dangerous gift for stirring men into violence. After saving her from a drunken brute at the train station, Matt brings her to Dodge, where she quickly charms everyone—except Kitty, who sees through the act. When fights and deaths begin to follow Rena’s trail, Matt realizes too late that her presence is far more sour than sweet. A cautionary tale of manipulation, masculinity, and misjudged beauty with a fatal cost. Cast:Lynn Allen, Lawrence Dobkin, Harry Bartell, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis Tags:Western, manipulation, femmefatale, deception, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, DodgeCity, lawandorder, oldtimeradio, classicdrama, psychological, deadlybeauty, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: October 31, 1953 In Gunsmoke #080, “How to Kill a Woman,” Marshal Matt Dillon investigates a series of brutal stagecoach attacks where robbery turns to senseless murder. As suspicion circles a stoic station master and a cold-blooded drifter named Nat Pilcher, Dillon uncovers a haunting backstory of betrayal, obsession, and a killing done in the name of pride. When a woman is gunned down for no reason and vengeance brews on the prairie, Matt must untangle a tragedy rooted in a man's shame and another's thirst for retribution. A bleak and morally complex tale of justice on the frontier. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Jack Edwards, Lawrence Dobkin, John Dehner Tags:western, drama, revenge, guilt, psychological, gunman, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, stagecoach, prairiejustice, 1950sradio, outlaw, redemption, moralityplay, suspensepodcast

In Gunsmoke #135, “Wrong Man,” homesteader Sam Rickers rides into Dodge with what he claims is the body of outlaw Bob Hobart—gunning for a $1,000 reward. But Marshal Dillon quickly realizes the corpse isn’t Hobart at all, but an innocent man, Jake Haney, mistaken for an outlaw. When Jake’s grieving partner arrives in town demanding justice, Sam’s lies deepen, leading to another killing. Caught between his wife Lettie’s fear and the Marshal’s questions, the truth finally spills out: Sam is no hero but a cold-blooded murderer. A grim tale of deceit, cowardice, and the high price of false bravado.   Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis

In Gunsmoke #076, “How to Kill a Friend,” two crooked gamblers—Ben Corder and Harry Duggan—try to buy Marshal Matt Dillon’s favor, then send a rifle shot through his office window when he won’t bend. Run out of Dodge, they slink back with hired gun Tolk Marlin—an old trail partner of Matt’s, twisted by a past mob beating in Silver City. Tolk gives Matt 24 hours to quit or die, but a crooked card deal and a killing force the final showdown. In the street, friend faces friend; Matt is faster, and the gamblers are driven out for good. 

In Gunsmoke #042, “Cain,” a quiet musician named Cain Vestal arrives in Dodge on his way to Arizona to die—but when he sees a face from the past, his plans change. Years of sorrow and betrayal boil to the surface as Cain prepares to settle an old score with powerful landowner Joel Adams, a man who once destroyed the life of the woman Cain loved. Despite Marshal Dillon’s warnings and a town that seems indifferent to old sins, Cain pursues a path of vengeance. A haunting tale of love, loss, and the unshakable weight of memory, culminating in a confrontation where justice walks a fine line.

Originally Aired: August 16, 1952 In Gunsmoke #017, “The Lynching,” Marshal Matt Dillon confronts the raw violence of frontier justice when a mob takes the law into its own hands. After the murder of Job Powell, a young drifter named Billy Saxton is accused and lynched without a trial. Dillon must untangle a web of guilt, silence, and manipulation—exposing the real killer and challenging a town too ashamed to speak. With tension simmering beneath every interaction, the episode explores the grim line between justice and revenge in a world where power often trumps truth. Cast: William Conrad, Paul Dubov, John Dehner, Tom Tully, Joan Danton, Ralph Moody, Lee Millar, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis Tags:western, justice, lynching, marshalldillon, williamconrad, frontierlaw, mobviolence, retribution, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, 1950sradio, gunsmokepodcast, cowboys, radiojustice, dramapodcast

Originally Aired: July 29, 1956 In Gunsmoke #225, “Lost Rifle,” a man is shot dead while fishing, and Marshal Matt Dillon finds himself under pressure to arrest Ben Tipple—a hot-tempered man with motive, but no evidence against him. As Dodge buzzes with speculation, the truth lies in the hands of a scared young boy, Andy Spangler, who knows more than he’s letting on. When justice teeters on a child’s conscience, Matt must navigate a web of fear, abuse, and accidental tragedy to prevent another killing. A gripping tale of moral courage and unexpected redemption. Cast: William Conrad, John Dehner, Vic Perrin, Richard Beals, Jack Kruschen, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis Tags: Western, mystery, justice, child hero, accidental shooting, WilliamConrad, frontierlife, abuse, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, mattdillon, redemption, comingofage, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: July 22, 1956 In Gunsmoke #224, “Lynching Man,” Marshal Matt Dillon investigates the hanging of a newcomer named Hank Blennis, apparently lynched for horse theft. But what begins as a search for justice soon uncovers a tangle of revenge and misplaced hatred. A man named Charlie Drain, still haunted by his father’s wrongful lynching, becomes obsessed with punishing the guilty—only to make a fatal mistake of his own. As tempers rise and the truth unravels, Matt must confront not only the killers but the corrosive power of vengeance. A dark, tragic episode about the blurred lines between justice and obsession. Cast: William Conrad, Vic Perron, Harry Weaver, John Bartell, Lawrence Dobkin, John Dehner, Jack Moyles, James Nusser, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis Tags: Western, lynching, justice, vengeance, morality, WilliamConrad, horse theft, mistaken identity, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, mattdillon, frontierjustice, suspensepodcast, retribution, tragicdrama

Originally Aired: July 15, 1956   In Gunsmoke #223, “Letter of the Law,” Marshal Matt Dillon is ordered to evict Brandon Teak from his homestead for a bureaucratic oversight—his failure to register the deed. Once a notorious gunslinger, Teak has traded violence for a quiet life with his pregnant wife, Sarah. But the law, pushed by land baron Lee Sprague and upheld by a rigid judge, has no room for sentiment. As tensions escalate, tragedy strikes, and Matt must weigh the cold letter of the law against justice and conscience. A moving tale of redemption, resolve, and a lawman’s moral reckoning.   Cast: William Conrad, Joseph Kearns, Vic Perrin, Helen Kleeb, Paul Dubov, Will Wright, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis   Tags: Western, drama, justice, homestead, redemption, WilliamConrad, lawman, eviction, frontierlife, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, mattdillon, gunsmoke, morality, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: July 8, 1956 In Gunsmoke #222, “Passive Resistance,” Dodge City is divided when Gideon Seek, a gentle, gunless sheep herder, becomes the target of cattlemen determined to drive him out by violence. Refusing to fight back or even name his attackers, Gideon stands by his pacifist beliefs—even as his sheep are slaughtered, his home is burned, and his own life is put in danger. Marshal Matt Dillon struggles with Gideon’s refusal to seek justice and must wrestle with the limits of law, vengeance, and the courage it takes to resist violence in a violent land. A thought-provoking episode that questions the meaning of strength and justice on the frontier. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Ralph Moody, John Dehner, Harry Bartell, Jack Moyles Tags:Western, drama, pacifism, sheep, cattlemen, nonviolence, GideonSeek, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, DodgeCity, MattDillon, frontierjustice, classicwestern, lawandorder, vintagepodcast, Gunsmoke, moralconflict, passiveResistance

Originally Aired: July 1, 1956 In Gunsmoke #221, “Gun for Chester,” Chester Proudfoot is haunted by the arrival of Ace Ledbetter, a man from his mysterious past in South Texas. Convinced Ledbetter has come to Dodge to kill him, Chester grows increasingly desperate, even as Matt Dillon struggles to separate paranoia from real danger. When a violent showdown finally erupts in the Marshal’s office, the truth behind Chester’s fear—and a long-buried secret involving a lost love—comes to light. A tense and personal story of pride, shame, and the burdens we carry, “Gun for Chester” explores the cost of old grudges and the pain of things left unspoken. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Lawrence Dobkin Tags:Western, drama, SouthTexas, ChesterProudfoot, grudge, showdown, oldtimeradio, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, AceLedbetter, secretpast, frontierjustice, emotionaldrama, classicwestern, MattDillon, DodgeCity, vintagepodcast, Gunsmoke, longburiedsecret

Originally Aired: June 24, 1956 In Gunsmoke #220, “Sunday Supplement,” two writers from New York arrive in Dodge City, searching for thrilling stories of the untamed West. Disappointed by the relative calm, they stir up trouble by stealing a sacred Pawnee totem from a burial ground—an act that drives the peaceful Chief Little Hawk to violence. As the cavalry reels from deadly attacks, Marshal Matt Dillon races to uncover the truth and prevent more bloodshed. With themes of exploitation, cultural misunderstanding, and the cost of sensationalism, this episode offers a pointed look at the dangers outsiders can bring to a fragile peace. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Harry Bartell, John Dehner, Joseph Kearns, Lou Krugman, Ralph Moody Tags:Western, drama, Pawnee, Indian, frontier, WilliamConrad, JohnMeston, sacredtotem, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, NewYorkwriters, culturalclash, DodgeCity, MattDillon, cavalry, classicwestern, vintagepodcast, exploitation, westernpodcast, SundaySupplement

Originally Aired: June 17, 1956 In Gunsmoke #219, “Cheap Labor,” Dodge City witnesses a quiet, powerful drama when gentle giant Foss Capper befriends Carrie Stansel, a hardworking woman held back by her controlling brother Ben. As Foss and Carrie dream of a life together, Ben’s jealousy explodes—leading to violence, threats, and a town forced to choose sides. When Ben brutally punishes Carrie for defying him, Foss faces a terrible choice: return to the gunfighter’s life he tried to escape, or let her suffer. The story builds to a tense confrontation that exposes the true meaning of courage, sacrifice, and self-worth—on both sides of the law. Cast:William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, Jean Bates, Barney Phillips, Harry Bartell Tags:western, family, gunfighter, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, cheaplabor, oldtimeradio, courage, 1950sradio, classicdrama, romance, abuse, redemption, suspensepodcast