Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

Originally Aired: March 4, 1956

In Gunsmoke #204, “The Hunter,” legendary frontiersman Jace Murdock—known as “Longarm”—returns to Dodge City, a relic of the buffalo-hunting days, hardened and reckless as ever. Ignoring warnings and driven by pride, Murdock sets out for a forbidden buffalo hunt in Indian territory, taking a young Blackfoot skinner called Golden Calf with him. Marshal Matt Dillon, haunted by an old grudge, must follow Murdock into the snowy wilds—where a deadly, long-range game unfolds. Trapped and outgunned, Matt’s fate turns on the courage and conscience of Golden Calf, who faces a final, tragic choice between his people and the violent legacy of the man he calls father. A tense, wintry tale of the old frontier’s passing and the price of living by the gun.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Nestor Paiva, Sam Edwards, Harry Bartell

Tags:
Western, buffalo, DodgeCity, Indianterritory, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, NestorPaiva, SamEdwards, HarryBartell, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sdrama, suspense, fatherandson, legacy, redemption, frontier, Gunsmoke, longarm, vintagewestern

Originally Aired: February 26, 1956

In Gunsmoke #203, “Who Lives by the Sword,” Dodge City is shaken by the arrival of notorious gunman Joe Delk—a man who kills for reputation and whose swagger turns deadly when a young man tries to stand up to him. Marshal Matt Dillon faces Delk not with a gun, but with his fists, shaking the outlaw’s nerve and setting him on a path of self-destruction. As Delk’s confidence crumbles and the town closes in, Matt must reckon with the hard truth that those who live by violence are doomed to fall by it. A stark, psychological episode about pride, fear, and the heavy cost of a life lived on the draw.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, John Dehner, Sam Edwards, Clayton Post

Tags:
Western, gunman, DodgeCity, pride, downfall, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, JohnDehner, SamEdwards, ClaytonPost, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sdrama, suspense, morality, redemption, Gunsmoke, livebythesword, vintagewestern

Originally Aired: February 19, 1956

In Gunsmoke #202, “The New Hotel,” Enoch Mills, a proud cattle rancher, sets out to challenge the Dodge City status quo by building a first-class hotel—much to the ire of his longtime rival, hotel owner Jim Dobey. When sabotage and arson strike, suspicion and tempers flare, and Marshal Matt Dillon is drawn into a bitter feud that escalates beyond business. As hired gunmen, mistaken accusations, and a stolen cattle plot threaten to consume the town, Matt must untangle the truth before violence boils over. In the end, a lesson in pride, trust, and forgiveness gives Dodge a new hotel—and perhaps a new start for two stubborn old enemies.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis

Tags:
Western, rivalry, arson, DodgeCity, cattle, hotel, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sdrama, suspense, redemption, marshal, Gunsmoke, newhotel, vintagewestern

Originally Aired: February 12, 1956

In Gunsmoke #201, “Kitty’s Outlaw,” a stranger named Cole Yankton rides into Dodge, drawing Marshal Dillon’s suspicion—and stirring up memories for Kitty Russell. While Cole claims to be a simple horse trader, his presence unsettles Kitty, who knows him from her past in New Orleans. When a bank robbery implicates Cole, Matt and Chester set out on a tense manhunt across the prairie. Wounded and dying, Cole’s final moments reveal the complicated bond between him and Kitty—a love that once was, and a parting that leaves questions of loyalty, regret, and what might have been. An episode of lost chances and bittersweet reckonings, set against the unforgiving backdrop of the frontier.

Cast:
William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer, Vic Perron, Barney Phillips

Tags:
western, drama, outlaw, lostlove, bankrobbery, marshalldillon, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, ParleyBaer, VicPerron, BarneyPhillips, oldtimeradio, gunsmoke, classicwestern, 1950sradio, bittersweet, KittyRussell, redemption, vintageaudio

Originally Aired: February 5, 1956

In Gunsmoke #200, “Legal Revenge,” Marshal Matt Dillon is drawn into a tangled web of violence and secrets when Doc brings word of trouble at the Tebbs homestead—a sod hut on the lonely prairie. A wounded man, Ben Tebbs, claims a knife wound was accidental, but his terrified state and a six-gun hidden under the blanket suggest otherwise. As Matt and Chester probe deeper, they uncover a tense standoff between Ben and his wife Flory, who may be more dangerous than she seems. When Ben dies during the night, Flory confesses to a murder—yet nothing is what it appears. What follows is a stark tale of revenge, justice, and the broken promises of the frontier, as Matt must decide who is truly guilty and what the law can—and can’t—fix.

Cast:
William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer

Tags:
western, drama, revenge, law, justice, marshalldillon, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, ParleyBaer, oldtimeradio, mystery, gunsmoke, classicwestern, 1950sradio, frontierjustice, psychological, vintageaudio, legaldrama

Originally Aired: January 29, 1956

In Gunsmoke #199, “Bureaucrat,” Dodge City is thrown into turmoil when a government man named Rex Propter arrives from Washington to “fix” the frontier. Armed with strict rules and city-bred theories, Propter clashes with Marshal Dillon over how to handle the wild town. As new signs and gun control laws backfire, an accidental killing and mob justice push Dodge to the brink. Matt must protect both the outsider and the law itself—even as his own authority is challenged. In the end, it’s a lesson in frontier justice, respect, and how far rules can go before common sense takes over.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Vic Perrin, John Dehner, Harry Bartell

Tags:
western, bureaucracy, frontier, law, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, government, DodgeCity, authority, mobjustice, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, classicradio, rules, outoftouch, drama, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: January 22, 1956

In Gunsmoke #198, “Romeo,” Dodge City faces open war as two rival cattle barons, Jake Worth and Emmett Bowers, let their hatred threaten to tear the prairie apart—over the forbidden romance between their children, Andy and Judy. As Matt Dillon tries to keep the peace, the young lovers risk everything to run away together. With Doc and Chester’s secret help, a midnight stage, and a quick-thinking preacher, Matt helps orchestrate a wedding and a daring escape—while facing down hired guns and the stubborn pride of two fathers. A frontier retelling of Romeo and Juliet, resolved with grit and wisdom before blood can be spilled.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Sam Edwards, John Dehner, James Nusser, Joyce McCluskey

Tags:
western, romance, familyfeud, starcrossed, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, frontier, elopement, classicradio, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, cattlebarons, reconciliation, love, prairie, drama, youth, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: January 15, 1956

In Gunsmoke #197, “How to Cure a Friend,” Marshal Matt Dillon faces one of his hardest tests when his old friend Nick Search—a smooth-talking gambler with a quick draw and a shadowy past—arrives in Dodge. As rumors swirl and suspicions mount, Matt is forced to confront the truth about Nick’s crooked ways. When a high-stakes poker game with cattleman Enoch Mills turns sour, Matt must act to save both his friend and the town’s reputation, even if it means shattering the bond they once shared. A story about trust, tough choices, and finding redemption at the card table.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Lawrence Dobkin, Harry Bartell, John Dehner, Ralph Moody

Tags:
western, drama, friendship, gambling, betrayal, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, crookedcards, loyalty, justice, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicradio, redemption, poker, law, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: January 8, 1956

In Gunsmoke #196, “Doc’s Revenge,” a ghost from Doc Adams’s past rides into Dodge, stirring up decades-old hatred and a thirst for vengeance. When Doc arms himself with his Civil War pistol and threatens to kill Clem Maddow—a man tied to tragedy and heartbreak—Marshal Dillon is forced to confront his friend and keep a murder from staining Dodge’s streets. But when Maddow is shot in the back and suspicion falls on Doc, Matt must untangle the truth before justice turns into revenge. A story of old wounds, regret, and the healing power of mercy.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Vic Perrin, John Dehner

Tags:
western, drama, revenge, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, DocAdams, oldgrudge, murdermystery, justice, forgiveness, friendship, pastsecrets, classicradio, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, redemption, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: January 1, 1956

In Gunsmoke #195, “Puckett’s New Year,” aging buffalo hunter Ira Puckett survives a deadly blizzard only to face the greatest challenge of his life: helplessness. Abandoned on the prairie by his partner, crippled by frostbite, and forced to confront his fading independence, Puckett struggles to adapt to a new life in Dodge. When pride drives him to the brink of crime, Marshal Dillon intervenes, offering a second chance—and a shot at redemption. A poignant New Year’s tale of hard lessons, dignity, and the courage to begin again.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Ralph Moody, James Nusser

Tags:
western, newyear, redemption, pride, survival, aging, buffalo hunter, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, secondchance, frontier, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicradio, adaptation, dignity, stagecoach, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: December 25, 1955

In Gunsmoke #194, “Twelfth Night,” the holiday season brings two mountain men—and a generations-old feud—to the snowy streets of Dodge. Eben Hakes arrives from the Ozarks, determined to settle the last score with his rival Joth Monger, vowing never to kill on a Sunday. As Marshal Dillon tries to prevent bloodshed, a tense standoff is broken only by the stroke of midnight and a forgotten kinship. With the help of Christmas spirit and a bit of corn liquor, the feud thaws, and the men discover their families’ tangled roots—and a reason to celebrate together. A rare festive tale of tradition, reconciliation, and frontier humor.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, John Dehner, Helen Kleeb, Vic Perrin

Tags:
western, holiday, feud, Christmas, reconciliation, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, Ozarks, tradition, comedy, family, kinship, mountainmen, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, peace, classicradio, frontierlife, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: December 18, 1955

In Gunsmoke #193, “Scared Kid,” a young cowboy named Gil Barden is pushed to the brink after a public run-in with a notorious bully, Henry Gant. When Gant is found shot in the back, all eyes turn to Gil, who flees Dodge in terror—triggering a desperate manhunt across the prairie. As Marshal Matt Dillon tracks the frightened boy, a trail of unintended tragedy follows. But the shocking truth behind Gant’s killing reveals a desperate act of self-defense by another, and the terrible price of panic. A somber tale of fear, rumor, and consequences on the frontier.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Sam Edwards, Eleanor Tanin, John Dehner, Ann Morrison

Tags:
western, drama, tragedy, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, comingofage, wrongfulaccusation, selfdefense, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, prairie, chase, morality, youth, fear, classicradio, loss, innocence, justice, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: December 11, 1955

In Gunsmoke #192, “Land Deal,” a smooth-talking conman named Trumbull arrives in Dodge, promising a group of hopeful immigrants prime railroad land at a bargain—if they’ll only trust him with their life savings. When Marshal Matt Dillon discovers that Trumbull’s map is a fraud and the land is not for sale, he races to stop a tragedy. The settlers’ dreams unravel amid jealousy, a near-fatal knife fight, and a wife’s secret betrayal. As Trumbull attempts to escape with a stolen fortune—and another man’s wife—the law closes in for a final reckoning. A story of greed, broken trust, and hard-won second chances.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Lawrence Dobkin, Vivi Janis, Vic Perron, John Dehner

Tags:
western, drama, land scam, conman, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, betrayal, homesteaders, frontier, justice, robbery, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, greed, prairie, landgrab, classicradio, deception, foundfamily, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: December 4, 1955

In Gunsmoke #191, “Sunny Afternoon,” Dodge City is gripped by its worst winter in memory, leaving the townsfolk desperate and tempers frayed. When young Jabil Siderow is found murdered in the snow outside his father’s barn, Marshal Matt Dillon faces a grim puzzle. Was it a rival rancher desperate for hay—or does the truth lie closer to home, buried under pride and old resentments? As Matt and Chester ride through blinding blizzards and confront men pushed to the brink, the chilling reality of a father’s ruthless judgment emerges. A story of survival, sacrifice, and the high cost of hard-heartedness.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Ralph Moody, John Dehner, Virginia Christine

Tags:

western, drama, murder, father-son, blizzard, desperation, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, prairie, justice, morality, classicradio, coldcase, survival, familytragedy, guilt, winter, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: November 27, 1955

In Gunsmoke #190, “Amy’s Good Deed,” an embittered woman named Amy Slater arrives in Dodge City, convinced she must die at the hand of Marshal Matt Dillon. But Matt’s compassion and restraint thwart her bizarre attempts to provoke a fatal showdown. As Amy’s troubled mind heals under the care of Doc and a quiet life with Ma Smiley, she reveals a dark secret from Matt’s past: her brother was Jim Band, a man Matt shot in self-defense years earlier. Now, his old partner, Emmett Gould, has come to town. Amy warns Matt of danger, trying to settle her debt in an act of redemption—but the truth may not be what any of them expected. A story of grudges turned grace, and the unexpected peace that comes from letting go.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear

Tags:

Western, redemption, AmySlater, MattDillon, revenge, JimBand, pastreturns, Gunsmoke, classicradio, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, psychologicaldrama, frontierjustice, forgiveness, westernpodcast, suspense

Originally Aired: November 20, 1955

In Gunsmoke #189, “Dutch George,” Marshal Matt Dillon is forced to confront an old acquaintance turned notorious outlaw. Dutch George, once a boyhood idol to Matt, returns to Dodge City a free man after a dubious acquittal for horse theft. But when a determined young man named Jimmy McQueen tracks a stolen bay horse back to Dutch, Matt sees a rare chance to bring the elusive thief to justice. The pursuit across the prairie turns deadly as Dutch’s criminal empire unravels in the shadow of Cheyenne territory. A tale of deception, broken trust, and the brutal code of the frontier.

Cast: William Conrad, John Boehner, Vic Perrin, Jim Busser

Tags:

Western, horse thief, DutchGeorge, MattDillon, frontierjustice, revenge, Cheyenne, outlaw, traildrama, 1950sradio, classicradio, oldtimeradio, suspense, betrayal, westernpodcast, gunsmoke

Originally Aired: November 13, 1955

In Gunsmoke #188, “The Preacher,” Marshal Matt Dillon confronts both physical violence and spiritual despair when a soft-spoken preacher named Seth Tandy arrives in Dodge, broken in spirit and persecuted by a brutal brawler named Sam Keeler. As Keeler seeks revenge and Tandy refuses to defend himself, Matt must navigate a tangled web of morality, faith, and courage. When Tandy is kidnapped, Matt rides into a deadly standoff, unarmed, to save a man who no longer values his own life—only to witness a resurrection of purpose and belief in the most unexpected way.

Cast: William Conrad, Lawrence Dobkin, Joe Cranston, John Dehner

Tags:

western, redemption, faith, preacher, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, spiritualcrisis, nonviolence, showdown, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicdrama, frontierjustice, suspensepodcast, radioadventure

Originally Aired: November 6, 1955

In Gunsmoke #187, “The Second Choice,” Marshal Matt Dillon faces a moral and legal dilemma when Andy Hill, a reformed fugitive living a quiet life in Dodge, is suddenly accused of murder in Oklahoma Territory. As Matt seeks the truth behind the charge, a mysterious deputy arrives with a warrant—but the story doesn’t add up. As suspicions grow, so does the danger. When deceit and vengeance collide, Matt must act quickly to prevent a wrongful conviction—or worse. A tense episode exploring justice, trust, and the fine line between law and personal loyalty.

Cast: William Conrad, Sam Edwards, Vic Perron, Joseph Kearns

Tags:

western, justice, lawman, betrayal, fugitiveredemption, falseidentity, WilliamConrad, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, DodgeCity, retribution, 1950sradio, classicdrama, suspensepodcast, radioadventure

Originally Aired: October 30, 1955

In Gunsmoke #186, “The Choice,” a mysterious young drifter named Andy Hill arrives in Dodge looking for honest work—but a deadly confrontation and a quick draw soon reveal he’s more than he seems. Marshal Matt Dillon offers him a second chance as a stagecoach guard, but suspicion lingers. When a stage is held up and Andy refuses to fire, questions arise: is he a coward, or complicit? As truths about Andy’s outlaw past emerge—tied to a cold-blooded killer named Carrick—Matt must decide whether to trust the young man’s bid for redemption. In the end, Andy’s courage and conscience are tested in a final, fateful showdown on the prairie.

Cast: William Conrad, Sam Edwards, Harry Bartell, Barney Phillips, Lawrence Topkin

Tags:
Western, redemption, outlaw, moralchoice, secondchances, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, oaterdrama, classicwestern, justice, frontierlaw, suspense, psychologicaldrama, radiohistory, gunfighter

Originally Aired: October 23, 1955

In Gunsmoke #185, “Brush at Elkader,” Marshal Matt Dillon investigates the cold-blooded murder of a quiet rancher named Ben Williams, gunned down in the streets of Dodge City. The only clue: the name of a remote town—Elkader. Riding north with Chester, Dillon finds a town gripped by fear and silence, where every door is closed and every word cautious. As suspicion narrows on a wanted man named Lou Shippen, Dillon devises a dangerous bluff to expose the killer hiding in plain sight. A tense, slow-burn western thriller that pits courage against control in a forgotten outpost.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear

Tags:

Western, marshal, Gunsmoke, classicradio, 1950sradio, LouShippen, Elkader, frontierjustice, WilliamConrad, oldtimeradio, classicdrama, suspense, vintagewesterns, MattDillon, radiotheater, radiohistory

Originally Aired: October 16, 1955

In Gunsmoke #184, “Trouble in Kansas,” Marshal Matt Dillon intervenes in a simmering conflict between Texan cattlemen and Kansas Jayhawkers—a gang of outlaws terrorizing herds and demanding protection money. When trail boss Jack Raven refuses to be extorted, the Texans prepare for a fight. Matt, suspecting an ambush, sets a trap to catch the Jayhawkers before another stampede erupts. But even after the danger passes, tensions flare dangerously between the Kansan lawman and the vengeful Texans. A taut tale of mistrust, frontier justice, and one marshal’s gamble to stop a range war before it begins.

Cast: William Conrad

Tags:

Western, cattle drive, Jayhawkers, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, trailconflict, Kansas, Texas, outlaws, oldtimeradio, frontierjustice, 1950sradio, classicwestern, mattdillon, DodgeCity, cattlemen, shootout, radioadventure

Originally Aired: October 9, 1955

In Gunsmoke #183, “The Coward,” Marshal Matt Dillon faces a deadly threat that creeps in like a rumor on the wind. After a friend is murdered while sitting in Matt’s own chair, it becomes clear someone is hunting the Marshal—but not with the courage to face him. Whispers of an ambush spark fear, drawing out every would-be glory hunter, each more desperate than the last. As Matt tries to untangle who’s spreading the talk and why, a night of violence leads to an innocent man’s death, pushing Dillon’s patience and ethics to the breaking point. The episode unfolds as a tense psychological drama about cowardice, manipulation, and the burdens of law and reputation on the frontier.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer, Vic Perron, John Dehner, Jack Edwards

Tags:
western, thriller, Gunsmoke, psychological, lawman, cowardice, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, ambush, DodgeCity, classicradio, suspense, vintage, drama, manipulation, oldtimeradio, morality, rumors, reputation, U.S.Marshal

Originally Aired: October 8, 1955

In Gunsmoke #182, “Good Girl – Bad Company,” the fragile peace of Dodge City is shattered when two Army soldiers are murdered and a government payroll is stolen. Marshal Matt Dillon finds himself caught between a furious Army Major threatening martial law and a powder keg town full of restless gunmen. The trail leads Matt to Jenny Lane, a new arrival with a mysterious past and ties to a runaway Army clerk, Corporal Stark. As secrets unravel, Jenny is torn between loyalty and survival, and Matt must risk everything to avert a deadly showdown on the banks of the Arkansas River. In a tense, emotional climax, a “good girl” faces the consequences of bad company—and Matt Dillon proves once again why his is a chancy, lonely job.

Cast: William Conrad, Virginia Christine, John Dehner, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer

Tags:
western, crime, drama, DodgeCity, Army, payrollheist, marshalldillon, WilliamConrad, VirginiaChristine, JohnDehner, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, ParleyBaer, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, 1950sradio, suspense, gunsmoke, femaleprotagonist, moralchoices, badcompany, forgivness, redemption

Originally Aired: October 1, 1955

When a train robbery leaves baggage clerk Ed Barton dead and his young son Billy gravely wounded, Marshal Dillon launches an urgent investigation into one of the coldest killings Dodge has seen. The strongbox is missing, the killer vanished, and the only witness is a ten-year-old boy with a bullet graze and a broken heart.

As Matt shelters Billy in the jail for his protection, the boy’s memory of the killer’s voice becomes the key to unlocking the mystery. But time is running out—the murderer is still in Dodge, and he knows Billy survived. While Matt interrogates half the town, suspicion slowly builds toward a familiar figure: Laura, Ed’s fiancée, now rekindling a romance with a shadowy man named Taggart.

In a devastating twist, a poisoned slice of cake reveals Laura’s complicity. As the law closes in, Taggart is gunned down during a desperate escape, and Laura confronts Matt in a tense showdown, gun in hand. But justice prevails, and Billy, the boy who couldn’t forget a voice, brings the killers to light.

A gripping tale of betrayal, innocence, and revenge, Barton Boy is Gunsmoke at its most heart-wrenching and suspenseful.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Barton Boy episode,” “Ed Barton train robbery,” “Billy Barton witness story,” “Matt Dillon protects child,” “Taggart and Laura murder plot,” “poisoned cake Gunsmoke,” “Gunsmoke 1955 radio western,” “John Meston script,” “revenge and justice in Dodge”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Virginia Christine (Laura), Richard Fields (Taggart), Lawrence Dobkin (Ed Barton), with special appearances by the Gunsmoke radio company.

Originally Aired: September 24, 1955

In Gunsmoke #180, “Indian White,” a white boy raised by the Cheyenne struggles to find his place after being returned to Dodge City. Taken in by a grieving woman named Mrs. Cullen—who believes he may be her long-lost son—the boy, now called Vigo Khan, clashes with townspeople who view him as an enemy. As tensions rise following a Cheyenne escape from Fort Dodge, Marshal Dillon must keep Vigo safe from growing threats.

But the pull of the only life he’s known proves too strong. When the boy vanishes, Matt and Chester ride into dangerous territory and encounter a band of armed Cheyenne warriors. There, Vigo Khan makes a fateful decision to return to his people—unaware that a single phrase, “Medicine River,” might reveal his true identity after all. A poignant episode exploring identity, belonging, and the painful legacies of war.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Indian White episode,” “Vigo Khan Cheyenne boy story,” “Matt Dillon adoption conflict,” “Mrs. Cullen lost son Medicine River,” “Gunsmoke identity mystery,” “Cheyenne breakout Fort Dodge,” “John Meston script,” “1955 Gunsmoke western drama”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Virginia Gregg (Mrs. Cullen), Sammy Ogg (Vigo Khan), John Dehner (Little Wolf), Joseph Kearns, Harry Bartell, Ralph Moody, with special appearances by the Gunsmoke radio company.