Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

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.

Originally Aired: September 17, 1955

In Gunsmoke #179, “Thoroughbreds,” Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester encounter a well-dressed stranger named Jack Portis traveling with a pair of immaculate horses—thoroughbreds bearing a distinctive wineglass brand. Suspicious of the man’s aloof manner, Dillon investigates, only to learn that two men from Oklahoma have followed Portis to Dodge, claiming he stole the horses and murdered their uncle. Before the law can intervene, Portis is gunned down in what appears to be a fair fight. But days later, a letter arrives suggesting a heartbreaking truth: Portis may have been the rightful owner after all. With guilt, regret, and the scent of justice hanging heavy, Dillon must reckon with a tragic misjudgment.

Cast:

William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Howard McNear (Doc), John Dehner, Lawrence Dobkin, Harry Bartell

Tags:

Gunsmoke, oldtimeradio, western, horse theft, mistaken identity, DodgeCity, wineglassbrand, JackPortis, MattDillon, JohnMeston, 1955radio, frontierjustice, lawandorder, radiohistory, classicwestern, thoroughbreds, gunfight, revenge, OklahomaTrail

Originally Aired: September 10, 1955

Alarm at Pleasant Valley: Birth, Bloodshed, and a New Beginning

Marshal Dillon and Chester come upon a horrifying massacre at a remote homestead—evidence of a Kiowa renegade raid. As they return to Dodge, they cross paths with a new family bound for California, but tensions rise when the expectant mother’s condition and fear of further Indian attacks push them to consider abandoning their land. When the renegades strike again, the Frasers must take shelter and fight for their lives. With Alice Fraser in labor and the enemy closing in, only a desperate signal fire and the hope of a cavalry rescue stand between life and death. In the end, a new baby and a newfound resolve mark the birth of both a child and a home.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Pleasant Valley episode,” “Indian renegade attack,” “Marshal Dillon family rescue,” “Chester cavalry smoke signal,” “pioneer birth in danger,” “homesteading frontier western,” “Sam and Alice Fraser story,” “1955 Gunsmoke radio drama”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Vic Perrin (Sam Fraser), Helen Kleeb (Ma Fraser), Eleanor Tannen (Alice Fraser), Sam Edwards (Tad Fraser), John Dehner, Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Howard McNear (Doc)

Originally Aired: September 3, 1955

Change of Heart: A Brother’s Scheme and a Woman’s Redemption
When Jerry Cass falls for a charming saloon girl named Bella, his estranged brother Briscoe returns to Dodge with an agenda of his own. Briscoe’s hostility toward the match seems like simple disapproval—until Marshal Dillon uncovers the truth: a hidden clause in their father’s will that could strip Jerry of his inheritance if he leaves the ranch. Caught in a tangled web of manipulation, Bella ultimately turns against Briscoe, but not before he pulls a gun. In a tragic final moment, Bella saves Jerry’s life—at the cost of her own.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Change of Heart episode,” “Jerry and Briscoe Cass feud,” “Bella Grant saloon girl,” “Matt Dillon inheritance plot,” “1955 Gunsmoke western drama,” “frontier love and betrayal,” “will and land ownership twist,” “Briscoe Cass villain”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Howard McNear (Doc), Sam Edwards (Jerry Cass), Virginia Christine (Bella Grant), Vic Perrin (Briscoe Cass), Joe Duval

Originally Aired: August 27, 1955

Doc Quits: A Fraud’s Cure and a Town’s Wake-Up Call

After a heartbreaking failure to save a dying man, Doc Adams decides to hang up his shingle for good—just as a new doctor, Jameson Betchell, rolls into Dodge with flashy promises and a greedy price tag. While Doc sinks into quiet retirement, Betchell charms the town and begins practicing dangerous, outdated treatments. But when a young boy nearly dies from Betchell’s cruelty and an elderly woman succumbs to a reckless bleeding, the townsfolk start to see the truth. In a dramatic showdown, Matt Dillon and a humbled community urge Doc to return—just in time to stop Betchell from doing more harm.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Doc Quits episode,” “Dr. Jameson Betchell fraud,” “Doc Adams retires Dodge,” “Matt Dillon medical conman,” “1955 Gunsmoke radio drama,” “Crumley case death,” “frontier medicine ethics,” “Doc Adams returns”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Lawrence Dobkin (Jameson Betchell), James Nusser (Jake Worth), Frank Cady, Ann Morrison

When a cavalry patrol is slaughtered by Comanches, all eyes turn to Amos Cartwright—the scout who led them there and the only man to return alive. The town of Dodge seethes with suspicion, especially Will Bailey, whose brother lies among the dead. Amos, once married into the Comanche tribe, now finds himself hated by both sides. As tensions explode and Bailey is found murdered, Marshal Dillon rides into hostile territory to bring Amos back for justice. But before he can face the gallows, a silent war party emerges on the horizon—led by Cartwright’s Comanche brother-in-law. In the end, Amos must make the ultimate choice, and the Comanche deliver their own brand of justice.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Indian Scout episode,” “Amos Cartwright Comanche scout,” “Bailey brother revenge,” “Marshal Dillon cavalry ambush,” “Comanche war party drama,” “1955 Gunsmoke radio western,” “Indian justice radio drama,” “Cold Creek patrol massacre”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Howard McNear (Doc), Lawrence Dobkin (Amos Cartwright), Harry Bartell (Will Bailey), Barney Phillips, Joseph Kearns

A stranger rides into Dodge claiming to be Billy Crail, the long-lost son of an aging ranch owner. But Marshal Dillon recognizes him from a wanted poster as Johnny Red, a notorious outlaw. When “Billy” convinces his mother of his identity, Matt faces a moral dilemma: expose the truth and break her heart, or let the charade continue. But everything changes when a stagecoach robbery leads Matt to the Crail ranch—only to find a brutal murder, a deadly shootout, and a revelation that Billy may not have been lying after all. In the end, the truth costs a woman her life and a man his chance at redemption.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Johnny Red episode,” “Billy Crail Dodge City,” “Matt Dillon family deception,” “Johnny Red outlaw return,” “Crail ranch murder,” “1955 Gunsmoke radio drama,” “Stagecoach robbery western,” “Marshal Dillon identity crisis”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Virginia Gregg (Mrs. Crail), Sam Edwards (Johnny Red/Billy Crail), Vic Perrin (Ponca), Paul DuBois (Nate Barger), Lawrence Dobkin (Jake)

Originally Aired: August 6, 1955

Innocent Broad: A Fiancé’s Secret and a Gunman’s Threat

Seventeen-year-old Linda Bell arrives in Dodge to reunite with her fiancé Lou Paxton, only to find herself entangled in a dangerous scheme. Marshal Dillon intervenes when a drunken passenger named Bassett harasses her on the stagecoach ride, but the trouble doesn’t end there. As secrets unravel, it’s revealed that Paxton is hiding his past and planning a desperate robbery to pay off a vengeful former partner—Bassett. When the heist fails and both men meet violent ends, Matt is left to break the truth to Linda, who came west chasing love and found something far more sobering.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Innocent Broad episode,” “Linda Bell Dodge City story,” “Marshal Dillon stagecoach drama,” “Lou Paxton outlaw fiancé,” “Bassett gunman plot,” “1955 Gunsmoke radio western,” “John Meston script,” “Matt Dillon saves girl”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Eleanor Tannen (Linda Bell), Lawrence Dobkin (Lou Paxton), Paul DuBois (Joe Bassett), Vic Perrin

Originally Aired:

July 30, 1955

Tap Day for Kitty: The Prospector’s Proposal

When a love-struck old prospector named Nip Colors rolls into Dodge with a bag of gold and his heart set on marrying Kitty, he quickly becomes the talk of the town. Despite Kitty’s firm rejection, Nip insists she’s the only gal for him—and makes it his mission to win her over. His delusion spirals into chaos when a drunkard confronts him, leading to an accidental shooting that stuns the Long Branch. As Marshal Dillon sorts out the aftermath, Kitty is left to reckon with the strange, touching, and ultimately unsettling affection of a man who simply couldn’t take no for an answer.

Keywords:

“Gunsmoke Tap Day for Kitty episode,” “Nip Colors loves Kitty Russell,” “Marshal Dillon stops wedding proposal,” “funny prospector radio story,” “1955 Gunsmoke radio western,” “Kitty Russell character episode,” “Dodge City drama”

Cast:

William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), John Dehner (Nip Colors), Michael Ann Barrett (Saloon Girl), Virginia Gregg (Landlady)

When Ben Tolliver leaves his job without pay and takes a prized stud he personally broke, old Jake Creed calls it theft—and vows to shoot Ben on sight. Marshal Dillon tries to cool things down, but Creed refuses legal help, choosing revenge instead. As tensions rise, Creed sneaks into Dodge and cripples Ben’s beloved horse. Enraged and grief-stricken, Ben sets out for the Creed ranch with blood in his eyes. But when Matt catches up, he finds Creed already dead—killed in a tragic accident while breaking a mustang alone. The gunfight never happens, but the damage has already been done.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Ben Tolliver’s Stud episode,” “Jake Creed horse theft story,” “Matt Dillon stops revenge killing,” “crippled horse western drama,” “John Meston radio script,” “July 1955 Gunsmoke radio,” “Marshal Dillon and Chester”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Sam Edwards (Ben Tolliver), Eleanor Tannen (Nancy Creed), James Nusser (Jake Creed)

Originally Aired: July 16, 1955

20-20: The Last Shot He Could See
When Troy Carver, an aging Arizona gunfighter and old friend of Marshal Matt Dillon, rides into Dodge chasing a wanted killer, Matt quickly notices something’s wrong—Troy’s vision is failing, and he refuses to admit it. Determined to take outlaw Lee Poland alone, Troy’s pride blinds him more than his failing eyesight ever could. But Matt can’t sit by while his friend walks into a sure death. In a final showdown, Matt breaks his promise and intervenes—saving Troy’s life and forcing him to confront a truth he’s long denied: a gunfighter who can’t see is already finished.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke 20-20 episode,” “Troy Carver gunfighter blindness,” “Lee Poland outlaw showdown,” “Matt Dillon breaks promise,” “John Meston western radio drama,” “July 1955 Gunsmoke episode,” “Marshal Dillon friendship story”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Vic Perrin (Troy Carver), Joseph Cranston (Lee Poland), James Nusser, and others.

Originally Aired: July 9, 1955

Uncle Oliver: Blood Ties and Broken Promises

When Viney Stang and his fast-talking Uncle Oliver arrive in Dodge, their prairie simplicity hides a dangerous edge. After Viney jokingly suggests he’d kill Chester to get his job, Chester is ambushed and shot in the head. As Matt hunts for Viney, suspicion grows, but the truth takes a tragic turn—Oliver, trying to protect his nephew, had planned the shooting himself. In the end, Matt guns down Oliver in a deadly confrontation, leaving Viney stunned, broken, and begging only to go home.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Uncle Oliver episode,” “Viney Stang Chester shooting,” “July 1955 Gunsmoke radio,” “Matt Dillon family loyalty story,” “John Meston western drama,” “tragic ending Gunsmoke,” “Oliver Stang radio episode”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Vic Perrin (Viney Stang), Harry Bartell (Oliver Stang), with supporting roles by the Gunsmoke radio company.

Episode Title: General Parsley Smith: The Lies That Saved a Town
Originally Aired: July 2, 1955

General Parsley Smith: The Lies That Saved a Town
An eccentric Civil War “general” arrives in Dodge, loudly accusing the town’s new banker of being a crook. Though dismissed as a harmless liar, Parsley Smith’s warnings grow louder—and more disruptive. Marshal Dillon tries to keep the peace, but suspicions mount as the banker’s shady associates come to light. When the general takes justice into his own hands and exposes a plot to rob the town blind, his lies reveal an unexpected truth—and end in a final, tragic twist.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke General Parsley Smith,” “Drew Holt Gunsmoke bank plot,” “July 1955 Gunsmoke radio,” “John Meston Gunsmoke script,” “Marshal Matt Dillon classic western,” “Chester Proudfoot and Doc Adams,” “old general western radio drama”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Vic Perrin (General Parsley Smith), John Dehner (Drew Holt), Joe Duval (Ed Nash), Harry Bartell (Mr. Botkin)

Originally Aired: June 25, 1955

The Army Trial: A Heart Full of Promises

In this tragic and unforgettable episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon is forced to intervene when dreams of freedom and love collide with the harsh discipline of army law.

Jed Cook, a weary army sergeant stationed at Fort Dodge, deserts his post, desperate to start a new life with his fiancée, Della Masters. But their dreams crumble when Matt recognizes Jed during a chance encounter on the open prairie and arrests him for desertion.

Jed faces a court-martial, sentenced to two years of hard labor. Della, furious and heartbroken, vows that nothing—not the army, not the law—will stand between them. As Jed is being transported to Leavenworth, he escapes into the vast Kansas frontier, determined to reach the place he and Della had planned to reunite.

Matt knows Della holds the key to finding Jed. Despite Della’s stubborn defiance and threats, he follows her trail into the wilderness. But by the time Matt finds Jed, it’s too late—Jed has been captured and tortured by Indians, left dying in the dust.

In a heart-wrenching final moment, Della realizes that all her desperate plans only cost them the life they dreamed of. As she buries Jed on the open prairie—“about as far west as he’ll ever get”—Della is left to confront the bitter consequences of love, impatience, and a world that does not bend for broken hearts.

A devastating portrait of dreams crushed by duty, The Army Trial stands among Gunsmoke’s most emotionally wrenching episodes.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke The Army Trial episode,” “Jed Cook Della Masters story,” “Matt Dillon army desertion arrest,” “June 1955 Gunsmoke radio,” “tragic love story western,” “marshal tracks down deserter,” “John Meston emotional Gunsmoke drama.”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Vivi Janiss (Della Masters), Lawrence Dobkin (Jed Cook), Harry Bartell (Lt. Dussman), Jim Nusser (Moss Grimmick).

Originally Aired: June 18, 1955

The Reed Survives: A Murder Grown in the Heat

In this haunting and psychological episode of Gunsmoke, the relentless summer heat of Dodge City breeds suspicion, jealousy, and ultimately, death.

Lucy Middlecamp, once a dance hall girl and now the wife of the stern preacher Ephraim Hunt, secretly comes to Marshal Matt Dillon, pleading for help. She fears her husband will kill her. While outwardly pious and respected, Ephraim is privately cruel, accusing Lucy of leading him into sin and threatening her life under the guise of righteousness.

Complicating matters is Booth Rider, a young drifter working on the Hunt ranch. Matt warns Booth to leave town, sensing danger, but Booth, infatuated with Lucy, refuses. Soon, under Lucy’s manipulative urgings, Booth is drawn deeper into a deadly trap.

When Ephraim Hunt arms himself and returns to the ranch, a violent confrontation erupts. Booth, goaded by Lucy’s fear and flattery, shoots Ephraim dead. But Matt Dillon, too late to stop the tragedy, quickly realizes the ugly truth: Lucy orchestrated the killing without ever lifting a finger.

She preyed on Booth’s emotions, planted fear in Ephraim’s heart, and left Booth to do her bidding. With no proof against her, Matt can only watch as Lucy prepares to leave Dodge, free and unpunished.

A brutal meditation on manipulation, guilt, and the weakness of good men, The Reed Survives paints a chilling portrait of how evil often wins—not with guns, but with whispers.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke The Reed Survives episode,” “Lucy Middlecamp Ephraim Hunt story,” “Booth Rider manipulated into murder,” “June 1955 Gunsmoke radio drama,” “Matt Dillon investigates murder,” “John Meston psychological Western,” “marshal helpless against true evil.”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Michael Ann Barrett (Lucy Middlecamp Hunt), Sam Edwards (Booth Rider), Ralph Moody (Ephraim Hunt), Edgar Barrier.

Originally Aired: June 11, 1955

Trust: A Deal Sealed in Blood and Iron

In this tense and character-driven episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester are caught in a deadly standoff not just with an outlaw—but with the fragile idea of trust itself.

After tracking a fugitive named James Nation across the rugged plains, Matt and Chester lose their horses and find themselves stranded with Nation on foot, hoping to flag down a passing stagecoach. When the stage finally arrives, it’s clear that danger rides inside: one of the passengers, a surly man named Simmer, is not who he claims to be.

Simmer is actually Art Carp, a ruthless road agent planning to rob the stage of its $50,000 treasure. And when the passengers are stranded at a remote swing station, Carp makes his move, taking them hostage at gunpoint.

It’s Nation—the fugitive Matt was arresting—who changes everything. Given a chance to escape, Nation instead risks his life to help Matt and Chester. With nerves of steel, Nation turns Carp’s own arrogance against him, disarming the outlaw and winning back his own honor in the process.

For his bravery, Matt does something unheard of: he trusts a prisoner with a gun, letting Nation help guard Carp on the way back to Fort Donner.

A gripping tale of second chances, human decency, and the rare bond between enemies, Trust is a standout testament to the rough morality of the Old West.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Trust episode,” “June 1955 Gunsmoke radio,” “Matt Dillon James Nation fugitive,” “Art Carp stagecoach robbery,” “Chester and Matt hostage crisis,” “John Meston Gunsmoke script,” “trust between marshal and outlaw.”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Vic Perrin (James Nation), Joseph Kearns (Art Carp), John Dehner (Fly), Clayton Post (Wells), James Nusser (Stock Tender), with music by Rex Koury and production by Norman Macdonnell.

Originally Aired: June 4, 1955

Jealousy: A Wound Deeper Than Bullets

In this emotionally charged episode of Gunsmoke, a dangerous spiral of suspicion, betrayal, and violence grips Dodge City as jealousy tears a young couple apart—and nearly costs more than one life.

Cam Durbin, a reformed gambler and old friend of Matt Dillon, arrives in Dodge with his beautiful new wife, Tilda. But beneath Cam’s calm surface simmers an uncontrollable jealousy, easily fanned into flames by the conniving dealer Lonnie Pike. When Pike begins feeding Cam malicious lies about Tilda and Matt, Cam’s growing distrust threatens not only his marriage but Matt’s life.

Matters escalate when Cam, poisoned by jealousy, vows to face Matt in a gunfight. Desperate to save her husband from his own worst instincts, Tilda takes justice into her own hands—shooting Lonnie Pike in a crowded saloon.

As Tilda faces arrest and prison, and Cam faces the wreckage of his own pride and mistrust, both realize the true cost of suspicion. Only the truth—and forgiveness—can save them now.

A powerful exploration of loyalty, manipulation, and the destructive power of jealousy, Jealousy is a poignant standout in the Gunsmoke canon.

Keywords: “Gunsmoke Jealousy episode,” “Cam and Tilda Durbin story,” “Matt Dillon Lonnie Pike conflict,” “June 1955 Gunsmoke radio,” “marshal defends his honor,” “John Meston jealousy drama,” “tragic love story Dodge City.”

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Vic Perrin (Cam Durbin), Virginia Gregg (Tilda Durbin), Harry Bartell (Lonnie Pike), Don Diamond.

Originally Aired: May 28, 1955

Cow Doctor: A Debt Paid in Pride

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon and Doc Adams find themselves facing the ultimate test of compassion—and pride—in the Kansas frontier.

When young Jerry Pitcher rides into Dodge searching desperately for Doc, Matt and Kitty are shocked. Jerry’s father, Ben Pitcher, is known for his deep hatred of doctors, refusing even emergency care in the past. But something must be seriously wrong if he’s willing to send for help.

Doc and Matt travel to the remote Pitcher homestead—only to discover the patient isn’t Ben at all, but one of his cows suffering from colic. Furious at being tricked, Doc treats the animal anyway. But while Doc is away, a true emergency erupts back in Dodge: a woman bleeds to death from a simple injury because Doc wasn’t there to save her.

Enraged, Doc confronts Ben Pitcher, who retaliates with violence, stabbing Doc with a knife. Gravely wounded, Doc barely survives thanks to Matt’s rough but life-saving stitches. As Doc recuperates, a desperate Jerry returns to Dodge again—this time to plead for Doc to save his father, who is now deathly ill.

Despite everything, Doc insists on going back to treat the man who nearly killed him. Risking his own life, he saves Ben Pitcher. In the end, true to form, Pitcher refuses to pay Doc—because his cow died. Yet in a rare, heartfelt moment, Jerry tells Doc he’s proud to have him in their home.

Doc smiles. It’s the best payment he could have asked for.

Keywords: "Gunsmoke Cow Doctor episode," "May 1955 Gunsmoke radio," "Doc Adams stabbed by Ben Pitcher," "Matt Dillon stitches Doc Adams," "Doc saves enemy's life," "Jerry Pitcher loyalty," "John Meston Gunsmoke script classic."

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), John Dehner (Ben Pitcher), Vivi Janiss (Mrs. Pitcher), Sam Edwards (Jerry Pitcher)

Originally Aired: May 21, 1955

The Liar from Blackhawk: Truth Drawn at Gunpoint

In this unforgettable Gunsmoke episode, Dodge City meets a different kind of outlaw—one whose deadliest weapon is a lie. Hank Shin arrives in town with a towering reputation as a feared gunman, claiming he once killed three men at once in a saloon up in Blackhawk. Citizens are quickly cowed by his bravado, but Marshal Matt Dillon remains skeptical.

While Matt is away on business in Abilene, Hank's legend grows unchecked. However, those who look closer, like Kitty and Doc, notice something odd—Shin seems more desperate than dangerous, a man clinging to a reputation he knows he can’t truly defend.

When an armed drunk challenges Hank in the Long Branch, Shin shoots him down, but it leaves the so-called gunman shaken, not emboldened. Hank’s world finally collapses when Al Janes, a real gunfighter from New Mexico, rides into town. Fearing for his life, Shin throws away his gun and begs Matt to tell the town he’s no longer a fighter.

But it’s too late. On a dusty Dodge City street, Al Janes confronts Hank. Mistaking a frightened movement for a draw, Janes guns him down—only to learn too late that Shin was unarmed. In his dying words, Hank confesses that he never killed anyone in Blackhawk—the men killed each other while he hid.

A brutal and tragic tale about false reputations, cowardice, and the devastating consequences of living a lie, The Liar from Blackhawk is Gunsmoke at its most psychologically sharp and emotionally devastating.

Keywords: "Gunsmoke The Liar from Blackhawk episode," "Hank Shin fake gunfighter story," "May 1955 Gunsmoke radio," "Matt Dillon exposes false hero," "Al Janes gunfight Dodge City," "John Meston Gunsmoke script," "tragedy of false reputation."

Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Vic Perrin (Hank Shin), Paul Dubov (Al Janes), Barney Phillips (Davey), with special appearances by the Gunsmoke radio company.