Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

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.

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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.

Originally Aired: May 14, 1955

Robber Bridegroom: The Man Who Took Her Twice

In this sweeping tale of abduction, deception, and unexpected love, Gunsmoke delivers one of its most memorable emotional rollercoasters. When Marshal Matt Dillon learns that a stagecoach carrying $50,000 in gold has been held up—and a young woman taken along with it—he wastes no time tracking the outlaw across the vast Kansas plains.

The woman is Laura, the reluctant fiancée of wealthy and arrogant businessman Franklin J. Reeves. Though Reeves plays the part of the desperate groom-to-be, Matt quickly senses something off about him. As the trail grows cold, it becomes clear that Laura’s disappearance may not just be about stolen gold—but about freedom stolen long before.

Eventually, Matt catches up to the outlaw: Jack Fitch, a rough-edged but principled man who surprises everyone by returning both Laura and the gold. And when the truth comes out—that Reeves blackmailed Laura’s father into promising her hand—Matt begins to understand why Laura may not have fought too hard to get away.

In a final twist, Fitch agrees to stand trial for the robbery—but not before he and Laura marry, ensuring she can’t be forced to testify. Whether born from outlaw boldness or genuine love, it’s a union that leaves Matt Dillon unsure whether he’s helped deliver justice—or simply made room for a second chance.

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Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Lawrence Dobkin (Franklin Reeves), Gene Bates (Laura), Frank Gerstle (Jim Buck), Harry Bartell (Jack Fitch), Clayton Post.

Originally Aired: May 7, 1955

Potato Road: A Harvest of Madness

In one of the grimmest and most psychologically chilling episodes of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester find themselves trapped in a dusty patch of prairie where logic, law, and sanity are long gone.

When a peculiar young man named Budge Griff shows up in Dodge, he calmly announces that his father has killed a stranger and needs to be arrested. But when Matt and Chester accompany him to his family’s remote sod hut, they find no body—only a twisted household ruled by cruelty, delusion, and starvation.

The Griff homestead is a place of rot and decay. Budge’s mother is oddly cheerful yet utterly detached from reality. His father, Pa Groke, is a deranged would-be outlaw who boasts of a plan to rob the Dodge City bank—and execute Matt and Chester in the process. The two lawmen are taken prisoner, locked in a dark, moldy potato cellar with nothing to eat but rotten peels.

When Groke's own son unexpectedly kills a neighbor, tensions explode. But it's not until Budge brings Matt and Chester a meager pot of scraps that the tide turns. The lawmen overpower him and use him as leverage—only for Groke to coldly shoot his son, proving that even family means nothing in his warped mind.

In the end, it's Chester who saves the day with a well-thrown rock, but not before the family's dreams of blood and robbery have fully unraveled. And when Ma Groke emerges with a shovel to bury Budge, we learn the tragic truth: Budge wasn't Groke's son at all—just another casualty in a life crushed by poverty, fear, and abuse.

Potato Road is a bleak yet powerful portrait of frontier madness, painted with unforgettable performances and a haunting final line.

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Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Virginia Gregg (Ma Groke), Vic Perrin (Budge Griff), with supporting performances by the Gunsmoke radio company.

Episode Title: Reward for Matt: A Bounty on the Badge

Originally Aired: April 30, 1955

Reward for Matt: A Bounty on the Badge

In one of the most harrowing and emotional episodes of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon becomes the target of a deadly manhunt—not by outlaws, but by ordinary people desperate for cash. After Matt kills rancher Mel Hornby in self-defense, Hornby’s bitter widow swears revenge. Fueled by hatred and pride, she offers a $1,000 reward to anyone who can prove Matt Dillon is dead—no questions asked.

Word spreads quickly. Posters go up around Dodge. And as Matt continues his duties, he’s forced to look over his shoulder every moment. Drifters, cowhands, even kids start watching him with dangerous curiosity. One of them—a desperate, dirt-poor boy of fifteen—takes a shot and dies trying.

Haunted by the boy’s death, Matt confronts Mrs. Hornby, only to be met with cold indifference. But as the blood continues to spill, something begins to shift. The breaking point comes when the boy’s grieving mother arrives—Mrs. Reeves—revealing that her son only did it to survive. Her husband was Jake Reeves, the same man Hornby had murdered weeks earlier.

In a rare moment of humility, Mrs. Hornby sees the human cost of her vendetta. She quietly withdraws the reward and walks away, leaving Matt to face the town—and himself.

A gripping tale of guilt, vengeance, and the burden of justice, Reward for Matt stands as a powerful meditation on what happens when the lawman becomes the hunted.

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Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Jeanette Nolan (Mrs. Hornby), Sam Edwards (the boy), Helen Kleeb (Mrs. Reeves).

Originally Aired: April 23, 1955

Born to Hang: Justice Denied and Delivered

In one of Gunsmoke's most morally complex episodes, Marshal Matt Dillon must stop a lynching, prevent a revenge killing, and wrestle with the limits of law and justice in the untamed frontier.

The episode opens with Joe Digger narrowly escaping death after being falsely accused of horse theft and nearly hanged by a vigilante mob led by Glick and Hank Pate. Rescued by Roble, one of the more decent men in the posse, Digger survives—but he is forever changed.

Dillon, learning of the incident, warns Digger to leave justice to the law. But Digger, traumatized and stripped of his dignity, issues a warning of his own: unless Dillon arrests the men responsible, he’ll take justice into his own hands.

As Dillon tracks Glick to his ranch and attempts a lawful arrest, Glick’s wife slips him a gun. Glick tries to escape and is killed in the process. But the real reckoning comes later, when Digger finds and kills Pate in Dodge City—just after the stroke of midnight.

Dillon arrives seconds too late. When he tries to arrest Digger for murder, Digger draws on him—and pays the ultimate price.

Born to Hang is a stark meditation on justice, vengeance, and the cost of survival. It shows that in the rugged world of Dodge City, even the innocent may die with guilt, and sometimes, the guilty never get to hang.

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Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Joseph Kearns (Roble), John Dehner (Joe Digger), Lawrence Dobkin (Glick), James Nusser (Hank Pate).

Originally Aired: April 16, 1955

The Gypsum Hills Feud: Blood for Blood

In this rugged and emotionally charged episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester ride through the rough country southeast of Dodge—Gypsum Hills—only to stumble into the middle of a long-running feud between two stubborn frontier families: the Peeveys and the Cades.

It begins when Matt is nearly ambushed by a mysterious shooter. Tracking the assailant leads him to Alvin Peevey, a hard, isolated man living with his wife and father in a small, worn-out homestead. Peevey denies any wrongdoing, but when he and his wife return the next day hauling a wagon with a dead man’s body—claiming they simply found it—Matt knows there’s more going on.

Enter Jack Cade and his wife Ellen, rifles in hand, out for revenge. The dead man, Ben Cade, was their son—and they’re convinced Peevey is the killer. But as the tension builds and the guns come out, Matt uncovers a deeper truth. It was neither Peevey nor Cade who fired the fatal shot—it was Matt himself, in self-defense, after being fired on from ambush by a man he believed to be Peevey.

The feud, built on years of blood and blame, comes to a tragic yet peaceful end as the two grieving fathers agree to bury their sons side by side—closing a violent chapter in the Gypsum Hills and choosing coffee and conversation over killing.

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Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), John Dehner (Jack Cade), Vic Perrin (Alvin Peevey), B.B. Janis (Liza Peevey).

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In this emotionally raw and deeply tragic episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon is drawn into the life of Ann Cabot, a refined young woman who travels all the way from Connecticut to Dodge City in search of a man she once loved—Jack Shomer. But the Jack she’s come to find is no longer the man she knew.

Once filled with ambition and dreams of building a life on the frontier, Shomer has been broken by the land and by failure. Now a hopeless alcoholic living in a shack by the river, he’s consumed by guilt, shame, and self-loathing. When Matt, Doc, and Chester find him and sober him up, they offer him one more chance to redeem himself—to face Ann and tell her the truth.

But before he can summon the courage, tragedy strikes. Ann is found unconscious in the street, the victim of a brutal assault by the town bully, Hank Grote. Though Shomer briefly finds the resolve to confront Grote—handing over his gun to fight barehanded—his victory is hollow. He returns to Doc’s to see Ann, only to find she has died from the injury.

Crushed by regret and the knowledge that he waited too long, Shomer confesses the truth: he wasn’t trying to defend Ann—he was hoping Grote would kill him to spare him the shame of facing her. The episode ends on a devastating note as Shomer, emotionally destroyed, walks off to seek the only comfort he knows—another drink.

A powerful story about redemption, cowardice, and the price of waiting too long, Skid Row stands as one of Gunsmoke’s most heartbreaking episodes.

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Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Eleanor Tannen (Ann Cabot), Harry Bartell (Jack Shomer), Barney Phillips (Hank Grote).

In one of the most psychologically powerful episodes of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon confronts the personal cost of his badge after capturing the brutal outlaw Jack Brand. The victory comes at a steep price—three men lie dead, and Matt’s conscience begins to unravel under the weight of so much bloodshed.

Despite Chester and Doc’s efforts to reassure him, Matt becomes haunted by the violence he’s been forced to carry out. Even Brand, locked in a cell, mocks him as a man who kills without feeling. Then Joe Stanger—an old acquaintance of Brand’s—arrives in town and begins goading Matt, daring him to draw, calling him a killer to his face. When Matt doesn’t respond, Stanger leaves, smug in his belief that the legendary lawman has lost his nerve.

Matt, overwhelmed by guilt and self-doubt, submits his resignation to the War Department and walks away from his duties as Marshal. For the first time in years, he experiences peace—until Chester rides out to tell him that Stanger has returned and murdered a saloon girl in cold blood.

Now, Matt must make a choice: hold to his vow of peace, or stop the killer no one else is willing—or able—to face. In a gut-wrenching decision, he straps on his gun one last time, knowing that some men are born to carry the burden others cannot.

A standout story in the Gunsmoke canon, Bloody Hands explores the moral toll of justice, and the tragic reality that peace sometimes comes only through force.

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Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Georgia Ellis (Kitty), Howard McNear (Doc), Lawrence Dobkin. 

In this cunning and character-rich episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon investigates a seemingly simple case of mistaken identity that unravels into a far-reaching horse theft scheme. When rancher Emmett Bowers is accused of stealing a horse, tempers flare in Dodge City. The accuser, Charlie Disher, claims the horse is one of 17 stolen from his ranch on the Canadian River—and he’s got the brand registration to prove it.

The investigation reveals that Bowers unknowingly purchased several of Disher’s horses from a drifter named Vic Lowry, who has vanished without a trace. As more townspeople realize they’ve been swindled, a posse threatens to take justice into their own hands. But Matt, determined to avoid a lynching, asks for one week to resolve the case his own way.

With Chester keeping Disher distracted and Matt patiently waiting for the final horses to surface, a trap is laid. When a new buyer brings the last two stolen horses into Dodge, Matt sets a clever ruse in motion—leading him and Chester to a remote cabin, where the truth behind the horse theft is revealed in a violent and tragic confrontation.

Horse Deal is a tale of deception, patience, and poetic justice on the frontier, showcasing Matt Dillon’s moral authority and strategic thinking in the face of rising mob justice.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Harry Bartell, James Nusser, Vic Perrin, Sam Edwards, Joe Cranston.

Originally Aired: March 19, 1955

The Mistake: A Costly Error:

In this tense episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon makes a critical misjudgment that leads to tragic consequences. When a saloon dealer named Earl Haney is found brutally beaten and robbed in an alley, he manages to identify his attacker before succumbing to his injuries. The culprit, he claims, is a tall man with red hair—a description that immediately points to gambler Jim Bostick.

Matt wastes no time in arresting Bostick, despite the man’s protests and claims of an alibi. But before Doc Adams can confirm Bostick’s whereabouts, the accused man escapes jail, riding hard for Coldwater. Determined to bring him back, Matt and Chester pursue him across the prairie, certain they’ve got their man.

But just as they catch up to Bostick and haul him back to Dodge, a second murder takes place under eerily similar circumstances. This time, the real killer unknowingly exposes himself, bragging about how easy it was to strike again while Matt was out chasing the wrong man.

Realizing his error too late, Matt is forced to let Bostick go, grappling with the weight of his mistake. The episode ends on a somber note, with Matt acknowledging that even lawmen aren’t infallible—and that justice, once delayed, can sometimes come at a terrible price.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, John Dehner, Lawrence Dobkin, James Nusser.

In this riveting episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon watches as the frontier legal system is twisted into a weapon of injustice. When Homer Tisdale, a starving homesteader, is accused of stealing a handful of potatoes, Matt refuses to jail him. But days later, Homer is charged with a far worse crime—robbing the stage office and murdering Charlie Reynolds.

Despite his protests of innocence, Homer is swiftly put on trial before the newly arrived Judge Stokes, a man whose interest in whiskey far outweighs his interest in the law. With two supposed eyewitnesses—storekeeper Van Walcott and stage agent Jay Buford—testifying against him, the outcome seems inevitable. But the true injustice unfolds when Homer’s court-appointed lawyer refuses to mount any defense at all.

As Matt investigates, he realizes that the real criminals are the very men accusing Homer. Walcott, Buford, and Judge Stokes are all part of a conspiracy to steal $10,000 from the stage office—and pin the crime on a man too poor and powerless to fight back. In a dramatic climax, Matt corners the conspirators, exposing their plot and arresting the corrupt judge in a rare act of frontier justice.

This episode is a gripping examination of power, corruption, and the resilience of one man standing against a broken system.

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

In this tragic episode of Gunsmoke, a drifter named Andy Travis finds himself at the mercy of Dodge City’s justice system after a self-defense killing in a saloon. Marshal Matt Dillon sees something in Andy—a young man who doesn’t want to live by the gun—and offers him a fresh start. Andy gives up his weapon and finds work at the stable, determined to leave his violent past behind.

But trouble soon arrives in the form of Joe Kite, a bounty hunter who claims that Andy isn’t just a drifting cowboy—he’s Andy Haycox, a wanted outlaw from Wyoming. When Kite guns Andy down in cold blood, he smugly demands his reward, believing himself to be justified in the killing.

As Andy lies dying, he reveals to Matt that he had indeed been part of an outlaw gang—but had left before they committed murder. He wanted to start over, but his past caught up with him too soon. In a final act of frontier justice, Matt ensures Kite never sees a dime of the bounty money, branding him as nothing more than a thief with blood on his hands.

This episode explores themes of redemption, fate, and the cruel consequences of a man trying to escape his past.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Sam Edwards, Joe Duvall, John Dehner, Vic Perrin.

Originally Aired: February 26, 1955

Crack-Up: The Gunman’s Last Stand:

In this intense episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon confronts Nate Springer, a once-feared gunman whose reputation for being nerveless is crumbling fast. When Springer arrives in Dodge City, his erratic behavior and quick temper reveal a man haunted by his past. He’s no longer the cold-blooded killer people once whispered about—now, he’s unpredictable and dangerous in a different way.

Matt tries to keep the peace as Springer lashes out at innocent townsfolk, nearly killing a young girl and even shooting a harmless dog in a fit of paranoia. But the final twist comes when Matt learns that Springer wasn’t hired by anyone else—he hired himself. Springer’s real mission is to face Matt Dillon in a gunfight, hoping that defeating the Marshal will restore the nerve he lost in prison.

The story builds to a tense showdown on Front Street, where Springer forces Matt’s hand. But the confrontation doesn’t end the way Springer hopes. Instead, it marks the tragic end of a man who couldn’t outrun his own fear.

This gripping episode delves into the psychological unraveling of a man once feared across the West, highlighting the toll that violence and a life of crime can take on the human spirit.

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

In this tragic episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon finds himself entangled in a deadly love triangle that ends in murder. Willie Calhoun, a lonely homesteader, arrives in Dodge City determined to marry Pearl Bender, a saloon girl he believes returns his affections. But Pearl has long been involved with the volatile and controlling Web Thorne, a gambler who has no intention of letting her go.

Calhoun, armed and stubborn, refuses to accept reality, threatening anyone who might stand in his way. Matt steps in to prevent bloodshed, forcing Pearl to choose once and for all. To Calhoun’s devastation, Pearl refuses his proposal, leaving him heartbroken and humiliated.

Days later, Matt is awakened by news of a shooting—Pearl has been gunned down in her own home. With her dying breath, she names her killer: Willie Calhoun. Fueled by grief and rage, Matt and Chester track Calhoun to his homestead, where the truth is finally revealed—Calhoun had meant to kill Web Thorne, not Pearl. In a cruel twist of fate, his blind devotion to Pearl led to her death by his own hand.

This haunting episode explores themes of obsession, jealousy, and the irreversible consequences of a man unable to let go of love.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Vic Perrin, Virginia Christine, Harry Bartell.

In one of the most harrowing episodes of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon faces a race against time when Chester Proudfoot is taken hostage by a pair of ruthless killers. After arresting Jim Kando, a wanted murderer, Matt believes the case is closed—until he discovers that Kando’s partner, Lee Binders, is still at large and willing to do anything to break him out of jail.

When Binders and a hired gunman, Jack Haney, ambush Chester inside the jail, Matt is forced into a brutal standoff. The outlaws demand Kando’s release, but Matt refuses, knowing it would spell disaster for Dodge City. As tensions reach a boiling point, the killers resort to a terrifying strategy—stringing Chester up with a noose, threatening to hang him unless Matt hands over the cell key.

With Chester’s life hanging in the balance, Matt refuses to back down, relying on quick thinking and the element of surprise to turn the tables. In a final, heart-stopping moment, the tide shifts as Matt and his men overpower the outlaws, saving Chester from the gallows just in time. Kando, now desperate, turns on Binders, ensuring they both face justice.

This gripping episode showcases Matt Dillon’s unwavering resolve, Chester’s quiet bravery, and the deadly consequences of frontier justice.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Paul Dubov, Clayton Post, James Nusser, Joe Cranston.

Marshal Matt Dillon stumbles upon the gruesome remains of a homestead massacre north of Dodge, the work of a well-armed Cheyenne war party. But when Matt and Chester investigate further, they discover a chilling truth—these Cheyennes weren’t just armed with traditional bows and arrows; they carried Spencer repeating rifles. Someone has been selling weapons to the tribes, fueling unrest and setting the stage for a violent uprising.

As Matt and Chester follow the trail of the gunrunners, they cross paths with a newly stationed cavalry unit, led by the overly cautious Captain Nichols. Misunderstanding Matt’s presence at the scene, Nichols arrests him and Chester, believing they might be connected to the illicit weapons trade. But once Major Honeyman intervenes, Matt is released and given permission to investigate deeper.

Risking his life, Matt ventures into a Cheyenne reservation to speak with Chief Long Robe, an old friend. Long Robe confirms that a rogue band of Cheyennes, led by a young warrior named Stone Eagle, has been receiving shipments of rifles at a secret meeting point near Rock Mound. With a war on the horizon, Matt and Chester must track the gunrunners before the weapons fall into more hands.

In a high-stakes ambush, Matt and Chester intercept the criminals at a hidden cabin just as a wagonload of rifles arrives. A gunfight erupts, leaving the gunrunners dead—but with Cheyenne scouts already watching, Matt knows it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the war party arrives. Just when all seems lost, Captain Nichols and his cavalry troop appear, scattering the warriors before they can retrieve the weapons.

With Stone Eagle out of ammunition, the threat of an all-out war is narrowly avoided, but Matt is left reflecting on the fragile peace in the West, where one bad deal can mean the difference between survival and destruction.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Harry Bartell, Ralph Moody, Florence Dobkin, Barney Phillips, Vic Perrin.

In this dramatic episode of Gunsmoke, a tragic love story unfolds as Marshal Matt Dillon investigates the murder of Jesse Wheat, a rancher found shot in his buggy. Suspicion quickly falls on two cowboys, Jim Box and Rod Allison, who worked for Wheat and were the last to see him alive. However, as Matt digs deeper, he discovers that the case is more complicated than it seems.

The investigation takes an emotional turn when Matt learns that Rod is in love with Jesse's young widow, Anna. As Matt tightens the noose around the suspects, Box turns violent, attempting to eliminate anyone who might expose his crimes. In a deadly showdown, Matt takes Box down, leaving Rod alone to face the law.

Wounded and desperate, Rod proclaims his innocence, and Anna pleads for Matt to believe him. In an unexpected act of mercy, Matt allows Rod to recover under Anna's care, with the understanding that when he’s well, he must return to Dodge—to either face justice or marry the woman he loves.

This episode weaves together themes of justice, redemption, and the power of love in a world where the law is often unforgiving.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Sam Edwards, Eleanor Tannen, Vic Perrin, Don Diamond, Frank Cady.

In this powerful episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon steps in to protect Dan Daggett and his Kiowa wife, Rose, as they face mounting hostility in Dodge City. The tension ignites when the hotel owner, Dobie, learns that Rose is the daughter of Yellow Horse, a Kiowa chief involved in deadly raids years earlier. Prejudice and resentment bubble to the surface, threatening the couple’s safety.

When Rose is kidnapped by two men intent on humiliation and revenge, she manages to escape with her dignity intact, but her husband vows retribution. Rose, in a desperate attempt to shield Dan from the consequences of his anger, takes justice into her own hands, confronting her tormentors with fatal results.

This episode examines themes of prejudice, loyalty, and justice in the harsh environment of the Old West, culminating in a poignant and thought-provoking conclusion.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Ralph Moody, Virginia Christine, Harry Bartell, Vic Perrin.

Originally Aired: January 15, 1955

Chester’s Murder: A Frame-Up Exposed:

In this gripping episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon must prove Chester’s innocence when he is accused of murdering Charlie Pickard, a gambler with a violent temper. The evidence seems damning—Chester’s gun was used, and witnesses like Sam Noonan believe he is guilty. But Matt trusts Chester’s word that he was knocked out before the crime occurred.

As Matt investigates, he uncovers a tangled web of jealousy and deceit involving Jake Buley and Nita Tucker, a woman caught between conflicting loyalties. Nita’s cryptic warnings lead Matt to a tense midnight confrontation, where the truth about the real killer is revealed. In a dramatic standoff, Matt captures Jake, clearing Chester’s name and restoring justice to Dodge City.

This episode highlights themes of loyalty, trust, and the pursuit of truth, showcasing the strong bond between Matt and Chester in the face of overwhelming odds.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Vic Perrin, Lawrence Dobkin, James Nusser, Joyce McCluskey.

Originally Aired: January 8, 1955

Robin Hood: A Thief Unmasked:

In this riveting episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon faces off against Teddy Blue Fisher, a charismatic outlaw with a reputation for robbing the rich and sparing the poor, earning comparisons to the legendary Robin Hood. But when Fisher's true nature is revealed, his carefully crafted image as a gentleman bandit begins to unravel.

The episode begins with Fisher holding up a stagecoach, singling out a wealthy banker as his only target and sparing the other passengers. His gallant demeanor and clever tactics win the admiration of the downtrodden, who offer him protection and support. However, Matt suspects that Fisher’s benevolence masks a far darker reality.

When Fisher attempts to rob a trusting homesteading couple under the guise of camaraderie, Matt and Chester intervene in the nick of time. Fisher’s brutal intentions shatter his reputation, exposing him as a cold-blooded thief willing to kill to satisfy his greed. The episode culminates in a tense confrontation, where Matt captures Fisher and ensures his actions will be judged in the light of truth.

This episode explores themes of deception, hero worship, and the fine line between myth and reality, offering a powerful commentary on the dangers of misplaced loyalty.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Lawrence Dobkin, Harry Bartell, Helen Kleeb, Joe Cranston.

Originally Aired: January 1, 1955

The Bottle Man: Redemption and Sacrifice:

In this poignant episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon confronts the complexities of justice and redemption through the tragic story of Cassidy, a once peaceful drunk whose life is consumed by revenge. Cassidy, who has spent years drowning his sorrows in whiskey, suddenly resolves to get sober to settle an old score with Clell, a gambler who wronged him and his family years ago.

As Matt unravels the truth, he discovers that Clell is married to Flora, Cassidy’s estranged daughter, who has been trapped in an abusive relationship. Determined to save Flora and prevent Cassidy from committing murder, Matt devises a plan to send Flora away to New Orleans to start a new life.

Despite Matt's efforts, the situation escalates at the train station when Clell confronts Flora. In a tragic twist, Cassidy intervenes and kills Clell, ensuring Flora’s safety but sealing his own fate. Cassidy, at peace with his actions, chooses sobriety as he faces the consequences of his deed.

This episode explores themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the enduring bond of family, leaving a lasting impression of hope amidst heartbreak.

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

In this heartfelt and suspenseful episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon sets out to find Kitty Russell after she fails to appear for several appointments, leaving her friends in Dodge City deeply concerned. A trail of clues leads Matt, Chester, and Doc Adams to uncover the involvement of an eastern gentleman, Jim Rackmill, who had taken Kitty on a moonlit buggy ride before leaving her stranded in the prairie.

As Matt and Chester track Kitty, they navigate through the challenges of the open plains, eventually finding her signaling for help with makeshift smoke signals. Kitty, unharmed but stranded due to a twisted ankle, recounts her frustrating encounter with Rackmill, who had misunderstood her fiery independence.

This episode highlights themes of friendship, loyalty, and the importance of understanding in relationships, offering moments of tension, humor, and heartfelt resolution.

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

In this humorous and heartfelt episode of Gunsmoke, Chester Proudfoot’s younger brother, Magnus, makes a surprise visit to Dodge City. Magnus, a rugged outdoorsman more accustomed to sleeping under the stars than in a bed, shocks Chester with his unexpected arrival and his intention to settle down and work in town.

As Magnus adjusts to town life, Chester, feeling protective and embarrassed by Magnus’s uncivilized ways, attempts to guide his brother through the challenges of adapting to a new lifestyle. From gambling at the saloon to sleeping in a bed, Magnus’s experiences reveal his wild, untamed nature, contrasting with Chester’s attempts to make him conform.

The story culminates in a touching resolution as Magnus realizes he’s better suited to life in the open country. Despite their differences, the brothers part on good terms, with a newfound respect for each other’s unique paths.

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

In this captivating episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon unravels a deadly conflict over buffalo bones, a lucrative trade fueling tensions in Dodge City. When Bill Zant is found shot in the back, suspicion immediately falls on Noli Meeker, a known drunk and former hide hunter with a volatile past.

As Matt investigates, he uncovers a deeper conspiracy involving Ezra Marcy, a buffalo bone trader angered by accusations of fraud from buyers back East. Zant, caught manipulating the weight of the bone shipments for personal profit, becomes the target of Marcy’s wrath. The story crescendos in a tense confrontation, where Marcy’s guilt and paranoia lead to a deadly shootout with Matt.

This episode explores themes of greed, betrayal, and justice in the rugged West, leaving listeners with a chilling reminder of the human cost of unchecked ambition.

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

In this harrowing episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon confronts both human greed and the devastating force of disease as a cholera outbreak threatens the Gabriel family. When the ruthless rancher McCready sabotages the Gabriels over a disputed water source, tensions escalate. But the stakes are raised when cholera, carried unknowingly by a visiting relative, begins to ravage the family.

McCready, hoping to drive the Gabriels off their land, takes drastic measures by imprisoning Doc Adams to prevent him from providing aid. The disease soon strikes McCready’s own son, Billy, forcing him to release Doc in a desperate bid for help. Tragedy unfolds as Doc reveals the harsh truth: cholera’s deadly grip cannot be broken by medicine alone.

This gripping tale explores themes of vengeance, responsibility, and the fragility of life in the unforgiving West, culminating in a poignant reminder of justice and the unforeseen consequences of selfish actions.

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Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Ralph Moody, Virginia Christine, Vic Perron, Clayton Post, Sam Edwards.