Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

Originally Aired: September 15, 1957

In Gunsmoke #284, “Child Labor,” two orphaned Texas boys arrive in Dodge hoping to find their uncle—but instead fall under the influence of shady rancher Oren Seibert, who hires them to break wild horses. Seibert promises a fair deal, but delivers exploitation and danger, driving the younger brother to his death and the elder to thoughts of revenge. Marshal Dillon must stop a grieving boy from becoming a killer, and reckon with the cost of broken trust. A heartrending story of loss, justice, and the raw pain of growing up too fast in the Old West.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, childlabor, family, orphans, horsebreaking, revenge, frontierjustice, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, tragedy, exploitation, classicwestern, brotherhood, abuse

Originally Aired: September 8, 1957

In Gunsmoke #283, “Looney McCluny,” a quirky old prospector named Pop McCluny returns to Dodge City with another sack of what everyone assumes is worthless fool’s gold. But when he’s found murdered in his shack, the town is shocked—and Marshal Dillon realizes someone believed Pop’s tales of striking it rich. As suspicion falls on a slick out-of-towner, the real culprit turns out to be far closer to home, and far more chilling. A case of jealousy, greed, and deception, this episode asks: what’s more dangerous—hidden wealth or the illusion of madness?

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

Tags:
Western, mystery, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, murdermystery, oldprospector, foolsgold, greed, deception, twistending, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, betrayal, assayoffice, crime

Originally Aired: September 1, 1957

In Gunsmoke #282, “Jobe’s Son,” a broken old rancher named Jobe Harley finally sees his prayers answered when his estranged son Tad returns after four years. But the reunion is not what Jobe had hoped. Tad is bitter, brash, and proud of a life of violence and crime. As Marshal Dillon watches the young man stir up trouble around Dodge, Jobe grapples with the hardest choice of all—protecting his only child or preserving the family name. When Tad plots a reckless bank robbery, Jobe’s quiet but devastating response reshapes the meaning of justice and legacy on the frontier. A deeply emotional episode about hard choices, moral lines, and the price of fatherhood.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, family, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, redemption, legacy, fathersandsons, crime, bankrobbery, frontierjustice, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, morality, tragedy, loyalty, classicwestern, namesake

Originally Aired: August 25, 1957

In Gunsmoke #281, “Grass,” Matt Dillon encounters Harry Pope, a skittish Easterner trying to start a quiet life on the prairie. But Pope’s isolation and fear of Indians are not all in his head—he’s the target of cruel harassment by local cowhands Joe Carter and Earl Brant. When Pope defends himself one night with deadly results, Marshal Dillon finds himself weighing the difference between a frightened man’s self-defense and cold-blooded murder. As tensions boil and frontier justice looms, the truth behind the torment reveals a bitter commentary on cowardice, cruelty, and what it really means to be brave in the Wild West.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, frontierjustice, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, sodbuster, prairie, mistakenidentity, selfdefense, vigilantejustice, 1950sradio, classicwestern, oldtimeradio, mentalhealth, loneliness, moralconflict, grass

Originally Aired: August 18, 1957

In Gunsmoke #280, “The Peace Officer,” U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon rides to Tascosa to help replace a corrupt sheriff, only to find himself the target of a deadly ambush. Along the way, he encounters Stella Harkney, a saloon girl desperate to escape the clutches of Clegg Rollins—the very man Dillon’s been sent to confront. As the two flee across the prairie, pursued by gunmen and haunted by secrets, they forge a fragile alliance. But back in Dodge, the danger hasn’t passed—and the final showdown is as personal as it is violent. A tale of justice, jealousy, and quiet heroism on the frontier.

Cast: William Conrad, Virginia Christine, Lawrence Dobkin, John Gaynor

Tags:
Western, drama, frontierjustice, WilliamConrad, StellaHarkney, Tascosa, 1950sradio, gunsmoke, oldtimeradio, corruptsheriff, saloongirl, escape, classicradio, lawandorder, westernpodcast, vintageaudio

Originally Aired: August 11, 1957

In Gunsmoke #279, “Jayhawkers,” Marshal Matt Dillon rides out with a Texas trail herd to help ease tensions between Kansans and bitter cattlemen—only to find himself embroiled in a deadly ambush by marauding Jayhawkers. When a trusted drover is murdered and suspicion falls on a newcomer named Studer, Dillon’s instincts prove true. As violence flares and tempers rise, Matt must act fast to deliver frontier justice before Dodge becomes a war zone. A rugged, character-driven tale of vengeance, law, and uneasy truces on the open range.

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

Tags:
Western, cattle drive, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, Jayhawkers, frontierjustice, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, ambush, betrayal, TexasvsKansas, classicdrama, suspensepodcast, vintageradio, traildrama

Originally Aired: August 4, 1957

In Gunsmoke #278, “Big Hands,” Marshal Matt Dillon encounters a murder mystery when a homesteader’s wife brings her husband’s body into Dodge, claiming he was shot by a stranger with massive shoulders. As Dillon investigates, the description leads him to Bull Logan, a drifter with a criminal past. But when the widow inexplicably denies recognizing the man, the Marshal’s suspicions grow. With the truth buried beneath loneliness and lies, Dillon must uncover a deadly pact forged in desperation. A stark, emotional tale of frontier justice, hard choices, and the burden of survival.

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

Tags:
Western, mystery, frontierjustice, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, BullLogan, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, classicdrama, loneliness, betrayal, murdermystery, suspensepodcast, DodgeCity, homesteader, vintageaudio

Originally Aired: July 28, 1957

In Gunsmoke #277, “Cow Doctor,” Doc Adams is lured out to the homestead of Ben Pitcher under false pretenses—only to find he's been summoned not for a man, but to treat a cow. Doc does his duty, but the deception proves costly when his absence leads to a woman’s death back in Dodge. Enraged, Pitcher turns violent and stabs Doc, who barely survives. But when Pitcher himself falls gravely ill, it's the same Doc who risks his life again to save him. A powerful tale of stubborn pride, moral duty, and unexpected redemption on the frontier.

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

Tags:
Western, medicaldrama, WilliamConrad, HowardMcNear, forgiveness, frontier, betrayal, redemption, gunsmoke, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, morality, cowdoctor, stubbornpride

Originally Aired: July 21, 1957

In Gunsmoke #276, “Kitty Caught,” a routine morning turns to horror when Kitty is taken hostage during a bank robbery by the infamous Carp brothers. With her life hanging in the balance, Marshal Dillon and Chester set out on a desperate and agonizingly cautious pursuit—knowing one wrong move could get Kitty killed. A tense standoff unfolds at a remote prairie cabin, culminating in a deadly rescue. A taut, emotionally charged episode that tests the limits of courage, patience, and marksmanship.

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

Tags:
Western, hostage, suspense, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, rescue, bankrobbery, outlaw, prairie, survival, gunsmoke, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, tension, sharpshooting, frontierjustice

Originally Aired: July 14, 1957

In Gunsmoke #275, “Bloody Hands,” Marshal Matt Dillon brings in notorious outlaw Jack Brand, killing three of his gang in a brutal shootout. But the bloodshed haunts him, and when another killer, Joe Stanger, provokes him to a showdown, Dillon hesitates—and resigns. For a brief moment, he tries to live a peaceful life, free from violence. But when Stanger murders a woman and another innocent man, Dillon faces the truth: some men are born to fight the darkness, whether they like it or not. A powerful tale of duty, fatigue, and reluctant heroism.

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

Tags:
Western, redemption, burnout, WilliamConrad, reluctanthero, justice, JoeStanger, bloodshed, marshal, resignation, gunsmoke, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, morality, gunslinger

Originally Aired: July 7, 1957

In Gunsmoke #274, “Word of Honor,” Doc Adams returns to Dodge after disappearing for two days—summoned by outlaws to save a dying boy. But when the boy dies, Doc finds himself sworn to secrecy under threat of death. The victim turns out to be Hank Worth, the son of a powerful rancher, and Marshal Dillon is under pressure to find the killer fast. As vengeance looms and tensions rise, Doc must weigh the value of his promise against the need for justice. A gripping story of loyalty, integrity, and peril on the frontier.

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

Tags:
Western, moralconflict, oath, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, justice, integrity, honor, secrecy, frontierlaw, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, doctor, gunsmoke

Originally Aired: June 30, 1957

In Gunsmoke #273, “The Buffalo Hunter,” Marshal Matt Dillon investigates the suspicious death of a buffalo skinner who suffered a horrifying accident—being doused in molten lead. As Dillon digs deeper, he uncovers the greed and cruelty of the man responsible: the ruthless hunter Gatliff. But justice is a long ride across the prairie, and when Gatliff descends into madness, his brutal end is delivered not by the law—but by the land he helped desolate. A haunting frontier tale of murder, guilt, and retribution amid the dying herds of the American West.

Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, Richard Deacon, Harry Bartell, Jack Moyles

Tags:
Western, buffalo, frontierjustice, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, greed, madness, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, tragedy, buffalohunter, moltenlead, revenge, nativejustice, gunsmoke

Originally Aired: June 23, 1957

In Gunsmoke #272, “Home Surgery,” Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester come across a desperate teenage girl named Tara Hortree whose father lies dying from blood poisoning after a horse accident. With no doctor for miles and the only man who promised help suspiciously missing, Dillon is forced to attempt a brutal, risky operation himself—amputating the man’s infected leg. As the truth about Ben Walling’s betrayal comes to light, the stakes rise, and justice takes on a deeply personal meaning. A harrowing tale of courage, isolation, and frontier justice.

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

Tags:
Western, frontiermedicine, survival, suspense, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, homesurgery, justice, betrayal, bloodpoisoning, isolation, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicwestern, drama, mattdillon

Originally Aired: June 16, 1957

In Gunsmoke #271, “Summer Night,” the dusty trails of Dodge are left in silence as a wagon train rolls west—leaving behind something unexpected: a newborn baby. When Marshal Dillon finds the infant abandoned at Doc’s office, a quiet search begins for the mother. But the woman who returns may not be who she claims to be. As truths unravel in the heat of the prairie night, an unexpected act of compassion leads to a second chance for love, family, and redemption. A delicate tale of loss, longing, and human connection under the wide Kansas sky.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, classicradio, abandonedbaby, compassion, motherhood, redemption, DodgeCity, babyadoption, emotionaldrama, summernight, oldtimeradio, moralitytale, heartwarming, frontierlife

Originally Aired: June 9, 1957

In Gunsmoke #270, “Dodge Podge,” a troubled father’s rage blinds him to the truth. Leif Sutter is determined to mold his son Packy into a hardened cattleman, forbidding him from fraternizing with the gentle, educated sheepherder Jason Roe. When Packy disappears, Sutter’s obsession spirals into deadly vengeance. Despite Marshal Dillon’s warnings, the elder Sutter mistakes violence for justice—and kills the one person he never meant to hurt. A tragic tale of pride, projection, and the peril of letting fear masquerade as strength.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, classicradio, fatherandson, tragedy, JasonRoe, LeifSutter, sheepherder, DodgeCity, mistakenidentity, comingofage, emotionaldrama, frontierjustice, oldtimeradio, moralitytale, toxicmasculinity

Originally Aired: June 2, 1957

In Gunsmoke #269, “Ben Tolliver’s Stud,” a drifting horseman’s pride—and a stolen stud—ignite a deadly conflict. When Ben Tolliver flees his abusive employer, Jake Creed, with a horse he believes he's earned, Creed vows revenge. Marshal Dillon tries to keep the peace, but pride and cruelty escalate matters. As tensions build and a beloved animal suffers, justice hangs in the balance. What begins as a wage dispute ends in death, with a brutal twist of irony that leaves even vengeance hollow.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, classicradio, horsetheft, justice, cowboydrama, pride, revenge, BenTolliver, JakeCreed, Mustang, moralitytale, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, frontierjustice, suspense

Originally Aired: May 26, 1957

In Gunsmoke #268, “Pal,” a stray dog poisoned and half-dead sets off a chain of chaos in Dodge City. When Chester rescues the animal—dubbed Pal—he unwittingly becomes entangled in the twisted marriage of Spiny Murphy and his brutal wife, Mal. As the dog recovers, tensions rise, secrets surface, and violence looms on the horizon. Marshal Matt Dillon must confront not just domestic abuse but the bitter consequences of pride, alcohol, and misplaced loyalty. A darkly humorous yet sobering tale of man, beast, and the boundaries of ownership.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, classicradio, dogstory, domesticabuse, ChesterProudfoot, darkcomedy, Pal, oldtimeradio, moralitytale, DodgeCity, vintageaudio, frontierjustice, emotionaldrama, twistedrelationships

Originally Aired: May 19, 1957

In Gunsmoke #267, “One Night Stand,” a smooth-talking stranger named Ben Argo arrives in Dodge City with a heavy pair of saddlebags and a tale of gold struck at the Gold Hill diggings. But Marshal Matt Dillon isn’t convinced. As Argo insists on securing his fortune in the local storekeeper’s safe, two shady men from Gold Hill turn up asking questions—men Argo claims are outlaws on his tail. When one of them ends up dead in the street, it sets off a chain of events that leads Dillon to uncover Argo’s real plan: a bold and deadly con to rob a visiting gold buyer of $25,000 in one night. A tense standoff in a locked store vault brings justice to Dodge once again.

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

Tags:
Western, crime, deception, heist, conman, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, marshal, goldrush, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, audiotheater, suspense, frontierjustice

Originally Aired: May 12, 1957

In Gunsmoke #266, “Sheep Dog,” a poker game turns deadly when young Orland Barkas shoots an unarmed man in cold blood. As Marshal Matt Dillon struggles to find the boy and bring him in for trial, he faces pressure from all sides—townsfolk hungry for mob justice, a father blinded by loyalty, and a community ready to take the law into its own hands. But when Orland’s true nature emerges, even his own family can no longer defend him. A heartbreaking tale of misguided protection, hard choices, and the high cost of justice on the frontier.

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

Tags:
Western, frontierjustice, murder, loyalty, fatherandson, mobjustice, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, marshal, 1950sradio, audiotheater, tragedy, smalltowndrama

Originally Aired: May 5, 1957

In Gunsmoke #265, “How to Kill a Friend,” Marshal Matt Dillon faces more than just another hired gun—he faces a ghost from his own past. When two crooked gamblers return to Dodge with a gunman in tow, Dillon is stunned to discover it’s Tope Marlin, a man he once rode the range with, now soured by betrayal and hate. Tope has one job: kill Dillon. But as old memories resurface and the line between law and loyalty blurs, both men are forced to confront what they’ve become. A tense and emotional standoff follows, ending in a tragic, inevitable duel between old friends.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, suspense, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, gunfighter, betrayal, DodgeCity, classicwestern, emotionaldrama, TopeMarlin, hiredgun, revenge, vintageaudio, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: April 28, 1957

In Gunsmoke #264, “Medicine Man,” Hart Finney rolls into Dodge City with his wife and a wagon full of “muscle, bone, blood, and nerve tonic,” hoping to make a few sales before heading out. But when saloon-owner Grant Medford suddenly claims the land Finney’s using, Marshal Dillon finds himself caught in a legal tangle—and a moral one. As Medford pushes harder, tension builds, leading to a public showdown that puts law, pride, and fists to the test. An episode that questions justice, dignity, and what it means to stand your ground.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, medicine show, DodgeCity, frontierjustice, classicwestern, legaldrama, GrantMedford, HartFinney, snakeoil, vintageaudio, landdispute, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: May 12, 1957

In Gunsmoke #266, “Sheep Dog,” Marshal Matt Dillon is caught between justice and heartbreak when Orlin Barker, the son of an old friend, shoots an unarmed man during a drunken poker game. As the boy disappears into the prairie, rumors and resentment swell in Dodge, spurred on by mob leader Riff Kelso. While Matt tries to keep law and order, Jeb Barker must confront a harrowing truth about his son—and ultimately make the hardest decision of his life. A powerful tale of loyalty, moral reckoning, and the deep cost of doing what’s right.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, moralconflict, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, familytragedy, justice, DodgeCity, classicwestern, vigilante, SheepDog, mobjustice, fatherandson, vintageaudio, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: April 21, 1957

In Gunsmoke #263, “Bear Trap,” Dodge City's aging liveryman Andy Weaver is known for his tall tales—but when ex-convict Hod Logan returns with a grudge, Andy’s life is suddenly in real danger. As Marshal Matt Dillon tries to anticipate Logan’s next move, a more sinister plot unfolds: a nighttime robbery with murder on the agenda. What follows is a suspenseful standoff and a surprising moment of courage from the man no one ever believed. This episode blends character depth with tension and redemption, offering a heartfelt tribute to unexpected bravery.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, suspense, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, redemption, beartrap, gunfight, DodgeCity, classicwestern, heroism, HodLogan, AndyWeaver, vintageaudio, frontierdrama, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: April 14, 1957

In Gunsmoke #262, “Saludos,” Marshal Matt Dillon must track down a brutal killer after a young half-Indian woman named Sochi rides sixty miles with a bullet wound to reach Dodge City. Her husband has been murdered in cold blood by a white stranger, and though she cannot describe the man, she’s certain she’ll recognize him. With only three suspects seen entering Choctaw Basin, Dillon rounds them up and brings them back—hoping the journey will reveal the murderer. A suspenseful game of nerves unfolds, culminating in a quiet yet powerful confession.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, mystery, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, justice, ChoctawBasin, classicwestern, psychologicaldrama, posse, vintageaudio, murdermystery, frontierjustice, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: April 7, 1957

In Gunsmoke #261, “Rock Bottom,” Van Tover’s quiet ranch life is shattered when a deadly figure from his past returns to Dodge after twelve years. Once a quick-tempered gunman, Van gave up his weapons to raise a family—until Largo Greeland, a vengeful gunslinger with a grudge, tracks him down. Torn between protecting his loved ones and confronting an old enemy, Van reclaims his pistol for one last showdown. Marshal Matt Dillon must intervene before vengeance claims more lives, in a taut drama of fear, pride, and deadly resolve.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Harry Bartell, Gene Faith, Barney Phillips, Ben Wright

Tags:
Western, drama, revenge, redemption, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, gunfighter, oldtimeradio, frontierjustice, showdown, DodgeCity, classicradio, 1950sradio, westernpodcast, audiotheater, suspense