Hard Virtue

Originally Aired: January 22, 1961

Gunsmoke #459, "Hard Virtue," opens with Andy and Millie Cole arriving in Dodge City, hoping to sell their wagon and make a fresh start. When freight line owner Ed Fellon's runaway team nearly kills Millie, the hot-tempered Andy nearly comes to blows with him. To make amends, Fellon offers Andy a job and pays for the damaged wagon, but Andy's suspicions are immediately aroused. His distrust deepens when he discovers boot prints with Spanish heels outside their shack and realizes someone has been visiting Millie while he's at work. Despite Millie's denials, Andy straps on a gun for the first time since arriving in Dodge.

Marshal Matt Dillon learns that Doc Adams delivered a note from Millie to Ed Fellon, marked as business but suspicious given the circumstances. When Matt confronts Fellon and warns him to stay away from Millie Cole, the freight line owner insists the note was purely business related. With Andy wearing a gun and growing more volatile by the hour, Matt finds himself trying to prevent a killing, caught between a jealous husband, a mysterious wife, and a man who may or may not be innocent.

Welcome to Gunsmoke: Old West Stories, a podcast that takes you back to the rugged plains of 1870s Dodge City, Kansas. Rediscover the timeless tales of bravery, justice, and survival in the American frontier with our re-broadcasts of the classic Gunsmoke radio program.

First airing on April 26, 1952, Gunsmoke was celebrated as the first adult western radio show, renowned for its superb storytelling and exceptional production quality. Join Marshal Matt Dillon, portrayed by the incomparable William Conrad, as he faces the challenges of maintaining law and order in a tumultuous town. Alongside him are unforgettable characters like Chester Proudfoot (Parley Baer), the steadfast deputy; Kitty (Georgia Ellis), the resilient saloon owner; and Doc Adams (Howard McNear), the town’s compassionate physician.

What sets Gunsmoke apart is not just its stellar cast and engaging plots but the immersive sound effects that bring each scene to life. Every gunshot, horse gallop, and whisper of the wind transports you directly to the heart of the Old West.

Whether you're a longtime fan or a new listener, Gunsmoke: Old West Stories promises to deliver gripping adventures and a nostalgic journey through one of radio’s most iconic series. Tune in and let the legends of Dodge City captivate your imagination.