What the Whisky Drummer Heard

Originally Aired: June 29, 1958

In Gunsmoke #325, "What the Whisky Drummer Heard," a nervous whiskey salesman named Wilbur Hawkins approaches Marshal Matt Dillon in a Dodge City saloon with an alarming message. Hawkins claims he overheard two men on a train from St. Louis, where one paid the other $300 to kill the marshal. Though the talkative drummer's peculiar manner makes it hard to know if he's credible, Matt doesn't have to wait long to find out. That very night, someone ambushes him outside the marshal's office, and Matt decides to play dead to draw out whoever wants him killed.

With Chester spreading word of the marshal's death throughout Dodge, Matt waits in Doc Adams' office to see who will reveal themselves. When a drifter named Joe Rogers begins bragging at the Long Branch about outdrawing Marshal Dillon, Kitty Russell sees through Chester's act and alerts Matt. The marshal confronts Rogers, but the frightened man claims he was only boasting and swears he didn't pull the trigger. As Matt arrests him, the truth behind the assassination plot begins to emerge.

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.