Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

Originally Aired: February 2, 1958

In Gunsmoke #304, "Kitty's Killing," a religious zealot named Jacob Leach arrives in Dodge City consumed with righteous fury. Believing himself to be an instrument of divine justice, Leach demands that Chester lock him in jail to prevent him from killing a man named Ollie Radford, whom he considers a sinner deserving of death. Marshal Matt Dillon agrees to keep Leach confined overnight, hoping the temporary imprisonment will give Radford time to leave town. The marshal soon learns that Radford was once married to Leach's sister, who died in childbirth, and Leach blames him for her death.

The situation grows more dangerous when Radford reveals he's brought his new wife to Dodge City so Doc Adams can attend her during her pregnancy. Matt works to keep the two men apart, telling Leach that Radford has already left town. However, when Radford's wife goes into premature labor and Chester rushes to find Doc, Leach overhears the news at the Long Branch Saloon. Now enraged by what he sees as the marshal's deception and protection of a sinner, Leach vows to kill both Radford and Matt Dillon himself.

Originally Aired: January 19, 1958

In Gunsmoke #302, “Moo Moo Raid,” a missing cow nearly sparks a range war in Dodge City. When trail boss Tush Lee discovers that Oni Hager—and his legendary swimming cow, Ida Belle—have vanished, suspicion falls squarely on rival cattleman Bert Collins. With thousands of dollars riding on which herd crosses the river first, tempers flare fast and talk of murder spreads through town.

Oni’s ramshackle cabin shows signs of a violent struggle, and before long both outfits are ready to settle matters with guns instead of proof. Marshal Matt Dillon finds himself caught between pride, profit, and panic, trying to keep two stubborn men from turning Dodge into a battleground over what appears to be foul play.

But as rumors swell and fists clench, the truth proves far simpler—and far more ridiculous—than anyone expects. In the end, Ida Belle’s unexpected “vacation” in Kiowa Meadows cools hot tempers and saves lives, reminding everyone that sometimes the greatest dangers in the West come not from outlaws—but from assumptions.

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

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, cattleDrive, rivalry, misunderstanding, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, rangeWar, humor, frontierlife, Gunsmoke

Originally Aired: January 12, 1958

In Gunsmoke #301, “Second Son,” an English drifter named Sedgely Carstairs rides into Dodge City determined to win back the horse he lost in a poker game to the ruthless Pete Newson. Polite, soft-spoken, and stubbornly honorable, Carstairs seems out of place in the rough Kansas cowtown. But beneath his refined manners lies a wounded pride—and a quiet desperation to reclaim what he sees as his dignity.

Rumors spread that Carstairs is wealthy, fueled by bank drafts from England and his willingness to keep playing cards despite mounting losses. When Newson returns to town with his gang, greed overtakes opportunity. Instead of simply beating Carstairs at the table, they lure him away, intent on taking everything.

Marshal Matt Dillon’s instincts prove right—but he arrives too late to save the earnest “second son” who never quite learned the brutal rules of the frontier. In a grim and sobering end, Newson discovers that murder brings him nothing but three dollars—and the weight of a wasted life.

A tragic meditation on honor, pride, and the harsh cost of misunderstanding both fortune and men.

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

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, poker, greed, honor, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, tragedy, gambling, manhunt, Gunsmoke

Originally Aired: January 5, 1958

In Gunsmoke #300, “Puckett’s New Year,” Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester rescue an aging buffalo hunter, Ira Puckett, after his partner abandons him during a brutal prairie blizzard. Left with a shattered foot and his pride deeply wounded, Puckett is brought back to Dodge City to recover—only to learn that his roaming days are over.

When the man who deserted him rides into town, Dillon quietly runs him out to prevent bloodshed. But Puckett, feeling stripped of his independence and manhood, lashes out in a desperate bid to prove himself—robbing the bank in broad daylight. What follows is less a crime spree than a reckoning with age, pride, and the hard truth that survival sometimes means changing course.

In a rare turn of compassion, Dillon offers Puckett not just mercy, but a new beginning—an honest job and a chance to start the year with dignity instead of vengeance. A thoughtful and quietly hopeful story about pride, purpose, and the courage to begin again.

Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Ralph Moody, Lawrence Dobkin

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, redemption, aging, pride, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, blizzard, secondchance, frontierlife, Gunsmoke

Originally Aired: December 29, 1957

In Gunsmoke #299, “Where’d They Go?” a late-night holdup at Wilbur Jonas’s general store sends Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester riding into a brewing winter storm to arrest local homesteader Clint Dodie. Identified by voice and manner alone, Dodie swears he’s innocent—but with no clear alibi and a blizzard closing in, Dillon takes him into custody anyway.

What follows is less a manhunt than a test of patience. Before heading back to Dodge, Dillon and Chester find themselves chopping firewood, patching drafty cabin walls, rounding up drifting cattle, and tending to every chore Dodie can think of—all while his pregnant wife looks on sweetly. As the storm deepens, so does the marshal’s suspicion that he may be working harder than the accused.

By morning, the truth rides in with Doc Adams: the real culprit has already confessed. Dodie’s innocence is clear—but so is the fact that he played his cards just right. A lighthearted frontier tale of suspicion, stubbornness, and a long winter’s night that leaves Dillon outworked and outwitted.

Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Joseph Kearns, Virginia Gregg, Ralph Moody

Tags:

western, frontierlife, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, winterstorm, falseaccusation, humor, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, blizzard, frontierjustice, homesteaders, Gunsmoke

Originally Aired: December 28, 1957

In Gunsmoke #298, “Twelfth Night,” an old mountain feud follows two stubborn Ozark men all the way to Dodge City. When Eben Hakes arrives on foot—long rifle in hand—looking for his lifelong enemy Joth Monger, Marshal Matt Dillon braces for bloodshed. The bitter rivalry between the Hakes and Monger families stretches back generations, rooted in pride, stubbornness, and a long-forgotten slight.

But fate—and a quirk of mountain custom—intervene. When midnight strikes and Sunday begins, Eben refuses to fire a shot, honoring his lifelong rule never to kill on the Sabbath. What follows is an unexpected truce fueled by corn liquor, old memories, and a surprising revelation about how closely intertwined their family histories truly are.

As Dillon prepares to jail them both to prevent further violence, the feud dissolves into something far different: shared heritage, hard laughter, and plans for a Twelfth Night celebration twelve days after Christmas. A warm and gently humorous tale about tradition, pride, and the strange ways peace can sometimes find its footing.

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

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, feud, Ozarks, tradition, TwelfthNight, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, reconciliation, frontierlife, holidayepisode, Gunsmoke

Originally Aired: December 15, 1957

In Gunsmoke #297, “Ugly,” a horribly disfigured stranger named Bruno Thayer rides into Dodge City, and his appearance alone is enough to spark fear and cruelty among the townsfolk. Scarred years earlier in a buffalo stampede, Bruno keeps mostly to himself, hoping to make a quiet life on an abandoned farm. But in a town quick to judge what it doesn’t understand, rumors begin to spread—whispers of evil, violence, and unnatural behavior.

When a young woman claims Bruno attacked her, hysteria boils over. Led by a vengeful mob, Dodge threatens to turn on the man they barely know. Marshal Matt Dillon must stand between fear and justice, determined to uncover the truth before prejudice turns deadly.

In the end, what emerges is not a monster—but a lonely man scarred by fate and rejected by society. A powerful and unsettling story about appearance, superstition, and the courage it takes to stand against mob rule.

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

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, mobjustice, prejudice, rumor, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, tragedy, isolation, frontierlife, Gunsmoke

Originally Aired: December 8, 1957

In Gunsmoke #296, “Long as I Live,” Dodge City is shaken to its core when Doc Adams is shot down in cold blood. The town’s beloved physician—who has saved countless lives without asking for thanks—lies hovering between life and death, and for once it is Marshal Matt Dillon who must take instructions instead of giving them. With no other doctor within a hundred miles, Dillon and Kitty work desperately under Doc’s weakening guidance to remove the bullet before infection sets in.

As tension grips the town, the shooter, Hod Bricker, reveals his bitter motive: he blames Doc for the death of his young daughter, who fell ill while the doctor was away on his first vacation in years. Consumed by grief and rage, Bricker convinces himself that vengeance will ease his loss.

But as Doc fights to live and Dillon confronts the cost of misplaced blame, the episode becomes a powerful meditation on responsibility, sorrow, and the fragile line between justice and revenge. A deeply emotional story about loyalty, loss, and the man Dodge City depends on—long as he lives.

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

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, revenge, grief, tragedy, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, medicaldrama, manhunt, frontierlife, Gunsmoke

Originally Aired: December 1, 1957

In Gunsmoke #295, “Jud’s Woman,” Marshal Matt Dillon rides into a brewing storm and encounters more than bad weather. A frightened young woman named Jenny Barton refuses him shelter one night—only for her jealous and violent partner, Jud Borden, to later accuse Dillon of coming after her. It soon becomes clear that Jenny’s life is one of fear, isolation, and brutal abuse at the hands of a possessive man who sees enemies in every shadow.

When Jenny finally flees to Dodge City seeking protection, Dillon is faced with a painful truth: the law offers little refuge for a woman bound—at least in appearance—to a man like Jud. As Jud tracks her down with murderous intent, Dillon must devise a desperate plan to get Jenny safely out of town. But on the open prairie, escape is never simple, and violence follows close behind.

In the episode’s haunting conclusion, a deeper shame is revealed—one that kept Jenny silent far too long. A stark and powerful story about fear, dignity, and the difficult path to freedom in the Old West.

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

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, domesticviolence, jealousy, escape, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, tragedy, womensrights, abuse, frontierlife, Gunsmoke

Originally Aired: November 17, 1957

In Gunsmoke #293, “The Queue,” Dodge City’s uneasy tolerance is tested when a quiet Chinese immigrant named Chen Lan Wong arrives looking for honest work. Though Marshal Matt Dillon offers protection, prejudice simmers just beneath the surface—especially among two local bullies who resent the newcomer’s presence and spread rumors about a mysterious treasure box he keeps close at hand.

When the men assault Chen and cut off his queue—the braided pigtail that symbolizes his honor—the insult cuts deeper than any blade. Humiliated but determined, Chen demands justice in his own way. What begins as harassment spirals into deadly violence, forcing Dillon to confront hatred, greed, and the tragic cost of intolerance on the frontier.

In a poignant final revelation, the truth about Chen’s past—and his rightful place in America—casts the episode’s events in a solemn new light. A powerful and somber tale of dignity, identity, and justice in the Old West.

Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Ben Wright, Lawrence Dobkin, Barney Phillips, John Daner

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, prejudice, intolerance, immigration, civilwarveteran, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, tragedy, honor, militaryburial, Gunsmoke

Originally Aired: November 10, 1957

In Gunsmoke #292, “Gun Shy,” a timid young Easterner named Tom Wilson comes west chasing dime-novel dreams of frontier glory—only to discover that the prairie demands more than courage in stories. After failing as a ranch hand and accidentally shooting himself in the leg, Tom’s confidence sinks even lower. Convinced he doesn’t belong in the West—or anywhere near a gun—he prepares to return home in shame.

But when a holdup man storms a Dodge City store, the frightened boy is forced to choose between fear and action. In a split second that will define his life, Tom grabs a gun and faces the danger he’s always dreaded. Marshal Matt Dillon witnesses the tragic cost of proving oneself in a land where myths of heroism often collide with harsh reality.

A poignant and thoughtful episode exploring pride, courage, and the dangerous romance of the American frontier.

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

Tags:

western, frontierlife, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, comingofage, courage, tragedy, gunfightermyth, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, 1950sradio, redemption, pride, Gunsmoke

Originally Aired: January 26, 1958

In Gunsmoke #303, "One for Lee," Marshal Matt Dillon, Chester, and Doc Adams gather at the train depot to welcome Senator Barclay Hooper to Dodge City. The politician's arrival takes a violent turn when a gunman fires at the senator on the crowded platform, grazing his arm before fleeing through town. The only witness is Willie Angel, an ornery old sheepherder who was knocked down by the assailant during his escape. Willie never got a good look at the man's face, but the gunman doesn't know that, making Willie the only person who might be able to identify him.

Despite the assassination attempt, Senator Hooper refuses to cancel his scheduled speech, insisting he'll address the townspeople from the Dodge House porch as planned. Matt realizes Willie is now in danger since the shooter will want to eliminate the only witness who can identify him. The marshal rides out to Willie's remote sheep ranch to bring him into town for protection, but the stubborn old herder is reluctant to leave his flock unattended, creating a tense situation as Matt tries to keep both the senator and his sole witness alive.

Originally Aired: October 27, 1957

In Gunsmoke #290, “Man and Boy,” a headstrong young deputy from California rides into Dodge determined to prove himself. Cryley Tobin is barely two months into the job, but he’s already hunting a seasoned killer—Jess Ricker—on charges of robbery and murder. Proud, defensive, and eager to show he doesn’t need help, Tobin refuses Marshal Matt Dillon’s offer to serve the warrant together.

When Tobin confronts Ricker alone, he’s brutally outmatched and humiliated. Instead of backing down, the wounded young lawman lets pride push him into a dawn showdown in the street. As Dodge gathers to watch what seems certain to be a fatal mistake, Matt must decide whether to let a stubborn boy learn a deadly lesson—or step in and teach him what being a lawman truly means.

A tense, character-driven episode about pride, responsibility, and the hard line between proving yourself and throwing your life away.

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

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, lawman, showdown, pride, stubbornness, MattDillon, JessRicker, CryleyTobin, DodgeCity, comingofage, gunfight, moraldrama, 1950sradio, classicwestern, radioWestern, oldtimeradio

Originally Aired: October 20, 1957

In Gunsmoke #289, “Professor Lute Bone,” Dodge City falls under the spell of a wandering medicine showman whose silver tongue is matched only by the potency of his “Wonder Medicine.” Professor Lute Bone arrives with grand claims, fiery lectures against liquor, and bottles of cure-all tonic that promise to heal everything from rheumatism to “general debility.” Even Chester is swept up in the excitement, hired to testify to the professor’s miraculous remedies.

But when Doc Adams discovers the tonic contains opium, Marshal Matt Dillon steps in to halt the dangerous deception. Matters take a darker turn when a local man follows Bone’s reckless medical advice—resulting in a tragic death. As tempers flare and accusations fly, the professor finds himself ostracized and alone on the prairie. Before the law can fully reckon with him, fate intervenes in a fiery and mysterious end that leaves Dodge pondering the cost of ignorance, pride, and misplaced faith.

A sharp, darkly ironic episode exploring quack medicine, mob judgment, and the loneliness of a fraud who may have believed his own lies.

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

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, quackdoctor, medicineshow, opiumtonic, DodgeCity, MattDillon, Chester, DocAdams, KittyRussell, prairiejustice, radioWestern, 1950sradio, classicdrama, frontierlife, moraldrama, oldtimeradio

Originally Aired: October 13, 1957

In Gunsmoke #288, “The Margin,” Marshal Matt Dillon faces mounting pressure when young ranch hand Grody Beck is accused of rustling cattle from Flag Miller’s spread. Cleared by Judge Bent for lack of evidence, Grody walks free—but Dodge City isn’t satisfied. With Flag’s temper flaring and whispers of vigilante justice in the air, Matt must balance the letter of the law against the fury of a wronged cattleman.

As tensions rise, Dillon’s instincts tell him the truth lies elsewhere. A smooth-talking gambler named Pete Crow has been flashing suspicious gold pieces around town, and Doc’s sharp eye may have spotted the real trail of stolen stock. When the truth finally comes out under the cold light of a Kansas moon, Matt proves once again that frontier justice requires more than a rope and a cottonwood limb—it takes patience, nerve, and just enough margin to let the law work.

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

Tags:

western, frontierjustice, cattlerustling, vigilante, mattdillon, dodgecity, oldtimeradio, williamconrad, radio drama, classicwestern, gunsmoke288, 1957radio, lawandorder, marshaldillon, americawest, goldpieces, suspensedrama

Originally Aired: October 6, 1957

In Gunsmoke #287, “The Rooks,” Marshal Matt Dillon returns from a grueling trial in Wichita only to find Dodge City under siege by two cocky cowhand brothers, Clay and Jess Rook. With Dillon laid up by illness, the Rooks bully their way through saloons, smashing bottles and pushing townsfolk to their limits. When the violence escalates to murder, Dillon must rise from his sickbed to restore order. A tense showdown in a dark livery stable brings grim resolution—and the question of what makes a man pull the trigger.

Cast: William Conrad, John Dehner, Vic Perrin, Harry Bartell, Lawrence Dobkin, James Nusser, Barney Phillips, Don Diamond, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis

Tags:

western, drama, gunfight, DodgeCity, WilliamConrad, Gunsmoke, 1950sradio, cowboyjustice, classicradio, shootout, lawandorder, oldtimeradio, saloon, frontierlife, brotherhood, USMarshal

Originally Aired: September 29, 1957

In Gunsmoke #286, “Another Man’s Poison,” Marshal Matt Dillon is drawn into a volatile triangle when Sally Bogan’s past resurfaces in Dodge City. Long believing her first husband drowned at sea, Sally is now confronted by Jeff Lightly—very much alive—and his sudden return puts her current marriage to Ben Bogan in jeopardy. As jealousy and wounded pride flare, Dillon struggles to keep the peace between two men determined to settle the matter with guns. The crisis reaches its breaking point when Sally makes a decisive choice that neither man expects, forcing both to face an uncomfortable truth about love, possession, and pride in the Old West. A tense moral drama that undercuts frontier bravado with bitter irony.

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

Tags:

western, drama, loveTriangle, jealousy, marriage, frontierJustice, MattDillon, DodgeCity, oldtimeradio, classicwestern, radioDrama, GunsmokePodcast, moralConflict, showdown, 1950sradio

Originally Aired: September 22, 1957

In Gunsmoke #285, “Custer,” Marshal Matt Dillon arrests a suspicious drifter, Joe Trimble, for the brutal murder of a reclusive old rancher. But just as Dillon prepares to take him to trial, a U.S. Army major arrives with shocking news—Trimble is actually a deserter from the 7th Cavalry under an alias. Though Matt is convinced of Trimble's guilt, the Army demands custody. In a chilling twist of justice, Trimble escapes a civil conviction only to be sent back north to rejoin the very unit preparing for a fateful expedition against the Sioux. A slow-burning moral dilemma unfolds, ending with a haunting name—Colonel George Custer.

Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear

Tags:
Western, justice, murder, army, desertion, trial, MattDillon, WilliamConrad, 7thCavalry, Custer, Sioux, LittleBighorn, oldtimeradio, frontierjustice, militaryvsjustice, 1950sradio, classicwestern, suspense, historicalforeshadowing, Gunsmoke

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