Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

Originally Aired: July 8, 1956

In Gunsmoke #222, “Passive Resistance,” Dodge City is divided when Gideon Seek, a gentle, gunless sheep herder, becomes the target of cattlemen determined to drive him out by violence. Refusing to fight back or even name his attackers, Gideon stands by his pacifist beliefs—even as his sheep are slaughtered, his home is burned, and his own life is put in danger. Marshal Matt Dillon struggles with Gideon’s refusal to seek justice and must wrestle with the limits of law, vengeance, and the courage it takes to resist violence in a violent land. A thought-provoking episode that questions the meaning of strength and justice on the frontier.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, pacifism, sheep, cattlemen, nonviolence, GideonSeek, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, DodgeCity, MattDillon, frontierjustice, classicwestern, lawandorder, vintagepodcast, Gunsmoke, moralconflict, passiveResistance

Originally Aired: July 1, 1956

In Gunsmoke #221, “Gun for Chester,” Chester Proudfoot is haunted by the arrival of Ace Ledbetter, a man from his mysterious past in South Texas. Convinced Ledbetter has come to Dodge to kill him, Chester grows increasingly desperate, even as Matt Dillon struggles to separate paranoia from real danger. When a violent showdown finally erupts in the Marshal’s office, the truth behind Chester’s fear—and a long-buried secret involving a lost love—comes to light. A tense and personal story of pride, shame, and the burdens we carry, “Gun for Chester” explores the cost of old grudges and the pain of things left unspoken.

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

Tags:
Western, drama, SouthTexas, ChesterProudfoot, grudge, showdown, oldtimeradio, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, AceLedbetter, secretpast, frontierjustice, emotionaldrama, classicwestern, MattDillon, DodgeCity, vintagepodcast, Gunsmoke, longburiedsecret

Originally Aired: June 24, 1956

In Gunsmoke #220, “Sunday Supplement,” two writers from New York arrive in Dodge City, searching for thrilling stories of the untamed West. Disappointed by the relative calm, they stir up trouble by stealing a sacred Pawnee totem from a burial ground—an act that drives the peaceful Chief Little Hawk to violence. As the cavalry reels from deadly attacks, Marshal Matt Dillon races to uncover the truth and prevent more bloodshed. With themes of exploitation, cultural misunderstanding, and the cost of sensationalism, this episode offers a pointed look at the dangers outsiders can bring to a fragile peace.

Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Harry Bartell, John Dehner, Joseph Kearns, Lou Krugman, Ralph Moody

Tags:
Western, drama, Pawnee, Indian, frontier, WilliamConrad, JohnMeston, sacredtotem, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, NewYorkwriters, culturalclash, DodgeCity, MattDillon, cavalry, classicwestern, vintagepodcast, exploitation, westernpodcast, SundaySupplement

Originally Aired: June 17, 1956

In Gunsmoke #219, “Cheap Labor,” Dodge City witnesses a quiet, powerful drama when gentle giant Foss Capper befriends Carrie Stansel, a hardworking woman held back by her controlling brother Ben. As Foss and Carrie dream of a life together, Ben’s jealousy explodes—leading to violence, threats, and a town forced to choose sides. When Ben brutally punishes Carrie for defying him, Foss faces a terrible choice: return to the gunfighter’s life he tried to escape, or let her suffer. The story builds to a tense confrontation that exposes the true meaning of courage, sacrifice, and self-worth—on both sides of the law.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, Jean Bates, Barney Phillips, Harry Bartell

Tags:
western, family, gunfighter, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, cheaplabor, oldtimeradio, courage, 1950sradio, classicdrama, romance, abuse, redemption, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: June 10, 1956

In Gunsmoke #218, “Daddy-O,” Kitty Russell’s long-lost father—charming, stylish, and mysterious—arrives in Dodge City for a reunion decades in the making. Soon swept up in a flurry of new business and old dreams, Kitty finds herself torn between loyalty and suspicion as her father pushes her to sell her share of the Long Branch and join him in New Orleans. But when the truth emerges about his real motives, Kitty must decide between family and self-respect. With Marshal Dillon by her side, she learns that some things are worth more than a father’s approval—or his schemes. A deeply personal drama of pride, disappointment, and hard-won independence.

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

Tags:
western, family, conman, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, daddyo, oldtimeradio, KittyRussell, reunion, 1950sradio, classicdrama, pride, independence, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: June 3, 1956

In Gunsmoke #217, “The Pacifist,” a drifter named Harden Hook arrives in Dodge, poor and half-starved, carrying only a haunted past. Once a violent Missouri raider, Hook swore never to kill again after a single, shameful act during the Kansas border wars. But old enemies Sutters and Hoagler track him down and stir up the brother of a man Hook killed, hoping to provoke vengeance. Marshal Dillon tries to protect Hook, but a plot unfolds to frame him for murder. In a tense showdown, Hook risks his own life to save another, revealing that true bravery can mean refusing to kill—even when everyone expects it. A powerful story about war, conscience, and the courage to break the cycle of violence.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Vic Perrin, Harry Bartell, James Nusser, Paul DuBois

Tags:
western, pacifism, redemption, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, thepacifist, oldtimeradio, lawrencekansas, civilwar, Missouri, 1950sradio, classicdrama, conscience, bravery, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: May 27, 1956

In Gunsmoke #216, “Man Hunter,” a stranger comes to Dodge on the trail of a quiet ranch hand—revealing him as Ike Abbott, wanted for a murder committed twelve years earlier in Arizona. As Marshal Dillon weighs friendship, law, and the specter of bounty hunting, he confronts Ben Quillen, a deputy with a badge for hire and no qualms about killing for reward money. When Quillen’s tactics put Dodge on the brink of bloodshed, Dillon must choose between justice and the letter of the law. A tense showdown reveals the true nature of manhunting—and the line that separates a marshal from a mercenary.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Lawrence Dobkin, John Dehner, Ken Lynch

Tags:
western, bountyhunter, justice, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, manhunter, oldtimeradio, lawman, 1950sradio, classicdrama, reward, DodgeCity, pastcrimes, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: May 20, 1956

In Gunsmoke #215, “Buffalo Man,” Marshal Dillon and Chester stumble into a brutal world on the buffalo range, where a headless corpse and a camp ruled by violent hunter Ben Siple set off a chain of danger and abuse. Captured and tied up, Dillon and Chester’s only hope is Abby, a battered woman trapped in Siple’s camp, who risks everything to help them. A tense encounter with the Pawnee leads to a trade of justice for freedom—and a chance for Abby to escape her tormentor. But when Siple tracks her down in Dodge, Dillon must keep his promise that Abby will never be hurt again. A gripping tale of cruelty, courage, and a hard-won second chance.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Vic Perrin, John Dehner, Helen Kleeb, Lawrence Dobkin

Tags:
western, survival, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, buffaloman, oldtimeradio, domesticabuse, Pawnee, frontier, 1950sradio, classicdrama, justice, rescue, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: May 13, 1956

In Gunsmoke #214, “Cows and Cribs,” Marshal Dillon confronts the harsh choices faced by desperate settlers on the edge of Dodge. When the Thorpe family is struck by spotted fever, their orphaned baby’s fate hangs in the balance—and a neighbor, Mrs. Nadler, wishes to adopt the child despite her own family’s poverty. As Marshal Dillon investigates a string of cattle thefts, he’s forced to weigh compassion against the law, especially when Mrs. Nadler’s husband, Joe, is caught butchering stolen calves and, in a tragic spiral, kills a man and meets his own end in Dodge. Ultimately, the community must decide whether forgiveness or judgment will determine who is fit to raise an orphan. A moving portrait of survival, sacrifice, and the fragile hopes that endure on the frontier.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Vic Perrin, John Dehner, Jeanette Nolan, Virginia Christine, Frank Cady

Tags:
western, poverty, adoption, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, cowsandcribs, oldtimeradio, frontierlife, tragedy, spottedfever, cattle, 1950sradio, classicdrama, community, compassion, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: May 6, 1956

In Gunsmoke #213, “The Photographer,” Dodge City is unsettled by the arrival of Professor Jacobi, an ambitious eastern photographer determined to capture the “real” violence of the West—no matter the cost. When a harmless town character known as Old Toad is found scalped and murdered, suspicion falls on the local tribes, but Matt Dillon soon uncovers the truth: Jacobi paid a desperate man to stage a killing for the sake of a gruesome photograph. Obsessed with sensational images and dismissive of consequence, Jacobi’s quest leads him onto sacred Cheyenne land, where his final “picture” is paid for in blood. A haunting tale about exploitation, reputation, and the dark side of the stories people sell.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Lawrence Dobkin, Harry Bartell, James Nusser

Tags:
western, morality, exploitation, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, thephotographer, oldtimeradio, crime, Cheyenne, 1950sradio, classicdrama, violence, justice, mediaethics, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: April 29, 1956

In Gunsmoke #212, “Doc’s Reward,” the aftermath of a deadly shooting puts Doc Adams at the center of Dodge City’s suspicion and the crosshairs of a vengeful stranger. After Doc kills an outlaw named Miles Brando in self-defense, rumors swirl and Brando’s brother Nate arrives in Dodge, intent on revenge and convinced Doc acted only for the bounty on his brother’s head. As Marshal Dillon and Kitty try to keep Doc safe, a tense showdown looms. But when the truth—and Doc’s compassion—finally come to light, Doc makes a powerful gesture, using the very reward that caused all the trouble to bring a measure of grace to a grieving family. A story of conscience, community, and the unexpected ways mercy can change even the hardest hearts.

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

Tags:
western, mercy, revenge, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, docsreward, oldtimeradio, bounty, classicdrama, DodgeCity, 1950sradio, compassion, outlaw, redemption, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: April 22, 1956

In Gunsmoke #211, “Indian Crazy,” a terrified couple new to the frontier seeks Marshal Matt Dillon’s assurance that Comanche raids are just rumors. When violence does strike, only Mrs. Jallop is found dead—scalped and hastily buried—while her husband vanishes, and suspicion falls on the surrounding tribes. But as Matt follows the tracks, he uncovers a much darker truth: driven mad by terror and guilt, Will Jallop turns on his neighbor, Bob Oren, and finally seeks out Matt for a final act of vengeance. In a tense standoff by the river, Jallop confesses to a shattering choice—ending his wife’s life himself to save her from the horrors he feared, and spiraling into a madness that leaves no one untouched. A stark, haunting tale of fear, moral collapse, and the terrible price of frontier life.

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

Tags:
western, tragedy, frontier, psychological, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, indiancrazy, oldtimeradio, guilt, Comanche, 1950sradio, classicdrama, madness, domestictragedy, scalp, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: April 15, 1956

In Gunsmoke #210, “The Executioner,” Marshal Matt Dillon faces the moral cost of frontier justice when a notorious gunman named Tom Clegg rides into Dodge, bringing a trail of dead men and a reputation built on quick draws and provoked duels. After Clegg kills Abe Curry in a “fair” fight, Abe’s brother Morgan refuses to carry a gun for revenge—choosing instead to shame and unsettle Clegg with relentless, silent pursuit. But when Morgan is finally goaded into a fatal confrontation, unarmed and desperate, it falls to Matt Dillon to end Clegg’s reign of fear with his own gun. In the aftermath, Matt must reckon with being made an unwilling executioner—forced into violence by the very men he’s sworn to protect. A tense meditation on justice, reputation, and the terrible burdens lawmen bear.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Sam Edwards, Vic Perron, John Dehner

Tags:
western, morality, gunfighter, justice, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, theexecutioner, oldtimeradio, vengeance, classicdrama, DodgeCity, 1950sradio, brotherhood, deathwish, lawman, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: April 8, 1956

In Gunsmoke #209, “Widow’s Mite,” Marshal Matt Dillon is drawn into the tragic aftermath of a robbery gone wrong, where suspicion and greed linger long after the gunfire. When outlaw Zach Morton is killed, Dodge City’s gossip mill insists his grieving widow Ada knows the whereabouts of the stolen money. As Matt investigates, he crosses paths with the genteel but unsettling Leach Fields—an old acquaintance of Ada’s who seems too eager to comfort her, and perhaps even marry her, just weeks after her husband’s death. But when Ada disappears and is found starved and tied up, Matt realizes the depths of Fields’ deception. A tense hunt for missing money leads to a desperate confrontation in the dark, and a final revelation that not every crime leaves behind the evidence—or the closure—people expect. “Widow’s Mite” explores the high price of suspicion and the quiet strength of a woman wronged by everyone around her.

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

Tags:
western, mystery, suspense, robbery, DodgeCity, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, widowsmite, oldtimeradio, betrayal, vintagecrime, 1950sradio, classicdrama, falseaccusation, frontierjustice, suspensepodcast

Originally Aired: April 1, 1956

In Gunsmoke #208, “How to Sell a Ranch,” Matt Dillon tries to protect an eccentric old rancher, Tup Claver, from being swindled out of his land by a slick city buyer. When a too-generous offer is made, the deal spins into a battle of wits, bluff, and frontier ingenuity. As money, deeds, and tempers fly, Tup proves he’s no easy mark—thanks to a clever scheme involving a relay of borrowed horses. In the end, the city slicker learns just how sharp a so-called simple countryman can be, and Dodge gets a party to remember. A lighthearted episode of double-cross, hustle, and western justice.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Ralph Moody, Harry Bartell, Joe Duval, Kathy Marlowe

Tags:
Western, DodgeCity, ranch, scam, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, RalphMoody, HarryBartell, JoeDuval, KathyMarlowe, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sdrama, hustle, comedy, landdeal, Gunsmoke, frontier, vintagewestern

Originally Aired: March 25, 1956

In Gunsmoke #207, “Hanging Man,” the apparent suicide of a respected businessman soon points to murder, and Marshal Matt Dillon’s suspicions fall on a desperate love triangle. When gambler Mel Tucker becomes the prime suspect—and his lover, Cora Bell, seems tangled in the case—Matt is forced to let Tucker go for lack of evidence. But when a second hanging shocks Dodge, Matt’s patience and cunning set the stage for a dramatic confrontation. With jealousy, betrayal, and greed driving even the most unlikely to violence, Matt must rely on both Kitty’s courage and his own instincts to bring the guilty to justice. A chilling tale of manipulation, passion, and the price of loving the wrong person.

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

Tags:
Western, DodgeCity, murder, hanging, jealousy, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, LawrenceDobkin, VirginiaGregg, JohnDehner, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sdrama, love, betrayal, crime, Gunsmoke, whodunit, vintagewestern

Originally Aired: March 18, 1956

In Gunsmoke #206, “The Man Who Would Be Marshal,” Emmett Egan, a former Union officer turned cattleman, arrives in Dodge City determined to take Matt Dillon’s job as Marshal—believing law work is just another kind of command. Dillon, weary of the constant danger, gives Egan a week to see the truth for himself. What starts as an exercise in authority quickly turns deadly, as Egan’s lack of experience with violence and gunslingers is exposed in a brutal confrontation. The episode explores the difference between command and survival on the frontier, and the steep price paid by those who wear the badge.

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

Tags:
Western, lawman, DodgeCity, ambition, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, JohnDehner, JamesNusser, HarryBartell, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sdrama, identity, authority, gunslinger, ambition, Gunsmoke, badge, vintagewestern

Originally Aired: March 11, 1956

In Gunsmoke #205, “Bringing Down Father,” Dodge City is rocked by murder and betrayal when a young cattleman named Andy Gilden accuses trail boss Harley Burke of shooting an unarmed man. As Matt Dillon investigates, the truth behind the killing and a $20,000 cattle sale is tangled in pride, hate, and a son’s desperate need to prove himself. With suspicion falling on everyone, Matt must unravel a web of lies, loyalty, and family secrets—before more blood is spilled. In a story where friendship and duty collide, even the best intentions can have tragic consequences.

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

Tags:
Western, cattle, DodgeCity, betrayal, murder, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, WilliamIdelson, LawrenceDobkin, VicPerrin, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sdrama, fatherandson, loyalty, suspense, Gunsmoke, traildrive, vintagewestern

Originally Aired: March 4, 1956

In Gunsmoke #204, “The Hunter,” legendary frontiersman Jace Murdock—known as “Longarm”—returns to Dodge City, a relic of the buffalo-hunting days, hardened and reckless as ever. Ignoring warnings and driven by pride, Murdock sets out for a forbidden buffalo hunt in Indian territory, taking a young Blackfoot skinner called Golden Calf with him. Marshal Matt Dillon, haunted by an old grudge, must follow Murdock into the snowy wilds—where a deadly, long-range game unfolds. Trapped and outgunned, Matt’s fate turns on the courage and conscience of Golden Calf, who faces a final, tragic choice between his people and the violent legacy of the man he calls father. A tense, wintry tale of the old frontier’s passing and the price of living by the gun.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Nestor Paiva, Sam Edwards, Harry Bartell

Tags:
Western, buffalo, DodgeCity, Indianterritory, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, GeorgiaEllis, NestorPaiva, SamEdwards, HarryBartell, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sdrama, suspense, fatherandson, legacy, redemption, frontier, Gunsmoke, longarm, vintagewestern

Originally Aired: February 26, 1956

In Gunsmoke #203, “Who Lives by the Sword,” Dodge City is shaken by the arrival of notorious gunman Joe Delk—a man who kills for reputation and whose swagger turns deadly when a young man tries to stand up to him. Marshal Matt Dillon faces Delk not with a gun, but with his fists, shaking the outlaw’s nerve and setting him on a path of self-destruction. As Delk’s confidence crumbles and the town closes in, Matt must reckon with the hard truth that those who live by violence are doomed to fall by it. A stark, psychological episode about pride, fear, and the heavy cost of a life lived on the draw.

Cast:
William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, John Dehner, Sam Edwards, Clayton Post

Tags:
Western, gunman, DodgeCity, pride, downfall, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, JohnDehner, SamEdwards, ClaytonPost, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sdrama, suspense, morality, redemption, Gunsmoke, livebythesword, vintagewestern

Originally Aired: February 19, 1956

In Gunsmoke #202, “The New Hotel,” Enoch Mills, a proud cattle rancher, sets out to challenge the Dodge City status quo by building a first-class hotel—much to the ire of his longtime rival, hotel owner Jim Dobey. When sabotage and arson strike, suspicion and tempers flare, and Marshal Matt Dillon is drawn into a bitter feud that escalates beyond business. As hired gunmen, mistaken accusations, and a stolen cattle plot threaten to consume the town, Matt must untangle the truth before violence boils over. In the end, a lesson in pride, trust, and forgiveness gives Dodge a new hotel—and perhaps a new start for two stubborn old enemies.

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

Tags:
Western, rivalry, arson, DodgeCity, cattle, hotel, WilliamConrad, ParleyBaer, HowardMcNear, GeorgiaEllis, oldtimeradio, classicradio, 1950sdrama, suspense, redemption, marshal, Gunsmoke, newhotel, vintagewestern

Originally Aired: February 12, 1956

In Gunsmoke #201, “Kitty’s Outlaw,” a stranger named Cole Yankton rides into Dodge, drawing Marshal Dillon’s suspicion—and stirring up memories for Kitty Russell. While Cole claims to be a simple horse trader, his presence unsettles Kitty, who knows him from her past in New Orleans. When a bank robbery implicates Cole, Matt and Chester set out on a tense manhunt across the prairie. Wounded and dying, Cole’s final moments reveal the complicated bond between him and Kitty—a love that once was, and a parting that leaves questions of loyalty, regret, and what might have been. An episode of lost chances and bittersweet reckonings, set against the unforgiving backdrop of the frontier.

Cast:
William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear, Parley Baer, Vic Perron, Barney Phillips

Tags:
western, drama, outlaw, lostlove, bankrobbery, marshalldillon, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, ParleyBaer, VicPerron, BarneyPhillips, oldtimeradio, gunsmoke, classicwestern, 1950sradio, bittersweet, KittyRussell, redemption, vintageaudio

Originally Aired: February 5, 1956

In Gunsmoke #200, “Legal Revenge,” Marshal Matt Dillon is drawn into a tangled web of violence and secrets when Doc brings word of trouble at the Tebbs homestead—a sod hut on the lonely prairie. A wounded man, Ben Tebbs, claims a knife wound was accidental, but his terrified state and a six-gun hidden under the blanket suggest otherwise. As Matt and Chester probe deeper, they uncover a tense standoff between Ben and his wife Flory, who may be more dangerous than she seems. When Ben dies during the night, Flory confesses to a murder—yet nothing is what it appears. What follows is a stark tale of revenge, justice, and the broken promises of the frontier, as Matt must decide who is truly guilty and what the law can—and can’t—fix.

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

Tags:
western, drama, revenge, law, justice, marshalldillon, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, HowardMcNear, ParleyBaer, oldtimeradio, mystery, gunsmoke, classicwestern, 1950sradio, frontierjustice, psychological, vintageaudio, legaldrama

Originally Aired: January 29, 1956

In Gunsmoke #199, “Bureaucrat,” Dodge City is thrown into turmoil when a government man named Rex Propter arrives from Washington to “fix” the frontier. Armed with strict rules and city-bred theories, Propter clashes with Marshal Dillon over how to handle the wild town. As new signs and gun control laws backfire, an accidental killing and mob justice push Dodge to the brink. Matt must protect both the outsider and the law itself—even as his own authority is challenged. In the end, it’s a lesson in frontier justice, respect, and how far rules can go before common sense takes over.

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

Tags:
western, bureaucracy, frontier, law, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, government, DodgeCity, authority, mobjustice, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, classicradio, rules, outoftouch, drama, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: January 22, 1956

In Gunsmoke #198, “Romeo,” Dodge City faces open war as two rival cattle barons, Jake Worth and Emmett Bowers, let their hatred threaten to tear the prairie apart—over the forbidden romance between their children, Andy and Judy. As Matt Dillon tries to keep the peace, the young lovers risk everything to run away together. With Doc and Chester’s secret help, a midnight stage, and a quick-thinking preacher, Matt helps orchestrate a wedding and a daring escape—while facing down hired guns and the stubborn pride of two fathers. A frontier retelling of Romeo and Juliet, resolved with grit and wisdom before blood can be spilled.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Sam Edwards, John Dehner, James Nusser, Joyce McCluskey

Tags:
western, romance, familyfeud, starcrossed, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, frontier, elopement, classicradio, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, cattlebarons, reconciliation, love, prairie, drama, youth, vintagepodcast