Gunsmoke Radio Episodes

GUNSMOKE DOUBLE‑FEATURE CHANGE OF HEART Original Airdate: September 3, 1955 (CBS Radio) Writer: John Meston Produced and Directed by: Norman Macdonnell Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester Proudfoot), Georgia Ellis (Miss Kitty Russell), Howard McNear (Doc Adams) Episode Summary (Spoiler‑Safe): When a wounded outlaw collapses outside Dodge, Marshal Dillon faces a moral dilemma that tests the limits of frontier justice. The man's young wife pleads for mercy, forcing Matt to ...

⭐ INDIAN SCOUT Air Date: March 31, 1956 An aging Army scout named Amos Cartwright becomes the center of suspicion after a deadly ambush wipes out a troop he was guiding. When a soldier's grieving brother vows revenge, Matt Dillon steps in — but the truth is far more complicated. As Cartwright flees into Comanche territory, Matt must weigh justice, loyalty, and the harsh realities of frontier life. This tense, character‑driven episode explores guilt, honor, and the burden carried by men who've li...

GUNSMOKE (RADIO): "BEN TOLLIVER'S STUD" Original Air Date: January 24, 1953 Cast: Matt Dillon – William Conrad Chester Proudfoot – Parley Baer Doc Adams – Howard McNear Kitty Russell – Georgia Ellis Ben Tolliver – Harry Bartell Summary Horse trader Ben Tolliver rides into Dodge with a magnificent stud horse he claims is the finest in the territory. But when a dispute over ownership erupts, the situation turns violent — and Matt Dillon finds himself sorting thr...

🤠 GUNSMOKE: "UNCLE OLIVER" Original Air Date: January 10, 1954 Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester Proudfoot), Georgia Ellis (Kitty Russell), Howard McNear (Doc Adams), and guest star John Dehner as Uncle Oliver. Summary: When a kindly old man named Uncle Oliver arrives in Dodge City claiming to be a harmless traveler, Marshal Dillon quickly senses there's more to him than meets the eye. Beneath his gentle manner lies a dangerous secret that threatens the town's peace. As...

⭐ GUNSMOKE: THE ARMY TRIAL Show Notes – Duty, Desertion & Frontier Justice Episode Background: Originally aired June 25, 1955, The Army Trial is one of Gunsmoke's most emotionally charged stories — a collision between military discipline, young love, and the unforgiving realities of the frontier. Summary (Spoiler‑Safe): Jed Cook, a weary Army sergeant stationed at Fort Dodge, deserts his post to start a new life with his fiancée, Della Masters. Their dream ends abruptly when Matt Dillon re...

⭐ GUNSMOKE RADIO EPISODE DATA & SUMMARIES For 1001 Stories From the Old West ⭐ TRUST Broadcast Date: January 24, 1953 (Season 2) Cast: William Conrad – Matt Dillon Parley Baer – Chester Howard McNear – Doc Adams Georgia Ellis – Kitty John Dehner – Ed Blake (guest) Harry Bartell – Tom (guest) Additional supporting cast typical of early‑season Gunsmoke ⭐ Summary (Podcast‑Ready) A young cowboy named Ed Blake rides into Dodge City with a probl...

⭐ 1001 STORIES FROM THE OLD WEST SHOW NOTES — GUNSMOKE DOUBLE FEATURE "COW DOCTOR" & "JEALOUSY" This week, we're bringing you a Gunsmoke double feature — two standout episodes that showcase the grit, humor, and human drama that made the series a legend of radio's golden age. Each story stands on its own, but together they paint a vivid picture of frontier life in Dodge City, where pride, rumor, and desperation can turn an ordinary day into a powder keg. ⭐ COW DOCTOR When a frightened boy nam...

⭐ 1001 STORIES FROM THE OLD WEST SHOW NOTES ⭐ POTATO ROAD A simple freight run turns into a dangerous ordeal when Matt Dillon and Chester travel a remote stretch of trail known as Potato Road—a place with a reputation for ambushes and trouble. When they come across a wagon wreck and a badly injured driver, Matt realizes they’ve stumbled into the aftermath of a violent robbery. As they push deeper along the lonely road, the clues point to a pair of ruthless thieves who are willing to kill any...

⭐ 1001 STORIES FROM THE OLD WEST SHOW NOTES ⭐ BORN TO HANG In Dodge City, a young outlaw named Tad seems determined to follow the same doomed path as his father—a man Matt Dillon once had to bring to justice. When Tad becomes mixed up with a dangerous gang, Matt tries to steer him toward a better life, but the boy’s pride and anger push him deeper into trouble. As a robbery turns violent, Tad must choose between loyalty to the men leading him astray and the chance to break free from a legacy...

⭐ 1001 STORIES FROM THE OLD WEST GUNSMOKE: “THE MISTAKE” Show Notes – Classic CBS Radio Drama Original Air Date: January 23, 1954 Writer: John Meston Starring: William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon Parley Baer as Chester Howard McNear as Doc Adams Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell Episode Summary: A simple misunderstanding turns deadly in Dodge City when a frightened young cowboy makes a tragic mistake — one that sends shockwaves through the town and lands squarely on M...

⭐ 1001 Stories From the Old West SHOW NOTES — GUNSMOKE Episodes: “Chester’s Murder” & “Sons of the Father” ⭐ GUNSMOKE: “CHESTER’S MURDER” In the Gunsmoke radio episode "Chester's Murder," Deputy Chester Wesley Proudfoot is accused of killing a drunken gambler after a saloon fight, forcing Marshal Matt Dillon to risk everything to uncover the real killer. [ 1 , 2 ] Plot Overview The Dispute: Chester gets into a heated argument with a drunken gambler at the Long Branch Saloon. [ 1 ...

⭐ 1001 STORIES FROM THE OLD WEST GUNSMOKE DOUBLE‑PLAY THE BOTTLE MAN ROBIN HOOD ⭐ THE BOTTLE MAN Gunsmoke (CBS Radio) Original Airdate: September 10, 1955 Starring: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Howard McNear ⭐ Verified Episode Summary (Spoiler‑Safe) A harmless, soft‑spoken old man named Toke wanders into Dodge carrying a sack full of empty bottles — earning him the nickname “The Bottle Man.” Toke is gentle, friendly, and clearly down on his luck, but he has a quiet dignity tha...

⭐ 1001 STORIES FROM THE OLD WEST GUNSMOKE DOUBLE‑PLAY MR. AND MRS. ALBAN GREATER LOVE ⭐ MR. AND MRS. ALBAN Gunsmoke (CBS Radio) Original Airdate: July 5, 1953 Verified Plot Summary A quiet, middle‑aged couple named Mr. and Mrs. Alban arrive in Dodge City, but something about them immediately troubles Marshal Matt Dillon. The Albans are polite, soft‑spoken, and clearly devoted to each other — yet Mrs. Alban carries a deep sadness, and Mr. Alban seems weighed down by guilt. Dillon learns that ...

Bloody Hands- The shooting of several members of an outlaw gang triggers an emotional crisis in Matt when he is haunted by memories of all the men he has killed. Skid Row- When a lady comeso town looking for her betrothed, Matt takes it upon himself to sober up the man who, in his fiance's absence, has become the town drunk. Reviews always appreciated for 1001 Stories from The Old West

Summaries: THE JOKE'S ON US- A suspected horse thief is lynched by his former friends. The joke may be on all of them now as someone is killing them one by one. NINA: An Army scout named Cuff Peters leaves his pregnant Mexican wife in Dodge.

⭐ 1001 Stories From the Old West GUNSMOKE: THE ARMY TRIAL Show Notes – Duty, Honor, and Frontier Justice Episode Background: The Army Trial is one of those Gunsmoke episodes where military discipline collides with frontier reality. When soldiers pass through Dodge, tensions often rise — and in this story, a single incident threatens to ignite a conflict between civilian law and the strict code of the U.S. Army. Summary (Spoiler‑Safe): A young cavalryman is accused of a serious offense, and th...

⭐ 1001 Stories From the Old West GUNSMOKE: THE GUITAR Show Notes – Classic CBS Radio Drama Episode Background: Originally broadcast during the golden era of radio’s most celebrated adult Western, The Guitar is one of those quiet, character-driven Gunsmoke stories that reveals the emotional heart of Dodge City. Instead of gunfights and cattle rustlers, this episode centers on a wandering musician whose gentle presence stirs up unexpected trouble. Summary (Spoiler‑Safe): A drifter arrives in Do...

Sheriff Matt Dillon takes no guff from anyone- including gentlemen gamblers and killers

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The radio version ran from 1952 to 1961 and is commonly regarded as one of the finest radio dramas of all time. The television version ran from 1955 to 1975 and is the longest running prime time drama and the second-longest running prime time fictional program in U.S. t...

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The radio version ran from 1952 to 1961 and is commonly regarded as one of the finest radio dramas of all time. The television version ran from 1955 to 1975 and is the longest running prime time drama and the second-longest running prime time fictional program in U.S. t...

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The radio version ran from 1952 to 1961 and is commonly regarded as one of the finest radio dramas of all time. The television version ran from 1955 to 1975 and is the longest running prime time drama and the second-longest running prime time fictional program in U.S. t...

Matt has to rescue Kitty from a kidnapper

Two riverting western adventures starring Bill Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon

Marshall Dillion finally loses his patience with all the outlaws and calls in the army to clean up Dodge.