The Radio Western “Gunsmoke” ran for nine seasons on CBS (1952-1961). The cast includes U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon (William Conrad), Howard McNear (Charles “Doc” Adams), Parley Baer (Chester Wesley Proudfoot) and Miss Kitty Russell (Georgia Ellis).
The series is set in the 1870’s at Dodge City, Kansas.
“Gunsmoke” peaked at 40 million listeners during its’ long run. CBS radio paid for the first two seasons without a sponsor. It was because of the adult themes including murder, kidnapping, massacres, scalping's, alcohol and drug addiction. Plus, domestic abuse, lynching's and deadly shootings. Radio critics and fans had praised these adult storylines.
I am a huge fan of Western films and TV shows. I absolutely love the “Gunsmoke” radio series. I’ve enjoyed all 480 episodes.
My favorite 25 “Gunsmoke” episodes are below and they were tough choices. I have 100 top favorites too. Let’s go back to the old west of the 1870’s.
Click each Photo below for complete "Gunsmoke" Radio Episodes.
1). BULL. Season 6. Episode 10. A man is beaten to death on front street in Dodge City. His father puts up a $1,000 reward for the killer. Matt Dillon investigates and searches for “Bull” who had gotten into a fist fight with the dead man.
2). BRUSH AT ELKADER. Season 4. Episode 9. Miss Kitty sees a friend gunned down on front street at night. The unknown killer rides away on horseback. Doc says the dying man told him the word, “Elkader” and Matt says that’s the name of a town. Him and Chester travel to this town to search for a man they’ve never seen.
3). FINGERED. Season 1. Episode 31. A lonely farmer marries a naive city woman. She goes missing and several citizens of Dodge City believe she was murdered. The farmer’s first wife also went missing. Matt Dillon seeks out the truth about these women.
4). INDIAN. Season 6. Episode 30. Matt and Chester find a brutally murdered Pawnee Indian. An angry farmer claims that he has been killing Indians for 18 years. This after his wife was murdered and his baby son carried off by Pawnee warriors. That son returns as an adult and there’s another brutal killing.
5). CUSTER. Season 2. Episode 12. Matt and Chester find a dead man hanging in his own home. Matt suspects that a drifter had killed the man whom he thought was rich. There is no evidence against this drifter who went AWOL from the Army. He is set free but is ordered to work under George Armstrong Custer.
6). GUNSHOT WOUND. Season 5. Episode 7. Miss Kitty tells Matt Dillon that a dead man has come back to life. He was believed to have been killed in a gun fight. He returns to Dodge City to kill the brothers who shot him.
7). NINA. Season 2. Episode 21. An Army Scout’s Mexican wife has a miscarriage after a racist cowboy causes a deliberate accident. The “short” scout takes off his gun belt and gives it to Matt Dillon. He faces this tall cowboy and battles with his fists until blood is drawn.
8). CROWBAIT BOB. Season 5. Episode 10. An elderly male puts Miss Kitty in his written death “Will.” Dodge City believes that she is going to be rich. The deceased man's angry family comes to town to fight that “Will” and Kitty too.
9). 20/20. Season 3. Episode 46. A friend of Matt Dillon travels to Dodge City. He is a deputy who is going to serve a warrant on an outlaw. This friend denies the fact that he might be going blind. He fights with Matt over serving this warrant on a skilled gunman.
10). THE MARGIN. Season 6. Episode 7. A jilted farm daughter accuses a handsome cowboy of stealing cattle. Her father is determined to hang this cowboy by the neck. Dodge City believes that the daughter’s accusations were a lie. The cowboy is set free from jail but returns to clear his name. Matt Dillon faces another possible lynching.
11). CHRISTMAS STORY. Season 1. Episode 35. Matt Dillon travels back to Dodge City. His horse steps into a gofer hole and breaks a leg. Matt is forced to kill the animal and walks back to town. He is picked up by a drifter who asks about Christmas at Dodge City.
12). GONIF. Season 1. Episode 51. A group of outlaws come to Dodge City. They bully Matt Dillon into leaving town. He faces these outlaws without a gun and there is a wild fist fight.
13). STAGE SMASH. Season 8. Episode 48. A gunman causes a stage-coach to crash. Miss Kitty is seriously injured. This gunman kidnaps her in exchange for his brother who is in the Dodge City jail. Matt Dillon, Doc and Chester race to save Kitty from death.
14). THOROUGHBREDS. Season 4. Episode 3. Two cowboys travel to Dodge City searching for the man who stole their horses. This man is a bigtime money spender who pulls a gun on these cowboys. The beautiful thoroughbreds disappear and Matt Dillon discovers that the wrong man was killed.
15). JOHNNY RED. Season 3. Episode 50. An outlaw returns home who is believed to have been killed in the Civil War. He changed his name but his mom knows him to be her son. As he takes over her ranch. His outlaw friends come to Dodge City. Matt Dillon and Chester are on their trail.
16). TIL DEATH DO US. Season 5. Episode 8. Someone is hired to kill a farmer who stands behind the Bible. Matt Dillon and Chester discover that this farmer is a domestic abuser. The person who did the hiring is related to the farmer.
17). SHEEP DOG. Season 5. Episode 37. Nobody can find the spoiled son of a sheep herder. He is accused of shooting a man in a gambling card game. It turns to murder when the shot man dies. The sheep herder picks up a shotgun before Matt Dillon and Chester arrive at his house.
18). JOKE’S ON US. Season 2. Episode 19. The wrong man is hung to death from a tree. The men who hung him are shot to death one by one. Matt Dillon tries to track down a vigilante.
19). THE GUITAR. Season 2. Episode 11. A male loner comes to Dodge City on a mule. He also has the “gift” to play the guitar. As he leaves town. There is a double murder which Matt Dillon cannot solve.
20). WORD OF HONOR. Season 2. Episode 44. Doc Adams is kidnapped by two killers. They ask him to save a boy whom they shot over a ransom deal. When Doc is released. He gives his “word” not to reveal the killers. If he does. They will track him down and kill him too.
21). THE LAMB. Season 2. Episode 14. Two famous gun-men come to Dodge City. One is real and the other is an imposter. There is a gunfight and one gun-man dies in front of Matt Dillon. Was he the imposter?
22). THE CABIN. Season 1. Episode 36. Matt Dillon is caught up in a heavy winter storm. He takes refuge in an isolated cabin. Two killers plan his death before they leave.
23). WESTBOUND. Season 1. Episode 37. Matt Dillon and Chester travel to Wichita to arrest a killer. This killer’s family runs the town while the sheriff is gone. Matt and Chester have 3 hours before the train arrives traveling back to Dodge City. Can they escort that killer safely?
24). PRAIRIE HAPPY. Season 2. Episode 2. Dodge City is in an uproar over a possible attack by Pawnee Indians. Matt Dillon tries to find out who had started the wild rumor. That is until two residents die in a house fire and Pawnee arrows are found.
25). MATT GETS IT. Season 3. Episode 5. A gunman comes to Dodge City who can draw his gun fast. He challenges Matt Dillon to a duel. Matt is shot and seriously injured. The gunman wants another duel so he can finally kill Matt.
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