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 story lines.
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 51-75 “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.
1952 Publicity Photo for "Gunsmoke Radio. Word graphics by Roscoe Pond.
51. Kite’s Reward – Season 3. Episode 27). A young male gunfighter comes to Dodge City. He is fast with a gun and kills a belligerent cowboy. Marshall Matt Dillon convinces him to give up the gun. Another man named Kite shoots this young man on main street. Kite tells Matt there was a money reward on him. Matt doesn’t believe it as the young man clings to life.
52. Pussy Cats – Season 1. Episode 48). A strange couple sit inside the Long Branch saloon. They make Miss Kitty and Matt Dillon very nervous. After a few hours. The couple hold the saloon hostage. They make everybody wait as several outlaws walk into that saloon. A wild gunfight ensues. Who was shot and who was killed?
53. Big Broad – Season 2. Episode 23). A heavy-set woman and her puny boyfriend ride into Dodge City. He is a professional card dealer and she protects him with a gun plus her bare “fists.” She beats up men including Chester who gets in her way. Matt Dillon intervenes after two men are killed.
54. There Was Never a Horse – Season 2. Episode 3). Ken Creed is a known gunman who rides into Dodge City. He kills a man in self-defense and meets Marshall Matt Dillon. Creed wants to know how fast Matt is with his gun. He challenges him every chance he gets. Matt says, “no.” Creed finally goes too far and one of them dies.
55. The Constable – Season 2. Episode 36). Matt Dillon puts several cowboys in jail and their cattle drive boss doesn’t like it. He threatens the town business owners with pulling out his cowboys. Dodge City could lose money and the owners ask Matt to step aside. He does so and an in-experienced “constable” is hired. He is overrun and the town goes wild.
56. Ex-Urbanites – Season 9. Episode 35). Doc Adams and Chester travel back to Dodge City. They run into a dying man on the prairie. He was shot and is barely alive. Two mysterious men circle them and are ready to kill. A gunfight ensues and Doc is shot. Can Chester fend off the two gunmen on the desolate prairie?
57. Moon – Season 1. Episode 69). Under a moonlit night. A couple lures one cowboy into a dark alley. He is bludgeoned to death and his money is stolen. Marshall Matt Dillon and Chester come up with no evidence nor any suspects. That is until a friend of the murdered cowboy threatens that couple. A gun is pulled at the train station.
58. Big Chugg Wilson – Season 8. Episode 14). A dance hall girl teases a large buffalo hunter inside the Long Branch saloon. She doesn’t mean it and laughs at him. He takes her seriously and wants to marry her. Matt Dillon is told that the dance hall girl disappeared. Him and Chester ride out to search the prairie. Can they find her?
59. Ma Tennis – Season 3. Episode 8). A cowboy is killed by a grown "Mamma’s" boy. Matt Dillon puts that boy in jail. His mother rides into Dodge City carrying a shotgun. She threatens to kill Matt and Chester if they don’t release her son. He is let go and as more truth is revealed. The mother brutally uses that shotgun.
60. Ugly – Season 6. Episode 16). A lonely male rancher walks into the Long Branch Saloon. He unsettles everyone including Miss Kitty. His face is so disfigured that Dodge City considers him a monster. A woman claims she was attacked by this rancher and a group of men want to shove a stake into his heart. Matt Dillon rides out to protect this rancher.
61. The Lynching – Season 1. Episode 17). A group of men hang a young male from a tree until he dies. It’s against a new law to lynch a man without a court trial. Marshall Matt Dillon investigates and discovers that the richest rancher in the state was behind the hanging. Matt has no evidence until he runs into a possible witness.
62. Hinka Do – Season 1 – Episode 25). Mamie suddenly becomes the new owner of a popular saloon at Dodge City. She’s a heavy-set woman who can handle a six-shooter gun. Marshall Matt Dillon, Doc Adams and Chester discover that the former owner of this saloon has disappeared. What happened to him?
63. Sundown – Season 1. Episode 59). Matt Dillon and Chester ride out onto the prairie after a cold storm. They find an Arapaho woman near death. She has on a wedding ring who had married a white man. Matt discovers that she is shunned by white folks and also by her tribal people. After she dies. Matt and Chester try to find her family.
64. Fawn – Season 2. Episode 4). A white woman was kidnapped by an Indian tribe. She lived with them for ten years. The Chief lets her go with their half-breed daughter. Matt Dillon and Chester escort the women from an Army Fort back to Dodge City. They face extreme racism from the town.
65. Love of Money – Season 9. Episode 23). Another Marshall rides into Dodge City. He is a good friend of Matt Dillon. This Marshall is then murdered. Matt questions a manipulative dance hall girl. She was last seen with the victim the night before. There is a big money reward for the Marshall’s killer. This dance hall girl plots to grab that cash.
66. Born to Hang – Season 3. Episode 34). A group of farmers hang a man because he stole their horses. Someone cuts down the man who survives. He has a black rope burn around his neck. Matt Dillon suspects this man will seek revenge and races to arrest these farmers. Will he be too late?
67. Trojan War – Season 1. Episode 45). Three outlaws ride into Dodge City. Marshall Matt Dillon knows their reputation and tells them not to cause any trouble. Outside of town. A stage-coach is forced into a crash which kills the driver. Matt and Chester discover a woman who is barely alive. Matt recognizes her as his former girlfriend. After she dies. He vows to find her killers.
68. The Lady Killer – Season 9. Episode 37). An important male witness is killed before a court trial. He was shot by a dance hall girl. The man who paid her to do it comes to Dodge City. She plans to murder another court witness who turns out to be Matt Dillon. There is a shootout inside a hotel room.
69. How to Die for Nothing – Season 2 Episode 6). A Texas cattle drive reaches Dodge City. Matt Dillon shoots a male Texan in self defense. His brother vows to kill Matt and he’ll shoot him in the back if he has to. Revenge at any cost. Matt has to watch his back around every corner.
70. Jayhawkers – Season 1. Episode 50). Matt Dillon is asked by a friend to help herd cattle into Dodge City. Along the way. They are faced with Kansas, “Jayhawkers.” Matt watches the herd at night and has a shootout with an unknown bandit.
71. Home Surgery – Season 1. Episode 21). A teen girl approaches Matt Dillon and Chester on the prairie. She asks them to help her dad who was badly injured. His wounded leg catches gangrene. The rancher asks Matt to cut off his leg so he can survive. Matt reluctantly performs surgery as Chester watches him.
72. Dirty Bill's Girl – Season 5. Episode 9). A female card dealer comes to Dodge City. She is a professional and makes a lot of money. Marshall Matt Dillon and Doc Adams can’t figure her out. That is until she reveals her motive. She came to Dodge City to kill a man. Matt tries to figure out who? when? and why?
73. The Big Con – Season 1. Episode 56). A gentleman card player approaches the Dodge City bank manager. He reveals five winning cards from a poker game. The gentleman asks if he can borrow $20,000 dollars from the bank who will get 10% of the winning pot. The manager gives up the money. This gentleman loses that poker game and the manager commits suicide. Matt Dillon suspects that the poker game was a con-job.
74. Bum's Rush – Season 1. Episode 52). Two former Confederate soldiers kill a general store clerk. They steal money and ride out of Dodge City. Marshall Matt Dillon tracks them down and throws them into jail. Both men enjoy the free food and don’t worry about being convicted murderers.
75. The Executioner – Season 4. Episode 34). A young gunman slaps a male rancher who pulls a gun. He is killed by this gunman who then heads to Dodge City. The rancher’s brother asks Matt Dillon to lock up that gunman. He can’t under self-defense. The brother decides to slap the gunman who then shoots him. It is no longer self-defense as Matt intervenes.
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