Ozymandias: A Rancher’s Obsession and a Son’s Revolt

Originally Aired: January 13, 1957 In Gunsmoke #249, “Ozymandias,” Marshal Dillon is tasked with serving an eviction notice that could uproot homesteader Sloat Carson from the only land he’s ever known. The order comes from Burke Cragar, a domineering rancher obsessed with owning every inch of Blue Sage Valley—soon to be renamed after himself. But when Cragar’s embittered son Crowdy steps forward to challenge his father's ruthless ambition, long-buried family tensions ignite. The episode’s title echoes Percy Shelley’s poem—a warning about pride, legacy, and the futility of empire. A powerful meditation on justice, resentment, and the cost of one man’s obsession. Cast: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis Tags: drama, eviction, landdispute, familyconflict, western, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, legacy, fatherandson, justice, 1950sradio, classicdrama, oldtimeradio, pride, obsession, suspensepodcast, Ozymandias