On demand

Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

Presented by OTR.FM Network

Welcome to Gunsmoke: Old West Stories, a podcast that takes you back to the rugged plains of 1870s Dodge City, Kansas. Rediscover the timeless tales of bravery, justice, and survival in the American frontier with our re-broadcasts of the classic Gunsmoke radio program.

First airing on April 26, 1952, Gunsmoke was celebrated as the first adult western radio show, renowned for its superb storytelling and exceptional production quality. Join Marshal Matt Dillon, portrayed by the incomparable William Conrad, as he faces the challenges of maintaining law and order in a tumultuous town. Alongside him are unforgettable characters like Chester Proudfoot (Parley Baer), the steadfast deputy; Kitty (Georgia Ellis), the resilient saloon owner; and Doc Adams (Howard McNear), the town’s compassionate physician.

What sets Gunsmoke apart is not just its stellar cast and engaging plots but the immersive sound effects that bring each scene to life. Every gunshot, horse gallop, and whisper of the wind transports you directly to the heart of the Old West.

Whether you're a longtime fan or a new listener, Gunsmoke: Old West Stories promises to deliver gripping adventures and a nostalgic journey through one of radio’s most iconic series. Tune in and let the legends of Dodge City captivate your imagination.

479 episodes

Little Girl

Jul 4, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: July 3, 1960 Gunsmoke #430, "Little Girl," Matt Dillon and Chester respond to a prairie fire and discover a grim scene at an isolated homestead. Inside the burned cabin, they find a man who died in the blaze, seemingly drunk and alone. As they investigate the desolate property with its starving horses and neglected buildings, a young girl emerges from the creek bed. Ten-year-old Charity Gill explains that the dead man was her stepfather, and she tried to pull him from the fire but couldn't move him. She matter-of-factly tells Matt she didn't like her stepfather and has been living in neglect since her mother's death three years ago. Doc examines Charity and finds her physically healthy but disturbingly mature for her age, shaped by years of isolation and hardship. As Matt tries to find proper placement for the orphaned girl, Charity insists she wants to live with him, putting the marshal in an uncomfortable position. The investigation raises unsettling questions about the fire and the little girl's peculiar detachment from the tragedy that has left her alone in the world.
Line Trouble

Jul 3, 2026 · 24 min

Originally Aired: June 26, 1960 Gunsmoke #429, "Line Trouble," begins when Jasper Foss reports to Marshal Matt Dillon that the new telegraph line west of Dodge has been cut. Matt and Chester investigate and discover Army soldiers repairing the damage and holding a Kiowa man named Smallhawk under guard. The Indian admits to cutting the wire, believing it to be bad magic that carries evil sounds across his people's land. Matt, who knows Smallhawk as no troublemaker, convinces Colonel Hooper to release the prisoner into his custody, promising to take responsibility and show Smallhawk that the telegraph can be good magic instead of bad. To prove his point, Matt takes Smallhawk to the telegraph office and sends a message to the Indian encampment, instructing Smallhawk's son Brown Wing to bring a horse to meet his father outside town. The demonstration aims to change Smallhawk's fear of the wire and prevent future trouble. Meanwhile, the bitter Jasper Foss, recently fired from his job for being too old, lurks in the background with cryptic warnings about Matt needing to watch out and do a good job.
Kitty Accused

Jul 2, 2026 · 25 min

Originally Aired: June 12, 1960 Gunsmoke #427, "Kitty Accused," finds Kitty Russell facing an unwelcome complication on what should be a simple stagecoach trip to Fort Learned. After a late night at the Long Branch, Kitty prepares to visit her friend Sally, who has just had a baby. Marshal Matt Dillon sees her off, but the journey takes a troubling turn when Arnie Grimes and his bitter wife Hattie board the same stage. Arnie has been making persistent unwanted advances toward Kitty around Dodge City, much to his wife's fury, and Hattie makes no secret of her resentment toward the saloon owner she sees as a threat to her marriage. As the uncomfortable journey progresses, tensions mount inside the cramped stagecoach. Arnie continues his inappropriate attention despite Kitty's clear rejections and Hattie's sharp rebukes. The situation grows increasingly volatile as Hattie's jealousy and Arnie's obsession collide, trapping Kitty in the middle of a dangerous domestic conflict with nowhere to escape on the long road to Fort Learned.
Fabulous Silver Extender

Jul 1, 2026 · 27 min

Originally Aired: June 5, 1960 Gunsmoke #426, "Fabulous Silver Extender," finds Chester holding down the fort while Matt Dillon transports a prisoner to Have City. Into the marshal's absence walks the nervous Professor Albert Cramston, a self-proclaimed metallurgical researcher who claims the San Francisco silver syndicate has put a price on his head. Eight hired killers are supposedly tracking him down for ten thousand dollars, though he can't identify any of them. Chester promises to keep watch, but the real mystery begins when local shopkeepers Wilbert and Durgum notice the peculiar professor borrowing dimes at the Long Branch saloon, then mysteriously returning with silver dollars to repay them. Following Cramston to Wilbert's recently sold shop, the curious pair discovers him working with strange machinery by lantern light. When they attempt to apprehend him as suspicious, Chester intervenes, forcing an uneasy introduction between the frightened professor and the would-be captors. Cramston, satisfied they aren't foreign agents or syndicate killers, prepares to reveal his closely guarded secret to the three men, provided they're willing to die to protect it for the good of their country.
Bad Seed

Jun 30, 2026 · 25 min

Originally Aired: May 29, 1960 Gunsmoke #425, "Bad Seed," finds Marshal Matt Dillon on his way back to Dodge from Fort Larnard when an unexpected visitor enters his camp. A young woman named Trudy Trent, claiming to be starving and desperate, begs the marshal not to send her back to her father. She paints a dark picture of life with her Pa, describing him as a violent drunk who mistreats her terribly. Despite her pleas and increasingly inappropriate advances, Matt insists on taking her home the next morning. When they arrive at the ramshackle Trent farm, Matt meets Asa Trent, a slovenly drunk who alternates between professing affection for his daughter and threatening the marshal. The tension at supper is thick as Trudy recounts disturbing incidents from her past, including a Christmas when her drunken father accidentally set her on fire. Convinced that the girl's situation is genuinely dire, Matt agrees to take Trudy back to Dodge with him despite Asa's threats and warnings. But as Matt settles into the barn loft for the night, he senses something isn't quite right about the whole situation.
Marryin Bertha

Jun 29, 2026 · 25 min

Originally Aired: May 22, 1960 Gunsmoke #424, "Marryin Bertha," Marshal Matt Dillon finds himself dealing with an unusual problem when his deputy Chester Proudfoot confesses to a reckless mistake. Suffering from spring fever and feeling romantic, Chester has been writing letters to lonely women advertising in St. Louis newspapers, stretching the truth about himself and even sending one woman Matt's photograph instead of his own. Now a widow named Corinne Gatesley has arrived in Dodge expecting to marry Chester, and the panicked deputy begs Matt to impersonate him and send her away. When Matt meets the imposing Mrs. Gatesley, a woman taller than Chester and built like the Marshal himself, he discovers Chester's letters promised her he had money coming his way. The situation turns dangerous when Doc Adams recognizes Matt's description of the woman. She may actually be Bertha Hoskowitz, a woman once suspected of marrying and murdering several men for their money in St. Louis, though authorities could never prove it. With Chester having foolishly promised wealth he doesn't have, Matt realizes the deputy may have made himself the target of a cold-blooded killer.
Tall Trapper

Jun 28, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: May 15, 1960 Gunsmoke #423, "Tall Trapper," presents Marshal Matt Dillon with a puzzling murder case when Doc Adams discovers a woman beaten to death in a covered wagon east of Dodge. The victim, Cassie Riley, had been traveling west with her husband Riley in hopes the dry climate would improve her failing health. When Doc arrives to treat her, he finds she's already dead from a brutal beating. Riley tells Doc and Matt about a mysterious trapper who shared their camp for two nights, eyeing Cassie the whole time, making him the obvious suspect. The case takes an unusual turn when Matt and Chester ride out to the murder scene and discover the body has been moved to a Pawnee burial platform high on wooden poles. There they encounter Ben, a laconic trapper raised by the Pawnees who admits to burying Cassie in the traditional elevated grave. Though Ben denies killing her and could have easily shot Matt and Chester before they drew on him, the evidence looks damning. As Matt brings Ben to jail and confronts the grieving Riley with his wife's suspected killer, the truth behind Cassie's death remains murky.
Wrong Man different story from #135

Jun 27, 2026 · 25 min

Originally Aired: May 8, 1960 Gunsmoke #422, "Wrong Man different story from #135," Marshal Matt Dillon receives a warning from lawman Blair about a dangerous killer named Jim Waddell who may be passing through Dodge City. Waddell is described as a smooth-talking, well-dressed man who never carries a gun but prefers to kill with a knife. Meanwhile, a charming stranger calling himself Jack Norman arrives in town and makes an immediate impression on Kitty Russell with his cultured manners and polite behavior, a refreshing change from the rough cowboys she usually encounters. When Norman gets into a poker dispute and pulls a knife to defend himself against accusations of cheating, Matt becomes suspicious and decides to hold him in jail. The situation grows more complicated as Matt notices the striking similarities between Norman and Blair's description of the wanted killer Waddell. Both men are refined, well-mannered, knife-carrying Texans who avoid firearms. Despite Kitty's protests that Jack couldn't be a murderer and Norman's own insistence that Matt is making a grave mistake, the marshal keeps him locked up while waiting to hear back from Blair about the suspect's true identity.
Nettie Sitton

Jun 26, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: May 1, 1960 Gunsmoke #421, "Nettie Sitton," Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester find themselves in desperate circumstances after a renegade Ute ambush leaves Matt badly wounded with a bullet in his leg. Fevered and unable to ride, Matt must be dragged through the wilderness by Chester toward what appears to be an abandoned cabin. However, the cabin is anything but abandoned. They're met by Nettie Sitton, a hardened frontier woman wielding a shotgun, who immediately demands their money and guns in exchange for shelter. Nettie is no ordinary settler. She's a woman who's buried four husbands and twenty children, and she makes it clear that a couple of strangers don't faze her one bit. Despite her rough exterior and mercenary demands, she removes the bullet from Matt's leg and allows them to recover in her cabin. As Matt fights fever and Chester stands exhausted watch, the threat of the renegade Utes lingers nearby, and the marshal and his deputy must rely on this formidable woman's grudging hospitality to survive.
Stage Snatch

Jun 25, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: April 24, 1960 Gunsmoke #420, "Stage Snatch," finds Marshal Matt Dillon delivering a dangerous prisoner named Rouse to Hayes City for trial when their stagecoach is stopped by Bigfoot, a Native American leader, and his son Younghawk. Rouse murdered Bigfoot's father, and the grieving son believes the killer's life belongs to him, not to white man's justice. Despite Dillon's assurances that Rouse will likely hang after trial, Bigfoot refuses to let the law handle the matter and takes both the marshal and his prisoner captive. As they're forced to march across the prairie toward the tribal encampment, the situation grows increasingly tense. Rouse, roped to a horse and struggling with the brutal trek, whines and complains while Dillon maintains his composure despite having his hands tied. Though Dillon has always been friends with Bigfoot and promises him justice through the legal system, the Native American leader remains determined to hold his own council trial, creating a dangerous standoff between frontier justice and tribal honor.
Solomon River

Jun 24, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: April 17, 1960 Gunsmoke #419, "Solomon River," presents Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester with a grim discovery along the riverbank while transporting prisoner Ben Crown to Dodge. The lawmen encounter Letty Thatcher, a woman nearly dead from exhaustion, desperately trying to dig a grave for her husband Luther in the punishing prairie heat. Inside her isolated cabin, they find Luther's body has been lying dead for days while Letty, too weak to bury him, has slowly been starving. Despite Dillon's urging to come with them to Dodge City where he can help her start over, Letty refuses to leave. She reveals the heartbreaking reason for her stubborn determination: buried near Luther's fresh grave are five small mounds, the graves of her babies who died during their years of hardship on the desolate prairie. The lawmen reluctantly continue their journey with Crown, leaving Letty alone at her homestead. Chester remains troubled by her situation, leading him to seek Doc's help in obtaining a tonic, though the deputy's awkward attempts to keep Letty's identity secret frustrate the physician.
Daves Lesson

Jun 23, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: April 10, 1960 Gunsmoke #418, "Daves Lesson," Marshal Matt Dillon takes on an unexpected responsibility when his old friend Joe Barrett and Joe's wife Lydia die suddenly from fever, leaving their teenage son Dave orphaned. At the request of Joe's brother Will, Matt agrees to take fifteen or sixteen-year-old Dave under his wing for the summer, giving the boy a chance to get away and heal. When Kitty Russell teases Matt about finally becoming a family man, he brushes off her comments, insisting it's just what the boy needs. However, when Dave arrives on the Dodge City stage, Matt quickly discovers this won't be as simple as he thought. Dave Barrett proves to be a headstrong young man determined to prove himself as tough and capable with guns. He boasts about his shooting skills, insists he doesn't need anyone watching over him, and clearly idolizes gunfighters who wear two pistols. Left in Chester's care while Matt rides to Hays City, Dave bristles at doing mundane tasks and keeps insisting that a real lawman's deputy should be wearing a gun and ready for action. Chester struggles to manage the cocky teenager, and it becomes clear that Dave needs to learn some hard lessons about what it really means to be a man.
Greater Love

Jun 22, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: April 3, 1960 Gunsmoke #417, "Greater Love," finds Marshal Matt Dillon investigating a deadly stagecoach robbery that leaves a shotgun guard dead and two bandits wounded. The trail leads to the homestead of Howard Brandt and his wife, where Matt discovers that the gentle, easy-going young settler he once met has turned outlaw. One of the wounded bandits left for dead at his own doorstep, Howard clings to life while his wife tries desperately to protect him from Matt's questions. She reluctantly reveals that Jeb Butler and a man named Blake lured her husband into the holdup, and that the gang rode off after dumping the dying Howard in the dirt. When Doc Adams mysteriously disappears after being summoned on an emergency call, Kitty becomes alarmed. Days pass with no word, and Matt fears the worst. His suspicions are confirmed when Mrs. Brandt returns to town with her husband's body, her face bruised and battered. She brings devastating news: Jeb Butler has Doc tied up and held captive, and the situation grows more dangerous by the hour as Matt races to find his friend before it's too late.
Indian Baby

Jun 21, 2026 · 27 min

Originally Aired: March 27, 1960 Gunsmoke #416, "Indian Baby," finds Marshal Dillon investigating a troubling situation when Doc Adams and Kitty discover a nearly unconscious white woman lying on the prairie, clutching an infant. The woman, later identified as Dory, is suffering from severe exhaustion and exposure, but what makes the case peculiar is that she's a white woman holding an Indian baby. When Matt questions her, Dory insists the child is hers and speaks frantically about savages killing her baby and her missing husband Joe. Doc believes she may have kidnapped the infant. Matt and Chester ride out to a nearby Indian camp to get answers, where they meet with Hawkwing, who reveals the truth behind the tragedy. The old chief explains that Dory's own baby died of fever, and his people buried the child while trying to help the grieving mother. In her confused state of grief, Dory wandered into the night and took one of their babies. Now the young braves are out hunting, and Hawkwing warns there will be trouble if the child isn't returned before they come back. Matt must somehow help Dory face the painful reality of her loss before the situation escalates into violence.
The Constable

Jun 20, 2026 · 24 min

Originally Aired: March 20, 1960 Gunsmoke #415, "The Constable," finds Marshal Dillon in a difficult position after cracking down on unruly cowboys from a trail drive. When trail boss Rance threatens to boycott Dodge City after five of his men are buffaloed and jailed, the town's businessmen panic. Led by Mr. Green, they pressure Dillon to ease up on enforcement, prioritizing commerce over law and order. The marshal, employed by the federal government rather than the town, refuses to compromise but agrees to stop making arrests in Dodge until the townspeople ask for his help. To handle local disturbances, the businessmen hire a replacement: Dillard Band, a broke, overweight former cowboy who doesn't even carry a gun and hopes to talk troublemakers into behaving. As new cattle herds arrive and chaos erupts in the streets, Dillon and Chester wait in the marshal's office while the inexperienced, unarmed constable faces increasingly violent cowboys. When Doc Adams bursts in reporting deaths and injuries throughout town, the situation reaches a crisis point, forcing everyone to confront the consequences of choosing profit over proper law enforcement.
Unloaded Gun

Jun 19, 2026 · 25 min

Originally Aired: March 13, 1960 Gunsmoke #414, "Unloaded Gun," finds Marshal Matt Dillon returning to Dodge City exhausted and feverish after a four-day manhunt. During the chase, Matt killed Red Lyme following a holdup, though the details of exactly what happened remain unclear. When Matt arrives back in town, he barely acknowledges Kitty and Doc Adams, stumbling straight to his office where he collapses without even removing his muddy boots. Doc diagnoses a fever and gives him sleeping powder, while his deputy Chester notices Matt's gun belt has been carelessly dropped in the corner, covered in mud—highly unusual for the normally meticulous marshal. As Matt sleeps off his fever, word reaches the Long Branch Saloon that Joe Lyme, Red's brother, has returned to Dodge City with vengeance on his mind. Joe is openly declaring his intention to kill Marshal Dillon for his brother's death. Meanwhile, Chester begins cleaning Matt's neglected gun, and a boy arrives claiming Doc needs Chester's help holding down an injured man. The stage is set for a deadly confrontation, but Matt remains unconscious in his office, unaware of the threat gathering against him.
Blood Money

Jun 18, 2026 · 23 min

Originally Aired: March 6, 1960 Gunsmoke #413, "Blood Money," finds Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester searching for water on the prairie when they encounter a wary stranger named Joe Harp holding them at gunpoint. Harp's suspicion quickly fades when he realizes he needs their help. He's discovered an injured man named Harry Spiner, whose horse has thrown him and broken his leg. Despite Spiner's ungrateful and surly attitude, Harp has dragged him to shade and stayed to help. Matt and Chester transport both men back to Dodge, where Doc tends to Spiner's injury. Over the following weeks, Harp lingers in town gambling but causing no trouble, while the recovered Spiner proves himself thoroughly unlikable to everyone he meets. When a wanted poster arrives identifying Joe Harp as a bank robber and murderer with a $500 reward, Matt reluctantly prepares to arrest the man who seemed decent enough. But Chester accidentally reveals the news to Spiner, who rushes off to warn Harp. What follows forces Matt to confront the ugly truth about gratitude, betrayal, and the real meaning of blood money when one man sees an opportunity to profit from another's kindness.
Prescribed Killing

Jun 17, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: February 28, 1960 Gunsmoke #412, "Prescribed Killing," presents a chilling domestic drama on the Kansas prairie. Myra Kirby arrives in Dodge City with a disturbing message for Marshal Matt Dillon: her husband Luke is going to kill her. Living in isolation on their horse ranch, Myra has grown bitter and resentful of Luke's devotion to his horses and his visits to the Widow Holland, a neighbor woman whose husband recently died. The tension between the couple has escalated to the point where Myra tells Matt she simply wanted him to know what's coming, so he'll know what to do afterwards. Luke confirms the marital strife when Matt confronts him, cryptically saying his wife is living with devils and there's nobody who can help except him. The situation grows more ominous when Luke warns the Marshal that no one can stop what's happening, and that only he can deal with it. Just as Matt finishes speaking with Luke, Doc Adams arrives with grave news: he's already been out to the Kirby place that morning, and Myra has been badly hurt. The stage is set for Matt to uncover the dark truth behind this troubled marriage.
Mr.and Mrs Amber

Jun 16, 2026 · 23 min

Originally Aired: February 21, 1960 Gunsmoke #411, "Mr.and Mrs Amber," When Marshal Matt Dillon catches Neil Amber stealing seeds from Jonas' store, he takes pity on the desperate sodbuster and pays for the supplies himself. Amber and his wife are struggling to survive on their small patch of land near Pawnee Wells, plagued by one disaster after another. However, Dillon's mercy becomes complicated when cattleman Pete Fletcher arrives at the marshal's office demanding justice. Fletcher's rider has discovered a stolen, slaughtered calf in the Ambers' shed, killed while Neil was in town. Fletcher wants Mrs. Amber arrested immediately. When Dillon investigates, he finds Mrs. Amber distraught at being accused of theft, claiming she only discovered the calf in her shed by accident. Despite Fletcher's insistence and his rider Baird's testimony, Dillon refuses to make an arrest, citing insufficient evidence. Fletcher leaves with an ominous warning that next time, he and his men will handle the matter themselves without involving the law, leaving the marshal to worry about the escalating tension between the struggling homesteaders and the powerful cattleman.
Distant Drummer

Jun 15, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: February 14, 1960 Gunsmoke #410, "Distant Drummer," features Raffi, a simple-minded Civil War veteran who wears his drum proudly around his neck, a gift from his captain at Antietam. When Raffi seeks refuge in the Long Branch from taunting townspeople, Miss Kitty shows him compassion and kindness, offering him work chopping wood while she watches over his precious drum. Doc Adams suggests that perhaps the drum is the last thing Raffi was ever proud of, though it makes him a constant target for the town's cruelty. When a concerned citizen named Dobie urges Marshal Dillon to take action against Raffi as a potential troublemaker, Matt refuses, pointing out that any trouble would come from those tormenting the harmless veteran. The situation escalates when Chester alerts Matt that some men have treed Raffi at the livery stable, dangling his beloved drum from a branch and forcing him to crawl out for it. Raffi falls and is injured, prompting Doc to treat him while Matt confronts the tormentors. As Raffi recovers, he speaks ominously about folks needing to learn different, leaving Matt concerned about what the traumatized drummer might do next.
Delias Father

Jun 14, 2026 · 23 min

Originally Aired: February 7, 1960 Gunsmoke #409, "Delias Father," Marshal Matt Dillon seeks shelter at a remote ranch during a storm while transporting prisoner Keel and dealing with a lame horse. He's surprised to find the ranch now occupied by Delia Robbins, daughter of his old friend Ben. Delia welcomes Matt warmly, remembering how highly her father spoke of him. When she offers to guide Deputy Chester Festus to town so he can telegraph the judge about their delay, telegraph operator Mr. Weems drops a bombshell: the whole town knows that Matt Dillon killed Ben Robbins. Delia is stunned by this revelation about the man she just welcomed into her home. The storm has trapped Matt at the ranch with the shocked young woman and his dangerous prisoner. As the truth about Ben Robbins' death begins to surface, Matt must confront a painful chapter from his past while maintaining control of a volatile situation. The marshal's friendship with Ben and the circumstances of his death promise to create an explosive confrontation.
Chester's Dilemma

Jun 13, 2026 · 25 min

Originally Aired: January 31, 1960 Gunsmoke #408, "Chester's Dilemma," Chester finds himself the object of affection from Edna, a young store clerk working for Mr. Jonas who transforms from a wilted shopgirl into a radiant companion each afternoon at closing time. The pretty but mysterious woman, who Jonas suspects is hiding something about her farm upbringing in Ohio, begins accompanying Chester on his daily mail runs from the depot. She clings to his arm, flatters his bravery, and shows unusual interest in the marshal's correspondence, particularly the wanted circulars and official letters. Meanwhile, Doc McGee diagnoses Chester with a different ailment: he's become listless and distracted, neglecting his duties at the marshal's office. Doc suggests to Matt Dillon that Chester feels unappreciated, but the real cause of Chester's preoccupation becomes clear when Edna kisses him on Front Street and takes a particular interest in a letter from Ohio. As Chester struggles between his duties and this new romance, Edna's secretive behavior and her focus on the marshal's mail hint at complications ahead for Dodge City's lovesick deputy.
Bless MeTill I Die

Jun 12, 2026 · 25 min

Originally Aired: January 24, 1960 Gunsmoke #407, "Bless Me Till I Die," Matt Dillon and Chester encounter Cole and Beth Ann Treadwell on the trail to Dodge City when the couple's wagon breaks down. Cole is a traveling preacher—though not ordained or properly schooled—and the Treadwells are wandering from town to town looking for the right place to settle. Matt suggests Dodge could use a parson, and soon the couple is holding prayer meetings in the town schoolhouse, quickly becoming beloved members of the community. Chester grows particularly attached to the Treadwells, escorting Beth Ann to services and losing checker games to Cole. However, trouble arrives in the form of Nate Bush, a troublemaker with a grudge against Chester for getting him thrown in jail. When Nate confronts Chester while he's escorting Beth Ann to a prayer meeting, the situation grows tense. Beth Ann tries to defuse the conflict, urging Chester not to fight, but Nate's drunken bullying continues. The confrontation escalates when Nate corners Beth Ann alone at the general store, creating a dangerous situation that threatens the peaceful atmosphere the Treadwells have brought to Dodge.
Fiery Arrest

Jun 11, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: January 17, 1960 Gunsmoke #406, "Fiery Arrest," finds Matt Dillon and Chester caught in a violent rainstorm and taking shelter in an abandoned shack. Their refuge turns dangerous when two armed men, Hod Mueller and Mosley, get the drop on them. The suspicious Hod is convinced that someone tipped off the law about his whereabouts, and when a woman named Millie arrives with supplies, he's certain she's the one who betrayed him. Despite her desperate denials, Hod viciously beats her while a helpless Matt can only watch. The outlaws tie up Matt, Chester, and Millie before riding out to rob a stagecoach, leaving their captives to struggle free. Once loose, Matt sends Chester back to Dodge with the badly injured Millie while he pursues the outlaws alone through the storm. The confrontation in the rocks plays out with deadly consequences, and Matt returns to town to check on Millie's recovery. Under Doc Adams and Kitty's care, the battered woman begins a long healing process, but the physical wounds may prove easier to mend than the deeper scars left by Hod Mueller's brutal treatment.
Lukes Law

Jun 10, 2026 · 26 min

Originally Aired: January 10, 1960 Gunsmoke #405, "Lukes Law," presents a clash between frontier justice and modern law enforcement. When old-timer Luke Burris is beaten and left bloody by Smed Moley following a public confrontation in Dodge City, his son Jess comes to Marshal Matt Dillon seeking help. Luke refuses to press charges, insisting he's always handled his own troubles without the law and isn't about to start now. Despite Matt's warnings that times have changed, the stubborn pioneer remains determined to settle the score himself, leaving the Marshal powerless to intervene without a willing witness. The situation escalates when Smed Moley, emboldened by Luke's refusal to involve the law, begins bragging around town about the beating. Matt confronts Moley at the Long Branch and warns him to stay away from the Burris place, but the damage is done. When Moley rides out to the Burris homestead looking for more trouble, young Jess faces an impossible choice between his father's fierce independence and the deadly consequences of frontier justice. The episode explores the tensions between the old ways of the West and the rule of law that Marshal Dillon represents.