Gunsmoke was a classic American radio drama series that originally aired from 1952 to 1961, transitioning later to television. Set in the American West, the series revolved around the life of Marshal Matt Dillon as he dealt with crime and the challenges of frontier life in the town of Dodge City, Kansas. "Ben Slade's Saloon" is the fifth episode of Gunsmoke that originally aired on May 24, 1952. In this episode, a series of killings occurs among gamblers in Ben Slade's Saloon, leading Marshal Dillon to investigate. The plot highlights the intertwining of luck and misfortune in gambling, as Marshal Dillon seeks to uncover the truth behind the unusual murders, which are linked to a mysterious and dangerous killer.