Gunsmoke was a highly regarded American radio drama series that aired from 1952 to 1961. The series was set in Dodge City, Kansas, during the 1870s, a time of American West settlement. It centered around the character of Marshal Matt Dillon, a lawman tasked with maintaining order in the tumultuous and often violent town. The show was known for its realistic portrayal of the Old West, and was praised for its mature and complex storytelling, often dealing with serious themes and moral dilemmas. "Laughing Gas" is an episode of Gunsmoke that originally aired on March 9, 1958. In this episode, Earle Stafford runs a "laughing gas show" in Dodge City. For a small fee, people can watch Stafford administer nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas. However, the Marsh Boys disrupt the show when one of them is embarrassed, leading to a sequence of events that involve accusations and confrontations, with Marshal Matt Dillon stepping in to resolve the issues.