Originally Aired: December 25, 1955

In Gunsmoke #194, “Twelfth Night,” the holiday season brings two mountain men—and a generations-old feud—to the snowy streets of Dodge. Eben Hakes arrives from the Ozarks, determined to settle the last score with his rival Joth Monger, vowing never to kill on a Sunday. As Marshal Dillon tries to prevent bloodshed, a tense standoff is broken only by the stroke of midnight and a forgotten kinship. With the help of Christmas spirit and a bit of corn liquor, the feud thaws, and the men discover their families’ tangled roots—and a reason to celebrate together. A rare festive tale of tradition, reconciliation, and frontier humor.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, John Dehner, Helen Kleeb, Vic Perrin

Tags:
western, holiday, feud, Christmas, reconciliation, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, Ozarks, tradition, comedy, family, kinship, mountainmen, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, peace, classicradio, frontierlife, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: December 18, 1955

In Gunsmoke #193, “Scared Kid,” a young cowboy named Gil Barden is pushed to the brink after a public run-in with a notorious bully, Henry Gant. When Gant is found shot in the back, all eyes turn to Gil, who flees Dodge in terror—triggering a desperate manhunt across the prairie. As Marshal Matt Dillon tracks the frightened boy, a trail of unintended tragedy follows. But the shocking truth behind Gant’s killing reveals a desperate act of self-defense by another, and the terrible price of panic. A somber tale of fear, rumor, and consequences on the frontier.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Sam Edwards, Eleanor Tanin, John Dehner, Ann Morrison

Tags:
western, drama, tragedy, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, comingofage, wrongfulaccusation, selfdefense, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, prairie, chase, morality, youth, fear, classicradio, loss, innocence, justice, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: December 11, 1955

In Gunsmoke #192, “Land Deal,” a smooth-talking conman named Trumbull arrives in Dodge, promising a group of hopeful immigrants prime railroad land at a bargain—if they’ll only trust him with their life savings. When Marshal Matt Dillon discovers that Trumbull’s map is a fraud and the land is not for sale, he races to stop a tragedy. The settlers’ dreams unravel amid jealousy, a near-fatal knife fight, and a wife’s secret betrayal. As Trumbull attempts to escape with a stolen fortune—and another man’s wife—the law closes in for a final reckoning. A story of greed, broken trust, and hard-won second chances.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Lawrence Dobkin, Vivi Janis, Vic Perron, John Dehner

Tags:
western, drama, land scam, conman, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, betrayal, homesteaders, frontier, justice, robbery, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, greed, prairie, landgrab, classicradio, deception, foundfamily, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: December 4, 1955

In Gunsmoke #191, “Sunny Afternoon,” Dodge City is gripped by its worst winter in memory, leaving the townsfolk desperate and tempers frayed. When young Jabil Siderow is found murdered in the snow outside his father’s barn, Marshal Matt Dillon faces a grim puzzle. Was it a rival rancher desperate for hay—or does the truth lie closer to home, buried under pride and old resentments? As Matt and Chester ride through blinding blizzards and confront men pushed to the brink, the chilling reality of a father’s ruthless judgment emerges. A story of survival, sacrifice, and the high cost of hard-heartedness.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Ralph Moody, John Dehner, Virginia Christine

Tags:

western, drama, murder, father-son, blizzard, desperation, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, MattDillon, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, prairie, justice, morality, classicradio, coldcase, survival, familytragedy, guilt, winter, vintagepodcast

Originally Aired: November 27, 1955

In Gunsmoke #190, “Amy’s Good Deed,” an embittered woman named Amy Slater arrives in Dodge City, convinced she must die at the hand of Marshal Matt Dillon. But Matt’s compassion and restraint thwart her bizarre attempts to provoke a fatal showdown. As Amy’s troubled mind heals under the care of Doc and a quiet life with Ma Smiley, she reveals a dark secret from Matt’s past: her brother was Jim Band, a man Matt shot in self-defense years earlier. Now, his old partner, Emmett Gould, has come to town. Amy warns Matt of danger, trying to settle her debt in an act of redemption—but the truth may not be what any of them expected. A story of grudges turned grace, and the unexpected peace that comes from letting go.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear

Tags:

Western, redemption, AmySlater, MattDillon, revenge, JimBand, pastreturns, Gunsmoke, classicradio, 1950sradio, oldtimeradio, psychologicaldrama, frontierjustice, forgiveness, westernpodcast, suspense

Originally Aired: November 20, 1955

In Gunsmoke #189, “Dutch George,” Marshal Matt Dillon is forced to confront an old acquaintance turned notorious outlaw. Dutch George, once a boyhood idol to Matt, returns to Dodge City a free man after a dubious acquittal for horse theft. But when a determined young man named Jimmy McQueen tracks a stolen bay horse back to Dutch, Matt sees a rare chance to bring the elusive thief to justice. The pursuit across the prairie turns deadly as Dutch’s criminal empire unravels in the shadow of Cheyenne territory. A tale of deception, broken trust, and the brutal code of the frontier.

Cast: William Conrad, John Boehner, Vic Perrin, Jim Busser

Tags:

Western, horse thief, DutchGeorge, MattDillon, frontierjustice, revenge, Cheyenne, outlaw, traildrama, 1950sradio, classicradio, oldtimeradio, suspense, betrayal, westernpodcast, gunsmoke

Originally Aired: November 13, 1955

In Gunsmoke #188, “The Preacher,” Marshal Matt Dillon confronts both physical violence and spiritual despair when a soft-spoken preacher named Seth Tandy arrives in Dodge, broken in spirit and persecuted by a brutal brawler named Sam Keeler. As Keeler seeks revenge and Tandy refuses to defend himself, Matt must navigate a tangled web of morality, faith, and courage. When Tandy is kidnapped, Matt rides into a deadly standoff, unarmed, to save a man who no longer values his own life—only to witness a resurrection of purpose and belief in the most unexpected way.

Cast: William Conrad, Lawrence Dobkin, Joe Cranston, John Dehner

Tags:

western, redemption, faith, preacher, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, spiritualcrisis, nonviolence, showdown, oldtimeradio, 1950sradio, classicdrama, frontierjustice, suspensepodcast, radioadventure

Originally Aired: November 6, 1955

In Gunsmoke #187, “The Second Choice,” Marshal Matt Dillon faces a moral and legal dilemma when Andy Hill, a reformed fugitive living a quiet life in Dodge, is suddenly accused of murder in Oklahoma Territory. As Matt seeks the truth behind the charge, a mysterious deputy arrives with a warrant—but the story doesn’t add up. As suspicions grow, so does the danger. When deceit and vengeance collide, Matt must act quickly to prevent a wrongful conviction—or worse. A tense episode exploring justice, trust, and the fine line between law and personal loyalty.

Cast: William Conrad, Sam Edwards, Vic Perron, Joseph Kearns

Tags:

western, justice, lawman, betrayal, fugitiveredemption, falseidentity, WilliamConrad, oldtimeradio, Gunsmoke, DodgeCity, retribution, 1950sradio, classicdrama, suspensepodcast, radioadventure

Originally Aired: October 30, 1955

In Gunsmoke #186, “The Choice,” a mysterious young drifter named Andy Hill arrives in Dodge looking for honest work—but a deadly confrontation and a quick draw soon reveal he’s more than he seems. Marshal Matt Dillon offers him a second chance as a stagecoach guard, but suspicion lingers. When a stage is held up and Andy refuses to fire, questions arise: is he a coward, or complicit? As truths about Andy’s outlaw past emerge—tied to a cold-blooded killer named Carrick—Matt must decide whether to trust the young man’s bid for redemption. In the end, Andy’s courage and conscience are tested in a final, fateful showdown on the prairie.

Cast: William Conrad, Sam Edwards, Harry Bartell, Barney Phillips, Lawrence Topkin

Tags:
Western, redemption, outlaw, moralchoice, secondchances, Gunsmoke, WilliamConrad, 1950sradio, oaterdrama, classicwestern, justice, frontierlaw, suspense, psychologicaldrama, radiohistory, gunfighter

Originally Aired: October 23, 1955

In Gunsmoke #185, “Brush at Elkader,” Marshal Matt Dillon investigates the cold-blooded murder of a quiet rancher named Ben Williams, gunned down in the streets of Dodge City. The only clue: the name of a remote town—Elkader. Riding north with Chester, Dillon finds a town gripped by fear and silence, where every door is closed and every word cautious. As suspicion narrows on a wanted man named Lou Shippen, Dillon devises a dangerous bluff to expose the killer hiding in plain sight. A tense, slow-burn western thriller that pits courage against control in a forgotten outpost.

Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear

Tags:

Western, marshal, Gunsmoke, classicradio, 1950sradio, LouShippen, Elkader, frontierjustice, WilliamConrad, oldtimeradio, classicdrama, suspense, vintagewesterns, MattDillon, radiotheater, radiohistory