Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

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 cau...

Originally Aired: October 16, 1955 In Gunsmoke #184, “Trouble in Kansas,” Marshal Matt Dillon intervenes in a simmering conflict between Texan cattlemen and Kansas Jayhawkers—a gang of outlaws terrorizing herds and demanding protection money. When trail boss Jack Raven refuses to be extorted, the Texans prepare for a fight. Matt, suspecting an ambush, sets a trap to catch the Jay...

Originally Aired: October 9, 1955 In Gunsmoke #183, “The Coward,” Marshal Matt Dillon faces a deadly threat that creeps in like a rumor on the wind. After a friend is murdered while sitting in Matt’s own chair, it becomes clear someone is hunting the Marshal—but not with the courage to face him. Whispers of an ambush spark fear, drawing out every would-be glory hunter, each...

Originally Aired: October 8, 1955 In Gunsmoke #182, “Good Girl – Bad Company,” the fragile peace of Dodge City is shattered when two Army soldiers are murdered and a government payroll is stolen. Marshal Matt Dillon finds himself caught between a furious Army Major threatening martial law and a powder keg town full of restless gunmen. The trail leads Matt to Jenny Lane, a new arr...

Originally Aired: October 1, 1955 When a train robbery leaves baggage clerk Ed Barton dead and his young son Billy gravely wounded, Marshal Dillon launches an urgent investigation into one of the coldest killings Dodge has seen. The strongbox is missing, the killer vanished, and the only witness is a ten-year-old boy with a bullet graze and a broken heart. As Matt shelters Billy in the jail for hi...

Originally Aired: September 24, 1955 In Gunsmoke #180, “Indian White,” a white boy raised by the Cheyenne struggles to find his place after being returned to Dodge City. Taken in by a grieving woman named Mrs. Cullen—who believes he may be her long-lost son—the boy, now called Vigo Khan, clashes with townspeople who view him as an enemy. As tensions rise following a Cheyenn...

Originally Aired: September 17, 1955 In Gunsmoke #179, “Thoroughbreds,” Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester encounter a well-dressed stranger named Jack Portis traveling with a pair of immaculate horses—thoroughbreds bearing a distinctive wineglass brand. Suspicious of the man’s aloof manner, Dillon investigates, only to learn that two men from Oklahoma have followed Portis to...

Originally Aired: September 10, 1955 Alarm at Pleasant Valley: Birth, Bloodshed, and a New Beginning Marshal Dillon and Chester come upon a horrifying massacre at a remote homestead—evidence of a Kiowa renegade raid. As they return to Dodge, they cross paths with a new family bound for California, but tensions rise when the expectant mother’s condition and fear of further Indian attack...

Originally Aired: September 3, 1955 Change of Heart: A Brother’s Scheme and a Woman’s Redemption When Jerry Cass falls for a charming saloon girl named Bella, his estranged brother Briscoe returns to Dodge with an agenda of his own. Briscoe’s hostility toward the match seems like simple disapproval—until Marshal Dillon uncovers the truth: a hidden clause in their father&rsq...

Originally Aired: August 27, 1955 Doc Quits: A Fraud’s Cure and a Town’s Wake-Up Call After a heartbreaking failure to save a dying man, Doc Adams decides to hang up his shingle for good—just as a new doctor, Jameson Betchell, rolls into Dodge with flashy promises and a greedy price tag. While Doc sinks into quiet retirement, Betchell charms the town and begins practicing dangero...

When a cavalry patrol is slaughtered by Comanches, all eyes turn to Amos Cartwright—the scout who led them there and the only man to return alive. The town of Dodge seethes with suspicion, especially Will Bailey, whose brother lies among the dead. Amos, once married into the Comanche tribe, now finds himself hated by both sides. As tensions explode and Bailey is found murdered, Marshal Dillo...

A stranger rides into Dodge claiming to be Billy Crail, the long-lost son of an aging ranch owner. But Marshal Dillon recognizes him from a wanted poster as Johnny Red, a notorious outlaw. When “Billy” convinces his mother of his identity, Matt faces a moral dilemma: expose the truth and break her heart, or let the charade continue. But everything changes when a stagecoach robbery lead...

Originally Aired: August 6, 1955 Innocent Broad: A Fiancé’s Secret and a Gunman’s Threat Seventeen-year-old Linda Bell arrives in Dodge to reunite with her fiancé Lou Paxton, only to find herself entangled in a dangerous scheme. Marshal Dillon intervenes when a drunken passenger named Bassett harasses her on the stagecoach ride, but the trouble doesn’t end there. As...

Originally Aired: July 30, 1955 Tap Day for Kitty: The Prospector’s Proposal When a love-struck old prospector named Nip Colors rolls into Dodge with a bag of gold and his heart set on marrying Kitty, he quickly becomes the talk of the town. Despite Kitty’s firm rejection, Nip insists she’s the only gal for him—and makes it his mission to win her over. His delusion spirals...

When Ben Tolliver leaves his job without pay and takes a prized stud he personally broke, old Jake Creed calls it theft—and vows to shoot Ben on sight. Marshal Dillon tries to cool things down, but Creed refuses legal help, choosing revenge instead. As tensions rise, Creed sneaks into Dodge and cripples Ben’s beloved horse. Enraged and grief-stricken, Ben sets out for the Creed ranch w...

Originally Aired: July 16, 1955 20-20: The Last Shot He Could See When Troy Carver, an aging Arizona gunfighter and old friend of Marshal Matt Dillon, rides into Dodge chasing a wanted killer, Matt quickly notices something’s wrong—Troy’s vision is failing, and he refuses to admit it. Determined to take outlaw Lee Poland alone, Troy’s pride blinds him more than his failing...

Originally Aired : July 9, 1955 Uncle Oliver: Blood Ties and Broken Promises When Viney Stang and his fast-talking Uncle Oliver arrive in Dodge, their prairie simplicity hides a dangerous edge. After Viney jokingly suggests he’d kill Chester to get his job, Chester is ambushed and shot in the head. As Matt hunts for Viney, suspicion grows, but the truth takes a tragic turn—Oliver, tryi...

Episode Title: General Parsley Smith: The Lies That Saved a Town Originally Aired: July 2, 1955 General Parsley Smith: The Lies That Saved a Town An eccentric Civil War “general” arrives in Dodge, loudly accusing the town’s new banker of being a crook. Though dismissed as a harmless liar, Parsley Smith’s warnings grow louder—and more disruptive. Marshal Dillon tries t...

Originally Aired: June 25, 1955 The Army Trial: A Heart Full of Promises In this tragic and unforgettable episode of Gunsmoke, Marshal Matt Dillon is forced to intervene when dreams of freedom and love collide with the harsh discipline of army law. Jed Cook, a weary army sergeant stationed at Fort Dodge, deserts his post, desperate to start a new life with his fiancée, Della Masters. But th...

Originally Aired : June 18, 1955 The Reed Survives: A Murder Grown in the Heat In this haunting and psychological episode of Gunsmoke , the relentless summer heat of Dodge City breeds suspicion, jealousy, and ultimately, death. Lucy Middlecamp, once a dance hall girl and now the wife of the stern preacher Ephraim Hunt, secretly comes to Marshal Matt Dillon, pleading for help. She fears her husband...

Originally Aired : June 11, 1955 Trust: A Deal Sealed in Blood and Iron In this tense and character-driven episode of Gunsmoke , Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester are caught in a deadly standoff not just with an outlaw—but with the fragile idea of trust itself. After tracking a fugitive named James Nation across the rugged plains, Matt and Chester lose their horses and find themselves stranded...

Originally Aired : June 4, 1955 Jealousy: A Wound Deeper Than Bullets In this emotionally charged episode of Gunsmoke , a dangerous spiral of suspicion, betrayal, and violence grips Dodge City as jealousy tears a young couple apart—and nearly costs more than one life. Cam Durbin, a reformed gambler and old friend of Matt Dillon, arrives in Dodge with his beautiful new wife, Tilda. But beneat...

Originally Aired : May 28, 1955 Cow Doctor: A Debt Paid in Pride In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Gunsmoke , Marshal Matt Dillon and Doc Adams find themselves facing the ultimate test of compassion—and pride—in the Kansas frontier. When young Jerry Pitcher rides into Dodge searching desperately for Doc, Matt and Kitty are shocked. Jerry’s father, Ben Pitcher, is known fo...

Originally Aired : May 21, 1955 The Liar from Blackhawk: Truth Drawn at Gunpoint In this unforgettable Gunsmoke episode, Dodge City meets a different kind of outlaw—one whose deadliest weapon is a lie. Hank Shin arrives in town with a towering reputation as a feared gunman, claiming he once killed three men at once in a saloon up in Blackhawk. Citizens are quickly cowed by his bravado, but M...

Originally Aired : May 14, 1955 Robber Bridegroom: The Man Who Took Her Twice In this sweeping tale of abduction, deception, and unexpected love, Gunsmoke delivers one of its most memorable emotional rollercoasters. When Marshal Matt Dillon learns that a stagecoach carrying $50,000 in gold has been held up—and a young woman taken along with it—he wastes no time tracking the outlaw acro...