Gunsmoke

William Conrad as Matt Dillon

This great western series was first broadcast in 1955. It is one of the best-remembered Western adventure series because of it's excellent writing and acting and the remarkable realism of the sound effects, right down to the clink of th spurs and the creaking of the floorboards whenever anyone walked across the saloon floor. William Conrad starred as Matt Dillion, U.S. Marshall and Parley Baer starred as his deputy, Chester Goode. The supporting cast included Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell and Howard McNear as Doc Adams. Did you know Chester’s character had no surname until Parley Baer ad libbed “Proudfoot” during an early rehearsal. The amiable character was usually described as Dillon’s “assistant,” but in the December 13, 1952, episode “Post Martin,” Dillon described Chester as Dillon’s deputy. Gunsmoke was set in Dodge City, Kansas between 1872 and 1885.  Dodge City, known as the "Queen of the Cow Towns," the "Wicked Little City," the "Gomorrah of the Plains," had a reputation as a hostile, lawless town where the "fastest gun" ruled.

Chester and Matt on patrol

By the way, one of my favorite character actors, John Denner made numerous guest appearences on Gunsmoke, but also starred in his own radio western, Have Gun, Will Travel.

Program Opening: 

ANNOUNCER; “Around Dodge City and in the territory on west, there’s just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers and that’s with a U.S. Marshal and the smell of gunsmoke!
"GUNSMOKE" starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America -- and the story of a man who moved with it. (MUSIC: OUT)
MATT:  I'm that man, Matt Dillon, United States Marshall -- the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job -- and it makes a man watchful...and a little lonely."
You can purchase excellent sets of Gunsmoke from MyRadioClassics.com.  All of these programs are full-length, uncut original radio broadcasts from the original transcriptions. A word of advice; stay away from the MP3 download versions that are available for purchase or download on the internet. These versions are all poor quality and all the warmth and life as been sucked out of them through compression to be able to cram hundreds of shows into one file. The source I just mentioned provides excellent quality, digitally remastered and restored, full broadcast quality Classic Radio Programs.