Gunsmoke

6.6
195545m

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. The central character is lawman Marshal Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad on radio and James Arness on television.

Production

Logo for CBS

Seasons

39 Episodes • Premiered 1955

This is a list of episodes from the first season of the television series version of Gunsmoke.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 1: Matt Gets It

1. Matt Gets It

5.9

Dan Grat, a gunman hunted by Texas authorities, seeks refuge in Dodge City. Marshal Dillon goes into action against this outlaw who shoots before he talks.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 2: Hot Spell

2. Hot Spell

8.0

Matt intercedes on behalf of ex-con Cope Borden, when Rance Bradley accuses Cope of horse theft and attempts to lynch him. Cope is proven innocent of the charge, but later kills Bradley's nephew in a fair fight during a gambling dispute. Matt is caught in an awkward situation when he must defend the unsavory Cope against the decent people of Dodge.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 3: Word of Honor

3. Word of Honor

8.0

Hank Worth, son of wealthy rancher Jake Worth, is kidnapped by three men and held for $20,000 ransom. They shoot him in the back for trying to escape. They call on Doc but Hank dies. The killers decide to let Doc go because he is the only doctor within 400 miles and they fear they might need his services someday. Before sparing his life and freeing him, they force the reluctant Doc to give his word of honor that he will never reveal their identities.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 4: Home Surgery

4. Home Surgery

8.0

When returning to Dodge, Chester and Matt are confronted by Holly Hawtree, whose father is desperately ill with gangrene. His only hope for survival is amputation of the affected leg. Matt performs the surgery, but the gangrene has spread too far and the old man dies. Matt later discovers that the presumed accident leading to Mr. Hawtree's condition was actually caused by Ben Walling, who has his sights on Holly.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 5: Obie Tater

5. Obie Tater

8.0

Two outlaws seek the rumored hidden fortune of old prospector Obie. They drag him to get him to tell. Obie forgets his cares and disappears on honeymoon with newcomer Ella May. Matt suspiciously questions the simple Obie about Ella May's motives and finds Obie is deeper than he seems.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 6: Night Incident

6. Night Incident

7.0

Little Timmy Wyatt witnesses a series of bizarre murders. He has a habit of telling tall tales, so no one will believe him.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 7: Smoking Out the Nolans

7. Smoking Out the Nolans

8.0

Clay Young is trying to evict Josh Nolan, who says he paid for the property. Matt and Chester are tied up in reluctantly enforcing eviction law unless they can find another way.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 8: Kite's Reward

8. Kite's Reward

Matt warns skilled gunman Andy Travis, of his choice between quitting the gun or else being constantly hunted and forced to prove himself. Matt finds a way to foil the $1000 bounty on Andy's head.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 9: The Hunter

9. The Hunter

8.0

Buffalo hunter Jase Murdock is warned by storekeeper Ross to stay out of Indian territory. Matt talks with Murdock's skinner, Golden Calf, who determines that Murdock's medicine is no longer good.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 10: The Queue

10. The Queue

7.0

Two bullies cut off Chen's pig-tail, gravely dishonoring him in Chinese culture. Chen vows vengeance.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 11: General Parsley Smith

11. General Parsley Smith

7.0

Old-timer Smith is a former Army officer considered a butcher. He arrives in Dodge City speading rumors about the new Banker, Drew Holt.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 12: Magnus

12. Magnus

9.5

Chester is embarrassed at a visit by his estranged mountain man brother Magnus. To prove that Magnus is too uncivilized for town, Chester tours him through the highlights of Dodge: card gambling, drinking, and talking with Kitty. Meanwhile, the Long Branch women plan a Christmas Eve dance which is busted by the spiteful Lucifer Jones.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 13: Reed Survives

13. Reed Survives

8.0

Lucy professes her love for handsome Booth Rider, and concocts a scheme against Ephram. Booth becomes the unwitting pawn in a homicide that culminates in an ironic twist of fate.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 14: Professor Lute Bone

14. Professor Lute Bone

Doc is enraged by traveling medicine man Professor Lute Bone and his opium elixir, and digs up a gun to shoot him with. A lad also hunts him because his father died drinking his elixir, so Bone reconsiders the patent medicine business.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 15: No Handcuffs

15. No Handcuffs

A dishonest deputy sheriff steals a prisoner from Matt's jail, so Matt and Chester hunt them.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 16: Reward for Matt

16. Reward for Matt

Matt kills a man and his widow posts a $1,000 bounty in vengeance. Everyone from sodbusters to gunslingers are out for that reward.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 17: Robin Hood

17. Robin Hood

Witnesses refuse to testify against a notorious outlaw.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 18: Yorky

18. Yorky

Yorky, a white boy who was brought up by Arapahoes, is victimized by horse thieves. Accused of their crime, he is shot by the vengeful Abe Brandt and his son. Matt is also targeted by the horse thieves.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 19: 20-20

19. 20-20

A former lawman tries to keep his failing eyesight a secret from his enemies.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 20: Reunion '78

20. Reunion '78

A well-liked hardware drummer is actually a man wanted for multiple murders.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 21: Helping Hand

21. Helping Hand

A would-be tough guy picks on the wrong man in an attempt to make a name for himself when he tries to involve Marshal Matt Dillon by staging a street fight.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 22: Tap Day for Kitty

22. Tap Day for Kitty

An old sodbuster comes to town and decides he wants to marry Kitty. When he won't leave her alone she declares she'll shoot him if he pesters her anymore.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 23: Indian Scout

23. Indian Scout

When an old Indian scout (Eduard Franz) murders a man (DeForest Kelley), Matt pursues him into Comanche territory.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 24: The Pest Hole

24. The Pest Hole

Doc must find a way to thwart a typhoid epidemic in Dodge (Howard McNear appears).

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 25: The Big Broad

25. The Big Broad

Matt has to figure a way around a six-foot-tall, 200-pound woman with a six-gun.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 26: Hack Prine

26. Hack Prine

6.0

Hack Prine, a friend of Matt's rides into Dodge. However he is there as a gunman, for Matt Dillon.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 27: Cooter

27. Cooter

A dishonest gambler (Vinton Hayworth) uses a mentally challenged man (Strother Martin) in a plot against Matt (Robert Vaughn appears).

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 28: The Killer

28. The Killer

Charles Bronson guest stars as a cowardly gunslinger who only goes after old men or young kids who aren't very experienced with guns. But, when Matt Dillon gives him an ultimatum, he shows his true colors.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 29: Doc's Revenge

29. Doc's Revenge

A stranger comes to Dodge, and Doc bewilders and dismays Chester and Matt by arming himself and vowing to kill the man.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 30: The Preacher

30. The Preacher

Seth, a newcomer to Dodge is bullied by Keeler, a boxer.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 31: How to Die for Nothing

31. How to Die for Nothing

The brother of a man Matt was forced to kill vows to kill Matt by any means necessary (Mort Mills appears).

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 32: Dutch George

32. Dutch George

Matt's Childhood hero, Dutch George is now the leader of a notorious gang of horse thieves he must now stop.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 33: Prairie Happy

33. Prairie Happy

A bitter old man spreads rumors of an impending Indian raid on Dodge.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 34: Chester's Mail Order Bride

34. Chester's Mail Order Bride

When Chester's mail-order bride arrives, neither she nor Chester are what the other are expecting (first credited appearance of Bert Rumsey as 'Sam').

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 35: The Guitar

35. The Guitar

An ex-Union soldier is forced to use violence against a pair of diehard Rebels (Jacques Aubuchon appears). First episode without the "Boot Hill" intro.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 36: Cara

36. Cara

Matt encounters an ex-girl friend---who's now working on the wrong side of the law.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 37: Mr. and Mrs. Amber

37. Mr. and Mrs. Amber

A self-styled religious prophet (Ainslie Pryor) is making life miserable for his daughter and new son-in-law..

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 38: Unmarked Grave

38. Unmarked Grave

A young outlaw uses an old woman as a pawn in his bid for freedom.

Still image for Gunsmoke season 1 episode 39: Alarm at Pleasant Valley

39. Alarm at Pleasant Valley

While on the way back to Dodge, Matt and Chester discover a homsteading family fleeing Pleasant Valley, which is besieged by Indians.

Cast

Photo of James Arness

James Arness

Marshal Matt Dillon

Photo of Woody Chambliss

Woody Chambliss

Woody Lathrop

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