Gunsmoke Vol 2 - Apr 2 1955-jun 22 1958 - 200 episodes - Old Time Radio western - Instant Download

GUNSMOKE VOL. 2 

APR 2 1955 - JUN 22 1958

200 EPISODES

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 radio version ran from 1952 to 1961, and John Dunning writes that among radio drama enthusiasts "Gunsmoke is routinely placed among the best shows of any kind and any time."

In the late 1940s, CBS chairman William S. Paley, a fan of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe radio serial, asked his programming chief, Hubell Robinson, to develop a hardboiled Western series, a show about a "Philip Marlowe of the Old West." Robinson instructed his West Coast CBS Vice-President, Harry Ackerman, who had developed the Philip Marlowe series, to take on the task.

Ackerman and his scriptwriters, Mort Fine and David Friedkin, created an audition script called "Mark Dillon Goes to Gouge Eye" based on one of their Michael Shayne radio scripts, "The Crooked Wheel". Two auditions were created in 1949. The first was very much like a hardboiled detective series and starred Michael Rye (credited as Rye Billsbury) as Dillon; the second starred Straight Arrow actor Howard Culver in a more Western, lighter version of the same script. CBS liked the Culver version better, and Ackerman was told to proceed.

But there was a complication. Culver's contract as the star of Straight Arrow would not allow him to do another Western series. The project was shelved for three years, when MacDonnell and Meston discovered it creating an adult Western series of their own.

MacDonnell and Meston wanted to create a radio Western for adults, in contrast to the prevailing juvenile fare such as The Lone Ranger and The Cisco Kid. Gunsmoke was set in Dodge City, Kansas during the thriving cattle days of the 1870s. Dunning notes, "The show drew critical acclaim for unprecedented realism."

The radio series aired from April 26, 1952 ("Billy the Kid," written by Walter Newman) until June 18, 1961 on CBS. It starred William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon, Howard McNear as Doc Charles Adams, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell, and Parley Baer as Dillon's assistant Chester Wesley Proudfoot.

Conrad was one of the last actors who auditioned for the role of Marshal Dillon. With a powerful, distinctive voice, Conrad was already one of radio's busiest actors. Though Meston championed him, MacDonnell thought Conrad might be overexposed. During his audition, however, Conrad won over MacDonnell after reading only a few lines. Dillon as portrayed by Conrad was a lonely, isolated man, toughened by a hard life. MacDonnell later claimed, "Much of Matt Dillon's character grew out of Bill Conrad."

Meston relished the upending of cherished Western fiction clichés and felt that few Westerns gave any inkling of how brutal the Old West was in reality. Dunning writes that Meston was especially disgusted by the archetypal Western hero and set out "to destroy [that type of] character he loathed." In Meston's view, "Dillon was almost as scarred as the homicidal psychopaths who drifted into Dodge from all directions."

Chester's character had no surname until Baer ad libbed "Proudfoot" during an early rehearsal. The amiable character was usually described as Dillon's "assistant," but the December 13, 1952 episode "Post Martin," Dillon described Chester as Dillon's deputy. The TV series changed Chester's last name to Goode.

Doc Adams was iconoclastic and grumpy, but McNear's performances became more warm-hearted. In the January 31, 1953 episode "Cavalcade," Doc Adams' backstory is revealed: His real name is Calvin Moore, educated in Boston, and he practiced as a doctor for a year in Richmond, Virginia where he fell in love with a beautiful young woman who was also being courted by a wealthy young man named Roger Beauregard. Beauregard forced Doc into fighting a duel with him, resulting in Beauregard's being shot and killed. Even though it was a fair duel, because Doc was a Yankee and an outsider he was forced to flee. The young woman fled after him and they were married in St. Louis, but two months later she died of typhus. Doc wandered throughout the territories until he settled in Dodge City seventeen years later under the name of "Charles Adams."

Georgia Ellis appeared in the first episode "Billy the Kid" (April 26, 1952) as "Francie Richards," a former girlfriend of Matt Dillon and the widow of a criminal. "Miss Kitty" did not appear on the radio series until the May 10, 1952 episode "Jaliscoe." Kitty's profession was hinted at, but never explicit; in a 1953 interview with TIME, MacDonnell declared, "Kitty is just someone Matt has to visit every once in a while. We never say it, but Kitty is a prostitute, plain and simple. The television show first portrayed Kitty as a saloon employee (dance-hall girl/prostitute) then later as the owner of the Long Branch Saloon. Sometime in 1959, Ellis was billed as Georgia Hawkins instead of Georgia Ellis.

Gunsmoke was often a somber program, particularly in its early years. Dunning writes that Dillon "played his hand and often lost. He arrived too late to prevent a lynching. He amputated a dying man's leg and lost the patient anyway. He saved a girl from brutal rapists then found himself unable to offer her what she needed to stop her from moving into...life as a prostitute." Some listeners, such as Dunning, argue the radio version was more realistic. Episodes were aimed at adults and featured some of the most explicit content of their time, including violent crimes, scalpings, massacres, and opium addicts. Many episodes ended on a somber note, and villains often got away with their crimes. Nonetheless, thanks to the subtle scripts and outstanding ensemble cast, over the years the program evolved into a warm, often humorous celebration of human nature.

Apart from the doleful tone, Gunsmoke was distinct from other radio westerns, as the dialogue was often slow and halting, and due to the outstanding sound effects, listeners had a nearly palpable sense of the prairie where the show was set. The effects were subtle but multilayered, giving the show a spacious feel. John Dunning wrote, "The listener heard extraneous dialogue in the background, just above the muted shouts of kids playing in an alley. He heard noises from the next block, too, where the inevitable dog was barking."

Radio's Gunsmoke was aired on Armed Forces Radio.

Volume 2 contains these episodes:

Gunsmoke 1955-04-02 (155) Bloody Hands.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-04-09 (156) Skid Row.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-04-16 (157) Gypsum Hills Feud.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-04-23 (158) Born To Hang.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-04-30 (159) Reward For Matt.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-05-07 (160) Potato Road.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-05-14 (161) Robber Bridegroom.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-05-21 (162) The Liar From Blackhawk.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-05-28 (163) Cow Doctor.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-06-04 (164) Jealousy.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-06-11 (165) Trust.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-06-18 (166) The Reed Survives.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-06-25 (167) The Army Trial.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-07-02 (168) General Parsley Smith.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-07-09 (169) Uncle Oliver.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-07-16 (170) 20-20.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-07-23 (171) Ben Tollivers Stud.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-07-30 (172) Tap Day For Kitty.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-08-06 (173) Innocent Broad.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-08-13 (174) Johnny Red.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-08-20 (175) Indian Scout.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-08-27 (176) Doc Quits.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-09-03 (177) Change Of Heart.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-09-10 (178) Alarm At Pleasant Valley.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-09-17 (179) Thoroughbreds.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-09-24 (180) Indian White.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-10-01 (181) Barton Boy.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-10-08 (182) Good Girl - Bad Company.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-10-09 (183) The Coward.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-10-16 (184) Trouble In Kansas.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-10-23 (185) Brush At Elkader.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-10-30 (186) The Choice.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-11-06 (187) Second Choice.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-11-13 (188) The Preacher.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-11-20 (189) Dutch George.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-11-27 (190) Amys Good Deed.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-12-04 (191) Sunny Afternoon.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-12-11 (192) Land Deal.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-12-18 (193) Scared Kid.mp3
Gunsmoke 1955-12-25 (194) Twelfth Night.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-01-01 (195) Pucketts New Year.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-01-08 (196) Docs Revenge.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-01-15 (197) How To Cure A Friend.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-01-22 (198) Romeo.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-01-29 (199) Bureaucrat.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-02-05 (200) Legal Revenge.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-02-12 (201) Kittys Outlaw.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-02-15 (Reh) New Hotel.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-02-19 (202) New Hotel.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-02-26 (203) Who Lives By The Sword.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-03-04 (204) The Hunter.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-03-11 (205) Bringing Down Father.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-03-18 (206) Man Who Would Be Marshal.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-03-25 (207) Hanging Man.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-04-01 (208) How To Sell A Ranch.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-04-08 (209) Widows Mite.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-04-15 (210) The Executioner.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-04-22 (211) Indian Crazy.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-04-29 (212) Docs Reward.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-05-06 (213) The Photographer.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-05-13 (214) Cows And Cribs.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-05-20 (215) Buffalo Man.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-05-27 (216) Man Hunter.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-06-03 (217) The Pacifist.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-06-10 (218) Daddy-O.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-06-17 (219) Cheap Labor.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-06-24 (220) Sunday Supplement.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-07-01 (221) Gun For Chester.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-07-08 (222) Passive Resistance.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-07-15 (223) Letter Of The Law.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-07-22 (224) Lynching Man.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-07-29 (225) The Lost Rifle.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-08-05 (226) Sweet And Sour.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-08-12 (227) Snake Bite.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-08-19 (228) Annie Oakley.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-08-26 (229) No Sale.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-09-02 (230) Old Pal.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-09-09 (231) Belles Back.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-09-16 (232) Thick N Thin.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-09-23 (233) Box Of Rocks.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-09-30 (234) Brothers.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-10-07 (235) The Gambler.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-10-14 (236) Gunshot Wound.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-10-21 (237) Till Death Do Us.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-10-28 (238) Dirty Bills Girl.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-11-10 (239) Crowbait Bob.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-11-11 (240) Pretty Mama.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-11-18 (241) Brother Whelp.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-11-25 (242) Tail To The Wind.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-12-02 (243) Speak Me Fair.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-12-09 (244) Braggarts Boy.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-12-16 (245) Cherry Red.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-12-23 (246) Beekers Barn.mp3
Gunsmoke 1956-12-30 (247) Hound Dog afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-01-06 (248) Devils Hindmost afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-01-13 (249) Ozymandias.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-01-20 (250) Categorical Imperative.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-01-27 (251) Woman Called Mary.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-02-03 (252) Cold Fire afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-02-10 (253) Hellbent Harriett.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-02-17 (254) Doubtful Zone.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-02-24 (255) Impact.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-03-03 (256) Colleen So Green.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-03-10 (257) Grebb Hassle.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-03-17 (258) Spring Freshet.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-03-24 (259) Saddle Sore Sal afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-03-31 (260) Chicken Smith.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-04-07 (261) Rock Bottom.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-04-14 (262) Saludos.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-04-21 (263) Bear Trap afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-04-28 (264) Medicine Man.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-04-28a - Five Years On The Radio.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-05-05 (265) How To Kill A Friend.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-05-12 (266) Sheep Dog afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-05-19 (267) One Night Stand afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-05-26 (268) Pal.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-06-02 (269) Ben Tollivers Stud.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-06-09 (270) Dodge Podge afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-06-16 (271) Summer Night.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-06-16a - Five Most Requested Shows.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-06-23 (272) Home Surgery.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-06-30 (273) The Buffalo Hunter.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-07-07 (274) Word Of Honor.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-07-14 (275) Bloody Hands.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-07-21 (276) Kitty Caught.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-07-28 (277) Cow Doctor.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-08-04 (278) Big Hands.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-08-11 (279) Jayhawkers.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-08-18 (280) The Peace Officer.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-08-25 (281) Grass.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-09-01 (282) Jobes Son afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-09-08 (283) Looney McCluny.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-09-15 (284) Child Labor afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-09-22 (285) Custer.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-09-29 (286) Another Mans Poison afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-10-06 (287) The Rooks.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-10-13 (288) The Margin afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-10-20 (289) Professor Lute Bone.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-10-27 (290) Man And Boy afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-11-03 (291) Bull afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-11-10 (292) Gun Shy afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-11-17 (293) The Queue.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-11-24 (294) Odd Man Out afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-12-01 (295) Juds Woman afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-12-08 (296) Long As I Live.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-12-15 (297) Ugly afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-12-28 (298) Twelfth Night.mp3
Gunsmoke 1957-12-29 (299) Whered They Go.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-01-05 (300) Puckets New Year.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-01-12 (301) Second Son afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-01-19 (302) Moo Moo Raid afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-01-26 (303) One For Lee afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-02-02 (304) Kittys Killing afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-02-09 (305) The Jokes On Us.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-02-16 (306) Brugers Folly afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-02-23 (307) The Surgery afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-03-02 (308) The Guitar.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-03-09 (309) Laughing Gas afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-03-16 (310) Real Sent Sonny afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-03-23 (311) Indian afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-03-30 (312) Why Not afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-04-06 (313) Yorky.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-04-13 (314) Livvies Loss afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-04-20 (315) The Partners afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-04-27 (316) The Squaw afrts(1).mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-04-27 (316) The Squaw afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-05-10 (317) How To Die For Nothing(1).mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-05-10 (317) How To Die For Nothing.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-05-11 (318) Little Bird(1).mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-05-11 (318) Little Bird.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-05-18 (319) The Stallion(1).mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-05-18 (319) The Stallion.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-05-25 (320) Blue Horse(1).mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-05-25 (320) Blue Horse.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-06-01 (321) Quarterhorse(1).mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-06-01 (321) Quarterhorse.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-06-08 (322) Hot Horse Hyatt afrts(1).mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-06-08 (322) Hot Horse Hyatt afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-06-15 (323) Old Flame afrts(1).mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-06-15 (323) Old Flame afrts.mp3
Gunsmoke 1958-06-22 (324) Target afrts(1).mp3