Gunsmoke: “Annie Oakley” (08-19-56)

Podcast: OTRWesterns.com
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Original Air Date: August 19, 1956
Episode Release Date: September 1, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Gunsmoke, titled “Annie Oakley,” is a classic Western radio drama unraveling the violent tensions in Dodge City, Kansas. The plot centers around jealousy, deceit, and a fatal shooting among neighbors, fueled by rivalry over a strong-willed woman—Kate Kinsman. As Marshal Matt Dillon investigates a murder, he uncovers a web of pride, manipulation, and tragic desperation, all set against the lawless backdrop of the American frontier.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. Trouble Among Neighbors (03:16–06:05)

• Chester points out trouble brewing between ranchers Jeff Kinsman, his wife Kate, and neighbor Ed Dolliver.

• Kate berates her husband publicly for not standing up to Dolliver, whom she accuses of flirting with her.

• Tensions escalate; Jeff is goaded into confronting Dolliver, but Marshal Dillon intervenes before violence occurs.

  Notable Quote:

  "Maybe you lost your pride, Jeff Kinsman, but I sure ain't. What kind of a man are you anyway?" — Kate Kinsman [03:37]

2. Profiles & Motives (07:54–09:48)

• In the café, Kitty and Matt discuss Kate’s history and reputation.

• It’s revealed Kate had a rough life and once followed her late first husband buffalo hunting—hinting at her toughness and shooting skills.

• The dynamic between the Kinsmans and Dolliver, and Kate’s effect on the men, is explored.

  Notable Quote:

  "That woman's lived a hard life, Matt." — Kitty [08:32]
  "Maybe that's why she demands so much respect." — Matt Dillon [08:54]

3. Jeff Kinsman’s Murder (09:40–13:20)

• Kate arrives alone in town and announces Jeff has been murdered—claiming Dolliver is responsible, as she heard a shot and knew Jeff was unarmed.

• On the prairie, the investigation finds Jeff shot at incredible range; a spent Sharps .50 cartridge is discovered, seemingly linking Dolliver’s new rifle to the killing.

  Notable Quote:

  "He's dead." — Kate Kinsman [09:50]
  "You're forgetting Ed Dolliver has a new Sharps 50... It ain't too far for a Sharps." — Kate Kinsman [10:56, 11:23]

4. Confronting Dolliver & Building Suspense (13:46–15:34)

• Matt confronts Dolliver. Dolliver admits testing his new rifle that morning but has no alibi.

• Despite appearing as the likely suspect, Dolliver is surprisingly passive about his own defense.

• Matt devises a plan and writes a note, giving it to Chester with instructions.

  Notable Quote:

  "You could tell, couldn't you?" (about whether the rifle had been fired) — Dolliver [13:53]
  "If a man raises too big a holler about how innocent he is, kind of works to make people think he's guilty." — Matt Dillon [14:22]

5. Marshal’s Trap & The True Killer Revealed (17:27–23:15)

• Chester and Matt stake out Dolliver’s place, waiting to see if the real shooter will strike again.

• Dolliver is apparently shot from a distance, just as Jeff was, confirming the assailant’s marksmanship.

• It’s revealed Matt had tricked Kate Kinsman, sending Dolliver away and leaving grain bags dressed in his clothes. When she sneaks into the barn to shoot again, Matt confronts her.

• Kate confesses her manipulations, admitting she wanted men to fight over her and orchestrated the violence for her ego.

  Notable Quotes:

  "You liked men fighting over you. You needed for them, too. ...You told Jeff lies about Ed Dolliver. ...But you knew Dolliver wasn't interested, so you shot Jeff yourself." — Matt Dillon [21:47, 21:56]
  "I heard what you told him. Them lies you wrote." — Kate Kinsman [20:54]
  "I'm glad I killed him." — Kate Kinsman [22:22]
  "What you shot was a couple of grain bags dressed in his clothes." — Matt Dillon [22:27]

6. Resolution and Reflection (22:44–24:24)

• Matt expresses pity for Kate, noting her destructive need for attention and the emptiness she is left with.

• The episode closes with Matt’s somber reflection on how, in the West, violence is not always driven by land or water, but sometimes by wounded pride and loneliness.

  Notable Quote:

  "Now there's nobody to fight for." — Matt Dillon [23:14]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "That's the worst kind of trouble, Jesse. You never know who's guilty of what." — Matt Dillon [06:05]
• "You can shoot all right. Good as any man." — Matt Dillon to Kate Kinsman, recalling her buffalo-hunting past [21:24]
• "I'm the only one, I guess." — Dolliver, relinquishing his defense [14:41]
• The pivotal reveal that the “second murder” is a ruse: “What you shot was a couple of grain bags dressed in his clothes.” — Matt Dillon [22:27]

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:16 — Domestic trouble erupts between the Kinsmans and Ed Dolliver.
• 09:48 — Kate announces her husband’s murder.
• 10:56 — Discovery of the murder scene.
• 13:46 — Matt questions Ed Dolliver, building suspense.
• 17:27 — Matt and Chester set the trap; the “shooting” of Dolliver.
• 20:31 — Showdown in the barn; Kate is exposed.
• 22:27 — The ruse is revealed to Kate Kinsman.
• 23:14 — Matt’s final words to the broken Kate.

Episode Style & Tone

This Gunsmoke episode is suffused with tension, suspicion, and somber reflection on human motive—delivered in the classic, stoic style of radio Westerns. The dialogue is hard-edged and direct, peppered with wry humor from Chester, moral gravity from Matt Dillon, and brittle pride from Kate Kinsman. The tone is gritty and emotionally charged, emphasizing consequence and vulnerability amid frontier justice.

For New Listeners

This episode showcases Gunsmoke at its best: a taut mystery with sharp character studies and a twist ending that reflects the psychological as much as the physical violence of the Old West. The story underlines the show’s recurring themes—pride, loneliness, and the unforeseen costs of human need for validation.