
Original Air Date: August 19, 1956Host: Andrew RhynesShow: GunsmokePhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• William Conrad (Matt Dillion)• Parley Baer (Chester)• Georgia Ellis (Kitty)• Howard McNear (Doc) Special Guests:• Jeanette Nolan• Harry Bartell• P...
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Narrator/Announcer
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Kate Kinsman
Buying a car in Carvana was so.
Narrator/Announcer
Easy I was able to finance it through them.
Matt Dillon
I just. Whoa, wait.
Narrator/Announcer
You mean finance?
Kate Kinsman
Yeah, finance.
Narrator/Announcer
Got pre qualified for a Carvana auto loan entered my terms and shot from thousands of great car options all within my budget.
Matt Dillon
That's cool.
Narrator/Announcer
But financing through Carvana was so easy.
Kate Kinsman
Financed, done.
Narrator/Announcer
And I get to pick up my car from their Carvana vending machine tomorrow.
Kate Kinsman
Financed, right?
Matt Dillon
That's what they said.
Narrator/Announcer
You can spend time trying to pronounce.
Matt Dillon
Financing or you can actually finance and.
Narrator/Announcer
Buy your car today on Carvana financing subject to credit approval.
Kate Kinsman
Additional terms and conditions may apply.
Chester
Foreign.
Andrew Rines
Welcome to the old time radio westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke Original air date is August 19, 1956 and the title is Annie Oakley.
Narrator/Announcer
Gun smoke brought to you by L M the modern cigarette that lets you get full exciting flavor through the modern miracle of the pure white miracle.
Matt Dillon
Tip.
Narrator/Announcer
Live modern smoke. L m 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 gun smoke. Gunsmoke, starring William Conrad. The transcribed story of the violence that moved west with young America and the story of a man who moved with it.
Matt Dillon
I'm that man, Matt Dillon, United States marshal, 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.
Kate Kinsman
It.
Chester
Well, looks like the kinsman's is at it again, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
What?
Chester
Jeff kinsman and his wife standing by their wagon over yonder.
Matt Dillon
Oh yeah, she's after him about something, isn't she?
Chester
I declare, if I was Jeff, I'd leave her at the ranch when I come to town.
Matt Dillon
Well, she's bigger than he is, Justin.
Chester
By golly, she just about is.
Kate Kinsman
Maybe you lost your pride, Jeff Kinsman, but I sure ain't. What kind of a man are you anyway?
Chester
But are you sure he done it, Kate?
Kate Kinsman
Of course he done it. He does it every chance he gets. You gonna let another man flirt with your wife right in public?
Chester
I just wanted to be sure.
Kate Kinsman
There he comes now. Ask him about it.
Chester
Sure. That's Ed Dolliver she's talking about, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I guess they're not such good neighbors after all.
Chester
Look, he's carrying a rifle.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, it's a Sharp's 50. It looks brand new.
Chester
Well, I guess there won't be no trouble, Jeff kinsman ain't armed, Mrs. Kinsman. I want to settle something with you, Dolliver. What's wrong, Jeff? You're to leave my wife alone, you hear? What? You stop trying to fool with her. Jeff, you going crazy?
Matt Dillon
You tell her, Mrs. Kinsman.
Chester
She done told me. Now, I'm warning you, Dolliver. You go get your own woman. Leave mine be.
Matt Dillon
I don't know.
Chester
I like being accused this way. Put that gun down. I'll learn you to like. They gonna fight, Mr. Jones.
Matt Dillon
And as long as they aren't gonna shoot each other. There.
Chester
Now what are you gonna do, Kinsman? Show you? Oh, you got a knife? You put that knife away. I ain't armed.
Matt Dillon
All right, hold it, Kinsman.
Chester
This is my fight, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Not with a knife. Now drop it. Go on, drop it.
Chester
No. No, I won't drop it, but I won't use it on him. Not till next time, I won't. Come on and fight, you coward. You're beggar than I am. I'll fight you any way you like. I see you bought a new sharps rifle, Dolliver.
Matt Dillon
Never mind guns. You men settle this some other way. Sure.
Chester
Only he better remember I got a sharps rifle at home.
Matt Dillon
Now look, Kensman. Of you, too, Dolliver. If there's any shooting out your way, I'll know who to come for. And it won't take any time at all.
Chester
That little coward ain't gonna do nothing. And I wouldn't put salt on an old crow like her anyway.
Kate Kinsman
Jeff, you hear what he called me?
Chester
He called me a coward.
Kate Kinsman
He called you? By heaven, Jeff, what's things are coming to when a woman's got to put up?
Matt Dillon
Come on.
Kate Kinsman
I never heard of a man getting by insulting a lady right in public twice at each time worse than the other. He's no good, that Gulliver. And you ain't much better.
Chester
I swear she's gonna have them men fighting yet. Mr. Dillon, that trouble ain't about over.
Matt Dillon
That's the worst kind of trouble, Jessup. You never know who's Guilty of what? Why don't you live modern? Live modern Live, live, live modern Change.
Chester
To L and M.
Narrator/Announcer
Only with L and M can you enjoy the full exciting flavor of today's finest tobaccos. Through the modern miracle of the L and M miracle tip through the pure white miracle tip L and M tastes richer, smokes cleaner, draws easier. No other cigarette, plain or filter gives you all the flavor you want. The rich, exciting flavor you get only from L and M. So light up, free up, let your taste come alive Live modern Smoke L and M Make.
Chester
Today your big red letter day and start to live the modern way Live, live, live modern Get L and M today.
Matt Dillon
It.
Kate Kinsman
Pour me a little more coffee, will you, Matt?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, sure, Kitty. Thanks. Is that enough?
Kate Kinsman
It's enough of this restaurant's coffee.
Matt Dillon
At least it's hot anyway.
Kate Kinsman
Yeah. Oh, about Ed Dolliver.
Matt Dillon
Mm?
Kate Kinsman
Well, all I know is that he's a bachelor and I never yet, so I'm shy away from a pretty girl.
Matt Dillon
Yeah. Katie, I want to ask you a question. Would you call Kate Kinsman pretty?
Kate Kinsman
She might have been once. That woman's lived a hard life, Matt.
Matt Dillon
Oh.
Kate Kinsman
In fact, it was Ed Dolliver who told me about her. She was married before, you know.
Matt Dillon
No, no, I didn't know he died.
Kate Kinsman
Pneumonia or something. He was a buffalo hunter for the Santa Fe Railroad. He used to take Kate right along with him, just like she was a man.
Matt Dillon
Uh huh. Maybe that's why she demands so much respect.
Kate Kinsman
Now, Matt, I don't think objecting to being called an old crow is exactly demanding respect for any woman. What's that?
Matt Dillon
Oh, it's Chester.
Kate Kinsman
He looks pretty excited about something.
Matt Dillon
Yeah. Excuse me, Kitty. I better go see what wants. I'll see you later. Yeah. What is it?
Chester
Just Ms. Kinsman. She's waiting right over there.
Matt Dillon
Huh. Is there something wrong?
Chester
You better hear it from her, Mr. Dune.
Matt Dillon
She coming alone today.
Chester
Yes, sir.
Matt Dillon
Hello, Ms. Kensman. What can I do for you?
Kate Kinsman
It ain't me, Marshall. It's my husband. It's Jeff.
Matt Dillon
What's the matter?
Kate Kinsman
He's dead.
Matt Dillon
What?
Kate Kinsman
He was murdered early this morning. Ed Dolliver done it.
Matt Dillon
How do you know it was Dolliver?
Kate Kinsman
I'll show you how. I left Jeff right on the prairie where I found him.
Matt Dillon
Now, Chester.
Chester
Yes, sir?
Matt Dillon
Go get doc. We'll follow Ms. Kinsman out to the ranch.
Kate Kinsman
There he is, Marshall. I ain't touched him. Just throwed that canvas over him.
Matt Dillon
Uh huh. Ms. Kinsman. How'd you happen to find him out here?
Kate Kinsman
I heard the shot. I knew Jeff didn't have his rifle with him.
Chester
Well, whoever did it can't be accused of ambushing him. There's no cover anywhere around here.
Kate Kinsman
You're forgetting Ed Dolliver has a new Sharps 50, ain't you, Doc?
Chester
Oh, he had it. Won't shoot over the horizon, Mother. I'll take a look.
Kate Kinsman
Here, Marshall. You take a good look around the way I did. You'll see something.
Matt Dillon
No. What?
Kate Kinsman
That little clump of switchgrass out there. A man could hide behind that.
Chester
Clear out there. Why, that's more than a thousand yards.
Kate Kinsman
It ain't too far for a sharp.
Matt Dillon
Chester, right over there and take a look. Look, will you?
Chester
Okay. What you doing, Matt?
Matt Dillon
Yeah. Yeah. What is that?
Chester
There's only one bullet in him. It's not very far in.
Matt Dillon
What do you mean?
Chester
Oh, it was enough to kill him, all right, but it was pretty well spent. Whoever fired it was a long ways off.
Kate Kinsman
I told you.
Chester
What was Jeff doing here, anyways?
Kate Kinsman
He was putting out bait for wolves, Doc. Poisoning them. We've been bothered lately.
Chester
Where do you want to bury him, Mrs. Kinsman?
Kate Kinsman
Why, back at the house. There's a place he liked.
Chester
I guess we can conduct a service of some sort.
Kate Kinsman
Why don't you get Ed Dolliver? I hear he reads the book real good.
Matt Dillon
You haven't seen him around, have you, Miss Gintle?
Kate Kinsman
I can tell you right where he is. It's noon, ain't it? He's sitting on his front porch like he does every day at noon. He always sits there for an hour doing nothing.
Matt Dillon
I see.
Kate Kinsman
I wonder what he's thinking.
Matt Dillon
What?
Kate Kinsman
I mean, about having gone out and killed a man because of me. Must be working on his mind pretty strong. Yeah, but you know something? It was one or the other of them, it come to that, and all because of me.
Chester
Oh, now, you Mustn't feel guilty, Ms. Kinsman. It wasn't your fault.
Kate Kinsman
Oh, I am guilty, Doc. Just being a woman men fight over just makes me guilty.
Matt Dillon
How'd you find anything, Chester?
Chester
I found this laying on the ground right behind that clump of grass.
Matt Dillon
Oh. What is it?
Chester
A shell from Sharps. Don't look good, does it, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
Now Oliver doesn't.
Chester
There's one thing might have worked for me.
Matt Dillon
What's that?
Chester
My new Sharps rifle. Supposing it hadn't ever been fired. You could tell, couldn't you?
Matt Dillon
Easy. Where is it?
Chester
Ain't no use, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
I was shooting it this morning, trying.
Chester
It out for the first time.
Matt Dillon
You weren't with anybody, huh? No. No, I. I Got no alibi? None at all. You don't even seem much interested in trying to clear yourself of this dollar.
Chester
Well, I figure sometimes if a man raises too big a holler about how.
Matt Dillon
Innocent he is, kind of works to make people think he's guilty. Yeah, sometimes. Can you think of anybody else who might have shot Jeff? No.
Chester
I'm the only one, I guess.
Matt Dillon
Oliver, I want you to tell me the truth. Now, do you have any interest in Miss Kinsman? I wouldn't be proud of it.
Chester
I could do better than her, Marshall. A whole lot better.
Matt Dillon
You got a pencil and some paper around here? What? I want to write a note to Ms. Kinsman.
Chester
About what?
Matt Dillon
Well, never mind. Just get it for me, will you?
Chester
Whatever you say, Marshal.
Matt Dillon
Trust her.
Narrator/Announcer
Sure.
Matt Dillon
Now, when I get this written, I want you to Write over to Ms. Kensmith's with it.
Chester
Sure, but where are you going?
Matt Dillon
I'm taking Dolliver into Dodge to lock him up. But don't you tell her. Now, you stay here tonight, and I'll be back by tomorrow morning.
Chester
I swear. I don't understand.
Matt Dillon
You will. Later. Why don't you Live modern Live modern.
Chester
Live, Live, live modern Change to L.
Matt Dillon
M.
Narrator/Announcer
Yes, Live modern Smoke Modern smoke L, M Enjoy a modern cigarette L and M Gives you the full, full, exciting flavor of today's finest tobaccos no other cigarette, plane or filter gives you the flavor you get through the modern miracle of the L and M Miracle tip through the pure white miracle tip L, M Tastes richer, smokes cleaner, draws easier so light up, free up let your taste come alive Live modern smoke.
Matt Dillon
L and M Make today your big.
Chester
Red letter day and start to live.
Matt Dillon
The modern way Live, live, live modern Get L. I told you to stay away from that window, Chester.
Chester
Well, I was only peeking to see if that there Mr. Dolliver was doing all right out there on the porch.
Matt Dillon
Why was he?
Chester
Oh, yes, sir. He's sitting real quiet, just staring off across the prairie.
Matt Dillon
That's good.
Chester
Most noon, Mr. Doane.
Matt Dillon
You getting hungry?
Chester
Well, I didn't have no breakfast to speak of, hardly. And now that you mention it, I don't guess I'd mind setting down to a plate of hot meat and maybe a loaf of sourdough bread. Maybe we could rummage around in his cupboard here, some.
Matt Dillon
I will eat when we get through here.
Chester
Yeah, sure, but when'll that be?
Matt Dillon
Not too long, if my hunch is right.
Chester
And if it ain't, You've been hungry before, haven't you?
Matt Dillon
Come on over here.
Chester
Well, I just can't hardly see Nothing out of this little hole.
Matt Dillon
There's a bigger one on your left there. Oh.
Chester
Yeah, I can see fine now.
Matt Dillon
I got an idea. There isn't going to be much to see anyway.
Chester
You can't never tell.
Matt Dillon
You sure our horses are out of sight?
Chester
I got them tied up back of the house. I told you, Mr. John.
Matt Dillon
Okay.
Chester
Hey, look at Mr. Dolliver. Got him. Knocked him right off of his chair.
Matt Dillon
Yeah. You see that puff of smoke out there?
Kate Kinsman
Yeah.
Matt Dillon
That's a good thousand yards.
Chester
That's some shooting. But whoever it is, pretty well hidden.
Matt Dillon
Now, we'll wait a minute, then we'll go out back and get our horses.
Chester
We're gonna have to ride awful fast.
Matt Dillon
We'll make it.
Chester
Well, what about Mr. Dolliver?
Matt Dillon
Leave him. He was hit square. Come on. We'll put our horses in the barn. Here, Jesse.
Chester
Nobody in sight yet.
Matt Dillon
Now, let's hurry. Tie him up most. First two stalls, huh?
Chester
All right. Black on the inside of a cow in here after that blazing sunshine, your.
Matt Dillon
Eyes will get used to it after a while.
Chester
I don't see nobody coming.
Matt Dillon
She'll be along directly. I wasn't too sure we'd beat her, Mr. Dillon.
Chester
What exactly did you tell her in that note you wrote?
Matt Dillon
Just that Ed Dolliver had a good alibi.
Chester
Who'd you say it was?
Matt Dillon
A woman.
Chester
A woman?
Matt Dillon
I didn't give a name. I just said that Dolliver was gonna bring the woman into Dodge tonight and prove it.
Chester
Well, I'll be darned.
Matt Dillon
You keep an eye out here, Chester. I'm going to take a look around the bar.
Kate Kinsman
No, you ain't, Marshall. Stand right where you are.
Chester
It's her. She beat us back here.
Kate Kinsman
Get your hands up, both of you.
Chester
I can't see a thing in here.
Matt Dillon
No use, Miss Kinsman. You can't shoot both of us.
Kate Kinsman
I said get your hands up.
Matt Dillon
That Sharps isn't a repeating rifle, you know.
Kate Kinsman
Then I'll shoot you, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
And Chester will take you if you do.
Kate Kinsman
I heard what you told him. Them lies you wrote.
Matt Dillon
I had to trick you out somehow.
Kate Kinsman
You can't prove I did nothing.
Matt Dillon
Oh, you proved it at Ed Dollivers a while ago. That's pretty good shooting at a thousand yards, Ms. Kinsman.
Kate Kinsman
Ha. Too good for a woman, Marshall. There ain't nobody'll believe you.
Matt Dillon
I didn't believe it myself when we looked at Jeff yesterday. That was quite some shooting, too.
Kate Kinsman
Get out of here and leave me alone.
Matt Dillon
I remembered something late, Miss Kinsman.
Kate Kinsman
What?
Matt Dillon
How your first husband took you out buffalo hunting with him. Yeah, you can shoot all right. Good as any man.
Kate Kinsman
This rifle's aimed right at your chest, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
You know, Ms. Kinsman, I feel kind of sorry for you.
Kate Kinsman
Sorry?
Matt Dillon
You liked men fighting over you. You needed for them, too. You needed it so bad you told Jeff lies about Ed Dolliver.
Kate Kinsman
That ain't so.
Matt Dillon
Oh, yes, it is. You just had to have a man killed over you. But you knew Dolliver wasn't interested, so you shot Jeff yourself. That way, at least people would think they were fighting over you.
Kate Kinsman
No.
Matt Dillon
My note about Dolliver's alibi being a woman destroyed all that, didn't it? You just couldn't take that, Marshall. Here, give me your rifle.
Kate Kinsman
I'm glad I killed him.
Matt Dillon
But you didn't kill him.
Kate Kinsman
What?
Matt Dillon
I sent Dolliver to Dodge for a day or so. What you shot was a couple of grain bags dressed in his clothes.
Chester
No.
Matt Dillon
That's true. No.
Kate Kinsman
I hated Jeff, but I hated Dolliver even worse now.
Matt Dillon
Like I say, Ms. Kinsman, I'm sorry for you. Jeff was a good man. Now there's nobody to fight for.
Narrator/Announcer
In a moment, our star, William Conrad. What's your hobby? Some folks are bird watchers. Some are stamp collectors. Others like spectator sports. But here's a hobby that should fascinate just about everybody, and that's sky watching. To help the Air Force spot unidentified planes, just a few hours a week, in your spare time, is all that's necessary to follow this exciting and vital pursuit. All you have to do is volunteer for the Ground Observer Corps, a civilian component of the Air Defense Command. You'll be trained and supervised by officers and airmen of the United States Air Force to spot planes in your filter area. Men and women from teenage up can help cover the blind spots in our radar system by sky watching for two hours a week. That's all that's needed to keep up the 24 hour schedule of the Ground Observer Corps. Besides doing a necessary job for America, you'll be varying your daily routine with a different kind of hobby. Get your friends and neighbors together to join you as volunteers for the goc. Find out from your local civilian defense office how you can be a ground observer for the usa. This has been a public service message by CBS Radio. And now, William Conrad.
Matt Dillon
You know, on the frontier it was usually land or water that were fought and died for. But next week, a man dies because of a clapboard building. And that was the West.
Narrator/Announcer
Gunsmoke, produced and Directed by Norman MacDonald. Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. Our story was specially written for Gunsmoke. By John Meston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey, sound patterns by Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Jeanette Nolan, Harry Bartel and Paul Dubov, Harley Bear As Chester, Howard McNear as Doc and Georgia Ellis as Kitty. Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal fights to bring law and order out of the wild violence of the.
Matt Dillon
West in Gun Smoke. Foreign.
Andrew Rines
This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate our shows in your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube and send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com you can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739 this episode is copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.
Matt Dillon
Sam.
Podcast: OTRWesterns.com
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Original Air Date: August 19, 1956
Episode Release Date: September 1, 2025
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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.
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.