Gunsmoke 53-12-26 (088): "The Guitar"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: October 30, 2025
Original Broadcast: December 26, 1953
Starring: William Conrad as Matt Dillon

Episode Overview

This classic "Gunsmoke" radio episode unfolds in Dodge City, centering on Weed Pendle, a mild, peculiar drifter with nothing but a scrawny mule and a treasured guitar. When two town bullies target him for his wartime past and his outsider status, tensions escalate to cruelty and violence. Marshal Matt Dillon, with the help of Chester and others, tries to protect Pendle, but tragedy and frontier justice soon collide. The episode explores themes of cruelty, compassion, isolation, and the breaking point of the human spirit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Weed Pendle (02:38 - 06:53)

• Setting: Dodge City saloon. Chester and Doc are joined by the odd, harmless figure of Weed Pendle.
• Pendle's Background:
  • A Civil War veteran, formerly fought for the Union (Third Illinois Cavalry), a fact held against him by ex-Confederate locals.
  • Destitute, rides his mule from place to place, carrying only his guitar—never playing it for anyone but himself.
• Bullying Begins:
  • Town bullies Tyler and Short ridicule Pendle’s appearance and poverty, then threaten to stage a mock hanging to “show him a real hangin’.”
  • "You forget about that and forget about the war, too. It's over. The next time I catch you up to anything like this, you're gonna go to jail." - Matt Dillon (07:17)

2. Pendle’s Struggles and Brief Kindness (07:56 - 10:16)

• After the Incident:
  • Marshall Dillon offers Pendle temporary refuge and a chance at working in the saloon.
  • Discussion about Pendle’s lifelong wandering, isolation, and reluctance to share his music.
  • "I never played it for nobody to hear except me." - Weed Pendle (08:28)

3. Escalation of Bullying — The Mule Incident (12:37 - 15:01)

• Tyler and Short’s Cruelty Worsens:
  • They maim Pendle’s mule as a twisted joke referencing his Union Army past.
  • "I ought to cut an ear off of each of you, but I can't do that. So I'm gonna do the next best." - Matt Dillon (14:36)
• Community Response:
  • Chester and Matt lament the mean-spiritedness and recognize Pendle’s vulnerability.
  • Pendle confessed to never forming close bonds:
    • "He never stayed anywhere long enough to get to know anybody that well." – Kitty (15:35)

4. Forced Performance and Heartbreak (15:51 - 19:11)

• Ultimatum in the Saloon:
  • Tyler and Short threaten to shoot Pendle’s mule unless he plays his guitar for the crowd.
  • Surprise: Despite never playing for others, Pendle’s music beautifully captivates everyone, winning over the town momentarily.
  • "Oh, man, that was beautiful." – Kitty (16:22)
• Retaliation:
  • Tyler and Short, still spiteful, destroy Pendle’s guitar and menace him at gunpoint:
    • "It's a little bit too big for a man like you. But I can make it smaller... There you are, Yankee soldier. Maybe this will learn him." – Tyler (18:30)

5. Double Murder and Aftermath (19:11 - 23:02)

• Discovery:
  • Tyler and Short are found dead with their throats cut, presumably while they slept.
  • Citizens, including Sam the bartender, close ranks to shield Pendle, offering him an alibi.
  • "Any man can take just so much, Chester." – Matt Dillon (19:51)
• Moral Dilemmas:
  • No evidence ties Pendle directly, as townsfolk refuse to cooperate with Dillon’s investigation.
  • Both the law and the community quietly accept the outcome, sympathizing with Pendle over the dead men.

6. Final Reflections and Departure (23:02 - 24:08)

• Pendle’s Exit:
  • Pendle leaves town, riding away on his now one-eared mule, guitarless and alone, but free.
  • Matt and Chester reflect with regret and a touch of hope that Pendle might find new acceptance elsewhere.
  • "Now, Dodge treated Pendle pretty rough." – Matt Dillon (23:12)
  • "He sure did. Poor little fellow. Looks kind of empty like that. He's guitar, don't he?" – Chester (23:16)
  • "Well, maybe you'll find another one somewhere. Anyway, they sure like to hear him play in this town. A couple of the boys in particular, I guess." – Matt Dillon (23:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Vengeance and Limits:

  • "Any man can take just so much, Chester." – Matt Dillon (19:51)

• Pendle’s Nature:

  • "I never played it for nobody to hear except me." – Weed Pendle (08:28)
  • "I guess they're all trying to protect Pendle." – Chester (22:42)

• Rare Kindness:

  • "Well, go on, tell him now..." – Sam, standing up for Pendle with an alibi (21:14)

• On Justice in Dodge:

  • "There's a law against murder, Sam, and it's the same for everybody." – Matt Dillon (22:10)

Timestamps for Pivotal Segments

• Intro & Setup: 02:38 – Dodge City, Weed Pendle arrives
• Mock Hanging and Rescue: 06:53 – Matt Dillon returns, breaks up hanging
• First Act of Cruelty (Mule): 13:37–15:01 – Pendle’s mule is maimed
• Guitar Performance/Ultimatum: 15:55–17:19 – Pendle is forced to play, wows crowd
• Guitar Destroyed: 18:20–19:11 – Tyler and Short smash Pendle’s guitar
• Aftermath & Murders Discovered: 19:11–22:05 – Tyler and Short found dead, townspeople close ranks
• Pendle’s Departure: 23:02–End – Pendle leaves town

Tone and Style

• Grim and Gritty: As with many "Gunsmoke" episodes, the atmosphere is suspenseful, dry, and tinged with melancholy.
• Empathetic: The characters, especially Matt and Chester, display increasing empathy for Pendle as his troubles mount.

Final Thoughts

"The Guitar" stands as a powerful episode exemplifying the hard edges and flashes of compassion that defined the golden age of radio westerns. The story’s melancholy arc—an outsider bullied to the brink, responding with unexpected dignity and possible violence, and the tacit complicity of a weary community—leaves listeners pondering justice, mercy, and the human need for belonging.