Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode Summary: "Gunsmoke – Annie Oakley" (Original Air Date: 08-19-1956)

Released: September 1, 2025

Host: Andrew Rhynes

Main Theme

This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns features a digitally remastered broadcast of Gunsmoke, presenting the story "Annie Oakley" (note: in the actual episode, Annie Oakley is not a character, but the title refers to a storyline involving a sharp-shooting woman). The episode explores themes of jealousy, pride, reputation, and the consequences of violence in a tight-knit frontier community. Marshal Matt Dillon finds himself untangling a deadly case of accusation, manipulation, and murder, ultimately revealing the tragedy at the heart of a woman's need to be desired and fought over.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Kinsman-Dolliver Feud (05:16–08:05)

• The story opens with tension between Jeff Kinsman, his wife Kate, and neighbor Ed Dolliver.

• Kate openly accuses Jeff of letting Dolliver flirt with her, provoking a heated confrontation.

• Notably, Kate is portrayed as domineering and physically larger than her husband, further complicating the dynamic.

  "Maybe you lost your pride, Jeff Kinsman, but I sure ain't. What kind of a man are you anyway?"
  — Kate Kinsman (05:37)

• The men square off but don’t come to blows, and Marshal Dillon warns that further violence will be swiftly punished.

2. Backstory: Kate Kinsman's Hard Life (09:54–11:02)

• Matt Dillon and Kitty Russell discuss Kate's past and the bitter edge in her relationships.

• It's revealed Kate lost her first husband, a buffalo hunter, and often accompanied him into rough situations.

  "She might have been [pretty] once. That woman's lived a hard life, Matt."
  — Kitty (10:33)

3. Jeff Kinsman's Murder & the Suspicion of Ed Dolliver (11:40–15:21)

• Kate finds her husband dead on the prairie; she accuses Ed Dolliver, based on circumstantial evidence.

• Marshal Dillon and Chester arrive to examine the scene, finding a spent Sharps .50 caliber shell near a clump of grass a thousand yards away.

• Doc notes the wound suggests a long-distance shot, consistent with a Sharps rifle—one Dolliver recently acquired.

  "You're forgetting Ed Dolliver has a new Sharps 50, ain't you, Doc?"
  — Kate Kinsman (12:57)

4. Dolliver’s Lack of Alibi and the Marshal’s Deception (15:47–18:45)

• Ed Dolliver cannot provide an alibi and seems disinterested in defending himself, fueling suspicion.

• Notably, Dolliver points out the pitfalls of protesting innocence too loudly.

  "Well, I figure sometimes if a man raises too big a holler about how innocent he is, kind of works to make people think he’s guilty."
  — Dolliver (16:21)

• Marshal Dillon devises a plan: he writes a note to Kate claiming Dolliver has a solid alibi—a woman who will testify for him.

5. Exposing the True Killer (19:27–24:44)

• Marshal Dillon and Chester set a trap, waiting at Dolliver’s deserted home.

• Kate Kinsman, believing Dolliver will soon be cleared by a woman's testimony, tries one more time to kill him—revealing herself as the true sharpshooter.

• Cornered, Kate confesses both to the shootings and the emotional need that drove her to orchestrate the feud.

  "You liked men fighting over you. You needed it so bad, you told Jeff lies about Ed Dolliver. ... You just had to have a man kill 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."
  — Matt Dillon (23:47)

• Dillon further reveals Dolliver was never at risk; a decoy had been used to force the culprit’s hand.

  "What you shot was a couple of grain bags dressed in his clothes."
  — Matt Dillon (24:27)

• Kate breaks down, torn by her actions and the unfulfilled longing for validation.

6. Tragic Resolution & Closing Reflection (24:44–25:15)

• Dillon expresses sympathy for Kate’s tragic loneliness.

• The episode ends on a somber note, reflecting on frontier values and the deadly cost of pride and isolation.

  "Like I say, Ms. Kinsman, I’m sorry for you. Jeff was a good man. Now there’s nobody to fight for you."
  — Matt Dillon (24:44)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Kate Kinsman’s Anguish:
  "Just being a woman men fight over just makes me guilty." (15:05)
• Marshal Dillon’s Insight:
  "That was quite some shooting, too." (23:12)
  "You can shoot, all right. Good as any man." (23:25)
• The Reveal:
  "What you shot was a couple of grain bags dressed in his clothes." (24:27)

Notable Timestamps

• 05:16 – Introduction of the conflict between the Kinsmans and Dolliver
• 10:33 – Kitty and Dillon discuss Kate's hard life and motivations
• 12:43 – Scene of Jeff Kinsman’s murder is examined
• 15:21 – Sharps .50 caliber shell is discovered, focusing suspicion on Dolliver
• 16:21–16:28 – Dolliver’s resigned attitude to his own guilt
• 17:24–17:37 – Dillon launches his plan to reveal the true killer
• 22:32–24:44 – Final confrontation and confession by Kate Kinsman

Episode Tone

The episode maintains the classic, reserved gravitas of Gunsmoke, portraying the West as both physically and emotionally harsh. The dialogue is measured, with deep undercurrents of loneliness, pride, and psychological tension, culminating in an unexpected and tragic twist that underscores the complexity of frontier lives.

For New Listeners

This story is a fine example of Gunsmoke’s nuanced approach to Western drama, offering more than just shootouts and outlaws. The episode delves into the tragic flaws and emotional needs of its characters, set against a backdrop where the law must grasp at fragile truths—and sometimes, the deadliest gunslinger is the one nobody suspects.