
Original Air Date: July 01, 1956Host: Andrew RhynesShow: GunsmokePhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• William Conrad (Matt Dillion)• Parley Baer (Chester)• Georgia Ellis (Kitty)• Howard McNear (Doc) Special Guest:• Lawrence Dobkin Writer:• John Mesto...
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Andrew Ryans
Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Ryans and before we get into this episode I wanted to do a little PSA and remind you that I put out multiple shows a week of Old Time Radio Westerns. You can check them out by going to otrwesterns.com or looking up OTR Westerns on your podcast application of choice. We're releasing over 10 episodes a week so far, about 100amonth, so definitely want you to check that out again otrwesterns.com and check it out. I also wanted to invite you to check out my sister podcast site otnetcast and that's N E T C C A s t. So ot n e t c a s t netcast otnetcast.com we're currently releasing mystery genre shows and this is shows like the Shadow Escape, Suspense and the Whistler and we have plans on bringing other shows to the network for you guys to listen to. So it's my non western old time radio channel that I can kind of do other genres that not only I like, but hopefully you would like too. You can check us out by going to otnetcast or searching OT N E T C A S T on your podcast app of choice. Now let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke Original air dates July 1, 1956 and the title is Gun for Chester.
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Narrator
Gun Smoke brought to you by Chesterfield Chesterfield packs more pleasure because it's more perfectly packed. Thanks to Accuray, they satisfy the most 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.
Chester Proudfoot
Sam.
Matt Dillon
There.
Chester Proudfoot
That works.
Matt Dillon
Hello, Chester.
Chester Proudfoot
Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Are you going hunting?
Chester Proudfoot
No.
Matt Dillon
I saw all kinds of wild turkey about a mile down the Arkansas yesterday.
Chester Proudfoot
I ain't going hunting, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
What's the gun in all the shells for then?
Chester Proudfoot
Well, shotguns was made for more than shooting birds with.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, that's true.
Chester Proudfoot
Mr. Dillon, you ever hear me talk.
Matt Dillon
About Live Oak County, South Texas? Sure, I have. According to you, it's a hideout for bandits.
Chester Proudfoot
Yes, it is. And they've got a saying down there that if the law ever did catch any of them, there ain't enough good men around to act as a jury to try the bad ones.
Matt Dillon
Well, that's very interesting, Chester, but you're a long way from Live Oak county now.
Chester Proudfoot
Well, part of it's moved up here. What a's a Ledbetter? He's in Dodge.
Matt Dillon
He's a leadbetter. Is he an outlaw?
Chester Proudfoot
No, sir. But I seen him at the Long Branch. And there's only one thing he's here for, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Well, what?
Chester Proudfoot
To kill me?
Matt Dillon
All right, Chester. Are you going to tell me why Isa Ledbetter is here to kill you?
Chester Proudfoot
It don't matter why, Mr. Jones.
Matt Dillon
Okay, I'm gonna go in there and talk to him.
Chester Proudfoot
I'd assume you didn't.
Matt Dillon
I don't like people getting killed. And Dodge, Chester, even you. Now, you wait here. Hu. Hello. Say, you're the marshal. Your name Asa Let Butter. How'd you know that? Chester told me. Chester? Yeah, Chester Proudfoot. Okay, Marshall. He got my name right, but I don't recall his. What? I never heard no Chester Proudfoot. Glad to meet you, though. Buy a drink? Oh, thank you. Say, there was a fella in here a while ago. I remember cause he was staring at me so hard he heard me say my name, too. I was talking to a cowboy about finding work around here. Where you from? Le Veter, Texas. What part? Amarilla. Ever been in South Texas? No, never have. Marshall.
Narrator
What's this.
Matt Dillon
Now? Chester thinks that you came here to kill him. Now, just look here, Marshall. I don't know this Chester fella. Never even heard of. I don't go around murdering people. I hope that's true. Of course. Tis. And I don't like nobody dragging down my good name. Marshall, nobody is. So long. You just asked anybody from Amarillo about me, Marshall, they can tell you.
Chester Proudfoot
Chester, I feel like a darn fool standing out here.
Matt Dillon
Are you sure you haven't got Asa Ledbetter mixed up with somebody else?
Chester Proudfoot
Not hardly.
Matt Dillon
He claims he never heard of you.
Chester Proudfoot
He's been looking for me for years.
Matt Dillon
Why?
Chester Proudfoot
It don't matter why, Mr. Dylan. If I'm dead, all that matters is I'm dead.
Matt Dillon
Why don't you take a few days off, huh? Go fishing or something.
Chester Proudfoot
You don't believe me, do you?
Matt Dillon
I didn't say that, Chester.
Chester Proudfoot
Well, you'll be sorry, Mr. Dylan. You'll be real sorry.
Narrator
That whistling man, Bobby Haggart really started something tonight. The Calypso boys join in. Ready, amigos?
Chester Proudfoot
Packs more pleasure, Packs more pleasure Chesterfield packs more pleasure Because Chesterfield's more perfectly.
Narrator
Packed it stands to reason A cigarette made better and packed better Smokes better, tastes better and Chesterfield is more perfectly packed by Accuray this electronic miracle removes human error in cigarette manufacture. So Accuray Chesterfield is firm and pleasing to the lips Mild, yet deeply satisfying yes, Chesterfield gives you something no other cigarette can give you Chesterfield packs more.
Chester Proudfoot
Pleasure because Chesterfield's more perfectly packed to.
Narrator
The touch, to the taste Chesterfield packs more pleasure because it's more perfectly packed by Chesterfield Mild, yet they satisfy the most.
Matt Dillon
Well, Kenny, that was a real good dinner. And thank you.
Chester Proudfoot
Thank me?
Matt Dillon
Well, I thought you were paying for it.
Chester Proudfoot
You're the one who needs a vacation, not Chester.
Matt Dillon
Oh, but you're a rich woman. Kidding.
Chester Proudfoot
Let's talk about Chester. Does he really think Asa Ledbetters after him?
Matt Dillon
Well, that's what he says.
Chester Proudfoot
It's not like Chester to make up a thing like that.
Narrator
You say Hercules?
Chester Proudfoot
No, I'm going with you.
Matt Dillon
Something. It's a couple of drunken cowboys.
Chester Proudfoot
You going after him, Mr. Gillen? It's Chester Mack down there by the alley.
Matt Dillon
Come on.
Chester Proudfoot
Not with his arm. Looks like he's been hurt. Yeah, he shot me, Mr. Dylan. He shot me.
Matt Dillon
One of those cowboys?
Chester Proudfoot
No, AA led better.
Matt Dillon
What?
Chester Proudfoot
I seen them cussed cowboys coming, so I ducked in the alley here, and Ledbetter was down at the end of it, just waiting for me. I think you just hired them fellows to set up a commotion so she could get a shot at.
Matt Dillon
Here, let me see that arm.
Chester Proudfoot
Bullet went right in here, Mr. Dillon. It didn't break nothing, though.
Matt Dillon
Ah, Chester, you've been hurt worse than us a dozen times. Now, look, if you ducked in the other, you were probably facing the street, weren't you?
Chester Proudfoot
Yes, was.
Matt Dillon
All right, then Ledbetter wouldn't have been behind you. The bullet ended from in front.
Chester Proudfoot
It was him, I tell you.
Matt Dillon
Or the wild bullet from those cowboys.
Chester Proudfoot
You think I'm lying?
Matt Dillon
Well, I think you're worrying yourself into seeing things.
Chester Proudfoot
I'm going up to docs if I can make.
Matt Dillon
Now, wait a minute, Chester. Where's Ledbetter stand?
Chester Proudfoot
Well, he told me the Dodge House, Matt.
Matt Dillon
All right, I'll go talk to him. Sure.
Chester Proudfoot
You go talk to him. How many times do I have to be shot around here before Anybody believes me, it.
Matt Dillon
Oh, hello, Marshall. That better? Nothing wrong. How long you been in your room here? Well, I been taking a nap, Marshall, up until them drunks out there woke me up. Chester says you tried to shoot him a few minutes ago.
Chester Proudfoot
He's.
Matt Dillon
Now, Marshall, I'm getting sick and tired of this, Chester. What's he trying to do, anyway? He's pretty certain about it. Bound and determined to get me into trouble, a doggone if I know. Why. There must be some reason. Well, sure. And if there is, I don't know it. I'll be glad when I find me a job and get shut of this town. Never did hear nothing good about Dodge anyway. We try to keep it peaceful. Oh, sure, but it's like you say, probably ain't enough good men left to act as jury to try the bad ones. Well, just where do they say that letter? Oh, I don't know. You heard it before, ain't you? Yeah, I've heard it before. It's a saying down in South Texas in Live Oak County. Well, that may be. Marshall and I heard it in Amarillo. Now, ain't that possible? Yeah, I guess it is, Marshall. Listen here, if I come here to kill a man, what'd I be waiting around for, a change of weather?
Narrator
It don't make sense, does it?
Matt Dillon
No, no, it doesn't make sense. Any part of it. How does it look, Doc?
Chester Proudfoot
Well, it's just a scratch, man.
Matt Dillon
A scratch.
Chester Proudfoot
I suppose if I come in here scalped, you'd say the barber just give me too tight a haircut. Ah, Chester, be brave, boy. See? There we are. In a week, you'll never know you got hit. Well, it's a mercy it wasn't my gun arm.
Matt Dillon
Chester, I told you Asa Ledbetter was in his room the whole time.
Chester Proudfoot
You mean he told you.
Matt Dillon
I asked the desk clerk on the.
Chester Proudfoot
Way out and he was lying, too. Chester, how long since you've had a good night's sleep? Now, Doc, don't you start that. Well, you admit you didn't actually see Ledbetter in that alley. But next time you'll see him all right, won't you? Yeah, whether he's there or not. Have you finished doctoring my wound? Oh, now, wait a minute. Getting mad won't help you. Well, maybe it's. Where are you going? Who cares where out I'm going?
Matt Dillon
He'll get over it, Doc. Yeah, I hope so.
Chester Proudfoot
The only thing I can figure is that he's got this lead better mixed up with somebody else. Yeah, but it'd Certainly help if he'd say why he thinks he's absent because.
Matt Dillon
Matt. Yeah, what is it? Come over. Hit the window. What's going on? Look down there in the street. I'd say he's a lot better.
Chester Proudfoot
And Chester's standing there about to shoot him.
Matt Dillon
I better hurry. Doc, you on this. Getting plumb good and fire to you.
Chester Proudfoot
Then why don't you. You do something about it?
Matt Dillon
Yes, sir.
Chester Proudfoot
You stay out of this, Mr. Dylan.
Matt Dillon
I don't like gun fighting, no matter who starts it.
Chester Proudfoot
I didn't start it. He come here to shoot me.
Matt Dillon
Marshall. He is crazy. Ought to be locked up.
Chester Proudfoot
Sure, I'm crazy. I should have called y' all before now. You gonna fight or not?
Matt Dillon
No, I ain't gonna fight.
Chester Proudfoot
You scared?
Matt Dillon
I've got no quarrel with you.
Chester Proudfoot
Are you scared?
Matt Dillon
Leave him alone, Chester. No. Then tell me what this is all about.
Chester Proudfoot
No.
Matt Dillon
Now, Chester, why don't you just go off and. And get drunk or something? Chester.
Chester Proudfoot
Now will you draw? Now will you?
Matt Dillon
Oh, Marshall, I ain't going to take much more of him.
Chester Proudfoot
I said, are you?
Matt Dillon
All right, Chester, that's enough. Now you come with me.
Chester Proudfoot
You're a dirty coward.
Matt Dillon
You come with me. I.
Chester Proudfoot
You're with him, ain't you? You and Doc and everybody.
Matt Dillon
Maybe you are crazy, Chester.
Chester Proudfoot
Sure. Oh, sure.
Matt Dillon
Oh, where you going?
Chester Proudfoot
I'm gonna get me a drink, Al.
Narrator
Say, where are you listening to Gunsmoke in your car, getting ready for dinner. Oh, I see. Just relaxing in your favorite easy chair. Well, I'd say you're in a good spot right now to really enjoy a Chesterfield. You see, Chesterfield packs more pleasure because it's more perfectly packed. It stands to reason a cigarette made better and packed better smokes better, tastes better and Chesterfield is more perfectly packed by accuray. This electronic miracle removes human error in cigarette manufacture. So Accuray Chesterfield is firm and pleasing to the lips. Mild, yet deeply satisfying. Yes, Chesterfield gives you something no other cigarette can give you.
Chester Proudfoot
Chesterfield packs more pleasure because Chesterfield's more.
Narrator
Perfectly packed to the touch, to the taste. Chesterfield packs more pleasure because it's more perfectly packed by Chesterfield. Mild, yet they satisfy the most.
Matt Dillon
Doc, Is that you? Doug? Oh, man.
Chester Proudfoot
Why, it's 3:00 in the morning, man.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, You've been on a call.
Chester Proudfoot
Well, I haven't been romancing the ladies.
Matt Dillon
Is Chester asleep? Yeah, he's asleep, but not in the office.
Chester Proudfoot
Why not? Where is he?
Matt Dillon
I locked him in a cell out back.
Narrator
You locked him in?
Matt Dillon
What? He got drunk, Duck. By sundown he was as Drunk as I ever saw him.
Chester Proudfoot
Well, maybe he needed his mad. Maybe it'll bring him out of all this.
Matt Dillon
Well, something's got to.
Chester Proudfoot
Yes, he did. Well, I'm going to go to bed. You better go, too.
Matt Dillon
Here I am, Doc. I think I'll use Chester's bed in the office tonight. I see you tomorrow. Yeah. Good night, Doc. It's.
Chester Proudfoot
Don't move, Chester.
Matt Dillon
This here's a shotgun. All right, now get off that bed and get over to the window. Go on. Bet it. I'm gonna sit down here and light the lamp now. But you just stand steady. They shotguns right across my knees. Now, Chester, you and me, we're go. Marshall, what you doing here? I was trying to get some sleeping. Well, you don't sleep here. It's Chester's bed, all right. Or is he now? He's around somewhere.
Narrator
Where you go?
Matt Dillon
Stand still, Marshall. Stand still. I mean it. Thought I was just going to close the back door here. You left it open. I want it open. All right, I'll open it wide. Marshal, no call for you. Where's Chester Act. I don't know where he is. Leadbeater. You're lying. Yeah, I'm lying. He got drunk this afternoon. You brought him over here. I thought you put him to bed. But since you didn't, there but one place he'd be right out there in a cell behind you. You walk right past him on your way in. Ledbetter, get out of that doorway. Marshall, no. I'll shoot you if you don't. You'll shoot Chester if I do. Now move. I. I can't oblige you, Ledbetter.
Chester Proudfoot
I'm sorry.
Matt Dillon
Here's your marshal. Don't shoot again, Chester.
Chester Proudfoot
Mr. Dylan. Is he dead?
Matt Dillon
You hit him in the head with the first shot, Chester.
Chester Proudfoot
Pure luck. I heard you kick that door. It woke me up.
Matt Dillon
So I wonder. Anything could wake you up tonight.
Chester Proudfoot
I don't feel so good. But I ain't drunk no more. Hey, you got me locked in here.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I thought of that. But I forgot to take your gun away from you.
Chester Proudfoot
That was mighty careless of you, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
It doesn't matter now.
Chester Proudfoot
You knew I had it. You were gonna let him shoot at you so as it'd wake me up and I'd have a chance at him. I guess I was kindly wrong about you being again me.
Matt Dillon
You know, it might have helped things if you'd have told me why Ledbetter was after you, Chester.
Chester Proudfoot
I just couldn't, Mr. Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Now, why?
Chester Proudfoot
It had to do with a lady. She's dead now. And I didn't want nobody talking about her saying her name. Nobody. Can you understand that?
Matt Dillon
It'll be daylight soon, Chester. Let's go brew up some coffee, huh?
Chester Proudfoot
Thank you, Mr. Yellowman. Thank you.
Narrator
In a moment, our star, William Conrad. Vacation coming up soon. Here's how to pack More pleasure. Make sure you have a couple of cartons of Chesterfields in your suitcase or in your car's glove compartment. A touch tells you Chesterfields are firm, packed full. Your taste tells you they satisfy the most. So when you do your vacation shopping, ask your dealer for Chesterfields. Buy the carton, you know.
Matt Dillon
The early frontier years were lusty and brawling, and men happily fought each other as a matter of course. But next week, it's the man who refuses to fight that causes all the trouble. And that was the West. Good night.
Narrator
Gunsmoke, Produced and Directed by Norman MacDonald. Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, US Marshal Our story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston with music composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Sound pattern by Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast was Lawrence Dobkin as Asa Ledbetter, Harley Bear as Chester, Howard McNair as Doc, and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. Live modern smoke L M.
Matt Dillon
Yes, have.
Narrator
An L M. No other cigarette you can buy, plane or filter gives you the full exciting flavor you get through the pure white L and M Miracle tip through the modern miracle tip L M tastes richer, smokes cleaner, draws easier so light up, free up, let your tastes come alive. Live modern smoke L M Join us again next week for another specially transcribed story on gun smoke.
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Matt Dillon
A little.
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Andrew Ryans
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 free information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.
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Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode: Gun for Chester | Gunsmoke (original airdate: July 1, 1956)
Release Date: August 19, 2025
This episode is a lovingly restored presentation of the classic radio drama “Gunsmoke: Gun for Chester,” immersing listeners in the perilous yet nostalgic atmosphere of Dodge City. The adventure centers on Chester Proudfoot, Marshal Matt Dillon’s loyal if bumbling deputy, who believes his life is in danger as a shadow from his Texas past, Asa Ledbetter, appears in town. Throughout the episode, themes of suspicion, loyalty, trust, and the burden of past secrets play out, culminating in a tense and emotionally charged resolution.
Notable Quote:
"What? I never heard no Chester Proudfoot. Glad to meet you, though. Buy a drink?"
—Asa Ledbetter ([08:18])
Notable Quote:
"If I'm dead, all that matters is I'm dead."
—Chester Proudfoot ([10:19])
Notable Quote:
"How many times do I have to be shot around here before anybody believes me?"
—Chester Proudfoot ([14:23])
Notable Quote:
"You're a dirty coward."
—Chester Proudfoot to Ledbetter ([19:16])
Notable Quote:
"Maybe he needed his mad. Maybe it'll bring him out of all this."
—Doc ([22:08])
Notable Quotes:
"You knew I had it. You were gonna let him shoot at you so as it'd wake me up and I'd have a chance at him. I guess I was kindly wrong about you being 'gain me."
—Chester Proudfoot to Matt Dillon ([25:32])
"It had to do with a lady. She's dead now. And I didn't want nobody talking about her, saying her name. Nobody. Can you understand that?"
—Chester Proudfoot ([25:59])
Chester’s paranoia and Matt’s skepticism:
"I saw all kinds of wild turkey about a mile down the Arkansas yesterday."
—Matt Dillon ([06:58])
Chester’s fatalism:
"If I'm dead, all that matters is I'm dead."
—Chester Proudfoot ([10:19])
Comic relief amid tension:
"I suppose if I come in here scalped, you'd say the barber just give me too tight a haircut."
—Chester Proudfoot ([16:57])
Disclosure of Chester's secret:
"It had to do with a lady. She's dead now. And I didn't want nobody talking about her, saying her name. Nobody."
—Chester Proudfoot ([25:59])
True to the spirit of vintage radio westerns, the episode combines suspenseful drama, earnest character interactions, and a signature blend of pathos and rugged humor. The dialogue is economical but vivid, with a heavy focus on emotion and implied backstory rather than exposition. The camaraderie between Matt and Chester, shadowed by the threat of violence and mystery, sustains a tone of tense affection and stoic resilience.
Closing Scene Quote:
"It'll be daylight soon, Chester. Let's go brew up some coffee, huh?"
—Matt Dillon ([26:19])
OTR Westerns releases over 10 classic episodes weekly, continuing to digitally restore vintage radio dramas such as “Gunsmoke.” Check out otrwesterns.com for more immersive adventures into America’s audio frontier.