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Tyler Redick
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Matt Dillon
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 April 28, 1957 and the title is Medicine Man.
Tyler Redick
Tyler redick here from 2311 racing another checkered flag for the books. Time to celebrate with Chumba. Jump in@chumbacasino.com let's Chumba no purchase necessary. BTW Group void where prohibited by law CTNCS21+ sponsored by Chumba Casino.
Narrator
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. Gun Sport Starring William Conrad. The 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 chance, a job. And it makes a man watchful and a little lonely.
Hart Finney
Got a pretty smart idea there, Mr. Jones.
Grant Medford
Oh, what do you mean, justice?
Hart Finney
Well, fixing up the back of his
Chester
wagon that way with that flare of piano. That thing that drops down, makes a platform stand on and feel it.
Grant Medford
The crowd.
Hart Finney
That took some thinking to do to think of that.
Matt Dillon
Well, he better go on thinking to figure out some new place to set it up.
Hart Finney
I don't want nobody to.
Chester
He's about to start his selling talk.
Grant Medford
Yeah, now we'll wait till he finishes.
Hart Finney
There will be more of that later, folks. But right now I'm to going going to let you in on the T of a lifetime.
Chester
Reckon we are moving a little D closer. Mister.
Hart Finney
This is fine to look close to
Grant Medford
this bottle I'm holding in my hand
Hart Finney
because this bottle is going to change your whole plan life for every single one of you.
Chester
You're asking me why?
Hart Finney
And I'm going to tell you why.
Grant Medford
I didn't hear nobody ask.
Hart Finney
Every one of these bottles is filled right up to the court with old Dr. Walker's muscle bone Broke Blood and Nerve Tonic. And if there's a man, a woman or a child here that ain't ever heard of old Dr. Walker's muscle bone Burdened Nerve tonic, let him speak right up now and display his.
Matt Dillon
You heard of it?
Hart Finney
Justice I. Tonight, you good people of Dodge City, opportunity is yours because it is my favorite to introduce the first time on the frontier this famous elixir, this bottle tram of radiant health, this magic BL of 27, mind you, 27 powerful drugs and herbs. Many of them taken from the magic medical secrets of ancient Greece and Egypt.
Chester
He sure does get rot up, don't he?
Hart Finney
Listen, now that I owe me to the first 20 of you who step up here, I will give the unheard of opportunity of buying a new life for the unbelievable and insignificant sum of only one dollar. One silver dollar. Now who'll be first?
Grant Medford
You going to join?
Matt Dillon
Now, now wait till he finishes with his customers here.
Hart Finney
Richard. Howdy there. Just a minute sir. I have to get you a bottle
Grant Medford
out of the wagon. No, I. I'm not a customer.
Matt Dillon
My name's Dylan.
Grant Medford
Matt Dylan.
Matt Dillon
I. I'm a U.S. marshal here in Dodge.
Grant Medford
Oh, I see.
Matt Dillon
Well, it's the law.
Hart Finney
My name is Hart Finney.
Chester
Marshall.
Hart Finney
Meg, this is Marshall Dillon.
Grant Medford
This is my wife.
Matt Dillon
Pleased to meet you, man.
Chester
What do you want with us now?
Grant Medford
Meg? Meg.
Hart Finney
Marshall. I know how some of these tonics
Grant Medford
people sell are, but this one of mine is different, I'll swear to that.
Matt Dillon
Well, that's not quite what I mean.
Hart Finney
I had bad health, Marshall. That's why we had to leave Virginia and take up this kind of work. Live out in the open, the doctor said. And I'll tell you, I've been taking this tonic myself regularly and it helps too. I feel a dang sight better than I ever did.
Matt Dillon
Well, I'm glad to hear that.
Hart Finney
And the price ain't out of line neither. It cost me 60 cents a bottle, cash laid down in Kansas City. And if that's.
Grant Medford
Wait just a minute, mister.
Matt Dillon
I'm not here because of this medicine you're selling.
Grant Medford
It's.
Matt Dillon
Well, it's the spot that you picked or selling on.
Grant Medford
What's the matter with it? It's common held land, ain't it? No, it belongs to a man named Grant Medford, saloon keeper here in Dodge.
Hart Finney
But I asked a couple of people
Grant Medford
and they said it was public and even a. Well, one of everybody. Well, I know people have gotten kind of into the habit of thinking of
Matt Dillon
it as public property, but it isn't. Grant Medford took it up under the Homestead act quite a few years back.
Grant Medford
He just hasn't gotten around to proven it up yet. Oh, but now he's aiming to, is that it? All of a sudden?
Matt Dillon
Right this weekend?
Grant Medford
Well, I wouldn't know.
Matt Dillon
He still got a right to keep trespassers off though. So he's filed a legal complaint.
Grant Medford
Mr. Finny.
Hart Finney
It ain't like I was hurting the property none, Marshall. And I'm only going to be here less than a week just as my stock is gone.
Matt Dillon
I got no choice, Mr. Finney. I got to serve this man notice on you.
Hart Finney
The only vacant ground around that's close to the saloons and eating places where a lot of people come by.
Matt Dillon
I'm sorry.
Grant Medford
You're telling us to get. Is that it?
Matt Dillon
I'm afraid so, Mr. Finny.
Grant Medford
I can give you a little morning, that's all. Marshall, I'm a reasonable man. When I'm treated reasonable, it ain't you. I mean, you got your duty to do. But this fella Metford, well, he sounds mighty selfish. And I don't like a selfish man. No, Marshall, I'm not hurting a thing. I'm Stan.
Matt Dillon
Sorry, Mr.
Grant Medford
Funny, but the law says you can't. And what do you say? I'm a law man.
Hart Finney
Let me have a refill of that
Chester
rye whiskey there, Kitty.
Kitty
This one?
Chester
Yeah. Why don't you just set it here on the bar? Sure, why not? Go ahead, pour it yourself in.
Kitty
That's it.
Grant Medford
Well, I gotta see what my competitors are serving, don't I? Evening, kiddie.
Kitty
How are you, man?
Chester
Well, good evening, Marshall.
Grant Medford
Have a drink?
Matt Dillon
Not right now, thanks, my friend.
Grant Medford
Yeah.
Chester
Did you get rid of them trespassers for me?
Matt Dillon
They'll be leaving in the morning.
Grant Medford
In the morning?
Chester
Why didn't you boot them out tonight?
Matt Dillon
I won't read anything to let them stay the morning.
Chester
Of course, I might be persuaded to let that woman here stay around long she wants.
Hart Finney
He's a mighty good looker.
Grant Medford
Look, Medford, this man Finney seems to
Matt Dillon
be pretty decent and honest. He's heading out for Kansas City as soon as he gets rid of his stock. It wouldn't hurt you any to let him stay out the week, would it?
Grant Medford
Well now, I reckon you did see that woman all right. Sweet talk here. Did she? That's enough, Marshall. I signed a trespassing complaint, ain't that right?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, you did.
Grant Medford
Well then why don't you Just your service.
Chester
You're always talking to all fired holy
Grant Medford
about upholding the law. Ben.
Matt Dillon
Sir, I'm Just trying to give you a chance to do something for somebody
Grant Medford
for once in your life.
Chester
You get them two out of there.
Grant Medford
Marshall, if you ain't man enough, then me and the boys will come around and do it for you and your boys. Book your noses into my business and
Matt Dillon
I'll knock your heads together.
Grant Medford
Is that clear? I nothing more to say to you.
Kitty
Wait a minute, Mr. Medford.
Grant Medford
You owe me a dollar for those drinks. Dollar? With my place, you can get four drinks for a dollar.
Kitty
Sure, but we buy our liquor, we
Chester
don't make it in the back room.
Hart Finney
Where?
Chester
Now, man, that seems to be the trouble in there.
Matt Dillon
You ought to know, Doc. You and Chester have been standing there hanging on every word, flapping your ears like a pair of jackasses.
Chester
Oh, don't you go checking it out on us just because you're riled up at Grant Medford. That man's got me riled up too, Doc. Well, by all rights, I ought to be trying to run this out of town myself. You know he's gonna hurt my practice if that stuff makes everybody as healthy
Grant Medford
as he claims it will.
Matt Dillon
I notice you bought a bottle from him yourself, Doug.
Grant Medford
I did?
Chester
Oh, oh, yes, of course.
Grant Medford
Yes, yes.
Chester
Well, I was like I was seeing the chest. I wanted to find out what was in it, you understand? See if it was harmful or not.
Grant Medford
That's if you ask me. It ain't nothing harmful about it.
Chester
I bought myself two pint of it. Oh, yes, you would. You drink anything wrong as you put
Grant Medford
it up in a bottle.
Chester
Just the same, Doc, it's got a mighty pleasant taste to it. Ought to. It's 20% alcohol, Grant.
Grant Medford
Medicine's a cheap, crooked skin fixer and
Chester
everybody in town knows it. Now then, why don't you just tear up that wart and forget about it?
Grant Medford
I can't do that, Doctor.
Matt Dillon
Finish will have to pull out first thing in the morning.
Kitty
I don't know where he is. And I ain't lying to you, Martha.
Matt Dillon
I didn't say you were.
Kitty
Ms. Finnick, I tell you if I know, but I just.
Grant Medford
I don't know.
Kitty
At least not exactly.
Matt Dillon
He must have told you something before he left.
Kitty
Well, sure he did. Just like I said. You're to go here to leave us back.
Grant Medford
He knew the two of you were to be off this property first thing this morning.
Kitty
Oh, he knowed it, all right. He'll be here any minute now.
Grant Medford
Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Ms. Honey, how do you know he'll
Grant Medford
be here if you don't let you know where he went?
Kitty
I didn't say that. I said I didn't know where he was right this minute.
Matt Dillon
Then tell me where he went.
Kitty
I can't tell you, Marshall. Hart said not to. He said he'd explain you all about himself. Anything Hart says he'd do, I do.
Grant Medford
Look man, I know loyalty, it's a fine thing. But I sold an eviction notice on you two last night and you got to abide by it. Your feelings are. I need. There's no. It's all right, Marshall. It's all right. She was only doing what she was doing.
Hart Finney
What is he that judge of yours, what's his name?
Grant Medford
Judge Bannon? Yeah. Open minded law too. Why he gave me a paper here. Marshall, I reckon maybe you ought to take a look at him. Kind of think something like this or the hole up provided a report. You're a mind to enforce the law who sink you out of town as you do with the dark city station a man's right. It's right. It's definitely no matter where he comes from. Then you will back up this here piece of paper. That might take some dawn.
Matt Dillon
Aunt Medford's a hard man and he's
Grant Medford
got some many tough boys working for him. Marshal, maybe the law here can't be bought out, but could it maybe get scared? Why don't you just wait Mr. Penny and you'll see.
Chester
I don't see many Medford boys in that crowd, Mr. Jones.
Matt Dillon
He'll bring him with him. Chester, whenever he gets himself worked up.
Hart Finney
I want your undivided attention. If you. Now, in just a few short minutes, I'm going to open the doors of opportunity to one and all of you once again. And while you're waiting, my good wife Meg will put a new row in the Tiana. All right, man, give the good folks
Chester
in the new table. Hello man. Chestnut.
Matt Dillon
Our Doc.
Chester
You ought to brought yourself a little extra help, Grant. Mentor will have eight or ten men with him. I told him the same thing.
Matt Dillon
You're almost right, Doc.
Grant Medford
He's got nine men with him when he finds it.
Hart Finney
Oh.
Chester
Oh my God.
Grant Medford
Here they come. Marshall.
Hart Finney
Marshall.
Grant Medford
He's coming down the street there.
Matt Dillon
I figured I'd better slap my gun
Hart Finney
on and come down here and help.
Matt Dillon
Now you can unstrap it, Mr. Finney and get back over to that wagon and run your show.
Grant Medford
I ain't never asked another man to fight my battle.
Matt Dillon
Get me in this case, it's the law fight now.
Grant Medford
Go on.
Matt Dillon
Now you get into this with a gun in your belt. It's the same as asking for A shooting. So you stay out of it. All right, Marshall. Come on, Chester. We'll walk out to the street and meet him. Chester. You stay out of it too, Doc.
Chester
I will. In a pig's eye. Old Met looks mighty upset, Mr. John.
Matt Dillon
I imagine he is. He's had all day to get that way.
Chester
What's the meaning of this, Marshall?
Matt Dillon
All right, that's far enough. You men.
Chester
How come you ain't enforced that warrant?
Grant Medford
Marshall, how come you didn't kick these
Chester
trespassers off my property?
Matt Dillon
I'm afraid it'd be against the law.
Chester
Against the law?
Matt Dillon
It turns out it's not your property after all.
Grant Medford
What are you talking about?
Matt Dillon
The fact that Hart Finney and Judge Bent put their heads together this morning and came up with a writ of injunction. Yeah, you can take a look at it if you want. Seems this ground's public domain.
Grant Medford
What kind of enigling you trying to pull off?
Chester
I took up this land eight years ago.
Matt Dillon
That's right, Method. But you didn't build on it and
Grant Medford
you didn't prove it up.
Matt Dillon
And according to Judge Bent, unimproved line that's left open to public use without protest for five years or more reverts to public domain.
Chester
Judge Bent's out of his mind.
Matt Dillon
That well over there has been used by everybody in town for the last six years. The Judge Bent figures that's plenty of public use to wipe out your claim to the title.
Chester
You hear that boy? Shyster carnival barker turns out to be
Grant Medford
a squatter, a low down land grabber.
Matt Dillon
Now wait a minute, Medford Benny hasn't grabbed anything.
Chester
Now he's got the law swinging along with him.
Grant Medford
Wise, maybe. Perhaps he got that pretty faced knife that is his sweet talk remarks.
Matt Dillon
Now I warned you about that once.
Grant Medford
All right, come on, get up. You're not hurt that bad. You're Marshall. I talk big too. I was a gunslinger talking to a
Chester
businessman I knew couldn't begin to outdraw me.
Grant Medford
You got some kind of suggestion you want to make sure? Sure you take off that thing, I'll break in two. Chester. Chester.
Matt Dillon
First one of Medford's men that makes
Grant Medford
a move, blow a hole at him with that shotgun.
Matt Dillon
Here.
Grant Medford
Doug.
Matt Dillon
Oh, my gun belt.
Grant Medford
With him. Are you sure?
Matt Dillon
All right, Mr.
Grant Medford
Method, start breaking. I'm ready.
Narrator
I've been waiting for a chance like this.
Chester
Watch out for his spurs. Man. This small man. Least one can fight.
Matt Dillon
Have you had enough? My buddy?
Hart Finney
I kill you. All right,
Chester
All right, all right. You men who work for him.
Hart Finney
Any of you want to take up where he left off.
Matt Dillon
Then pack him down the street and soak him in that horse trough. He can't lie here all night. Go on.
Grant Medford
We're both mighty grateful to you, Martin.
Matt Dillon
Ah, forget it, mister. Funny. It would happen sooner or later even
Grant Medford
if you hadn't been here. He's had. I'd come for a long time.
Chester
He certainly has, Matt. And you gave it to him good.
Matt Dillon
You know, Mr. Finny, you better grab on to this crowd and sell them some tonic before they start drifting away.
Narrator
My golly, you're right.
Matt Dillon
Thanks again.
Grant Medford
All right.
Matt Dillon
Well, looks like Dodge has got its open new municipal park, doesn't it?
Chester
Yeah, that's right.
Hart Finney
Looks like we're going to be civilized around here 40 miles.
Chester
We sure are, Chester. Oh, excuse me, boys. I got to get me some more of that stuff.
Matt Dillon
You're still testing it, Doc?
Chester
Well, of course. What else would I be doing?
Matt Dillon
Hey, tell me something, will you?
Chester
Tell you what?
Matt Dillon
You sure that stuff's only 20% alcohol?
Grant Medford
Thank you, George.
Matt Dillon
You know, it was just five years ago this month that Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty and Doc first walked along the plaza in Dodge City, Kansas. And there's one very good reason why you still find them living there in that wild camp at the edge of the high plains. CBS radio's listeners seem to want it that way. It's our feeling that perhaps no period in American history has given birth to so many giant, legendary or historical as those fabulous frontier years. We like to think that Gunsmoke has had a part in portraying it. We've tried for as much truth as good drama will allow and as research will furnish. We like to think also that radio brings you the full flavor of this old West. Matt Dillon's little asides to Chester Proudfoot and conjure up vivid pictures of, oh, the Kansas plains, the sod huts, the great herds of Texas cattle, the heat, the mud, the buffalo skinners, the lonely ranging bands of Indians. All of which have long since vanished from the American scene. So on this, our fifth anniversary, may we sincerely thank you for your interest, which, after all, made the whole thing possible.
Narrator
Gun Smoke produced and Directed by Norman McDonnell. Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. The story was partially written for Gunsmoke by Les Crutchfield with editorial supervision by John Meston. The Gunsmoke theme was the composed by Rex Corey, sound patterns by Tom Hanley and Bill James. Featured in the cast were John Dana, Vic Perrin and Virginia Greg Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNair is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. William Conrad co starring with Academy Award winner Anthony Quinn may soon be seen in his own production of the Ride Back for the Associates and Aldrich, a United Artist released. Join us again next week for another story on gun smoke.
Tyler Redick
Tyler redick here from 2311 Racing Victory Lane. Yeah, it's even better with Chumba by my side. Race to chumbacasino.com let's Chumba no purchase necessary. BTW group void where prohibited by law. CTNCS21+ sponsored by Chumba Casino.
Chester
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.
Tyler Redick
Tyler redick here from 2311 racing another checkered flag for the books. Time to celebrate with Chumba. Jump in@chumbacasino.com let's chumba no purchase necessary BTW group void where prohibited by law. CTNCs 21/plus sponsored by Chumba Casino.
Old Time Radio Westerns Podcast | Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode Date: March 29, 2026
This episode of Gunsmoke, titled “Medicine Man,” transports listeners into classic Dodge City, where themes of law, fairness, and the Wild West’s spirit clash over a visiting medicine show's right to operate. The narrative follows U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon as he finds himself mediating a dispute between a traveling “medicine man,” Hart Finney, and the powerful local saloonkeeper, Grant Medford, who claims Finney is trespassing on his land. As tensions rise, questions of property rights, legal maneuvering, and the humanity beneath the law’s surface drive the action, all while Dodge City's citizens look on—and sometimes scheme—themselves.
[02:44 – 07:39]
[07:39 – 11:45]
[10:41 – 13:49]
[12:04 – 13:49]
[14:13 – 19:16]
[20:03 – 20:29]
[20:51 – 22:32]
Blending earnest lawfulness, classic Western tension, and wry humor, the episode retains the measured, rugged straightforwardness emblematic of Gunsmoke. The camaraderie and quirks of the regulars temper the gravity of the core conflict—justice as both letter and spirit is the through-line.
Fans of classic Western storytelling will appreciate this episode’s authentic blend of legal wrangling, neighborly loyalty, colorful scams, and old-fashioned brawling—all brought to life by iconic radio performances and the expertly restored audio by OTRWesterns.