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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 October 20, 1957 and the title is Professor Lute Bone. Let's get into it. And I hope you enjoy.
Narrator/Storyteller
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.
Professor Bone
Starring William Conrad.
Narrator/Storyteller
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.
Professor Bone
You're a stranger in Dodge, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Only been gone a week. Sam, you got any rye left? Kitty over there has got the last
Doc Adams
bottle, Marshall, but I'll have some tomorrow when the Santa Fe gets in.
Professor Bone
Good.
Matt Dillon
Meanwhile, I'll see if I can talk Kitty out of a drink.
Doc Adams
Sure.
Kenny
I heard you were back, man. How are you?
Matt Dillon
You were saving that bottle for me?
Kenny
Kelly, you know I never drink rye.
Matt Dillon
Thanks. Ah, well, here's to you.
Kenny
Thank you.
Matt Dillon
Ah, that's the closest I've been to civilization in a week.
Kenny
Did you find what you're after?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I found him all right. Hey, what's that stuff you're drinking?
Kenny
Oh, this?
Matt Dillon
Yeah.
Kenny
Oh, yeah. I keep the bottle on the floor.
Professor Bone
Looks better.
Matt Dillon
Let me see it. Professor Bones Wonder Medicine. Celebrated Vegetable Pulmonic Detergent. Yeah, Well, I hope it tastes better than it reads.
Kenny
Oh, it tastes fine, Matt. Makes you feel fine, too.
Matt Dillon
Essential oil. A worm seed. A new and valuable curative. Professor Bone, Ph.D. and Pulmist. Professor of practical and medical botany, Natural and civil history.
Professor Bone
Oh, a lot of that.
Matt Dillon
That makes sense. Kenny, where in the world you get hold of this?
Kenny
Oh, everybody's taking his mask. Oh, I forgot. You were away when Professor Bourne arrived.
Matt Dillon
When he arrived? You mean he's here at Dodge for sure.
Kenny
Came last Thursday. He's got a fancy wagon, electric, from every day. But this time, as a matter of fact. You should hear him, Matt. He's great.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he must be.
Kenny
No, no, he really is.
Matt Dillon
What's in that tiny kitty? You're kind of misty already, aren't you?
Kenny
Oh, it makes you feel great, Matt. Try some.
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Matt Dillon
No, no, no, thanks. I don't need any worm seed oil. Liquor does me all the harm.
Kenny
I need you buy some once you've heard him talk. He's awful smart, Matt.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, well, he must be. He's a professor. It says so on the bottle.
Kenny
Oh, I don't care if he's a professor or not. He makes wonderful tonic.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I can see that he does.
Kenny
Matt.
Doc Adams
Yes, Matt. I'm glad you're back. You come with me.
Matt Dillon
Hello, Doug. Sit down.
Doc Adams
No, you come with me outside. I want you to see this spectacle.
Matt Dillon
What are you talking about?
Doc Adams
This red nosed old scarecrow, Luke Bohm, he ought to be tarred and feather, that's what. Oh, now, right there, there's a bottle of it.
Matt Dillon
Kissy.
Doc Adams
Dad, is that yours?
Kenny
Well, it's good, Doug. It's real good.
Doc Adams
I'm gonna smash this in the streets. And if I find you drinking any more of this, I'll paddle you. That's what I'll do.
Kenny
Really.
Doc Adams
You see? You see what it does to people? Come on. Come on, Matt.
Matt Dillon
Look here, Doc. I might as well find out what this is all about. You will excuse us, won't you, kiddie?
Kenny
You not Doc.
Doc Adams
I mean what I said. Kitty.
Kenny
Oh, boy.
Matt Dillon
Come on, let's go.
Doc Adams
Yes, yes.
Matt Dillon
All right.
Doc Adams
There's his wagon. And look at that crowd of fools.
Matt Dillon
What's wrong with that?
Doc Adams
I'll tell you later. First, I want you to hear him talk. The man's demented, that's what. And he's dangerous, Matt. He's deadly dangerous. You there, boy. Sit up. Now, look spry, M. Step lively. This is your great grandpa? And then some. My name. Oh, I've been called Johnny Reb. And I've been called Billy Yank. I'm a soldier. Civil war. What you want to know about soldiering?
Professor Bone
March.
Doc Adams
Oh, we did it aplenty. Both heavy marching order and light marching order. See, light marching order meant we was to march only with musket ammunition, haversack and canteen and be ready for working or for fighting. Well, that was nothing. It was the heavy marching order we didn't like. Oh, that meant carrying everything he owned on a long march to the next field of battle or else a new camp. There was never enough water and sometimes we wouldn't have us nothing to eat for a whole day. And us in our heavy woolens carrying 50 or 60 pounds on our backs, trudging down dusty roads in the summer and and muddy ones in the winter. Still, it was something to see. First there'd be the adjutant, then the scouts, then the band and drum corps, then the colonel and the lieutenant colonel, then the two surgeons and the hospital knapsack carrier. Yeah, we was quite a sight, I tell you. Even though some of us didn't have shoes and straggled a bit sometimes. Now, now you boy. You got shoes special. Built to last. And if you watch yourself blame that they don't help protect your feet from frostbite and things like that. But what's real important, lots of times you got trucks to carry your gear and you too, for which you can thank your lucky stars and stripes. Oh, believe you me, son, it takes more than just men and guns and generals to make you an army. It takes knowing somebody's thinking about your durned old feet and you're aching back like that good transportation core you got. Danged if it don't.
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Doc Adams
Who even am I?
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Doc Adams
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Doc Adams
There he is, man. Right down there where the crowd is. He's standing in the back of his wagon. You see, he's finished entertaining them. Now we're just in time for the serious part. So come on, hurry along now.
Professor Bone
While serving as personal surgeon to the King of Santo del Rio.
Doc Adams
Oh that.
Professor Bone
Oh that lion.
Matt Dillon
Just take it easy, Doc.
Professor Bone
Let's listen. Medicine has cured more than 3000 cases of AU, 2500 of chronic inflammatory rheumatism, 2000 of cream sickness, 1000 of material diseases 1500 of liver affections and 6000 of general divinity.
Doc Adams
He ought to be purifies, cleanses and
Professor Bone
strengthens the fountain springs of life and infuses new vigor throughout the entire body. In fact, my friends, Professor Bones Vonder. Medicine will cure all disorders incident to the human race without exception, no matter what the age, circumstance or place of residence of the afflicted patient. Hey, Professor, I live over near Stinking Springs. Will it cure me? You are drunken. Quite a day. Ever since I was weaned, Professor. I pity you, my friend. Professor, when I was 12, I got drunk and went to sleep in a hackberry tree. I never did find out how I got down. Oh, don't laugh, ladies and gentlemen. Don't laugh. Pity the poor man. The poor wretch. Whiskey has him crushed in its foul trap. His eyes roomy, his brains awash. His manhood's gone. Are you. Shut up. Whiskey, I tell you. Whiskey did it now. Any more talk about me and I'll put a bullet in you, Professor. Evil man. Drunken specter. I'm telling you, no more. No, no more. That's right. No, not. Ladies and gentlemen. About to appear on the wagon beside me is a man you all know and respect. One of your finest and most worthy citizens. A man whose very presence contributes mightily to the progress of your fair town. A man whose soul is pure, but whose body.
Doc Adams
Ah.
Professor Bone
Whose body has been the host of five separate diseases, any one of which would soon have been fatal. But now he is saved. Three bottles of. Professor Bones. Wonder Medicine has done it. And here he is to tell you of this miraculous cure in his own words. Step forward, sir, and speak. Speak for the sake of your fellow man.
Doc Adams
Great heavens, Matthew, it's Chester.
Matt Dillon
Hey, chester.
Doc Adams
Oh, ho, Mr. John.
Matt Dillon
Get down off there.
Professor Bone
Yes, sir.
Doc Adams
But my.
Professor Bone
My dear man, you've got to talk to the.
Matt Dillon
Come on, hurry it up.
Professor Bone
Sir. Who are you, sir? What are you doing?
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Professor Bone
Come back here. You come with your lecture, Professor.
Matt Dillon
Never mind about him.
Professor Bone
Hey, Professor. What Professor? That stuff for your cure? Anything, anything, my friend. Every disorder known to medical faculty. Well, my old man, he's 80 and he got beans stuck in his throat. Now shut up all of his tools, Professor. How about that? I'll come to see your father, sir. I'll visit him as soon as I am able to pass a few bottles down among the good people gathered here.
Matt Dillon
Come on, let's get out of here.
Doc Adams
Oh, I suppose he's got you all doped up for that stuff too, Chester. Oh, it makes you feel great Doc,
Matt Dillon
is that why you were up there?
Professor Bone
Well, no, sir.
Doc Adams
I. I gotta deal with the professor for my spare time. See Mr. Dylan, he pays me a dollar a day and gives me all the medicine I can drink free. Oh, it's idiots like you that make it possible for such crackery chested. Oh, now, Doc, I'm not no idiot. When you think of an acting like one. Well, that's not what's in important, Matt. I've analyzed some of Bone's so called medicine. It's got opium in it for one thing.
Matt Dillon
Oh, you think it's dangerous?
Doc Adams
Of course it is. People can get in the habit. And what's worse, if something is wrong with them and they're taking that stuff, they wouldn't find it out until it's too late. You gotta stop this businessman.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I suppose you're right, Doc.
Doc Adams
Either you stop him or by heaven, I'll shoot him. I'm serious.
Matt Dillon
All right, Doc, I'll talk to him a little later. In the meantime, you stay away from him. Chester.
Doc Adams
Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Donor, I didn't know.
Professor Bone
Liquor. Liquor, gentleman, inflames the blood, causes dropsy and gulf. Unhappy wives, empty larders, naked children lost to leaky roofs, bloody noses, broken shins, flat purses and bag reputation. Catch enough of that, Professor. Now get out of here before I
Doc Adams
break a pack bottle of good whiskey over your head.
Professor Bone
You. You're a destroyer of men. Agent of the devil.
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Professor Bone
Nobody's going to preach against liquor in this place. I'll fix you good.
Matt Dillon
All right, hold it, Sam. Professor Bone, I'd like to have a word with you.
Professor Bone
And who are you, Sir?
Matt Dillon
I'm a U.S. marshal. Now let's sit over at that table over there, huh? Come on.
Professor Bone
I'm at your service, Mar. And to what do I owe this honor, sir?
Matt Dillon
It isn't exactly an honor, Professor. I want you to stop putting opium in that stuff that you're selling.
Professor Bone
Oh, come now, Marshall. Surely you don't believe.
Matt Dillon
Doc Adams has analyzed it, Professor. And either you make it harmless or I'm gonna run you out of Dodge.
Professor Bone
Yes, sir, I believe you would.
Matt Dillon
Now you're free to sell it and you're free to do all the talking you want, but that's all.
Professor Bone
I'm a lonely old man, Marshall, and I'm tired of wandering. I'll do what you say.
Matt Dillon
Good. I hope you don't get yourself into trouble with that preaching about liquor.
Professor Bone
I've been fighting against drink ever since I was a youth.
Doc Adams
What about opium?
Matt Dillon
Isn't that just as bad.
Professor Bone
Oh, there's not enough my medicine to do any harm, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Maybe. Why are you so strong about whiskey?
Professor Bone
Well, Marshall, when I was A child of 12, my grandfather got drunk and threw a pet owl onto a horse that was standing nearby. He did, and it frightened the horse into kicking. An orphan boy broke the rim of his belly. That boy died, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Ah, I see.
Professor Bone
Ah, Mr. Reeves. Welcome, sir. And how is your good father, Marshall? I'm glad you're here. What's the trouble? Well, we see a professor's in trouble
Matt Dillon
and I'll tell you.
Professor Bone
My old man, he had a bean stuck in his throat, and the professor, he told me give him a steam bath and then throw cold water on him. And I was doing it.
Matt Dillon
What for?
Professor Bone
So as he'd catch a cold and cough and bring up the bean. No, but it didn't work. It killed him. My old man is dead. Dead? Good heavens. And I'm going to kill you for it, Professor.
Matt Dillon
No, you won't, Re.
Professor Bone
No man can die of a mere cold, Mr. Reeves. Something must have gone wrong. Oh, something went wrong all right.
Narrator/Storyteller
Come on.
Matt Dillon
We'll get dark and go see what this is all about. And you get the idea of shooting anybody out of your head, Reeves.
Professor Bone
Maybe I will.
Doc Adams
Another visit with Joe and Daphne Forsyth.
Joe
Joe. Yeah, Daphne, look at this story about savings bonds in the paper.
Doc Adams
Yeah, what about it?
Joe
Do you think that's the best way to tell people about savings bonds?
Professor Bone
Why not?
Doc Adams
Look, see, it says here that savings bonds are a guaranteed investment. Right now they pay off at the rate of four bucks at maturity for every three bucks invested. Uh, you're not convinced? Uh, why not?
Joe
No salesmanship.
Doc Adams
No salesmanship. What more do you need to know?
Professor Bone
Why, right now more than 8 million
Doc Adams
Americans are buying saving bonds regularly through the payroll savings plan.
Kenny
So?
Doc Adams
So what?
Joe
That's what I say, so what?
Doc Adams
Now, look, Daphne, if millions of Americans are convinced that saving bonds are the their best investment, not only financially, but for the future of their country, what the heck is bothering you?
Joe
Well, I think they could sell a lot more with salesmanship. You know, slogans and jingles. Listen, if you're spending more and saving less, try a savings bond.
Matt Dillon
Oh, boy.
Joe
Or, or maybe savings bond pay good like an investment should. Daphne, you get a lot to like in a savings bond. Interest earnings guaranteed.
Matt Dillon
Wow.
Joe
Well, did I sell you?
Doc Adams
Yeah, but I forgot what it was you were selling.
Joe
Savings bond.
Doc Adams
I'll take a hundred.
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Doc Adams
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Matt Dillon
La Playa awaits.
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Matt Dillon
Professor Bone wasn't a normal, everyday type of citizen, but he wasn't a murderer either. And whatever had gone wrong and killed Reeves father couldn't be blamed entirely on him. The way I looked at it, Reeves was a fool to follow his advice in the first place. Now, we found the old man still lying on a steam bath that Reeves had made. All he'd done was to dig a big hole in the ground with a fire pit in the middle and then stretch some canvas across the top for a roof. Doc climbed down into it. After a few minutes, he came back out again.
Doc Adams
Well, Reeves, all I can figure is your father died of a heart attack.
Professor Bone
Well, I don't believe that, Doc. You were strong as a bull, that old man.
Doc Adams
I know, but I don't think there's nothing else that could have cost him.
Matt Dillon
How long did you have him in there, Reeves?
Professor Bone
Oh, maybe a half hour, Marshall. He was just having a fine time when I left him. He poured a whole bottle of vinegar on them rocks, and I just went up to the house to get him.
Doc Adams
Some more vinegar?
Professor Bone
Well, sure. Professor here says it helped make him sweat.
Doc Adams
Wait a minute.
Professor Bone
What's wrong?
Doc Adams
It's the vinegar that killed him, Reeves.
Professor Bone
How do you mean?
Doc Adams
That's limestone you use in there, isn't it?
Professor Bone
All limestone?
Doc Adams
All right, now, you put vinegar on hot limestone, and it'll make carbonic acid gas, and that's what suffocated your old man.
Professor Bone
I didn't tell you to use limestone, Mr. Reeves. You can't blame me for that. No, but the vinegar was your idea, Professor. I still say you murder him.
Matt Dillon
Now, wait a minute, Reeves. You're not being sensible. This thing was an accident, that's all.
Professor Bone
I am not a murderer. I never hurt anybody in my life. You don't even know what you do, you old buzzard.
Doc Adams
Selling that slop of yours loaded with narcotics. Did you tell him to stop that mat?
Matt Dillon
Yes, he said he would.
Professor Bone
My medicine is as pure as the dew, gentlemen. Pure as dew.
Doc Adams
I'm gonna analyze it every day you're here. And I hope that that won't be much longer.
Professor Bone
I. I'm a lonely old man, sir. The only home I have is my waking.
Doc Adams
Well, then go live in it, but somewhere else. You cause enough trouble around here.
Professor Bone
But am I to be banished from the face of the earth? Am I not a man like any other man? Do you think I have no heart, no feelings? Oh, why don't you shut up and
Doc Adams
get out of here, Professor, I want
Professor Bone
to bury my daddy. I would gladly help you in that task, Mr. Reeves. Oh, no, no, sir, not you. Not by a long sight. You are unkind, sir. Gentlemen, I take my leave of you.
Doc Adams
Good day.
Matt Dillon
For some reason, the three of us stood there in silence and watched Professor Bone walk away. He stopped once and glanced back at us for a moment. Then he went on. Later, when we got back to Front street, his wagon was gone. And we figured that probably that was the last we'd ever see of him. Dodge was fairly quiet that night. And when somebody reported seeing a fire of some kind out on the prairie, I decided I might as well ride out and have a look.
Doc Adams
There's no flames left. Mr. Doom must be all burnt out.
Matt Dillon
I don't remember a house of any kind around here. I wonder what it was.
Doc Adams
Maybe just a prairie fire that didn't really get started.
Matt Dillon
Anyway, there's some Chester over there, see?
Doc Adams
That's right. I can see a few coals. Like a wagon, Mr. Dylan.
Professor Bone
All burnt up.
Matt Dillon
It's Professor Bones wagon, Chester.
Doc Adams
By golly, you're right. That's his horse, too.
Professor Bone
Professor. Professor Bone.
Matt Dillon
Come on, let's take a look.
Doc Adams
Where in the world you reckon he could be, Mr. Dylan?
Matt Dillon
I don't know, T.R. here, look out now. I'm going to try to move something.
Doc Adams
Oh, my. You think that's the profession?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I'm afraid so, Chester.
Doc Adams
Poor old fella. He must have been asleep in his wagon.
Matt Dillon
Caught fire. There may be.
Doc Adams
Funny thing. He couldn't get out, though, unless he was drunk or something.
Matt Dillon
Professor Bone didn't drink, Chester.
Doc Adams
That's right. I forgot. He sure didn't you think maybe somebody did this a purpose, Mr. Doan?
Matt Dillon
Well, he had two or three men pretty mad at him.
Doc Adams
Maybe it was Indians.
Matt Dillon
No, not this close to Dodge.
Doc Adams
No, I guess not.
Matt Dillon
I don't know, Chester. A lot of things can happen to people who get too lonely. Now, come on, let's get out of here. Take care of him in the morning.
Professor Bone
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Professor Bone
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Professor Bone
Ram.
Narrator/Storyteller
Gun Smoke produced and Directed by Norman McDonald. Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, US Marshal the music was composed and conducted by Rex Corey. Sound patterns were composed by Ray Kemper and Bill James. Featured in the cast were Parley Bear As Chester, Howard McNear as Doc and Georgia Ellis as Kitty. George Walsh speaking. Join us again next week for another story of the western frontier of America in the 1870s on gun smoke. This is the united states armed forces radio and television service.
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 youm 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, Click go to otrwesterns.com Copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.
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Originally Aired: October 20, 1957 | Podcast Release: June 27, 2026
Host: Andrew Rhynes
In this episode of Gunsmoke, “Professor Lute Bone,” U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon returns to Dodge City to discover the town abuzz with excitement—and trouble—over a visiting snake oil salesman, Professor Lute Bone. The professor’s wonder tonic is the talk of Dodge, promising cures for every malady. But when Doc Adams discovers the medicine contains opium, concern grows. Events escalate when a townsman blames the professor for his father’s death during a dubious “treatment,” raising questions about responsibility and the sometimes-desperate hope for miracle cures on the frontier. The episode deals with themes of trust, charlatanism, addiction, and loneliness against the rugged background of the Old West.
On “Wonder Medicine”:
Matt Dillon: “Now you’re free to sell it and you’re free to do all the talking you want, but that’s all.” ([14:54])
Doc’s Assessment:
Doc Adams: “People can get in the habit. And what’s worse, if something is wrong with them and they’re taking that stuff, they wouldn’t find it out until it’s too late.” ([13:17])
Professor Bone’s Righteousness:
Professor Bone: “Liquor, gentleman, inflames the blood, causes dropsy and gulf. Unhappy wives, empty larders, naked children lost to leaky roofs, bloody noses, broken shins, flat purses and bag reputation.” ([13:48])
On Blame & Accident:
Doc Adams: “It’s the vinegar that killed him, Reeves. That’s limestone you use in there, isn’t it? You put vinegar on hot limestone, and it’ll make carbonic acid gas, and that’s what suffocated your old man.” ([21:03])
The Outcast’s Lament:
Professor Bone: “But am I to be banished from the face of the earth? Am I not a man like any other man? Do you think I have no heart, no feelings?” ([22:05])
Marshal Dillon’s Reflection:
Matt Dillon: “I don’t know, Chester. A lot of things can happen to people who get too lonely.” ([24:58])
The episode balances the sardonic, skeptical humor of seasoned frontier folk with deeper themes of vulnerability—about the dangers of hope, the seductiveness of easy cures, and the high human cost of loneliness and exclusion. Dialogue is brisk, witty, and tinged with both camaraderie and pathos.
“Professor Lute Bone” is a poignant episode showcasing the allure and danger of miracle cures in the Old West. It explores human gullibility, the consequences of ignorance, and the fate of those who peddle hope on the frontier’s fringes. Ultimately, despite his faults and showmanship, Professor Bone is painted not as a true villain, but as another soul crushed beneath the weight of his own loneliness and misfortune—a cautionary figure in Dodge’s long, uneasy dance with progress and charlatanism.
Listening to this episode provides a timeless window into the hazards of quackery, the responsibilities of community figures, and the heartbreaks hidden behind every medicine wagon.