Loading summary
Josh Whalen
If you're paying more than $1 a month for any ED or hair medication, listen up at Joy and Blokes when you start TRT or Enclomiphene, you can add any ED or hair loss prescription for just $1 a month. $1 add ons with your hormone plan and right now all labs are 50% off. I'm Josh Whalen, founder of Joy and Blokes. I built this company because men are tired of paying for fragmented care without results. Every Joy and BL lab includes a visit with a licensed clinician who connects your symptoms to your biomarkers. You'll get a real plan that covers hormones, performance and confidence. If you're considering TRT or Enclomiphene, this is the most efficient way to do it. Get started@joyandbloks.com and use the promo code podcast. New customers get 50% off their labs and for a limited time you can take advantage of our $1ed or hair loss add ons. You start TRT or Enclomophine not available in all states. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Learn more@joyandblo.com.
Andrew Rines
Welcome to the Oldtime Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Rines and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This episode is one of many released every month, totaling over 80 episodes so far. Each one is meticulously digitally restored and stored in the cloud for your convenience, a process that incurs costs. To help cover these expenses, you might hear some advertisements throughout the episode. While we do retain the original commercials for historical authenticity, you may also encounter modern ads which help keep the lights on. If you prefer an ad free experience, we offer a couple options. You can listen to the episodes on YouTube where they don't include the audio ads, although YouTube may provide their own ads on their platform. Alternatively, you can also support us by becoming a patron on our Patreon page. For more information, go to otrwesterns.com donate again otrwesterns.com donate I do want to emphasize that we are committed to providing this content to you for free, but also we have to be transparent about the financial realities to bringing this to you. To those of you who are already supporting us, we extend our heartfelt thanks. Your contributions make it possible for us to continue doing what we love. And as a final note, I did want to mention one last thing. If you are paying for a service, let's say like Audible and you are listening to the show on that site, and they do not provide any financial or monetary means to this podcast. We provide it to them as a way for you to be able to listen, but they don't help us in any way. So again, thank you to everybody who's already supporting and those of you who want to support us in the future. I deeply appreciate it. Now let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke. Original air date is January 5, 1958 and the title is Puckett's New Year. Let's get into it and I hope you enjoy.
Matt Dillon
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 book starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America. And the story of a man who moved with it. 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.
Ira Puckett
A man watchful and a little lonely.
Matt Dillon
Jester and I were 30 miles from Dodge when we ran into the buffalo hunters camp. We've been holed up for two days in a deserted sod hut taking cover from one of the worst blizzards in years. It was over now and a warm, dry chinook blew out of the west a down up the Rockies and across the prairie into Kansas. It was Chester who first saw the camp. A pile of buffalo hides half covered with snow and the skeleton of a wagon is canvas torn and shredded by the blizzard. The camp was silent as we rode up and got down.
Ira Puckett
Ain't mar here, Mr. John?
Matt Dillon
Maybe they got caught out on the prairie when the blizzard hit.
Ira Puckett
Yeah, it sure doesn't look that way.
Matt Dillon
I don't know how that team is still alive with nothing but that wagon for protection.
Ira Puckett
Yeah, but they don't look none too lively.
Matt Dillon
You can't blame them.
Ira Puckett
Put your hands up. Close it.
Matt Dillon
Better do what the old man says.
Ira Puckett
Must have been hiding in that wagon. Come over here. Closer.
Matt Dillon
That's your camp, mister.
Ira Puckett
Of course it's my camp. Now you two drop them guns.
Matt Dillon
We got our hands up. Is not enough.
Ira Puckett
You do what I say. I ain't taking no chances. I ain't going to be left here again.
Matt Dillon
What?
Ira Puckett
You're going to hit up that team and you're going to take me in the guard. You ain't running off like Jed Larner.
Matt Dillon
Who's Jed Larner?
Ira Puckett
He was my sinner.
Matt Dillon
Why did he leave you?
Ira Puckett
Yeah, he seen that blizzard coming. He didn't want to take any chances, so he rode off. He'd probably been in dogs all the time, warm and cold.
Matt Dillon
Why didn't you go with him?
Ira Puckett
Well, I printed my leg. My foot. So they can't ride a horse. That's why. Learner Fidget driving the wagon. Is he too slow?
Matt Dillon
You mean he left you here to freeze?
Ira Puckett
Kill him when I find him. And I'll kill you if you don't drive me to Dodge. I hear he's a giraffe.
Josh Whalen
Marshal.
Ira Puckett
Mistress. He ain't gonna leave you here, Marshall.
Matt Dillon
Now, why don't you put that rifle down and tell us who you are?
Ira Puckett
All right. My name's Ira Pocket, Marshal. I'm usually up north following a Republican herd that I come south this year. I'm getting old and I thought it'd be warmer down here.
Matt Dillon
You sure made a mistake about that, didn't you?
Ira Puckett
You tip me in the Dodge, won't you?
Matt Dillon
Yeah, sure. Of course we will.
Ira Puckett
That foot I twisted. I don't feel nothing in it. Must be frozen.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, it could be. You forget about that bucket. I'm not taking you back to Dodge just so you can hang.
Ira Puckett
I'll forget it.
Josh Whalen
If you're paying more than $1 a month for any ED or hair medication, listen up at Joy and Blokes, when you start TRT or enclomipine, you can add any ED or hair loss prescription for just $1 a month. $1 add ons with your hormone plan. And right now, all labs are 50% off. I'm Josh Whand, founder of Joy and Blokes. I built this company because men are tired of paying for fragmented care without results. Every Joy & BLS lab includes a visit with a licensed clinician who connects your symptoms to your biomarkers. You'll get a real plan that covers hormones, performance and confidence. If you're considering TRT or enclomiphene, this is the most efficient way to do it. Get started@joyandbloks.com and use a promo code podcast. New customers get 50% off their labs. And for a limited time, you can take advantage of our $1ed or hair loss add ons when you start. TRT or encomafine. Not available in all states. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Learn more at.
Matt Dillon
Joyandblo.Com. Well, how is.
Ira Puckett
It? Oh, you'll be all right.
Matt Dillon
Man. Then his foot wasn't so bad after all.
Ira Puckett
Huh? Didn't have much foot left when.
Matt Dillon
I got through with.
Ira Puckett
Him. You'll be able to walk There with a cane by. These buffalo hunting days are.
Matt Dillon
Over. Does he know.
Ira Puckett
Us? I told him I have a Puck at the Proud man. That a.
Matt Dillon
Little. Oh, what do you mean.
Ira Puckett
Doc? Well, what he hated most about this dead liner leaving him on the prairie wasn't the fact that he might.
Matt Dillon
Have died, but that he was.
Ira Puckett
Helpless. A man like Puckett can't stand being.
Matt Dillon
Helpless. I.
Ira Puckett
See. And now all crippled up, he's a bigger man.
Matt Dillon
Matt. Well, he got over it, Doc. You know, Mac, I got used to most anything in.
Ira Puckett
Time. No, no.
Matt Dillon
No. I got my doubts about.
Ira Puckett
Puckett. He's in the back room if you want to.
Matt Dillon
See. Yeah, all right, I'll come in. Hello.
Ira Puckett
Bucket.
Matt Dillon
Marsha. Well, how you.
Ira Puckett
Feeling? Good. D. Tell you what you done to me. Yeah, you ruined my foot. I saved your life, Bucket. I ain't sure I'm grateful, D.
Matt Dillon
You're going to be all right, buddy. You'll be able to get.
Ira Puckett
Around. Yeah, like old woman. What am I going to do for a living? I hate one of you city people. I live off the country. I always have. I'm a man, not a.
Matt Dillon
Dude. You'll get used to town life. And besides, you'll find men here.
Ira Puckett
Too. What kind of men? Walking around all flickered up. Fussing the hair in the middle and bowing to the lady. Ain't one of them could do half the things I've done. Well, I was living with Comanches when most of them were sniveling in their mother's.
Matt Dillon
Apron. I know. But you'll find something to do. I'll help.
Ira Puckett
You. You will.
Matt Dillon
Huh?
Ira Puckett
Sure. Then help me find Jed Larner. Bring him in here so that I can kill him with my bare.
Matt Dillon
Hands. What does he look.
Ira Puckett
Like? No. He's.
Matt Dillon
Tall. Black.
Ira Puckett
Hair. Got a big scar running across one eye and halfway down his right.
Matt Dillon
Cheek. Good. I'll try to find him. If I do, I'll run him out of town before you get to.
Ira Puckett
Him. I can't even trust you, can.
Matt Dillon
I? Not when you want to murder a man. I told you I didn't bring you in so that you could hang. And I still, I kept a sharp eye out for Jed Larner. But he must have headed for some other part of the country. Anyway, he never showed up in dark. That time passed and Ira Puckett was able to get around a little bit. First with the help of clutches and then finally with a cane. But it was obvious that his hunting days were over. And that alone seemed to came in. Then one night, his pride really got a blow. I Was at the Long Branch having a beer with Kitty. It.
Ira Puckett
Happened. Well, this is a great way to start the new year.
Matt Dillon
Max. Oh, what do you mean.
Ira Puckett
Kitty? Well, all last year I was hoping maybe I'd be in San Francisco by.
Matt Dillon
Now. San.
Ira Puckett
Francisco?
Matt Dillon
Yeah. You never.
Ira Puckett
Joked. What would you have done about.
Matt Dillon
It? Nothing, I guess. But why San.
Ira Puckett
Francisco? No blizzard, no ducks, no.
Matt Dillon
Cowboy. Yeah, but they got fog. And all those sailors and miners aren't any more gentle than these cowboys, you.
Ira Puckett
Know. Yeah, I know. Imagine going to dinner in a cherry tablecloth, dashing on a hardwood.
Matt Dillon
Flor. You know, I think you're.
Ira Puckett
Spoiled. K Now, how could I get spoiled? We're in dark.
Matt Dillon
City. You know, I.
Ira Puckett
Always. What's the.
Matt Dillon
Matter? That man at the bar there just turned.
Ira Puckett
Around. Huh? What.
Matt Dillon
Man? One with a sp on his cheek. Excuse me.
Ira Puckett
Kitty. I'll be back. Oh. Evening.
Matt Dillon
Michael. Evening. Before. You staring at me, Michael? Your name said, Aren't I? What if it is? How long you been in town? About.
Ira Puckett
Out.
Matt Dillon
Marshall. Something wrong? You remember the big blizzard we had? Who don't? We all do, I guess. Especially Ira Buckets. What? He doesn't die, Leonard. Well, that's fine. I went back looking for.
Ira Puckett
Him. I wondered where he got.
Matt Dillon
To. Yeah, I couldn't. Sure you.
Ira Puckett
Did. Well, it's.
Matt Dillon
True. Bucket's here in Dodge, Lennon. He is? And if he finds you, he'll kill you. But he isn't going to find you because you're leaving right now. Don't you ever show up around here again. Well, now, just wait. I can't arrest you and I can't put you in jail. But I'll tell you what I can do. What? Suppose I just let everybody here know that you're the man who ran off and left Arab Puckett die. You know, they tear you a park lawn. Don't say nothing, Marshall. They set you on fire. Don't tell him. I'll leave. Marshall. I, I I'm leaving right.
Ira Puckett
Now. What? They got rid of him in a.
Matt Dillon
Hurry. Well, just saved him from being shot. And I have Plucket for I hanging for it.
Ira Puckett
Kidding? Oh, that was Jed Lyons, huh? He's the one that ought to.
Matt Dillon
Hang. Ah, he didn't mean to kill the old.
Ira Puckett
Man. What's the.
Matt Dillon
Difference? Well, legally it is some, I.
Ira Puckett
Guess. Enough to give Ira a kickback?
Matt Dillon
Sure. Hard to argue.
Ira Puckett
With. Why? Because I.
Matt Dillon
Think. Why don't we talk about San.
Ira Puckett
Francisco? I changed my mind. I think I'll go to New.
Matt Dillon
York. Yeah, he looked awful mad. Thing can always find a gun.
Ira Puckett
Kenny. You done it. You done it, Mar. It was you. As you.
Matt Dillon
Now. You saw Jed.
Ira Puckett
Warner? Yes, I saw him. Saw him jump on his horse and rode out of town before I could stop him. And I had to stand there and watch. I didn't even have a rock to throw at him. Why'd you do it.
Matt Dillon
Marshall? I took it when I took it. I wanted to save you from.
Ira Puckett
Hanging. I'd rather hang and live this way. I wasn't born to become a helpless old man. The least you could have done. They let me fight my own battles, like I always did on the plane. He took my manhood away from me.
Matt Dillon
Marshall. You're living in a town now, Ira. Among people. Why don't you try to get used to it it. All.
Ira Puckett
Right. All right, I will. I'll start living like you town.
Matt Dillon
People. You're going to get a.
Ira Puckett
Job. Am I going to? I sure am. And it's going to pay me a lot of money.
Matt Dillon
Too. What do you.
Ira Puckett
Mean? You'll find out, Marshall, when it's too.
Josh Whalen
Late. If you're paying more than $1 a month for any ED or hair medication, listen up at Joy and Blokes, when you start TRT or enclomiphene, you can add any ED or hair loss prescription for just $1 a month. $1 add ons with your hormone plan. And right now, all labs are 50% off. I'm Josh Whalen, founder of Joy and Blokes. I built this company because men are tired of paying for fragmented care without results. Every Joy and Blokes lab includes a visit with a licensed clinician who connects your symptoms to your biomarkers. You'll get a real plan that covers hormones, performance and confidence. If you're considering TRT or Enclomiphene, this is the most efficient way to do it. Get started at joy and blokes.com and use a promo code podcast. New customers get 50% off their labs. And for a limited time, you can take advantage of our $1 ED or hair loss add ons when you start TRT or in Clomafine, not available in all states. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Learn more at joy and.
Ira Puckett
Blokes.Com. My, but ain't it a nice morning.
Matt Dillon
Mister? Yeah. Thanks for that wind we had last.
Ira Puckett
Night. Oh, well, it kept me.
Matt Dillon
Awake. Huh. All.
Ira Puckett
Night? Well, no, sir. I. I wouldn't say all night. Hey, look, it's over there by the bank. Ain't that a lie with.
Matt Dillon
Turkey? Yeah, it is. That's the first time he's had his team and wagon.
Ira Puckett
On. He suppose he's going right.
Matt Dillon
Now. He's going into the.
Ira Puckett
Bank. What's he carrying that shotgun for? He can't go hunting in the.
Matt Dillon
Bank. Oh yes he can. Ch. Come.
Ira Puckett
On, Bank.
Matt Dillon
Up. And he said last night he's going to start living like get a job and make himself a lot of money. This could be his idea of how to do.
Ira Puckett
It. He sure couldn't have no loading to tear that shotgun in there could. Here. You going in after Mr. Dillon? Yeah, but he's got a.
Matt Dillon
Shotgun. Just look. You take his wagon and team off somewhere. Lead him out around the back of the bank out of sight. Maybe we can handle it without a shooting. Go.
Ira Puckett
On. All.
Andrew Rines
Right. Go.
Ira Puckett
On.
Matt Dillon
Hurry. Chester. He's coming out. Oh, come on out, Marshall. I'm not stopping.
Ira Puckett
You. You better not try it. I can shoot with one hand.
Matt Dillon
Marshall.
Ira Puckett
Sure. Don't you try to follow me.
Matt Dillon
Neither.
Ira Puckett
Hey. Hey, wait a minute. Where's my wagon? Where's my.
Matt Dillon
Team? You're in a bad.
Ira Puckett
Fix. Somebody stole them. I can't get away without my.
Matt Dillon
Team. No, you can't. You might as well give.
Ira Puckett
Up. You. Dennis. You're behind this.
Matt Dillon
Marshal. You gonna shoot.
Ira Puckett
Me? Why shouldn't.
Matt Dillon
I? Because you're in enough trouble already and shooting me won't help a bit. You're trapped and there isn't a thing you can do about it. Why don't you use your.
Ira Puckett
Head? Alright. Here. There's your money. Now you bring my outfit back. I ain't going to go to jail.
Matt Dillon
Marshall. Like I said, shooting me isn't going to help you. And I'm not going to do a thing about your.
Ira Puckett
Outfit. You think you've outsmarted me, don't.
Matt Dillon
You? Give it up. You're.
Ira Puckett
Licked. Oh, I can't shoot you, Marshall. Here, take my gun back. A helpless old fool can't even rob a bank.
Matt Dillon
Proper. I'm not sure that you really wanted.
Ira Puckett
To.
Matt Dillon
What? All you wanted was to prove something about that manhood you think has been taken away from him. And that you sure picked a foolish way to do it.
Ira Puckett
Yeah. Yes, I did. I thought he wouldn't Never give up Mr.
Matt Dillon
John. Didn't have much choice.
Ira Puckett
Chester. Only take him on over to jail. Oh, no, no, no, no. I, I, I can't stand jail. Please.
Matt Dillon
Marshall. Yeah, Lock him up, Chester, and I'll return this money. I have a talk with Mr. Botkins. I'll be over later. I thought I told you to lock him up, Justice. Well, I started to meet you.
Ira Puckett
On But I. I just couldn't stand the look on his face when I walked into my.
Matt Dillon
Cell. You know, Ira, seems to me that everybody treats you pretty.
Ira Puckett
Well. Yeah, everybody but Jed.
Matt Dillon
Larner. That's true. But Chester and I brought you in, Doc. Saved your life. I kept you from hanging. And if I hadn't out smarted you at the bank, you'd probably be lying dead somewhere right now. And that seems to me everybody's gone to an awful lot of trouble for an old man full of a lot of foolish.
Ira Puckett
Pride. What do you think I've been thinking, Marshall? Sitting here thinking. You know.
Matt Dillon
What? You're.
Ira Puckett
Right. It's too late.
Matt Dillon
Now. No, it isn't that. I explained everything to Mr. Botkin at the bank, and he. He's willing to drop any charges against you, but on one.
Ira Puckett
Condition. What's.
Matt Dillon
That? Now, to be honest with you, it was my idea that Mr. Barkin agreed. You get a job here and you quit being so doggone. Honorary, huh? Otherwise, you'll go to.
Ira Puckett
Jail. What can I do with this triple.
Matt Dillon
Foot? Well, seeing that you're so handy with a shotgun, I think that Jim Buck might hire you to write messenger on the stage for it. You think so? Well, he told me he.
Ira Puckett
Would. You went and saw.
Matt Dillon
Him. Well, it doesn't take any walking a. How about.
Ira Puckett
It? I never had a job like that. But a man's got to make a change once in a while, don't he? And it'll sure be a good way to start the new.
Josh Whalen
Year. If you're paying more than $1 a month for any ED or hair medication. Listen up at Joy and Blokes, when you start TRT or enclomiphene, you can add any ED or hair loss prescription for just $1. $1 add ons with your hormone plan. And right now, all labs are 50% off. I'm Josh Whalen, founder of Joy and Blokes. I built this company because men are tired of paying for fragmented care without results. Every Joy and Blokes lab includes a visit with a licensed clinician who connects your symptoms to your biomarkers. You'll get a real plan that covers hormones, performance and confidence. If you're considering TRT or Enclomiphene, this is the most efficient way to do it. Get started@joyandbloks.com and use a promo code podcast. New customers get 50% off their labs. And for a limited time, you can take advantage of our $1 ed or hair loss add ons. When you start TRT or enclomophene not available in all states. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Learn more at joy and.
Matt Dillon
Blokes.Com Smoke, produced and directed by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Neston. Featured in the cast were Ralph Moody and Lawrence Dobkin. Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNear is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. Join us again next week for another story on dial. Get the complete news first on the CBS Radio Network, CBS Chicago, the 780 spot in your dial. WBBM.
Andrew Rines
Foreign. 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 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.
Josh Whalen
Listening. If you're paying more than $1 a month for any ED or hair medication, listen up at Joy and Blokes when you start TRT or Enclomiphene, you can add any ED or hair loss prescription for just $1 a month. $1 add ons with your hormone plan and right now all labs are 50% off. I'm Josh Whalen, founder of Joy and Blokes. I built this company because men are tired of paying for fragmented care without results. Every Joy and Blokes lab includes a visit with a licensed clinician who connects your symptoms, your biomarkers. You'll get a real plan that covers hormones, performance and confidence. If you're considering TRT or Enclomophene, this is the most efficient way to do it. Get started at joy and blokes.com and use the promo code podcast. New customers get 50% off their labs and for a limited time you can take advantage of our $1ed or hair loss add ons when you start TRT or Enclomophene. Not available in all states. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Learn.
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Original Air Date: January 1, 2026 (Podcast) / January 5, 1958 (Original)
Main Cast: William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Ralph Moody (Ira Puckett), others
This episode of the Old Time Radio Westerns podcast features a digitally restored broadcast of “Puckett’s New Year,” an original Gunsmoke radio drama. Set in the old West, the story focuses on Ira Puckett, an aging buffalo hunter whose pride and sense of self-worth are challenged after he’s left stranded and injured during a deadly blizzard. Marshal Matt Dillon and his companion Chester aid Puckett, shepherding him back to Dodge City, only to confront deeper issues of honor, helplessness, and adaptation as Puckett struggles to find a place in civilized society. The episode is a meditation on aging, pride, and change at the dawn of a new year.
“You’re going to hitch up that team and you’re going to take me into Dodge! You ain’t running off like Jed Larner!”
—Ira Puckett [06:09]
“What am I going to do for a living? I hate one of you city people. I live off the country. I always have. I’m a man, not a dude.”
—Ira Puckett [10:43]
“Suppose I just let everybody here know that you’re the man who ran off and left Ira Puckett to die. … They’d set you on fire.”
—Matt Dillon [14:10]
“I wasn’t born to become a helpless old man. The least you could have done was let me fight my own battles, like I always did on the prairie. You took my manhood away from me.”
—Ira Puckett [16:41]
“I’m not sure that you really wanted to [rob the bank]… All you wanted was to prove something about that manhood you think has been taken away from you. And you sure picked a foolish way to do it.”
—Matt Dillon [21:31]
“A man’s got to make a change once in a while, don’t he? And it’ll sure be a good way to start the new year.”
—Ira Puckett [24:06]
“I ain’t going to be left here again!”
—Ira Puckett [06:09]
“What he hated most wasn’t the fact that he might have died, but that he was helpless. A man like Puckett can't stand being helpless.”
—Doc [09:47]
“I was hoping maybe I’d be in San Francisco by now… No blizzard, no dust, no cowboys.”
—Kitty [12:38]
“You’d get torn apart…They’d set you on fire. Don’t tell ‘em. I’ll leave. Marshal, I…I’m leaving right now.”
—Jed Larner [14:10]
“I'd rather hang than live this way.”
—Ira Puckett [16:26]
“Puckett’s New Year” offers a nuanced narrative about aging and pride set against the rugged backdrop of the frontier. Through the character of Ira Puckett, the episode explores the pain of losing one’s purpose and the courage it takes to adapt to a new life. The digitally restored presentation allows listeners to appreciate the emotional performances and sound design, bringing the 1950s radio drama into the present with vivid clarity and resonance.