Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode Summary: "Snakebite" | Gunsmoke (Original Air Date: 08-12-56)

Host: Andrew Rhynes
Date Released: August 29, 2025

Overview

This episode of "Old Time Radio Westerns" features the classic Gunsmoke radio drama “Snakebite.” Digitally restored for crispness and clarity, the story unfolds in Dodge City as Marshal Matt Dillon confronts not just lawbreakers, but the boundaries between justice, vengeance, and the cruelty of life out West. The episode explores the tragic chain of events triggered by a seemingly simple act of cruelty, revealing how easily violence on the frontier could spiral out of control, ending in deadly consequences.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. A Mean Act Sparks Trouble in Dodge City

[06:04–08:45]

• Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester witness two newcomers, Walt Gorman and Judd Hicks, shoot a harmless puppy in the street.
  • Chester's outrage: “Why, he shot him. Well, what a mean, miserable thing to do. That little old pup wasn’t hurting nothing.” [06:37]
• Dillon confiscates their guns and orders them to retrieve them the next day when they leave Dodge.
• The dead dog belongs not to a child, but to the old, scraggly, reclusive drifter "Pony" Thompson, who comes to town only once a year to drink.
  • Pony on his aversion to confinement: “It’s like being in jail.” [11:41]

2. Pony Thompson’s Grief and Hinted Revenge

[11:00–12:49]

• Pony, mourning his dog, seeks the names of those responsible—not, he says, for money, but for his own retribution.
  • Pony: “Taint money I’m after.” [12:24]
• Dillon refuses to give the names, sensing the old man's anger. Pony hints he’ll discover them himself.

3. Tensions Escalate at the Long Branch Saloon

[13:11–15:38]

• Pony drinks alone at the bar as Gorman and Hicks arrive, further antagonizing locals and Kitty.
• Kitty taunts Gorman for shooting a puppy.
  • Kitty: “Tell me something, mister. You have to be awful brave to shoot puppy dogs.” [14:11]
• Dillon warns the troublemakers to leave, and Pony assures Dillon he won’t seek vengeance—at least that night.

4. Murder at the Stable – Pony Blamed

[16:32–18:20]

• The next morning, Gorman is found slain in the stable: stabbed in the back and with his throat cut.
• Pony is discovered drunk, bloodstained, and next to the murder weapon—his own knife—offering a feeble denial of guilt:
  • Pony: “I didn’t kill nobody... somebody put it there.” [17:27–17:37]
• Matt has no choice but to arrest him, despite Pony's desperate pleas:
  • Pony: “Oh, no, please, Marshal, don’t do that. Please don’t.” [18:11]
  • Matt: “I got no choice, I tell you.” [18:14]

5. Jailbreak and the Pursuit

[19:06–20:03]

• Judd Hicks visits the jail and learns what happened. While Chester is distracted, Pony escapes after striking him.
• A posse forms, with Hicks insisting he needs a gun “to keep [Pony] from shooting me.” [22:19]
• Dillon remains determined to bring Pony in alive, but insists Hicks stay disarmed.

6. Tragic End in the Prairie – The Real “Snakebite”

[23:29–25:03]

• At dawn, Pony is found dead in a cave, showing two small puncture marks on his neck.
  • Matt, observing the scene: “See those two little punctures on his neck there?” [24:31]
• Dillon deduces that Pony was bitten by a rattlesnake. Rather than endure jail, Pony stayed in his hiding place and died of the bite:
  • Matt: “He’d rather die than go to jail. He stayed in there and died.” [25:03]
• Hicks coldly reminds the others that Pony was suspected of Gorman's murder, but the situation turns as Matt confronts him.

7. The Truth Revealed

[25:24–25:46]

• Matt confronts Hicks about suspicious knowledge only the killer would know:
  • Matt: “Did you tell Hicks that Gorman got knifed in the back?”
  • Chester: “No, sir. All I said was he got his throat cut…”
• Realizing Hicks is likely the murderer, Matt insists that Hicks will be brought to justice but gives priority to properly burying Pony.
  • Matt, icily: “And you’ll dig the grave, Hicks. And you’ll dig it deep. The old man deserves that much from you.” [25:47]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Chester on the puppy’s death:
  “Why, he shot him. Well, what a mean, miserable thing to do…” [06:37]
• Pony, on living outside society:
  “I just can’t stand four walls and a roof. It’s like being in jail.” [11:41]
• Marshal Dillon, on law and justice:
  “I don’t allow shooting in Dodge.” [07:59]
• Kitty, on the cruelty of Gorman:
  “Must take a real man to do that, huh?” [14:18]
• Dillon, piecing together the real murderer:
  “Did you tell Hicks that Gorman got knifed in the back?” [25:26]
• Dillon, giving Pony his due:
  “You’ll dig the grave, Hicks, and you’ll dig it deep. The old man deserves that much from you.” [25:47]

Significant Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|----------------------------------------------| | 06:04–08:45 | Shooting of the puppy, confrontation begins | | 11:00–12:49 | Introduction of Pony Thompson | | 14:11 | Kitty confronts Gorman in the saloon | | 16:32–17:58 | Discovery of Gorman’s murder | | 23:29–25:03 | Discovery of Pony’s body in the cave | | 25:24–25:47 | Matt exposes Hicks as the real killer |

Tone & Style Highlights

The episode maintains the gruff, gritty, and morally complex tone characteristic of classic Western radio dramas. Justice is not always clean or easy; even the most obvious villains may be victims, and small cruelties can set off tragedies. The dialogue is brisk, laced with dark humor, and reflective of the period’s stoic sensibility.

Conclusion

“Snakebite” is a rich, suspenseful episode that exemplifies how Gunsmoke used frontier crime to pose deeper ethical dilemmas. Through nuanced storytelling, it shows just how quickly violence can propagate on the edge of civilization, and how even a misunderstood drifter like Pony Thompson can become a casualty of others’ brutality.

For listeners:
If you enjoy classic Western storytelling, this digitally restored drama, with its vivid soundscape and gripping performances, offers a powerful immersion into the American frontier's harsh realities and the uncertain pursuit of justice.