Old Time Radio Westerns – "Story of Gunsmoke – Part 1" | Gunsmoke (04-25-1976)

Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode: Story of Gunsmoke – Part 1
Original Airdate of Feature: April 25, 1976
Podcast Release Date: December 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode is the first in a special multipart series chronicling the history and impact of Gunsmoke, the groundbreaking adult western radio drama. Blending excerpts from classic episodes, behind-the-scenes discussions, and thoughtful commentary from the show’s original creators and cast, the episode traces how Gunsmoke redefined western storytelling on American radio, shifting it from adolescent adventure tales to complex, mature dramatizations of the Old West.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction & Tribute to Gunsmoke

• William Conrad ("Matt Dillon") introduces the episode, welcoming listeners and highlighting the cast and crew who made Gunsmoke possible (06:10).
• Conrad sets the tone: “For nearly 10 years I had the pleasure of portraying a man named Matt Dillon...Tonight you're going to hear the biography of this exceptional radio series.” (06:16)

2. A Classic Gunsmoke Story: The Trumbo Brothers

• The episode features a full dramatized story, showcasing the series’ hallmarks: morally complex characters, hard choices, and realistic dialogue.
• Plot Summary:
  • Marshal Dillon captures Lee Trumbo, accused of murder, and returns him to Dodge City. Dolph Trumbo, Lee's brother, attempts to rally a mob to break him from jail, even hiring notorious gunman Hack Prine.
  • The story explores the code of honor among gunmen and lawmen, with Hack torn between professional loyalty and personal ethics.
• Notable quotes:
  • 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.” (09:55)
  • Hack Prine: “I couldn’t stand that, Matt. I never been in jail. I never ain't going to be.” (14:16)

3. The Evolution of the Radio Western

• Host John Hickman provides a narrative history after the featured drama (59:00).
• Gunsmoke’s significance: The show is called “the dramatization of the American epic legend of the west, our own Iliad and Odyssey…blended by writer John Meston in his portrayal of Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s.” (59:50)
• Gunsmoke marked a transition from children’s stories like The Lone Ranger and Tom Mix to mature dramas dealing with “drama, love, tragedy, fact, and emotion.” (1:00:40)

4. Breaking with Tradition: Radio’s First Adult Western

• The show took 26 years to arrive: “Looking back, it seems strange that it took from 1926...to 1952...for someone to offer an adult portrayal of the American West.” (1:03:00)
• William N. Robeson (writer, producer, director): “It’s the same old story. Bright young men…were urban oriented....They wouldn’t think for a moment to look towards the West.” (1:03:45)
• Failed attempts at adult westerns before Gunsmoke are discussed, e.g., Hawk Larrabee (1:04:40), and the genre’s reliance on clichés and adolescent themes.

5. Creative Experimentation and Style

• Discussion of other series (Escape, Romance) where the production team pioneered new approaches: slower pacing, deliberate soundscapes, understated and “laconic” dialogue (1:10:45).
• Example of “Wild Jack Rhett” and “Pagosa” as experiments in this maturing style.

6. The Birth of Gunsmoke

• John Meston takes over writing, bringing a new, adult sensibility to western radio (1:13:30).
• CBS initially resists: “They auditioned everybody in town and as a last resort they called me...and the next day they called me and said, you have the job.” - William Conrad on getting cast as Matt Dillon (1:20:00)

7. Casting & Sound: Bringing Dodge City to Life

• Audition history: Ray Burr, Robert Stack considered, but William Conrad eventually cast, despite concerns he was too strongly identified as a “heavy.”
• Supporting cast—Howard McNear (Doc), Parley Baer (Chester), Georgia Ellis (Kitty)—grows into their iconic roles (1:23:30).
• Rex Corey discusses scoring the show and composing the theme “in the most convenient spot” under tight deadlines (1:18:00).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

William Conrad:

• “You might run into somebody who doesn’t know you’re afraid to use it. He might shoot you before he found that out.” (To Dolph Trumbo) (12:50)

Kitty (Georgia Ellis):

• “Suppose the day will ever come when having good manners will be a requirement for the Marshal's office?” (25:30)

John Hickman (Narrator):

• “Gunsmoke was the dramatization of the American epic legend of the west, our own Iliad and Odyssey...” (59:50)
• “It was an adult western, meaning that adults could enjoy it without any implication of psychological overtones or anything. When he said adult western, he meant merely that it wasn’t a kid western.” (1:14:10)

William N. Robeson:

• “It's the same old story: bright young men...operating out of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles. Urban oriented...they overlooked the West.” (1:03:45)

William Conrad (on his casting):

• “They auditioned everybody in town and as a last resort they called me and said okay, we give up, come on in. And I went in and read about two lines and they said okay, thank you. And I walked out and the next day they called me and said, you have the job.” (1:20:00)

Rex Corey (composer):

• “The Gunsmoke theme was actually composed in the matter of about 10 minutes...I grabbed a piece of manuscript and a pencil and sat down in the most convenient spot and that is where the Gunsmoke theme was actually composed.” (1:18:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|---------------| | William Conrad’s Introduction | 06:10 | | Marshal Dillon Returns with Lee Trumbo | 09:45–13:15 | | Hack Prine and the Code of the Gunfighter | 14:00–28:00 | | Showdown & Aftermath | 44:00–54:00 | | John Hickman: “The Story of Gunsmoke” | 59:00 | | Cecil Smith quote; origins of westerns | 59:50–1:02:45 | | William N. Robeson on radio traditions | 1:03:30 | | Hawk Larrabee, Escape, and Romance | 1:04:40–1:13:00| | Creation and casting of Gunsmoke | 1:13:00–1:21:30| | Music by Rex Corey | 1:17:30–1:19:30| | Final casting, supporting players | 1:22:00–1:24:30|

Tone and Language

The episode strikes a warm, nostalgic, and respectful tone, mixing straight narration with documentary interviews and classic radio dialogue. The language is authentic to the era, often evocative of the West—laconic, blunt, and steeped in slang—while the commentary from the creators is both candid and appreciative of the art form.

Summary

This episode masterfully combines a signature Gunsmoke episode, exploring themes of justice, honor, and community, with a sweeping oral history of the series. It reflects on the creative risks that set Gunsmoke apart from other radio westerns and details the collaborative process that brought a more nuanced, adult vision of the West to radio. Through firsthand accounts, rare production anecdotes, and exemplary scenes, "Story of Gunsmoke – Part 1" stands as an insightful tribute to a radio classic and the talented ensemble who made Dodge City come alive for generations.