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Grainger Custodial Supervisor / Shopify Advertiser
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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 Dates November 25, 1956 and the title is Trail to the Wind.
Grainger Maintenance Supervisor
If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger are the ones who get it done.
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Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Gun Smoke Brought to you by L M the modern cigarette that lets you get full exciting flavor through the modern miracle of the pure white miracle. Tip Live modern smoke L and M. 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 Smoke 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.
Andrew Rines
Oh.
Chester
Oh, there, Matt.
Doc
Matt, wait a second. I want to talk to you. Matt, If I ever get this compounded team to stop it.
Chester
Whoa. You driving that buggy dock, or you're just being took?
Doc
Oh, this blaster team, they got mouths of solid iron.
Matt Dillon
They're probably trying to run away from that squeaky wheel. You know, grease that thing. You're going to twist off a spindle one of these days.
Doc
It'll last as long as I will. Wholesay matter. I just drove in from Meadow Flats.
Matt Dillon
Oh, well, every man to his own pleasure.
Doc
It wasn't pleasure. Confound it. Now I got something that'll wipe that grin off your face, too.
Matt Dillon
That song?
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Yes.
Doc
Burke Reese and that ornery boy of his. They've been kicking up their heels again.
Matt Dillon
Who are they after this time?
Doc
Pezzi Kneller and his wife. They've got that homestead, you know, next to the Reese's.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, I know the place. What happened?
Doc
Well, it seems Burke Reese and his boy kind of hoorahed him a little bit last night. They burnt one of Pezzi's chicken houses and fired off a few shots.
Chester
And Pezzi's acting real funny about it.
Matt Dillon
How you mean?
Doc
Well, he didn't want me to say anything about it. He claims he doesn't want any trouble, Doc.
Matt Dillon
With Burke Reese after him, he's already got trouble.
Chester
There's old Pezzy, Mr. Dillon scratching around the ashes there, huh? Well, Marshall Chester, this is a mighty plenty surprise.
Matt Dillon
Morning, Pessy.
Chester
Hi, Mr. Kneller. Get down and set a spell.
Matt Dillon
Ah, thank you.
Chester
Cora's got some coffee on. Be ready directly.
Matt Dillon
Oh, fine. We could do something. Looks like you might have had a.
Chester
Little trouble out here last night, Marshall. Well, that chicken house burnt right down to the ground. Oh yeah? Yeah, but the studding ain't hurt much. He no chore to fix it up.
Matt Dillon
Lose many chickens.
Chester
Oh, by darn. I reckon that most ob Maso.
Matt Dillon
You're mighty lucky.
Chester
Yes sir, that's just the way I look at it, Marshall. Mighty lucky. It's a downright hollering shame if you ask me.
Matt Dillon
I think I understand there were some shots fired last night.
Chester
Look, Marshall, you hadn't got a road clear out here just on account of this little go around. Why didn't I mark the hill of beams?
Matt Dillon
You're a patient man.
Chester
Just can't abide trouble, I guess. Never could for some reason.
Matt Dillon
Too bad the Reese's don't feel the same way. Isn't that who it was? Burke Reese and that bullying son of his, Spike.
Chester
Well, I just couldn't write the Noah for sure. It was awful dark last night, Marshall. Was two fellas on horseback. That's all I could tell.
Matt Dillon
Uh huh. You been bothered before?
Chester
Oh, a couple of nights this week. Might be the same. Two fellas might not. Hard to say. What'd they do? Oh, just galloped around the house a couple of times, shooting off their guns. Didn't do no harm much though.
Matt Dillon
Has Berkrais been trying to buy you off, does he?
Chester
Well, he did make me an offer last week. Only about a third of what the place is worth though. Anyhow, I ain't aiming to sell.
Matt Dillon
Neither was Ed Talmage. He had the homestead north of Reese, remember?
Chester
Yes, I remember.
Matt Dillon
Reese bought that place for about a third of what it was worth. Does he? From Ed's widow.
Chester
You know, I never could figure who Dry Goss did that night.
Matt Dillon
Look, Pes, if you'll sign a complaint, I'll have both orises locked up inside an hour.
Chester
Won't do no good, Marshall. It is dark. I couldn't swear in court it was them.
Matt Dillon
And you know what'll happen? You don't even pack a gun, does he?
Chester
Guns just lead trouble, Marshall. I'm a mild sort of man. I reckon And a believer in nature. Like with their herd of cattle. Storm comes up, they just turn their tails to the wind and wait it out. Man can learn a whole lot from animals.
Matt Dillon
Sure he can, has he? But Burke Reese learned his from a mountain lion.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Free yourself of old fashioned ideas why don't you?
Chester
Live modern Live modern Live, live, live.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Modern Free up, freshen up your taste.
Chester
Smoke an L M.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Live modern smoke modern smoke L and M Enjoy full excitement, exciting flavor through L M's pure.
Chester
White miracle tip L M draws easier.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Taste richer, smokes cleaner. That's why today more people are changing to L M than to any other cigarette. So free up, freshen up your taste.
Chester
Live modern.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Change to L and M. Make today.
Chester
Your big red letter day and start to live the modern way. Live, live, live modern smoke and element.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
It's America's fastest growing cigarette.
Chester
I declare, Mr. Dillon, the long Branch ain't never had this biggest Saturday afternoon before.
Matt Dillon
Quite a crowd in town, all right.
Chester
I don't even think we can get.
Matt Dillon
Up the bar edge along the side here.
Chester
Well, maybe I can do it empty.
Doc
But it's sure gonna be a tight squeeze.
Chester
Oochi out, full of beer.
Matt Dillon
You get that pole, Chester, and I'll leave you here.
Kiddie
Imagine you in here in daylight.
Matt Dillon
Chester needed a beer. Kidding?
Kiddie
Oh, he brought you along to chaperoning, huh?
Matt Dillon
I got a hunch you brought me along to pay for it. How you better.
Kiddie
No complaints. Look at this crowd. You ever see such a mob?
Matt Dillon
The looks of things. The fights will be starting even before dark.
Kiddie
Yeah.
Matt Dillon
Want to have a beer with us?
Kiddie
No, thanks. It's too early for me. But if you're around about 3am I'll have some supper with you.
Matt Dillon
Sounds good. Try to make it.
Kiddie
Well, he seems happy enough.
Chester
It's old Burk Reese.
Matt Dillon
Mr. John. Yeah, and Spike along with him.
Kiddie
Now there's a pair that's due for hanging.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
They're over. No kidding.
Chester
Well, howdy there, Marshall. Mighty nice to find you on the job. Ain't that right, Spike? Huh?
Kiddie
You know, I can usually find some good in anybody but those two. Especially after they murdered Ed Talmage last year.
Matt Dillon
There was no evidence, kiddie. No witnesses.
Kiddie
All right, Matt, but everybody knew they did it.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, but the law has to go on proof or it stops being the law.
Kiddie
But people are afraid of them, Matt. They're afraid even to go into court and tell what they know.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Matt.
Chester
Matt, come here.
Matt Dillon
Just a minute. Do. Come on, Justin, let's see what he wants. I'll talk to you later, Kitty.
Kiddie
Don't forget Matt.
Doc
Supper at 3 out there in the street, Matt. Some folks got themselves in a pack of trouble. Oh, Pezzi Kneller and his missiles. When they come out of Jonas store and started to drive off, the team pulled the front axle out from under the wagon. Let the whole bed drop right down into the street.
Matt Dillon
I see. Look, you better see. Stay here, Doc. Excuse me. Would you let me through here, please? Excuse me. Looks like you had a little trouble there, Py.
Chester
Oh. Oh, hello, Marshall. Yeah, I reckon the kingpin must fell out.
Matt Dillon
Kingpins don't fall out. They fit in from the top.
Chester
Gets to do with that. Well, then it must have bounced up and fell out over the top somehow.
Matt Dillon
You see Burke Reese take that pen out?
Chester
No, sure can't say I did, Marshall. Me and Cora was inside store there.
Matt Dillon
All right, what about the rest of you? Any of you see Burke Reese or anybody else fooling around this wagon, not one of you saw a thing.
Chester
Don't bother about it, Marshall. We just lost little flowers, all right. About all we bought, in fact. Except a roll of heavy wire for a clothesline. Of course, it wasn't hurt none.
Matt Dillon
You all right, Ms. Nella?
Kiddie
It ain't nothing, Marshall. Just cut my mouth a little.
Matt Dillon
Better let Doc take a look at it.
Kiddie
Oh, the bleeding's pert. Near stopped. Reckon I bumped it on the kickboard when I got throwed out.
Matt Dillon
Lindsay, if you don't care about yourself, you might think about your wife here.
Kiddie
Now, don't you go plaguing him. Marshall. Says he's been taking care of me for a good lot of years now.
Matt Dillon
And he ought to keep on doing it, ma'.
Chester
Am.
Kiddie
Says he's got his principles, Marshall. I respect him for him. He's a mild man and he can't abide violence.
Matt Dillon
All right, all right. Some of you men give him a hand there, will you? Come on, Chester.
Chester
You sure can't help him much when he won't let the hand help himself.
Matt Dillon
There's one way I can, Chester. I don't like doing it, but somebody's got so much.
Kiddie
What's that?
Matt Dillon
I'm going to show Burke Reese up for the coward that he is.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Free yourself of old fashioned ideas.
Chester
Why don't you live modern? Live modern. Live.
Matt Dillon
Free.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Up. Freshen up your taste.
Chester
Smoke an LM.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Only the modern miracle of the pure white miracle tip can bring all of L M's full, exciting.
Matt Dillon
Flavor through to you.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
And that's the big reason why today more people are changing to L M than to any other cigarette. Remember, L. M Draws easier, tastes richer, smokes cleaner. So live modern, change to L and.
Chester
M. Make today your big red letter day and start to live the modern way. Live, man, live modern. Smoke and L.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
It'S America's fastest growing cigarette.
Chester
There they are, Mr. Gentlemen, sitting over there at the poker table.
Matt Dillon
All right, Chelsea, you move on down there by the end of the bar. Just keep them off my back. That's all right, sir.
Chester
But you watch him, Mr.
Kiddie
Gentleman.
Chester
Make him be awful.
Kiddie
Meanwhile, what was the trouble out there, Matt? I didn't hear any shooting.
Matt Dillon
Later.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Kidding.
Matt Dillon
Right now, you better stay clear.
Kiddie
Matt, where are you going?
Matt Dillon
Well, Marshall, me and the young un's.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Getting up a little game.
Matt Dillon
Like to sit in, would you, Reese, you're a filthy, murdering coward. Now, you got no call to talk like that. You shot Ed Talmadge in the back last year so you could buy out his homestead. That so? Now you're after Pezzi Kneller. You shot up his place a couple of times and burnt one of his buildings. Pezzy say all that, did he? As he's not one to stick up for his rights, so somebody's gotta do it for him. Reese, I just called you a rotten coward.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Hold it, Spike.
Matt Dillon
That's just what he's trying to get us to do. It won't work, Marshall. I ain't gonna draw on you cussing. You're too yellow.
Chester
Both of you.
Matt Dillon
Except with a man like Pezzy Kneller who doesn't wear a gun. Hey, ain't draw. Didn't you hear me, Burke? I called you a lion. Coward. I'm sitting right here. No, you're not. Now get up on your feet.
Chester
Get up.
Matt Dillon
I know you, Marshall. You'd never shoot a man down. Cole.
Chester
I wouldn't.
Matt Dillon
Spike, reach over slow. Unbuckle my gun. You touch that belt, Spike, and I'll blast you out of your chair. All right, leave it, Spike. But I still ain't making no move. No. Well, maybe this will do it.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
All right.
Matt Dillon
What about it, Reece? I'm. I'm staying right here on the floor, Marshall. You set tight, Spike? I told you, Marshall, no matter what you do, I ain't gonna draw against you. You're a smart one, Race. You're smart, just like a rattlesnake. Now you get up and get out of here. Get out, both of you, before I kick you to death. Come on, spike.
Kiddie
I never seen you act like that before.
Matt Dillon
Yeah, no kidding.
Kiddie
Not that I blame you.
Matt Dillon
I know they wouldn't draw any one of them. I just wanted to show them up for the cowards they are. Well, now, I'm afraid there's only one more thing I can do for Pazzy Kneller.
Kiddie
What's that, now?
Matt Dillon
Nintendo's fun. Oh.
Doc
Oh. Oh, Chester, this is the worst coffee I ever tasted. I broke better embalming fluid.
Chester
Well, you kept your mouth shut, Doctor, after you'd swallowed three whole cubs.
Doc
Well, no wonder. My throat was still paralyzed from the first swallow.
Chester
You're sure losing a lot of sass for being paralyzed in the neck. You want some more, mister? Don't.
Matt Dillon
No, not right now, Chester.
Chester
By jing, you complain about it, Doc, but I notice you always come hot footing over here first thing when you wake up.
Doc
It's a trial by torture, Chester. If I can live through Chester's coffee, I can face anything the day brings.
Chester
Well, forever more. What do you know?
Matt Dillon
What is it, Chester?
Chester
Tesla Miller coming down the street there in his wagon. Oh, well, Matt, how do you figure.
Doc
A man like that? He doesn't want any trouble. He says he can't abide violence. He don't even realize he's on bar time.
Matt Dillon
I guess not, Doc. All he was worrying about yesterday afternoon was getting back home and putting up a clothesline for the missus.
Doc
Just a couple of babes in a forest of wolves.
Chester
He stopped right out in front here, Mr. Dillon. Marshal Marshall Dillon.
Matt Dillon
Now, let's see what he wants. Morning, Pleasant. You're up early, aren't you?
Chester
Reckon I am at that, Marshall. Oh, hello, Doc. Mighty glad to find you here.
Matt Dillon
There's something wrong.
Chester
Well, in a way, I guess there is. Marshall had little accent off at our place during the night accident.
Matt Dillon
Who?
Chester
Doc? I reckon you better take a look there in the wagon bed. Just throw back the COVID All right.
Doc
Give me a hand here, Chester.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
All right.
Chester
Sorry to have this happen, Marshall, but just one of them things. Couldn't be helped, I reckon. Mr. Dillon, it's the Reese's.
Matt Dillon
What?
Chester
They're dead, Matt. Both of them.
Matt Dillon
Their necks have been broken.
Doc
There's marks across their throats.
Chester
It's like they've been hanged. Yes, sir. That's exactly what I said to Cora this morning when we found him laying there. Looked like they'd been hanged. What? I said found them.
Matt Dillon
Where? Pezzi.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
What happened?
Chester
Well, sir, me and Cora woke up last night and heard some shooting in Hurrah. Unlike them other times. Only it stopped all of a sudden and the horses galloped off. So we went back to sleep. This morning when I come out, I found these two layin right there in my chicken yard. Dead are in door Nails now, go on. Then, I figured. Was that doggone clothesline, Marshall? I put it up good and solid. Cause Cora always hates to have her wash it down in the dirt. And I reckon these two just didn't see it in the dark.
Kiddie
That way.
Matt Dillon
They rode right into it.
Chester
Man's got a number 20 rigging cable hooked under his chin. And a galloping horse stretching his feet in the stirrups. Well, sure don't do his neck no good.
Matt Dillon
No, sure doesn't. Well, you better take him down to the undertakers.
Doc
All right, I'll ride along with you, peasant. Might as well earn my feet.
Chester
Well, sure sorry to put you fellas out this way, but man can't be expected to go around, warn all his neighbors every time he puts up a new clothesline.
Matt Dillon
Ah, I guess not.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
Does he?
Chester
That I got to change the durned thing when I get back home. Put it a foot and a half too high for some fool reason. Why, Cora can't even reach it. Come on, get up, boss. Stop in to see us, Marshall whenever you're out our way.
Matt Dillon
Yeah. Yeah, I will, Fuzzy. Well, Chester, never sell a mild man short.
Chester
You said them Reese's was overdue for.
Matt Dillon
Hanging, Mr. D. Yeah, they're sure not overdue anymore.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
In a moment, our star, William Conrad. We laugh at Humpty Dumpty's tumble. We roar at the comedian who slips on a banana peel. But the unfunny fact is that almost 14,000Americans died from falls in their own homes. Why did they fall? Silly little reasons mostly. There was a toy on the stairs that they didn't see. There was that loose board on the porch they'd always meant to fix. Or maybe the scatter rugs scattered at the wrong moment. Or they climbed on a chair to straighten the drapes. It seemed so important at the time. Home accidents are second only to those on the highways and the terrible mortality they cause. And falls account for almost half of home accidents. Look around your house today and see that the causes of falls are removed wherever possible. That floors and stairs are in good repair and well lighted. That obstructions are removed and carpets secured. See that a slick wax job doesn't slide you into the hospital. Have a proper step ladder and use it instead of climbing on unsteady furniture. It's so simple to prevent accidents so tragic to face their consequences. Check your home for fall traps today. And now, William Conrad.
Matt Dillon
You know, on the frontier, there was usually plenty of fresh meat to be had. Antelope, venison, buffalo, prairie chicken. And yet next week, a man dies because of one small yearling calf. And that was the Wes Gunsmoke, produced.
Narrator / L&M Cigarette Advertiser
And directed by Norman Macdonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by Les Crutchfield with editorial supervision by John Meston. The music was composed and conducted by Rex Corey, sound patterns by Ray Kemper and Tom Hanley. Featured in the cast were Ralph Moody, John Dana and Helen Cleave. Marley Bear is Chester, Howard McNair is Doc, and Georgia Ellis is kidding. Join us again next week for another story on Gun Smoke.
Chester
Ram.
Apollo Advertiser
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Matt Dillon
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.
Apollo Advertiser
Tired of juggling sales tools or spending hours on prospecting just to book a few meetings? Meet Apollo, the go to market platform for finding leads, connecting with buyers and closing deals all in one place. Apollo gives you access to over 210 million contacts and AI that handles all your busywork, finding leads, drafting emails and even prioritizing your day. So stop paying for five different sales tools when one does it all. Visit Apollo I.O. and sign up free today.
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Original Air Date: November 25, 1956 (Gunsmoke)
Podcast Release Date: November 25, 2025
This episode features a digitally restored presentation of the classic radio drama "Trail to the Wind" from Gunsmoke, exploring the relentless intimidation faced by homesteader Pezzi Kneller at the hands of violent rancher Burke Reese and his son, Spike. Marshal Matt Dillon attempts to navigate the limitations of the law, the courage—or lack thereof—of everyday people, and the Wild West’s code of justice.
[04:34]
[06:45]
[11:16]
[13:13]
[17:06]
[21:33]
Pezzi Kneller (On Nonviolence, 09:06):
“Guns just lead trouble, Marshall. I'm a mild sort of man… Like with their herd of cattle. Storm comes up, they just turn their tails to the wind and wait it out. Man can learn a whole lot from animals.”
Kittie (On the Villains, 12:14):
“You know, I can usually find some good in anybody but those two. Especially after they murdered Ed Talmage last year.”
Matt Dillon (Calling Out Reese, 17:44):
“Reese, you're a filthy, murdering coward... You shot Ed Talmadge in the back last year so you could buy out his homestead. That so? Now you're after Pezzi Kneller... I just called you a rotten coward.”
Pezzi Kneller (On the Tragedy, 23:42):
“Man's got a number 20 rigging cable hooked under his chin. And a galloping horse stretching his feet in the stirrups. Well, sure don't do his neck no good.”
Matt Dillon (About Fate and Character, 24:32):
“Well Chester, never sell a mild man short.”
This summary preserves the drama’s original tone while structuring the plot and themes for easy understanding—offering a meaningful glimpse into why these radio westerns remain compelling decades after their first broadcast.