Podcast Summary
Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode: The Lady Killer | Gunsmoke (05-14-61)
Release Date: November 16, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns features a restored presentation of the classic Gunsmoke radio drama, "The Lady Killer," originally broadcast on May 14, 1961. Marshal Matt Dillon, his loyal friend Chester, and the denizens of Dodge City become entangled in a plot of seduction, greed, and murder. A seemingly accidental killing unravels, revealing manipulation and a deadly contract. The restored audio brings new clarity to the textured world of the Old West, where danger always lurks just beyond the next saloon door.
Key Discussion Points and Plot Breakdown
1. Returning to Dodge City
[03:59]
- Grant Lucas arrives in Dodge City ahead of a trial where he and Marshal Dillon will testify against Cy Welsh, a notorious swindler.
- Light-hearted conversation at the Long Branch saloon between regulars (Matt, Chester, Sam the bartender) establishes camaraderie.
2. The Introduction of May Towny
[04:34]
- May Towny is introduced as an alluring new woman at the bar. She quickly makes a move on Grant Lucas, inviting him to dinner and subtly controlling the situation.
- They arrange a discreet meeting at her hotel room, with May giving explicit instructions to avoid the lobby.
- Quote:
"Just rap on it. I'll come out. You don't want me seen in the lobby, is that it? People gossip about a lone wolf."
—May Towny to Grant Lucas ([06:10])
- Quote:
3. Conversations About Cy Welsh and the Trial
[07:07]
- The trial of Cy Welsh is central to the plot; both Grant and Matt are witnesses.
- Kitty and others express their disdain for Cy and skepticism that justice will prevail.
4. Tragedy Strikes: Grant is Killed
[09:16]
- Grant is shot dead in May Towny’s hotel room. May claims she was defending her property, believing Grant was breaking in to steal her valuable brooch.
- Marshal Dillon appears convinced of her story.
- Quote:
"I can't very well arrest a woman for defending her property."
—Matt Dillon to May Towny ([10:35])
- Quote:
- May reveals she was in bed, the light out, and only reacted when the window broke. She implies Grant was after her brooch—an elaborate setup hinted at by the narrative.
5. Cy Welsh and Suspicion
[14:27]
- Chester, Doc, and Cy Welsh have a tense exchange at the stable. Cy is unfazed by the death of Grant, implying that with one less witness, his own position is better for the upcoming trial.
- Quote:
"I'd feel that about any man, even if he wasn't... You're glad he's dead and you know it."
—Chester and Cy Welsh confrontation ([15:15])
- Quote:
6. May Towny’s Allegiances Revealed
[17:15]
- A whispered conversation between May Towny and Cy Welsh reveals the murder was orchestrated. She was hired to kill Marshal Dillon, but killed Grant instead, and now faces pressure to finish the job.
- Quote:
"You get that Marshal. You get him tonight one way or another. Or so help me I’ll carve you up so no man will ever look at you again."
—Cy Welsh to May Towny ([17:41])
- Quote:
- May is increasingly fearful and conflicted as Cy’s threats intensify.
7. May's Struggle and Collapse
[20:00]
- Matt Dillon runs into May Towny, who claims to be lost and shaken up after Grant's killing. She tries to appear innocent, but Marshal Dillon remains subtly suspicious.
- The town is on edge with the trial looming and May’s erratic behavior drawing attention.
8. The Final Showdown
[23:13]
- Cy Welsh visits May Towny’s room, demanding she finish her assignment. May threatens to confess everything, refusing to go along further.
- Quote:
"I will tell him. I'll tell him everything. I don't care. Let him get me. But they'll get you."
—May Towny confronting Cy ([23:55])
- Quote:
- A struggle ensues; Cy attempts to force May to act. Marshal Dillon and Chester arrive just in time—Cy is shot and killed.
- May, mortally wounded, confesses she was hired to kill the Marshal, but couldn’t go through with it.
- Quote:
"I was gonna kill you. Then I got scared. I couldn’t do it. I won’t get paid now, will I?"
—May Towny’s dying words to Matt Dillon ([25:20])
- Quote:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- May Towny’s manipulation:
"You mind eating late? ... Pick me up about 10 tonight. I might even give you a drink." ([05:52]) - Marshal Dillon’s philosophy:
"It's a chancy job and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely." ([02:24]) - Cynicism and Old West justice:
"The law's been a long time catching up with that man."
—Doc about Cy Welsh ([22:02]) - Final Reflection:
"She got paid all right, Chester. She got paid good. I just wonder if the job was worth it."
—Matt Dillon, on crime and consequence ([26:01])
Important Timestamps
- [04:34] — May Towny introduced
- [09:16] — Grant Lucas killed
- [10:35] — Dillon lets May go after hearing her account
- [14:27] — Cy Welsh’s confrontation with Chester and Doc
- [17:41] — Cy Welsh threatens May Towny
- [20:00] — May acts lost; Dillon's growing suspicion
- [23:13] — Climax: Cy confronts May, is shot after Dillon intervenes
- [25:20] — May’s dying confession
Tone and Style
Gunsmoke’s signature blend of laconic dialogue, moral ambiguity, and tension-filled confrontations is preserved. The interactions crackle with period-appropriate wit, grit, and understated emotion. Marshal Dillon’s stoic introspection carries the story, while supporting roles add color and complexity to the world of Dodge.
Summary
The Lady Killer is a classic tale of manipulation and moral reckoning. Grant Lucas’s death sets off a chain of events exposing that even in Dodge City, with its law and order, corruption and despair can fester beneath the surface. May Towny, coerced into becoming a killer by Cy Welsh’s threats, ultimately cannot carry out the murder of Matt Dillon. Justice is served, but not without a heavy dose of tragedy: May’s remorseful final words and Marshal Dillon’s quiet reflection haunt the end of the episode. Restored in crisp audio, the drama stands as a testament to the enduring power of radio storytelling from the golden age of the Western.