Episode guide
Gunsmoke: Season 1
39 episodes · premiered Sep 9, 1955
This is a list of episodes from the first season of the television series version of Gunsmoke.
- Episode 1: Matt Gets It Sep 10, 1955 · 26m Dan Grat, a gunman hunted by Texas authorities, seeks refuge in Dodge City. Marshal Dillon goes into action against this outlaw who shoots before he talks.
- Episode 2: Hot Spell Sep 17, 1955 · 26m Matt intercedes on behalf of ex-con Cope Borden, when Rance Bradley accuses Cope of horse theft and attempts to lynch him. Cope is proven innocent of the charge, but later kills Bradley's…
- Episode 3: Word of Honor Oct 1, 1955 · 26m Hank Worth, son of wealthy rancher Jake Worth, is kidnapped by three men and held for $20,000 ransom. They shoot him in the back for trying to escape. They call on Doc but Hank dies. The…
- Episode 4: Home Surgery Oct 8, 1955 · 26m When returning to Dodge, Chester and Matt are confronted by Holly Hawtree, whose father is desperately ill with gangrene. His only hope for survival is amputation of the affected leg. Matt…
- Episode 5: Obie Tater Oct 15, 1955 · 26m Two outlaws seek the rumored hidden fortune of old prospector Obie. They drag him to get him to tell. Obie forgets his cares and disappears on honeymoon with newcomer Ella May. Matt…
- Episode 6: Night Incident Oct 29, 1955 · 26m Little Timmy Wyatt witnesses a series of bizarre murders. He has a habit of telling tall tales, so no one will believe him.
- Episode 7: Smoking Out the Nolans Nov 5, 1955 · 26m Clay Young is trying to evict Josh Nolan, who says he paid for the property. Matt and Chester are tied up in reluctantly enforcing eviction law unless they can find another way.
- Episode 8: Kite's Reward Nov 12, 1955 · 26m Matt warns skilled gunman Andy Travis, of his choice between quitting the gun or else being constantly hunted and forced to prove himself. Matt finds a way to foil the $1000 bounty on…
- Episode 9: The Hunter Nov 26, 1955 · 26m Buffalo hunter Jase Murdock is warned by storekeeper Ross to stay out of Indian territory. Matt talks with Murdock's skinner, Golden Calf, who determines that Murdock's medicine is no…
- Episode 10: The Queue Dec 3, 1955 · 26m Two bullies cut off Chen's pig-tail, gravely dishonoring him in Chinese culture. Chen vows vengeance.
- Episode 11: General Parsley Smith Dec 10, 1955 · 26m Old-timer Smith is a former Army officer considered a butcher. He arrives in Dodge City speading rumors about the new Banker, Drew Holt.
- Episode 12: Magnus Dec 24, 1955 · 26m Chester is embarrassed at a visit by his estranged mountain man brother Magnus. To prove that Magnus is too uncivilized for town, Chester tours him through the highlights of Dodge: card…
- Episode 13: Reed Survives Dec 31, 1955 · 26m Lucy professes her love for handsome Booth Rider, and concocts a scheme against Ephram. Booth becomes the unwitting pawn in a homicide that culminates in an ironic twist of fate.
- Episode 14: Professor Lute Bone Jan 7, 1956 · 26m Doc is enraged by traveling medicine man Professor Lute Bone and his opium elixir, and digs up a gun to shoot him with. A lad also hunts him because his father died drinking his elixir, so…
- Episode 15: No Handcuffs Jan 21, 1956 · 26m A dishonest deputy sheriff steals a prisoner from Matt's jail, so Matt and Chester hunt them.
- Episode 16: Reward for Matt Jan 28, 1956 · 26m Matt kills a man and his widow posts a $1,000 bounty in vengeance. Everyone from sodbusters to gunslingers are out for that reward.
- Episode 17: Robin Hood Feb 4, 1956 · 26m Witnesses refuse to testify against a notorious outlaw.
- Episode 18: Yorky Feb 18, 1956 · 26m Yorky, a white boy who was brought up by Arapahoes, is victimized by horse thieves. Accused of their crime, he is shot by the vengeful Abe Brandt and his son. Matt is also targeted by the…
- Episode 19: 20-20 Feb 25, 1956 · 26m A former lawman tries to keep his failing eyesight a secret from his enemies.
- Episode 20: Reunion '78 Mar 3, 1956 · 26m A well-liked hardware drummer is actually a man wanted for multiple murders.
- Episode 21: Helping Hand Mar 17, 1956 · 26m A would-be tough guy picks on the wrong man in an attempt to make a name for himself when he tries to involve Marshal Matt Dillon by staging a street fight.
- Episode 22: Tap Day for Kitty Mar 24, 1956 · 26m An old sodbuster comes to town and decides he wants to marry Kitty. When he won't leave her alone she declares she'll shoot him if he pesters her anymore.
- Episode 23: Indian Scout Mar 31, 1956 · 26m When an old Indian scout (Eduard Franz) murders a man (DeForest Kelley), Matt pursues him into Comanche territory.
- Episode 24: The Pest Hole Apr 14, 1956 · 26m Doc must find a way to thwart a typhoid epidemic in Dodge (Howard McNear appears).
- Episode 25: The Big Broad Apr 28, 1956 · 26m Matt has to figure a way around a six-foot-tall, 200-pound woman with a six-gun.
- Episode 26: Hack Prine May 12, 1956 · 26m Hack Prine, a friend of Matt's rides into Dodge. However he is there as a gunman, for Matt Dillon.
- Episode 27: Cooter May 19, 1956 · 26m A dishonest gambler (Vinton Hayworth) uses a mentally challenged man (Strother Martin) in a plot against Matt (Robert Vaughn appears).
- Episode 28: The Killer May 26, 1956 · 26m Charles Bronson guest stars as a cowardly gunslinger who only goes after old men or young kids who aren't very experienced with guns. But, when Matt Dillon gives him an ultimatum, he shows…
- Episode 29: Doc's Revenge Jun 9, 1956 · 26m A stranger comes to Dodge, and Doc bewilders and dismays Chester and Matt by arming himself and vowing to kill the man.
- Episode 30: The Preacher Jun 16, 1956 · 26m Seth, a newcomer to Dodge is bullied by Keeler, a boxer.
- Episode 31: How to Die for Nothing Jun 23, 1956 · 26m The brother of a man Matt was forced to kill vows to kill Matt by any means necessary (Mort Mills appears).
- Episode 32: Dutch George Jun 30, 1956 · 26m Matt's Childhood hero, Dutch George is now the leader of a notorious gang of horse thieves he must now stop.
- Episode 33: Prairie Happy Jul 7, 1956 · 26m A bitter old man spreads rumors of an impending Indian raid on Dodge.
- Episode 34: Chester's Mail Order Bride Jul 14, 1956 · 26m When Chester's mail-order bride arrives, neither she nor Chester are what the other are expecting (first credited appearance of Bert Rumsey as 'Sam').
- Episode 35: The Guitar Jul 21, 1956 · 26m An ex-Union soldier is forced to use violence against a pair of diehard Rebels (Jacques Aubuchon appears). First episode without the "Boot Hill" intro.
- Episode 36: Cara Jul 28, 1956 · 26m Matt encounters an ex-girl friend---who's now working on the wrong side of the law.
- Episode 37: Mr. and Mrs. Amber Aug 4, 1956 · 26m A self-styled religious prophet (Ainslie Pryor) is making life miserable for his daughter and new son-in-law..
- Episode 38: Unmarked Grave Aug 18, 1956 · 26m A young outlaw uses an old woman as a pawn in his bid for freedom.
- Episode 39: Alarm at Pleasant Valley Aug 25, 1956 · 26m While on the way back to Dodge, Matt and Chester discover a homsteading family fleeing Pleasant Valley, which is besieged by Indians.