Dry Gulch

About Dry Gulch

Dry Gulch is a free old time radio westerns channel from Stupid Potato: complete episodes of classic radio westerns, played back to back 24 hours a day. It plays Gunsmoke with William Conrad, Have Gun, Will Travel with John Dehner, Tales of the Texas Rangers with Joel McCrea, The Six Shooter with James Stewart, Fort Laramie with Raymond Burr and Frontier Gentleman, plus Wild Bill Hickok and other frontier adventures. Listen free online with no account, or follow the Dry Gulch podcast for the newest episodes from its series.

Most of these shows come from the 1950s, the last great years of network radio drama, when CBS set out to make westerns for grown-ups instead of children. Gunsmoke began in 1952 because CBS chairman William S. Paley wanted "a Philip Marlowe of the Old West," and producer Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston gave him a weary, honest marshal in 1870s Dodge City. Macdonnell went on to make Fort Laramie and the radio version of Have Gun, Will Travel, and his sound crews' creaking saddle leather and spurs on the boardwalk set a standard radio rarely matched.

The town of Dry Gulch has its own law: Marshal Ramrod, a hard-bitten, iron-jawed lawman who gives troublemakers one warning, and his quick-tempered deputy, Buckshot. Between episodes the marshal keeps order with few words and very dry humor. The channel is for western fans, old-time radio listeners, long drives, and anyone who grew up on TV's Gunsmoke and wants to hear where it started. Gunsmoke, Have Gun, Will Travel and the other headline series also have their own channels here.

What you’ll hear

• Gunsmoke (CBS, 1952-1961): William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon, with Parley Baer as Chester, Howard McNear as Doc and Georgia Ellis as Kitty
• Have Gun, Will Travel (CBS, 1958-1960): John Dehner as Paladin, the gentleman gunfighter of San Francisco's Hotel Carlton
• Tales of the Texas Rangers (NBC, 1950-1952): Joel McCrea as Ranger Jace Pearson in dramatized real Ranger cases
• The Six Shooter (NBC, 1953-1954): James Stewart's only regular radio series, as the drifting cowboy Britt Ponset
• Fort Laramie (CBS, 1956): Raymond Burr, in his only starring radio role, as cavalry captain Lee Quince
• Frontier Gentleman (CBS, 1958): J. B. Kendall, a reporter for The Times of London, in the Old West
• Wild Bill Hickok, Frontier Town, Tales of the Diamond K, Luke Slaughter of Tombstone and more

Where to start

• New to radio westerns? Gunsmoke is the one to know. It premiered with "Billy the Kid" on April 26, 1952.
• Have Gun, Will Travel's first broadcast, "Strange Vendetta" (November 23, 1958), is the script John Dehner read when he won the part of Paladin.
• The episode guide on this page says what each story is about and what to listen for. Plus members can pick any episode and play it whenever they like.

Gunsmoke on the radio

CBS Radio, 1952-1961. With William Conrad, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Sam Edwards, Lawrence Dobkin, Virginia Gregg.

Have Gun, Will Travel on the radio

CBS Radio, 1958-1960. With John Dehner, Ben Wright, Virginia Gregg.

Frontier Gentleman on the radio

CBS Radio, 1958. With John Dehner, Virginia Gregg, Joseph Kearns, Stacy Harris.

Tales of the Texas Rangers on the radio

NBC Radio, 1950-1952. With Joel McCrea, Tony Barrett, Virginia Gregg, Lurene Tuttle.

The Six Shooter on the radio

NBC Radio, 1953-1954. With James Stewart, Virginia Gregg, William Conrad, Howard McNear, Parley Baer.

Fort Laramie on the radio

CBS Radio, 1956. With Raymond Burr, Old Bedlam, General William T. Sherman.

Every Dry Gulch episode: the full list, with air dates and stories

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