Each guide is written from the episode itself, sets up the story and never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.
Gunsmoke: 122 episode guides
Gunsmoke (xxx) The Railroad (pre-cut, not final version) (1952)
A railroad representative and Marshal Matt Dillon arrive at the homestead of Libby Sager to deliver a federal order for her to vacate her land, which lies directly in the right-of-way for a new transcontinental railroad. Libby, a widow who has lived on her property for nearly twenty-five years, refuses to leave despite generous payment offers, and confronts the railroad man with a rifle. Matt dismisses the railroad representative and his deputy Chester to speak with Libby alone about the difficult situation.
Libby Sager's homestead on land needed for a transcontinental railroad right-of-way in the American West · Marshal Matt Dillon, Libby Sager, Mr. Williams, Chester
Listen for: The tension between progress and individual rights, as the railroad pushes westward and federal authority attempts to remove a stubborn widow from land her late husband staked decades earlier
Gunsmoke: 047 Cyclone (1953)
Matt Dillon investigates the sudden sale of the Cyclone Ranch to a stranger named Jed Wade. When old rancher Bartlett's workers come to town celebrating their payoff after the sale, Chester discovers no deed has been filed with the land office, and no one has seen Bartlett since the transaction. Dillon rides out to confront Wade and demand to see the bill of sale.
Dodge City and the Cyclone Ranch in Kansas Territory, during early spring · Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty, Jed Wade, Dallas, Mrs. Wade, Old man Bartlett
Listen for: The mystery of the missing rancher and the questionable sale of his ranch to the newcomer Jed Wade
Gunsmoke: Absalom (1953)
Marshall Dillon arrests Billy Mallard, a drunk and reckless young Texan, after he shoots up the Long Branch Saloon and threatens to cause more trouble in Dodge City. When Billy's father King Mallard arrives at the jail demanding his son's release, the Marshall must stand firm against the powerful rancher's intimidation and threats.
Dodge City, Kansas, at the Long Branch Saloon and jail · Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty, Billy Mallard, King Mallard, Tom Wayne, Mr. Kelly
Listen for: The tension between Matt Dillon's duty to the law and the pressure from powerful Texas cattlemen who bring valuable herds to the town; King Mallard's menacing confrontation at the jail.
Gunsmoke: Bad Seed (1960)
Marshal Matt Dillon finds a hungry runaway girl named Trudy camped outside his fire on the prairie. He attempts to return her to her father's farm, but Trudy reveals her father is a drunk and abusive man, and she refuses to stay. She becomes increasingly forward with Dillon, offering to marry him and insisting on going to Dodge instead of home.
The prairie outside Fort Larnett and the Trent family farm, one day's ride from Dodge · Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, Trudy Trent, a runaway girl, Tom Trent, Trudy's father
Listen for: Trudy's persistent attempts to seduce the Marshal and escape her difficult home situation, and the mounting tension with her father as Dillon tries to do what's right.
Gunsmoke: Ben Slade's Saloon (1952)
Marshal Matt Dillon investigates the third stabbing murder in two months when a man named Jones is found dead near his wagon with a large sum of money missing. The victim had spent the previous evening at Ben Slade's Saloon playing cards and winning substantial winnings, making Slade a prime suspect when the money disappears.
Dodge City and the surrounding Kansas territory, primarily at Ben Slade's Saloon and the Jones farm · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc, Miss Jones, Alvin Jones, Ben Slade, Ben Ramirez, Evita Ramirez
Listen for: The marshal's methodical questioning of suspects and Doc's analysis of the murder weapon, pointing to a serial killer using the same knife technique
Gunsmoke: Billy the Kid (1952)
When a murdered man is found dead by the river with a gunshot wound, Marshal Matt Dillon must investigate. A struggling farmer named Zegor is the prime suspect, but the evidence remains unclear and the true circumstances of the death are uncertain.
Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s. The story involves the marshal's office, jail cells, a saloon, the river, and the town doctor's office. · Matt Dillon, Chester, Zegor, Clay Richards, Mr. Hightower, Doc
Listen for: A tense investigation as Matt Dillon questions a farmer with financial troubles about a murder. Listen for details about Clay Richards's death, the missing gun, and Zegor's possible involvement.
Gunsmoke: Bless Me Till I Die (1960)
Matt Dillon helps a traveling family repair their wagon wheel on the road to Dodge City. Cole Treadwell is an unordained preacher traveling with his wife Beth Ann, and the town has taken a liking to them, even letting them use the schoolhouse as a church on Sundays. Back in Dodge, tension simmers when the recently released Nate Bush confronts Chester with threats of revenge.
The trail to Dodge City and the town of Dodge City itself · Matt Dillon, Cole Treadwell, Beth Ann Treadwell, Chester, Doc, Kitty, Nate Bush
Listen for: A traveling preacher and his wife find community acceptance in Dodge City, while an angry drunk released from jail harbors resentment toward Chester.
Gunsmoke: Blood Money (1960)
Marshal Dillon and Chester find a drifter named Joe Harp helping an injured cowboy named Spinner out on the prairie. Dillon brings both men back to Dodge, where Harp recovers and stays on, gambling and seeming respectable. Six weeks later, a wanted poster arrives revealing that Harp is wanted for bank robbery and murder. When Dillon learns Harp has fled town with Spinner's help after Spinner was warned of the arrest, he pursues them into the territory.
Dodge City, Kansas and the surrounding prairie territory, 1960s · Matt Dillon, Chester Proudfoot, Joe Harp, Spinner, Doc, Kitty
Listen for: The tension between Dillon's duty to arrest a wanted criminal and his uncertainty about a man who seemed to be doing good deeds; Spinner's unexpected loyalty to Harp despite their initial antagonism.
Gunsmoke: Buffalo Killers (1952)
Marshal Matt Dillon investigates the deaths of two buffalo hunters, Boaz and Jeff, and the burning of their wagons near Pawnee Rock. Initially suspecting Indians responsible for the attack, Dillon discovers the real culprits are white men who stole the valuable buffalo hides, particularly a rare white buffalo hide that serves as the key to identifying the killers. As buffalo hunters converge on Dodge City to sell their hides, Dillon sets up surveillance at the unloading barns to find who has the stolen white hide.
Dodge City and the surrounding Kansas territory, in the buffalo hunting grounds near Pawnee Rock · Matt Dillon, Chester, Mr. Biggs, Tennessee, Charlie Kell
Listen for: The search for the distinctive white buffalo hide that will identify the murderers; tense confrontations between Dillon and suspicious buffalo hunters arriving in Dodge City.
Gunsmoke: Bum's Rush (1953)
Two drifters, Halloo and Gorse, fleeing Dodge City after shooting a man during a robbery, seek refuge in what they believe is an abandoned cabin. They discover a saddled horse inside and are confronted at gunpoint by the cabin's occupant, who reveals himself to be Marshal Matt Dillon. Dillon has been tracking them all night and now takes them into custody for murder.
Dodge City and the Kansas territory, beginning at night on the prairie near an isolated cabin, then returning to Dodge City the next morning. · Matt Dillon, United States Marshal, Halloo, Gorse, Kitty, Chester
Listen for: The two fugitives' casual conversation about their fear of dying, their discovery of the hot horse in the cabin, and the marshal's clever tactics in capturing them without violence.
Gunsmoke: Busted-Up Guns (1960)
Marshal Matt Dillon travels to the Native American agency with Chester to visit his friend Whip, the agent. Upon arrival, they are stopped by Big Brother and other braves who have no guns, and Matt discovers that Whip has confiscated all the tribe's weapons and locked them in the storeroom.
A Native American reservation and agency in the West · Matt Dillon, Chester, Whip, Gladys, Big Brother
Listen for: The mystery of why Whip has taken the tribe's guns and what consequences this decision will bring
Gunsmoke: Cain (1952)
A traveling musician named Cain Vester arrives in Dodge City on his way to Arizona. Doc reveals that Cain is dying of consumption and has only a couple of months to live. When Marshal Dillon learns that Chester has been teaching Cain to shoot, he becomes concerned about why a dying man would suddenly need to learn to use a gun.
Dodge City, Kansas - a saloon and Marshal's office · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc, Kitty, Cain Vester
Listen for: The mystery of why a dying musician needs to learn to shoot a gun, and hints of darker intentions behind Cain's sudden interest in firearms.
Gunsmoke: Cain (1953)
A dying musician named Kane Vestal arrives in Dodge City on his way to Arizona, hoping the climate will extend his life as he battles consumption. When Kane asks Chester to teach him how to shoot a six-gun despite his illness, Matt wonders why a man with so little time left would need such a skill.
Dodge City and the Marshal's office, with scenes in the saloon · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc, Kitty, Kane Vestal
Listen for: Kane Vestal's mysterious request to learn gunfighting despite his terminal illness, and the reason behind his sudden change of plans to stay in Dodge
Gunsmoke: Carmen (1952)
A payroll theft from Fort Dodge and the murder of two Army soldiers sets off a clash between Marshal Dillon and the hot-headed Major Randall, who threatens to impose martial law on Dodge City if the crime isn't solved within a week. As tension builds between the townspeople and the Army, Dillon investigates the crime and discovers an Army clerk named Corporal Bowers may hold the key to what happened.
Dodge City and Fort Dodge, Kansas · Matt Dillon, Chester, Major Randall, Kate, Connie, Shiloh, Corporal Bowers
Listen for: The investigation into the stolen payroll and murdered soldiers, Major Randall's ultimatum about martial law, and Corporal Bowers' connection to the crime
Gunsmoke: Cavalcade (1953)
A deputy sheriff from Virginia arrives in Dodge City with a warrant for two men accused of murder. When Marshal Dillon sees a photograph of one suspect, he recognizes him as Doc Adams, the town's trusted physician. Doc reveals he killed a man named Roger Borregard in self-defense during a duel seventeen years ago, fleeing Virginia to escape justice. Now Dillon faces a moral dilemma: Doc is his friend and an honest man, but the law demands his arrest.
Dodge City, Kansas, and the surrounding territory, transitioning from frontier town toward civilization · Matt Dillon, Chester, Ed Hunter, Doc Adams, Miss Kelly, Roger Borregard
Listen for: Doc Adams's account of the duel in Virginia, his flight across the country, and Marshal Dillon's internal conflict between loyalty to his friend and duty to enforce the law
Gunsmoke: Chester's Dilemma (1960)
Chester seems distracted and listless, neglecting his duties at the marshal's office while becoming oddly attentive to Edna, a young woman working at the general store who dreams of San Francisco. When Doc observes Chester's unusual behavior—his blank expression, lack of focus, and failure to perform his regular tasks—he diagnoses the problem as ingratitude from Matt Dillon, suggesting Chester may be thinking about leaving Dodge City altogether.
Dodge City, Kansas—the general store, marshal's office, and boardwalk · Matt Dillon, Chester Proudfoot, Doc, Kitty, Edna, Mr. Jonas
Listen for: Chester's troubled demeanor and Doc's blunt assessment of what's driving him away from his work; Edna's conversation with Chester about the train and her interest in those wanted posters
Gunsmoke: Chester's Inheritance (1961)
Chester receives an unexpected inheritance of $368.63 from his late cousin Clarence Webley-Prodfoot, arriving just as he faces financial ruin from a farm foreclosure. With newfound money in his pocket, Chester must resist the temptation to gamble it away at the Long Branch saloon.
Dodge City, Kansas · Chester Wesley Prodfoot, Matt Dillon, Doc, Kitty, Bert Donald, Ed, Sam
Listen for: A letter from lawyers in Waco announcing an inheritance; Chester's plans to use the money; Doc and Matt's concerns about Chester's judgment.
Gunsmoke: Chester's Rendezvous (1961)
Chester finds a lady's bonnet blown away by the wind and returns it to Miss Amy Scini, a traveler staying north of town. Smitten by her, Chester seeks advice from Miss Kitty about whether it's proper to court the young woman, and determines to get a haircut and ask her out.
Dodge City, a saloon and the streets of town · Matt Dillon, Chester Proudfoot, Miss Kitty, Amy Scini, Sam
Listen for: Chester's awkward but earnest courtship and Miss Kitty's seasoned wisdom about matters of the heart.
Gunsmoke: Cooter (1961)
When a cowboy is killed at the Long Branch Saloon, Marshal Dillon investigates and learns that the victim drew first on a man named Ben Sizzle. Dillon discovers that Sizzle is actually a hired gunman working for crooked gambler Cecil, protecting him during rigged card games. Determined to stop the corruption, Dillon confronts Cecil and forces his gunman to leave town.
Dodge City, the Long Branch Saloon, and Marshal Dillon's office · Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty, Ben Sizzle, Cecil, Pete, the cowboy
Listen for: A tense confrontation between the Marshal and a crooked gambler using hired protection; questions about whether a killing was truly self-defense
Gunsmoke: Cows and Cribs (1961)
Marshall Dillon visits a struggling homestead where a new couple, Joe and his wife, are trying to make a life on the prairie. When he discovers that Ed Thorpe has died of spotted fever, Dillon must arrange care for Thorpe's orphaned baby while also helping the desperate settlers who can barely feed themselves.
Dodge City and the surrounding prairie homesteads in Kansas Territory · Matt Dillon, Chester, Joe, Mrs. Naylor, Ed Thorpe, Doc, Mrs. Needler, Emmett Bowers
Listen for: The Marshall's efforts to find a home for an orphaned child and help struggling settlers on the frontier
Gunsmoke: Crack-Up (1960)
Marshal Matt Dillon encounters a tense and dangerous gunman named Nate Springer in the barbershop, where Springer violently demands a haircut ahead of waiting customers. Doc reveals that Springer is a notorious paid killer with a reputation for nervousness and unpredictability, raising questions about why such a dangerous man has come to Dodge.
Dodge City - a barber shop and the street · Matt Dillon, Moshe the barber, Nate Springer, Doc
Listen for: A confrontation in the barbershop that introduces a mysterious and dangerous gunman; discussion of Springer's sinister reputation and past killings.
Gunsmoke: Cyclone (1953)
Marshal Dillon learns that the Cyclone Ranch has been sold to a stranger named Jed Wade, who arrived with his own crew of cowboys. When Dillon investigates, he finds no deed of sale filed and discovers that old man Bartlett, the original owner, has disappeared along with another man. Dillon visits Wade's ranch to ask questions about the suspicious transaction.
Dodge City and the Cyclone Ranch in Kansas territory · Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty, Ed, the clerk, Jed Wade, Dallas, Mrs. Wayne
Listen for: The mystery of the missing ranch owner and the suspicious sale that has no legal documentation
Gunsmoke: Daddy-O (1961)
Kitty Russell receives a telegram that her estranged father, Wayne Russell, is arriving in Dodge City. A wealthy freight business owner from New Orleans, he has never met his daughter before and now wants to reconnect and host a celebratory dinner for her and her friends. Kitty feels both hopeful and anxious about finally meeting the father who abandoned her as an infant.
Dodge City, Kansas; the Long Branch Saloon and depot · Matt Dillon, Kitty Russell, Chester, Sam, Doc Adams, Wayne Russell
Listen for: A father and daughter meet for the first time, and Wayne Russell learns about Kitty's life running a saloon.
Gunsmoke: Dangerous Bath (1960)
Matt Dillon encounters two drifters who have been robbed and left stranded on the prairie by bandits who stole their horses and boots. Desperate and exhausted after walking through the night and day, the men stumble into town where Doc Adams tends to their injuries and Dillon begins to investigate the crime.
Dodge City and the surrounding prairie · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc Adams, Ollie, Nina, Molly, Mr. Brown
Listen for: The unusual crime of thieves stealing not just horses but the victims' boots, leaving them stranded on foot in the wilderness.
Gunsmoke: Dave's Lesson (1960)
Dave Barrett arrives in Dodge City to stay with Marshal Matt Dillon after his parents die. The young man is eager to help with law enforcement work, but Dillon and Chester caution him about the realities of frontier justice and the dangers of firearms.
Dodge City, Kansas - the Marshal's office and saloon · Matt Dillon, Dave Barrett, Chester, Kitty, Uncle Will
Listen for: A tense conversation between Chester and young Dave about guns and responsibility; Dave's impatience to prove himself useful in law enforcement work.
Gunsmoke: Delia's Father (1960)
Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester are caught in a storm while transporting a prisoner named Keeler. They seek shelter at a remote ranch and discover it belongs to Delia, the daughter of Paul Ben, an old friend of Matt's who was killed. While waiting for Keeler's lame horse to recover, Chester is sent to town to telegraph the judge and testify at a trial in Hayes City.
A remote ranch during a rainstorm, near Dodge City and Hayes City in the territory West · Matt Dillon, Chester, Keeler, Delia, Doc
Listen for: Matt's history with Delia's late father Paul Ben; the developing situation between the marshal, his prisoner, and this unexpected refuge from the storm
Gunsmoke: Dirt (1953)
Matt Dillon receives a mysterious printed note threatening to shoot Cybert Savage if he marries Polly Tryman, and another threatening to shoot him if he doesn't. With the wedding scheduled for the next day, Matt must uncover who sent the warning and prevent violence at the ceremony.
Dodge City, Kansas · Matt Dillon, Chester, Cybert Savage, Henry Tryman, Polly Tryman, Doc, Kitty
Listen for: The mysterious anonymous note that arrives at the jail; Matt's conversation with Cybert about the threat; the tension between Cybert and Henry over the impending marriage.
Gunsmoke: Dirt (1960)
Nate Siberts, a wealthy rancher, plans to marry Polly Cyberton in two days, but tensions simmer when her brother Henry objects to postponing the wedding. When an anonymous printed threat arrives at Marshal Dillon's office warning that someone will shoot Siberts if he marries Polly, the Marshal must investigate who wants to prevent the wedding and why.
Dodge City and surrounding territory in the West · Matt Dillon, Nate Siberts, Henry Cyberton, Polly Cyberton, Kitty, Doc, Chester
Listen for: A mysterious threat against the wedding, tensions between the Cyberton family and Siberts, and hints of enemies with their own reasons to stop the marriage.
Gunsmoke: Distant Drummer (1960)
A young man named Raffy, a war veteran who wears a drum given to him by a captain at Antietam, finds himself mistreated by the townspeople of Dodge City. Marshal Dillon and Miss Kitty show him kindness, but tensions escalate when some rowdy men corner him at the saloon and demand he perform humiliating acts to retrieve his cherished drum. The marshal must intervene before the situation turns tragic.
Dodge City saloon and streets, post-Civil War era · Matt Dillon, Miss Kitty, Raffy, Chester, Doc, Toby, Sam
Listen for: A poignant examination of how war trauma and social cruelty can drive a vulnerable person to breaking point; the tension between a marshal's compassion and townspeople's intolerance.
Gunsmoke: Doc Holiday (1952)
Doc Holiday arrives in Dodge City on his way to Arizona, and Marshal Dillon finds himself caught between the gunslinger and Big Jack Finley, a powerful local rancher whose spoiled son Thorne has been causing trouble. When Doc takes Thorne's side against him in a confrontation, Big Jack threatens to force the marshal out of town unless Doc leaves Dodge.
Dodge City, Kansas, and surrounding territory · Marshal Matt Dillon, Doc Holiday, Thorne Finley, Big Jack Finley, Chester
Listen for: Doc Holiday's plans to head to Arizona for his health, the tension between the marshal's duty to uphold the law and Big Jack Finley's attempts to control the town, hints of a mysterious death in Finley's past
Gunsmoke: Doc Judge (1960)
A man named Bryce Hart arrives in Dodge City claiming to be a doctor, but reveals to Doc that he spent seven years in prison and has been waiting to kill him. Doc dismisses the threat as the ravings of a troubled man, but tension rises in town as word spreads about Hart's dangerous claims and mysterious past.
Dodge City, Kansas - the jail office, Del Monico restaurant, and a saloon · Matt Dillon, Doc, Bryce Hart, Miss Jones, Chester, Barty
Listen for: The mysterious confrontation between Doc and the man claiming to be his enemy from prison, and the mounting tension as the townspeople react to Hart's threats.
Gunsmoke: Doc's Visitor (1961)
A distinguished doctor named Dr. Weber arrives in Dodge City bearing news of the death of an old friend, Dr. Henry Wilson, and extends an offer to Doc Adams to take charge of Wilson's successful medical clinic in Philadelphia. Doc must weigh the opportunity for advancement, comfort, and professional prestige against his life and responsibilities in Dodge City.
Dodge City, Kansas - various locations including a hotel, the Long Branch Saloon, and Doc Adams' office · Matt Dillon, Doc Adams, Dr. William Weber, Kitty Russell, Billy
Listen for: The conversation between Doc Adams and Dr. Weber about the clinic offer, and Doc's reaction to this unexpected opportunity that could change his life
Gunsmoke: Drop Dead (1952)
A severe drought has dried up the prairie water sources, forcing a trail drive from the Circle C to seek water at Cottonwood Pond. However, rancher Grant Howard has fenced in the pond on his own land and is demanding payment for access. Marshal Matt Dillon must navigate the tense standoff between desperate trail boss Jackson and the stubborn Howard before the situation explodes into violence.
Dodge City and Cottonwood Pond during a severe drought on the Kansas prairie · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc, Grant Howard, Jack Jackson, William Conrad
Listen for: The conflict over water rights during the drought, Matt Dillon's attempt to enforce the law fairly while preventing bloodshed, and the growing tension between the trail drive and Howard's fenced property.
Gunsmoke: Ex-Urbanites (1961)
Marshal Dillon and Chester venture out to check on Doc Adams, who has been away for three days. They discover Doc tending to a wounded man named Dolph at a waterhole, where they encounter Dolph's partners Pete and Pip Gillard. The situation grows tense as the Gillard brothers resist Doc's efforts to help their injured companion, forcing Chester to intervene with gunfire to prevent them from abandoning or harming Dolph.
Dodge City and the surrounding Kansas territory, including a remote waterhole in the wilderness · Marshal Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc Adams, Dolph, Pete Gillard, Pip Gillard, Kitty
Listen for: The conflict between Doc's medical ethics and the Gillard brothers' indifference to their partner's life; Chester's bravery in standing up to armed men to protect the wounded man
Gunsmoke: Fabulous Silver Extender (1960)
Marshal Dillon leaves town with a prisoner, and a mysterious professor arrives in Dodge City seeking help. Professor Cranston reveals he's being hunted by a silver syndicate that has hired eight killers to track him down for a ten-thousand-dollar bounty. Meanwhile, a small stranger in the saloon exhibits peculiar behavior, borrowing dimes and repaying them with silver dollars, catching the attention of locals who suspect something suspicious is afoot.
Dodge City, Kansas - the marshal's office, the Long Branch Saloon, and a shop in town · Matt Dillon, Chester, Miss Kitty, Sam, Professor Albert Cranston, Delmar Wilburton, Gatsby
Listen for: The mystery of the professor's connection to the silver syndicate, the identity and purpose of the mysterious small stranger, and what the machine-like device in the shop represents
Gunsmoke: Fall Semester (1953)
A drunken Lee Dargan accuses his ranch hand Jim Soldier of stealing his cattle. When Lee sobers up, he asks Marshal Dillon to investigate the disappearance of over 300 branded cattle that haven't turned up despite his inquiries. Dillon agrees to visit the ranch to help uncover what's happening to Lee's herd.
Dodge City and Lee Dargan's cattle ranch in the territory out West · Marshal Matt Dillon, Chester, Lee Dargan, Jim Soldier, Kitty, Mr. Peters
Listen for: The mystery of the missing cattle and whether Jim Soldier is genuinely stealing from Lee or if something else entirely is responsible for the disappearances.
Gunsmoke: Father and Son (1961)
Matt Dillon and Chester find an abandoned wagon on the trail with a brutally beaten woman inside. They rush her back to Dodge City for medical care, and Doc Adams believes she'll survive. The marshal learns that the woman and her husband were traveling together when they were attacked by two men, leaving the woman severely injured.
Dodge City and the surrounding territory in the American West · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc Adams, Kitty, Nell, The injured woman, Her husband
Listen for: The discovery of the abandoned wagon and the mystery of who attacked the woman and her husband
Gunsmoke: Fiery Arrest (1960)
Marshal Matt Dillon and a companion take shelter from bad weather in an abandoned shack, where they discover two fugitives hiding inside. One of the fugitives, Moseley, believes his companion Millie has betrayed him to the law, and tensions escalate as the marshal tries to sort out the truth of what has happened.
An abandoned shack in the territory during a storm · Matt Dillon, Moseley, Millie, Companion (unnamed)
Listen for: The confrontation between Moseley and Millie over alleged betrayal, and Matt Dillon's attempt to keep the peace while discovering who actually brought the law into the situation
Gunsmoke: Flashback (1953)
Marshal Dillon deals with a volatile situation when Colonel Beck and his son Brian arrive in Dodge City. The Colonel, a gunslinger of fading reputation, seeks a confrontation with Stark, a range boss at the Lazy Bee bar. Brian fears his father is no longer quick enough to survive such a fight and appeals to the Marshal for help, but Dillon warns the boy to stay out of it and tries to prevent bloodshed by confronting both men.
Dodge City, Kansas during a particularly hot and dry summer; the Marshal's office, the Long Branch Saloon, and surrounding town. · Matt Dillon, Chester Proudfoot, Brian Beck, Colonel Beck, Stark, Miss Kitty, Cottonmouth
Listen for: Tension builds as the Marshal attempts to prevent a gunfight between Colonel Beck and the range boss Stark, while young Brian struggles with his loyalty to his father and his fear of the consequences.
Gunsmoke: Gentleman's Disagreement (1952)
A woman named Jeannie Wells warns Marshal Matt Dillon that Ed Baudry, a man from her past, has arrived in Dodge City seeking revenge against her husband Bert. Matt confronts Baudry at the saloon and warns him to leave town, but Baudry refuses. Now Bert must decide whether to face Baudry in a gunfight or flee, while Matt struggles with his duty as lawman and his personal loyalty to old friends.
Dodge City, Kansas - the Marshal's office, the Texas Trail saloon, and the prairie · Matt Dillon, Chester, Jeannie Wells, Bert Wells, Ed Baudry, Kitty, Tulsa Jim Nixon
Listen for: A tense confrontation between a marshal trying to prevent bloodshed and a man bent on revenge, with questions of honor and duty at stake
Gunsmoke: Gonif (1953)
Marshal Dillon confronts Frank Bissell, a notorious gunman passing through Dodge City with his gang. After a tense encounter in the barbershop, Dillon orders Bissell and his men to leave town by sundown, setting up a dangerous deadline that could turn violent.
Dodge City, Kansas - primarily in and around Stapley's barbershop and the saloon · Matt Dillon, Chester, Buffalo Mason, Frank Bissell, Mr. Stapley the barber, Joe
Listen for: The confrontation between Marshal Dillon and Frank Bissell in the barbershop, where tension builds over Bissell's reputation and Dillon's ultimatum to leave town by sundown.
Gunsmoke: Grass (1953)
A Boston transplant named Harry Pope, grieving his dead wife, has settled on the prairie four months ago and built a sod hut to farm. Terrified by mysterious sounds at night that he believes are Indians threatening his livestock, Pope asks Marshal Dillon for help. When the Marshal advises him to get a gun and stand his ground, Pope takes matters into his own hands with tragic consequences.
Dodge City and the surrounding prairie in Kansas territory · Matt Dillon, Chester, Harry Pope, Doc Adams, Ned Honeyman
Listen for: A newcomer's fear and misunderstanding of frontier life leading to a fatal mistake; the Marshal's attempt to help through practical advice; the revelation of what really happened the night before.
Gunsmoke: Greater Love (1960)
When a stagecoach is held up and a man is left dying at his home, Marshal Dillon investigates and learns that Doc was given a mysterious message the night of the robbery. Doc has now disappeared, and Dillon fears the bandits may be holding him captive or worse. With few leads, Dillon must find a way to locate his missing friend before it's too late.
Dodge City and the surrounding territory, including a stage route that crosses the South Fork of the Pawnee River · Matt Dillon, Doc, Chester, Kitty, Miss Brand, Howard Brand
Listen for: The investigation into the stagecoach robbery and Doc's mysterious disappearance following a cryptic message delivered to him at the Long Branch saloon
Gunsmoke: Hangman's Mistake (1961)
A man named Hart is released from jail when authorities arrest his brother Junius for a murder Hart was suspected of committing. Hart's father is outraged, insisting that Junius is innocent and couldn't have committed the crime, while Marshal Dillon must deal with the situation as Hart rides free and his family demands justice.
Dodge City, Kansas and surrounding territory, at the Long Branch Saloon and Marshal's office · Marshal Dillon, Hart, Hart's father (Pa), Junius (Hart's brother), Kitty, Doc, Dr. Galen Adams
Listen for: A case of mistaken justice unfolds as an innocent man may be punished for a crime he didn't commit, while the guilty party goes free.
Gunsmoke: Hard Virtue (1961)
Andy Cole, a hot-tempered newcomer to Dodge City, takes a job with freight operator Ed Fallon after Fallon pays for damage to Andy's wagon. When Andy suspects that someone has visited his wife Millie while he was working, his jealous rage escalates dangerously as he demands answers and reaches for his gun.
Dodge City, Kansas - a freight company stable and the Cole family shack near the Arkansas River · Matt Dillon, Andy Cole, Millie Cole, Ed Fallon, Chester
Listen for: A tense domestic drama driven by Andy's volatile temper and unfounded suspicions, culminating in a dangerous confrontation between husband and wife.
Gunsmoke: Hero's Departure (1960)
Marshal Matt Dillon meets Jonathan Wood, a celebrated war hero who has arrived in Dodge City and plans to settle there. The town is thrilled to have him, but Wood's arrival is complicated when a man named Donny confronts Dillon with accusations that Wood's cowardice during the Battle of the Hogback led to the death of Donny's father.
Dodge City, Kansas - the marshal's office, saloon, and streets · Matt Dillon, Chester, Jonathan Wood, Donny, Kitty, Doc
Listen for: The tension between the town's admiration for Wood and the accusation that he caused a soldier's death through cowardice during the Civil War.
Gunsmoke: Hinka-Do (1952)
The townspeople of Dodge City buzz with excitement when a new manager, Mamie, takes over the Long Horn saloon. She's a large, formidable woman from back East who immediately establishes herself as boss, but Marshal Dillon grows concerned when he discovers that the previous owner, Herman Bleeker, has suddenly left town without explanation.
Dodge City, the Long Horn saloon and surrounding streets · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc, Mamie, Herman Bleeker
Listen for: The introduction of Mamie, the new tough-talking female saloon manager who wins over the rowdy patrons with her commanding presence and quick draw; also the mystery of Herman Bleeker's sudden disappearance and sale of the saloon.
Gunsmoke: Home Surgery (1952)
Matt Dillon and Chester find a young girl named Tara searching for food miles from her homestead. Her father has been seriously injured when a horse stepped on his leg six days ago, and a man named Ben Walling took their wagon claiming he would fetch a doctor from Dodge. Matt and Chester bring meat and assess the injured man's condition, discovering they may need to provide medical care themselves in this isolated prairie location.
A homestead on the prairie about a hundred miles south of Dodge, Kansas, in the 1870s frontier. · Matt Dillon, Chester, Tara Handry, Mr. Handry, Ben Walling
Listen for: Matt's assessment of the injured leg and what medical help might be possible; the mystery of Ben Walling's sudden departure with the wagon; Tara's fear of Ben and his intentions toward her.
Gunsmoke: Indian Baby (1960)
Marshal Dillon and Doc discover a white woman collapsed on the prairie with an Indian baby. The delirious woman insists the baby is hers, but Doc believes she has kidnapped it to replace her own child, who she claims was killed by an Indian named Joe.
Dodge City and the surrounding prairie in Kansas Territory · Matt Dillon, Doc, Kitty, Molly, The woman
Listen for: The mystery of the Indian baby's true parentage and what happened to the woman's own child
Gunsmoke: Jaliscoe (1952)
Marshal Dillon investigates a brutal attack on homesteader Will Thompson's family. Thompson's house has been burned, his wife is badly injured, and his teenage daughter has been abducted by night riders. A spur found at the scene points toward Jalisco Pete, a gunslinger known for his hatred of homesteaders, and Dillon must determine if Pete was involved in the violence.
Dodge City and the surrounding frontier territory, including Thompson's homestead and the Long Branch Saloon · Marshal Matt Dillon, Chester, Will Thompson, Mick Dylan, Liz Thompson, Mary Thompson, Jalisco Pete, Ben
Listen for: The marshal's interrogation of Jalisco Pete and the revelation of a Mexican silver spur as evidence linking him to the crime
Gunsmoke: Jayhawkers (1953)
Marshall Matt Dillon meets Phil Jackson, a scout for trail boss Dolph Quince's incoming Texas cattle herd of 3,000 head. When Dillon rides out to the camp, he learns that Jayhawkers have already struck, flogging a guard and stampeding cattle, and that the outfit fears further trouble from these Kansas raiders who demand payment to let the herd pass.
Dodge City and the Kansas prairie, with a Texas cattle drive camp · Matt Dillon, Chester, Phil Jackson, Dolph Quince, Cook
Listen for: Matt Dillon's measured approach to the conflict between Texas cattlemen and Kansas Jayhawkers, and his efforts to understand both sides of the growing tension.
Gunsmoke: Jedro's Woman (1960)
Marshal Dillon and Chester are interrupted during an attempt to cook beans when they discover a woman unconscious near their campsite. After finding her beaten and malnourished, they take her to the doctor in town for urgent medical attention.
A campsite near old man Goss's shack, then Dodge City · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc
Listen for: Matt and Chester discussing their interrupted supper and discovering the mysterious injured woman during their investigation of stolen beans.
Gunsmoke: Joe Phy (1961)
Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester arrive in the dusty town of El Kater, where they learn that a new United States Marshal named Joe Phy has taken over and imposed strict order by running out all the gunmen and troublemakers. When Dillon meets the intimidating Joe Phy, the marshal makes it clear he tolerates no violence or guns in his town and will kill anyone who causes trouble.
The town of El Kater, including a saloon · Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty, Doc, Cicero Grimes, Joe Phy, Bartender, Cowboy
Listen for: The tension between Dillon and the domineering Joe Phy, and how Phy maintains control of the town through reputation and intimidation rather than actual gunfights.
Gunsmoke: Joe Sleet (1961)
A troublemaker named Joe Sleet comes to Dodge City, loudly bragging about his gunfighting skills and antagonizing the locals. When Sleet confronts a man named Maker in the saloon, Maker shoots him down in a quick draw, leaving Sleet badly wounded.
Dodge City, Kansas - primarily the Long Branch Saloon and Doc's office · Matt Dillon, Doc, Chester, Joe Sleet, Maker, Judge Meadows, Kitty
Listen for: The tense confrontation between the boastful gunfighter Joe Sleet and the quiet but deadly Maker; Matt Dillon's concern about enforcing the law even when a troublemaker deserves what he gets.
Gunsmoke: Kitty Accused (1960)
When Kitty plans a trip to Fort Larned by stagecoach, she discovers that Arnie Grimes, a persistent suitor who has been bothering her at the Long Branch, will be traveling on the same stage. Matt Dillon arranges for the stage driver to be careful with Kitty's belongings as tensions rise over Arnie's unwanted attention and his neglect of his own wife back home.
Dodge City and the surrounding territory in Kansas, including the Long Branch Saloon and the stagecoach route to Fort Larned. · Matt Dillon, Kitty, Sam, Arnie Grimes, Hattie, Max
Listen for: Arnie Grimes' persistent and unwelcome advances toward Kitty despite his marriage to Hattie, and the conflict this creates as Kitty tries to take her trip.
Gunsmoke: Kitty Love (1961)
Marshal Matt Dillon must leave Dodge City to pick up a prisoner, disappointing Kitty who had planned an outing with him. While Doc Adams and Kitty are out on the prairie, they discover a wounded man who has been shot and robbed, and they bring him to a nearby ranch to recover.
Dodge City and the surrounding prairie, with scenes at the Long Branch saloon and a ranch house · Matt Dillon, Kitty, Chester, Doc Adams, Rudd Stewart
Listen for: The discovery of the mysterious wounded man and questions about his identity and what he was carrying when he was shot
Gunsmoke: Kitty's Good Neighboring (1960)
When Nettie, a woman living on the prairie, falls ill, Kitty volunteers to stay at her homestead to care for her. Nettie's husband Luke returns unexpectedly and creates tension over Kitty's presence, forcing an uncomfortable situation between the three of them.
Dodge City and the surrounding prairie territory in the American West · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc, Kitty, Nettie, Luke
Listen for: A story about neighborly kindness tested by a husband's jealousy and the harsh realities of frontier life and marriage
Gunsmoke: Letter of the Law (1961)
Matt Dillon receives a court order from Judge Ramble to evict Brandon Teake from his land near Wagon Mountain because Teake failed to register his deed at the Land Office. When Matt arrives to serve the eviction, he finds Teake has built a home there with his wife Sarah, who is expecting their child. Teake initially resists but ultimately decides not to fight the law for his wife's sake.
Dodge City and the surrounding territory, including Wagon Mountain and Wichita · Matt Dillon, Kitty, Chester, Brandon Teake, Sarah Teake, Judge Ramble, Lee Sprague
Listen for: The tension between Brandon Teake's fierce independence and his newfound desire to keep peace for his wife and unborn child; Matt Dillon's conflict between enforcing the law and sympathizing with Teake's situation.
Gunsmoke: Little Girl (1960)
Marshall Dillon investigates a burnt cabin where a man has been found dead, apparently burned while sitting at his table. The discovery of a young girl, about ten years old, living alone at the remote homestead raises troubling questions about what really happened at the cabin.
A remote homestead cabin in the territory outside Dodge City · Matt Dillon, Chester, Albie, Terry
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances surrounding the man's death in the fire, and the revelation of a young girl living at the isolated property.
Gunsmoke: Lochinvar (1952)
Frank Craig, a former troublemaker, returns to Dodge City after a year away, announcing he has come to marry Artisan Nash and take her west. But Artisan is now engaged to Ben Martin, a wealthy rancher with twenty-five men working for him. As the wedding day approaches, Marshal Dillon must prevent violence between the two rivals who both claim Artisan as their own.
Dodge City, Kansas · Matt Dillon, Kitty, Chester, Frank Craig, Ben Martin, Artisan Nash, Doc
Listen for: The tension builds as Frank Craig and Ben Martin confront each other in the saloon, each declaring their claim to Artisan, while Marshal Dillon tries to keep the peace without bloodshed.
Gunsmoke: Luke's Law (1960)
Young Jeff Bert comes to Marshal Dillon reporting that his father Luke has been beaten bloody by a man named Smedly Marshall. Jeff is certain Marshall is guilty based on a confrontation he witnessed on Front Street, but Luke refuses to press charges or cooperate with the law, insisting he can handle his own vengeance.
Dodge City, Kansas and the Bert homestead · Matt Dillon, Jeff Bert, Luke Bert, Smedly Marshall, Chester
Listen for: A clash between frontier justice and the law as an old rancher refuses to let the marshal help, preferring to settle scores himself.
Gunsmoke: Ma's Justice (1961)
When a family of settlers clashes with rival cattlemen over wild horses on open range, gunfire erupts and Jakey Seale's brother is badly wounded. Jakey rides into Dodge to fetch the marshal, but his mother has made clear she prefers to handle the trouble herself rather than involve the law.
Dodge City and the surrounding cattle range in Kansas Territory · Matt Dillon, Jakey Seale, Ma Seale, Read Seale
Listen for: A tense confrontation over rustled horses that turns violent, and a mother's reluctance to let the law intervene in family matters
Gunsmoke: Marryin' Bertha (1960)
Chester Prodfoot has been writing letters to lonely women he found advertised in St. Louis newspapers, and one of them—the formidable Mrs. Corinne Gaceley—has arrived in Dodge City expecting to marry him. When Matt discovers Chester sent her his picture by mistake, Mrs. Gaceley mistakes Matt for Chester and demands he make good on his romantic promises.
Dodge City, Kansas; the Marshal's office and saloon · Matt Dillon, Chester Proudfoot, Kitty, Doc, Mrs. Corinne Gaceley
Listen for: Chester's excuse about beaver dams and spring fever; Mrs. Gaceley's stern expectations; Doc's teasing about the impending wedding.
Gunsmoke: Melinda Miles (1961)
Melinda Miles eagerly awaits her fiancé Paul's return to their struggling ranch, but tension erupts when Tom, a ranch hand Paul fired, arrives to see Melinda. Paul's jealousy and suspicion create conflict as Tom insists he came to see Melinda, not Paul, while a card game at the saloon raises concerns about gambling debts threatening their future together.
A ranch in the West territory, with scenes at the ranch house and a saloon · Melinda Miles, Paul Miles, Tom Parker, Roy Taylor, Doc
Listen for: The romantic triangle and mounting tension between Paul, Melinda, and Tom; Paul's gambling and financial worries about the struggling ranch; Melinda's defense of Tom and her hopes for marriage and a stable future
Gunsmoke: Meshougah (1953)
Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester ride to Pierceville to deliver government papers, but find the town eerily deserted. They discover that armed men have taken over the town and imprisoned all its residents in the warehouse. The leader demands that someone confess to killing his brother, threatening to kill the townspeople if no one talks.
Pierceville, a small town about 40 miles west of Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s. The story involves a warehouse where townspeople are being held prisoner. · Matt Dillon, Chester, Bill Houghton
Listen for: The mysterious tension as Dillon and Chester approach the empty town and realize something is terribly wrong; the confrontation with the armed men who have taken over Pierceville.
Gunsmoke: Minnie (1960)
Marshal Dillon encounters a mysterious woman named Minnie who arrives in Dodge City with a suspicious arm wound. When Doc Adams treats her injury, she claims it came from falling off a horse, but both the Marshal and Doc suspect she was actually shot. As Minnie settles into town, she becomes increasingly attached to Doc, following him around and creating awkward situations that trouble the reserved physician.
Dodge City, Kansas - a frontier town with a doctor's office, restaurant, and saloon · Matt Dillon, Doc Adams, Minnie Higgins, Chester, Kitty
Listen for: The mystery surrounding Minnie's true origins and her wound; the growing tension between Minnie's pursuit of Doc and his discomfort with her attention; hints of a troubling past that Doc seems to be hiding from
Gunsmoke: Moon (1953)
A card game in the Dodge City saloon ends with gambler Ruett winning $730 from Vince Brewer. Later, when Brewer offers to buy Ruett a drink and they leave together, trouble may be brewing as Brewer's fortunes have turned sour and he has reason to want revenge.
Dodge City saloon and surrounding streets in the evening · Matt Dillon, Vince Brewer, Ruett, Jack, Nanny
Listen for: A gambling dispute that leads to danger, and Matt Dillon becoming involved when things turn violent.
Gunsmoke: Mr and Mrs Amber (1960)
When Marshal Dillon discovers Neil Amber trying to steal seeds from Jonas's store, he chooses to let the man go rather than arrest him, understanding that Amber and his wife are struggling to establish a farm near Pawnee Wells. But the marshal's mercy is tested when Pete Fletcher, a wealthy cattleman, accuses Mrs. Amber of stealing and butchering one of his calves. The marshal must determine the truth and decide whether the Ambers are victims of circumstance or criminals.
Dodge City, Kansas and the surrounding territory, including a small farm near Pawnee Wells · Matt Dillon, Neil Amber, Mrs. Amber, Doc, Jonas, Chester, Pete Fletcher, Jim Baird
Listen for: The conflict between the poor farmers trying to build a new life and the wealthy cattleman who views them as threats; Matt Dillon's struggle between enforcing the law and showing mercy to desperate people.
Gunsmoke: Nettie Sitton (1960)
Marshal Matt Dillon and Chester are ambushed by renegade youths while riding through Indian territory, and Dillon is wounded in the leg. As they flee and make camp, they discover riders approaching and must make their way to a nearby cabin for shelter.
The frontier near Pueblo, Indian territory, and the surrounding wilderness with a remote cabin · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc
Listen for: The tension builds as Matt and Chester evade their pursuers, with Chester helping the wounded marshal toward safety while keeping watch for the approaching riders.
Gunsmoke: Never Pester Chester (1960)
Two cowboys give Kitty trouble at the Long Branch and then pester the town ladies on Front Street. When Matt sends Chester to tell them to leave the women alone, they brutally beat him, leaving him fighting for his life. Matt must track down the two men responsible and bring them to justice before Chester dies from his injuries.
Dodge City, Kansas - the marshal's office, Long Branch Saloon, and Front Street · Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty, Doc, Tabeth, Stobo
Listen for: The tense confrontation over Chester's beating and Matt's determined pursuit of the two cowboys responsible, with questions about whether Chester will survive and what justice Matt will pursue.
Gunsmoke: Newsma'am (1960)
A woman journalist named Phoebe Applebee arrives in Dodge City dressed in men's clothes after stowing away on a cattle drive. She claims she's come to write an authentic account of the West, but Marshal Dillon locks her up for disturbing the peace when she refuses to leave the cattle train. Now Dillon must decide what to do with this determined but unwelcome observer.
Dodge City in the Kansas Territory, a cattle drive, and the marshal's office · Matt Dillon, Chester, Phoebe Applebee, Trail boss
Listen for: A spirited confrontation between Marshal Dillon and a woman journalist determined to experience the real West, plus his deputy Chester's amusement at the situation
Gunsmoke: Old Faces (1961)
A young couple named Tom and his wife arrive in Dodge City seeking a fresh start. When the dangerous gunman Ed Ivers arrives at the general store where Tom's wife works, he claims to recognize her from a riverboat on the Mississippi two years ago, creating tension that threatens to explode into violence.
Dodge City, Kansas - a general store and saloon · Matt Dillon, Tom, Tom's wife, Ed Ivers, Varden, Chester, Mayor, Mr. Jonas
Listen for: Ed Ivers' mysterious claims about knowing Tom's wife from her past on the Mississippi riverboat, and the escalating hostility between Tom and Ivers over the attention paid to Tom's wife.
Gunsmoke: Old Fool (1960)
Hannibal Bass, an aging farmer, catches a poor boy stealing his pigs and prepares to shoot him. When the boy's widowed mother comes to retrieve her son, Hannibal finds himself charmed by her kindness and learns about the family's desperate circumstances. His anger over the theft melts away as he discovers the woman's struggle to survive alone on her homestead.
Dodge City and the surrounding frontier homesteads, Kansas territory · Matt Dillon, Doc Adams, Kitty, Hannibal Bass, Della Bass, Dunche, The boy's mother
Listen for: The story of an old farmer's hardened heart softened by meeting a struggling widow; themes of compassion overcoming anger and judgment
Gunsmoke: Overland Express (1952)
Marshal Matt Dillon pursues a stranger named Joe Baudry who killed a man in Dodge City and fled northwest. After capturing him at the Smoky Hill River, Dillon transports Baudry back to Dodge for trial, catching a ride on the Overland Express stage headed to Fort Donner. During the journey, tensions rise among the passengers and crew, and Baudry reveals a mysterious piece of information about one of the other travelers.
The frontier west of Dodge City, including the Smoky Hill River region, the Overland Express stage route, and a way station near Fort Donner. · Matt Dillon, Chester, Joe Baudry, Zimmer, Phil, Hank, Barry
Listen for: The revelation about Zimmer's true identity and what it might mean for the journey; the tensions building among the stage passengers and whether Baudry might cause trouble despite his apparent surrender.
Gunsmoke: Paid Killer (1953)
Marshal Matt Dillon learns that someone has put out a $5,000 bounty on his life. A young informant overhears two men discussing the contract at the livery stable, and Dillon traces the money to Losh Hails, a local businessman who has repeatedly tried to muscle in on Dodge City. Now Dillon must identify which hired killer will make the attempt and when the attack will come.
Dodge City and surrounding territory, 1953. The story takes place around town, the saloons, the livery stable, and the bank. · Matt Dillon, United States Marshal, Chester, Billy, Mr. Greeley, banker, Losh Hails
Listen for: The tension builds as Dillon walks the quiet streets of Dodge City at night, vulnerable and waiting for an assassin to strike. Chester's nervous warnings contrast with Dillon's calm determination to face the threat head-on rather than hide.
Gunsmoke: Prescribed Killing (1960)
Luke Kirby neglects his wife Myra, spending all his time with his horses and increasingly visiting a woman named Joe Holland at a neighboring ranch. Myra, desperate and unhappy with her isolated life, confronts Joe Holland in person, warning her that Luke will never be free of his marriage even if she's gone. When Myra mysteriously dies, Matt Dillon must investigate whether her death was natural or if foul play was involved.
Dodge City and the surrounding Kansas territory, with scenes at the Kirby ranch and the Holland ranch · Matt Dillon, Luke Kirby, Myra Kirby, Joe Holland, Chester
Listen for: A tense domestic drama involving a neglectful husband, a lonely wife, and a rival woman, culminating in a mysterious death that requires the marshal's investigation.
Gunsmoke: Print Asper (1953)
When old rancher John Asper discovers that lawyer Rob has allegedly tricked him into signing over his ranch deed, Asper threatens to kill him. Rob agrees to fix the paperwork immediately. Shortly after, Rob is shot through his office window and accuses Asper of the crime, though he never actually saw his shooter. Marshal Matt Dillon must investigate whether Asper is guilty or if someone else is responsible.
Dodge City, Kansas in the 1870s · Matt Dillon, Asper, Rob, Chester, Doc
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Asper and Rob over the disputed ranch deed, and the mystery of who shot Rob through his office window.
Gunsmoke: Pussy Cats (1953)
Matt Dillon and Chester finish paperwork at the marshal's office and head to the Texas Trail saloon for a drink. A tall, gray-eyed stranger and his talkative female companion arrive on the evening stage from Oklahoma territory, and the man waits tensely at the bar. When riders approach the saloon from outside, the stranger reveals he's expecting trouble and forces everyone behind the bar, arming himself and the woman for a gunfight that's about to erupt through the doors.
The Texas Trail saloon in Dodge City, late at night · Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty, Sam, Jack, The Woman
Listen for: The confrontation between the stranger Jack and the approaching riders, with Matt Dillon caught in the middle of a private conflict in his town
Gunsmoke: Quarter Horse (1953)
Old Man Thatcher, a newcomer to Dodge City with a quarter horse he's proud of, endures constant mockery from Ed Butler and his friends at the saloon. Thatcher approaches Marshal Dillon with a bold proposal: he wants to wager his ranch deed on a horse race against Butler's best horse to prove the worth of his prized quarter horse.
Dodge City, Kansas - a saloon called the Texas Trail, the Dodge House, and Marshal Dillon's office · Matt Dillon, Ed Butler, Mr. Thatcher, Kitty, Sam, Chester
Listen for: A detailed description of the quarter horse breed and what makes Thatcher's horse special; the terms and details of the proposed race between Thatcher and Butler
Gunsmoke: Renegade White (1952)
A man named Ward Spicer arrives in Dodge City after a secret meeting with a Cheyenne named Wildhog, during which they arrange a dangerous deal for money. Spicer spends lavishly in the local saloon, drawing attention from a stranger who becomes suspicious of his sudden wealth and evasive behavior. When Spicer gets drunk and violent, he ends up in Marshal Dillon's custody.
Dodge City and the surrounding frontier, including a camp near the town. · Matt Dillon, Chester, Ward Spicer, Wildhog, A stranger in the saloon
Listen for: The tense negotiation between Spicer and the Cheyenne scout Wildhog, Spicer's boastful drinking at the saloon, and Marshal Dillon's cool handling of a potentially dangerous situation.
Gunsmoke: Shakespeare (1952)
Marshal Dillon and Doc Chester find an unconscious stranger collapsed on the trail outside Dodge City and bring him to town to recover. When they retrieve his wagon, they discover a dead man shot in the back inside it, and must question the stranger—an actor named Irving Henry—about how a corpse came to be hidden in his vehicle.
Dodge City, Kansas and the surrounding trail, in hot summer weather · Marshal Dillon, Doc Chester, Irving Henry, Sam Matchett
Listen for: The mystery of who killed Sam Matchett and why his body was concealed in Irving Henry's wagon; Henry's theatrical manner of speech and his quotes from Shakespeare
Gunsmoke: Solomon River (1960)
Marshal Matt Dillon is transporting a prisoner named Ben Crown along the Solomon River when he, Chester, and Crown discover a dying woman named Letty trying to dig a grave for her dead husband Luther. The three men stop to help the starving and exhausted woman, finding Luther has been dead for three days.
Along the Solomon River in Kansas Territory, at a remote cabin by the water · Matt Dillon, Chester, Ben Crown, Letty
Listen for: The emotional encounter between the marshal's party and the desperate woman trying to bury her husband alone in the wilderness
Gunsmoke: Spring Term (1953)
Marshal Dillon is ambushed and shot in the darkness, but the bullet was meant for someone else. The victim turns out to be Shaw, a peaceful man with no known enemies. When Shaw mentions hearing someone say the name Stone before the shooting, Dillon suspects the attack may have been a case of mistaken identity connected to a man named Danche, who swore revenge on Dillon years ago over the hanging of their mutual friend.
Dodge City, Kansas, with references to past events in Matagora County · Matt Dillon, Chester, Shaw, Doc, Kitty, Danche
Listen for: The mystery of who shot Shaw and why—was it really meant for Marshal Dillon? Dillon's past connection to a man named Stone and his friend Danche sets up the investigation.
Gunsmoke: Spring Term (1961)
A man is shot in an alley in Dodge City, apparently by mistake. Marshal Dillon learns the shooter may have been targeting someone named Stone, and discovers a man named Dane Shaw in town. When Shaw dies unexpectedly the next day, Dillon becomes suspicious and sets a trap on the street.
Dodge City, Kansas - alleys, saloon, and streets · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc, Dane Shaw
Listen for: The mystery of who shot the wrong man and why Dane Shaw died so suddenly after a minor injury
Gunsmoke: Stage Smash (1960)
Marshal Dillon returns to Dodge City and encounters North Small, a gambler who proposes a poker game with high stakes—offering Dillon money, horses, or a woman in exchange for freeing his brother Cleary from jail. When Dillon refuses the bribe, North threatens him and insists everyone has a price. Meanwhile, a woman prepares to leave town by stagecoach, and tensions simmer in the jail.
Dodge City, Kansas—the marshal's office, jail, and saloon · Matt Dillon, Chester, North Small, Cleary Small, Sam, Kelly, Prisoner (Mother North)
Listen for: A gambler's proposition and veiled threats against the marshal; discussion of a stagecoach departure; tension between the marshal and his prisoner
Gunsmoke: Stage Snatch (1960)
Matt Dillon transports prisoner Rafe (a man accused of murder) by stagecoach to Hayes City for trial. En route, the stage is stopped by Bigfoot, a Native American who claims Rafe killed his father and demands the prisoner for his own justice rather than allowing the law to handle the case.
Dodge City and the territory west, including a stagecoach route to Hayes City · Matt Dillon, Bigfoot, Rafe, Chester, Kitty, Doc, stage driver
Listen for: The confrontation between Matt Dillon and Bigfoot over who has the right to justice for a murder victim, and how Matt attempts to convince Bigfoot to let the law take its course.
Gunsmoke: Sundown (1953)
Marshal Dillon and Chester find a feverish Indian woman unconscious by a tree on the prairie during the first break in weeks of bad weather. Doc Adams revives her in Dodge City, but she remains unresponsive. When Dillon discovers she wears a gold wedding ring and necklace, he suspects she may be married to a white man, setting him on a mystery to identify her and find her people before it's too late.
Dodge City, Kansas and the surrounding prairie · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc Adams, Miss Kitty, Old Man Johnson
Listen for: The mystery of the Indian woman's identity and her connection to a white man unfolds as Dillon begins his investigation.
Gunsmoke: Sweet and Sour (1961)
Marshal Dillon encounters a young woman named Rena Decker on a train heading to Dodge City. A rowdy man named Lester attempts to force himself on her, prompting Dillon to intervene. Now in town, Rena's arrival brings tension as two men—Lester and his partner Joe Garrett—arrive with apparent intentions toward her.
Dodge City and on a train traveling to Dodge City, Kansas Territory · Matt Dillon, Chester, Rena Decker, Lester, Joe Garrett, Kitty Russell, Doc
Listen for: Conflict develops over a young woman's safety and the motivations of dangerous men who pursue her into town.
Gunsmoke: Tacetta (1953)
A mysterious young woman named Tacetta comes to Dodge City, where she catches the attention of a man named Dorgan. Two gunmen, Horn and Watson, try to provoke Dorgan into a fight over the girl, but Marshal Dillon intervenes and disarms them, ordering all three men to leave town. When Tacetta disappears the next morning, Dillon discovers that Dorgan has taken her aboard a westbound stage and may have forced her to go with him.
Dodge City, Kansas in spring · Matt Dillon, Chester, Tacetta, Dorgan, Horn, Watson, Kitty
Listen for: The marshal's strategy to handle a potentially dangerous confrontation and his pursuit of a man who may have abducted a young woman
Gunsmoke: Tall Trapper (1960)
A trapper named Ben is found near the body of Cassie Riley, a woman who died while traveling west with her husband. Marshal Dillon must determine whether Ben murdered her or if someone else is responsible for her death.
Dodge City and the surrounding territory in Kansas · Matt Dillon, Doc Adams, Chester, Ben, Mr. Riley, William Conrad
Listen for: The investigation into Cassie Riley's death and the mysterious trapper found near her grave; Ben's claims of innocence and his knowledge of Pawnee burial customs.
Gunsmoke: Tara (1952)
When Marshal Dillon learns that young Tara Henry, an orphan he brought to Dodge City months ago, has been spending time at the saloon and keeping company with the charming but mysterious drifter Jack Grace, he visits the Kells family to discuss his concerns about the girl's safety and future.
Dodge City, Kansas and the surrounding territory · Matt Dillon, Chester, Ben, Tara Henry, Kitty, Jack Grace, Lawrence Kells
Listen for: Kitty's worries about Tara's visits to the Texas Trail saloon and her association with the enigmatic drifter Jack Grace; Tara's defiant response when confronted about her relationship.
Gunsmoke: The Big Con (1953)
Marshal Dillon visits the bank early one morning and discovers that bank president Mr. Pat has loaned $20,000 of depositors' money to a man named Hook to cover a gambling debt from a high-stakes poker game at the Texas Trail. When Hook returns with news that he lost the money on a straight flush, Mr. Pat faces financial ruin and fears the bank will collapse if word gets out.
Dodge City, at the bank and surrounding town locations · Matt Dillon, Chester, Mr. Pat, Hook, Shane Wies, Mr. Warden, Doc
Listen for: A discussion of ethics in banking and gambling, and the Marshal's attempt to manage a crisis that could destroy the town's only financial institution.
Gunsmoke: The Big Con (1960)
A banker named Mr. Pat lends $20,000 from the bank to a gambler named Hook who puts up his poker hand as collateral, betting on a game at the Lady Gay saloon. When Hook loses the hand and the money, the banker realizes he has gambled away depositors' funds, and Marshal Dillon must manage the crisis while Hook promises to wire money from St. Louis to repay the loan.
Dodge City - the bank and the Lady Gay saloon · Matt Dillon, Chester, Mr. Pat, Hook, Sheenwees, Doc
Listen for: A banker's desperate decision to lend bank funds on a poker hand as collateral; the poker game where the loan is lost; the marshal's response to the financial crisis.
Gunsmoke: The Boughten Bride (1952)
Marshal Dillon learns that a stagecoach carrying gold and a young woman named Jane has been stopped by a robber who kidnaps the girl. Her fiancé, a wealthy New York businessman named Carter, demands Dillon recover her immediately. After Dillon and Chester fail to track the kidnapper through rain-washed country, Carter threatens to have the marshal fired and make good on his vendetta.
Dodge City and the surrounding prairie territory · Matt Dillon, United States Marshal, Chester, Robert P. Carter, Jim the stage driver, Big Kate
Listen for: The revelation of why Jane was truly taken and what leverage Carter holds over her father
Gunsmoke: The Brothers (1952)
Marshal Matt Dillon becomes suspicious when two cattlemen named Thompson visit his office asking for cattle buyers—a task that typically doesn't bring cowhands to the marshal's jail. When Dillon investigates their herd at Walnut Creek, he discovers that one of their hired hands is Houston Jack, a gunslinger he previously ran out of town. Dillon warns the Thompsons about their employee, but tensions simmer as the brothers prepare to sell their cattle and pay off their crew before heading back to Texas.
Dodge City and the surrounding territory, including a cattle camp at Walnut Creek · Matt Dillon, Chester Proudfoot, Jim Thompson, Will Thompson, Houston Jack, Clem Bates, Miss Kitty
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Marshal Dillon and the gunslinger Houston Jack, and Dillon's growing suspicion about the true identities and intentions of the Thompson brothers
Gunsmoke: The Buffalo Hunter (1953)
A buffalo hunter's skinning crew brings an injured worker into Dodge City, but the man dies from severe burns. Marshal Dillon questions the story that the worker accidentally fell into a pan of molten lead, suspecting foul play when the facts don't add up.
Dodge City and a buffalo hunting camp on the prairie · Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty, Doc Adams, Gatlin, Toby, Sam
Listen for: The marshal's investigation into whether a worker's death was truly an accident, and his conversation with crew members about their boss Gatlin's character and the suspicious circumstances.
Gunsmoke: The Cabin (1952)
US Marshal Matt Dillon takes shelter from a deadly blizzard at a remote cabin and is taken prisoner at gunpoint by a burly, suspicious man named Hack and his bald companion Alvey. As Dillon warms himself by the stove, Hack interrogates him about his identity and purpose, convinced the marshal may be there for a sinister reason.
A remote ranch cabin during a severe winter blizzard, approximately one hundred miles from Dodge City. · Matt Dillon, US Marshal, Hack, a burly red-bearded man, Alvey, Hack's bald companion, Bell, a dark-haired woman
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Matt Dillon and his captors as Hack threatens him with a shotgun while trying to determine whether the marshal is a threat to them.
Gunsmoke: The Cook (1960)
Sandy King takes a job as cook at Hank's restaurant to pay off his food bill, but his careless preparation of a customer's eggs leads to a violent confrontation. When the angry customer is knocked unconscious, Sandy flees Dodge City on horseback, forcing Marshal Dillon to pursue him across the prairie.
Dodge City and the surrounding prairie · Sandy King, Hank, Chester, Miss Kitty, Marshal Dillon, Joe, Purdy
Listen for: The confrontation over Sandy's cooking, and the pursuit across the open range.
Gunsmoke: The Imposter (1960)
Marshal Matt Dillon receives a telegram from Ab Stringer, a fellow marshal from Miami, Texas, requesting help bringing in a prisoner. When Stringer arrives in Dodge City, however, he has no prisoner with him. Stringer explains that he's looking for a wanted man named Sam Frazier who may be hiding in Dodge, and he's counting on Dillon's help to track him down.
Dodge City and surrounding territory in Kansas; also references Miami, Texas · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc Adams, Ab Stringer, Ms. Curtin, Sam Noonan
Listen for: Marshal Dillon and fellow lawman Ab Stringer discuss the challenges of tracking a fugitive who may be using aliases and disguises; Stringer describes the wanted man Sam Frazier and they review wanted posters; conversation at the Long Branch Saloon about a man who was last seen leaving on his own two feet while others had to be carried out.
Gunsmoke: The Juniper Tree (1952)
Jim Stanley, a simple ranch hand, steals gambling chips from Mingo's roulette table and throws a bottle at the gambler when caught. Marshal Dillon arrests him, but discovers that Mingo's witnesses are all on the gambler's payroll and motivated by jealousy over Stanley's attention to the dance hall girl Dixie. Dillon must find a way to prove Stanley's innocence against overwhelming odds stacked in Mingo's favor.
Dodge City - a saloon, Marshal's office, and jail · Matt Dillon, Jim Stanley, Mingo, Dixie, Brandy, Chester, Willy
Listen for: The moral dilemma of justice when a man is technically guilty but victimized by a corrupt gambler's influence; Brandy's cryptic confession about trading a man for brandy.
Gunsmoke: The Kentucky Tolmans (1952)
Marshal Dillon jails a drunken mountain man named Pappy Tolman to protect him from someone trying to kill him, but discovers that Pappy's daughter Hannah may be harboring knowledge of a dangerous escaped murderer with connections to her family.
Dodge City and the surrounding Kansas hills and mountains · Matt Dillon, United States Marshal, Chester, Hannah Tolman, Pappy Tolman, Vic Tolman, Jed Tolman
Listen for: The clash between Marshal Dillon's duty to uphold the law and the mountain code of family loyalty; Hannah's fierce independence and her protective devotion to her father.
Gunsmoke: The Lady Killer (1961)
Grant Lucas arrives in Dodge City as a witness for an upcoming trial against the outlaw Cy Welsh. A mysterious and attractive woman at the Long Branch Saloon befriends Grant and arranges a secret meeting with him. When Matt Dillon investigates a break-in at the woman's hotel room, she claims Grant tried to steal her diamond brooch, but the marshal finds her story questionable.
Dodge City, at the Long Branch Saloon and a hotel, with a trial upcoming · Matt Dillon, Grant Lucas, Kitty, Sam, Cy Welsh
Listen for: A murder case, questions about Grant Lucas's true intentions, and the mysterious woman's real motives behind accusing him of theft.
Gunsmoke: The Lynching (1952)
Marshal Matt Dillon arrives in Dodge City to find that a suspected murderer named Billy Saxon has been lynched by a mob led by Cam Powell, whose brother Joe was killed. Dillon is troubled by the mob justice and determines to investigate the circumstances of Joe Powell's death and bring those responsible for the lynching to account.
Dodge City, Kansas · Matt Dillon, Chester, Cam Powell, Billy Saxon, Rice, Preacher, Kitty
Listen for: The moral conflict between frontier vigilante justice and the rule of law, as Dillon grapples with a town that took matters into its own hands.
Gunsmoke: The Mortgage (1952)
Marshal Matt Dillon must serve a foreclosure notice on Ed Blake, a struggling farmer who borrowed $420 from wealthy banker Caleb Andrews and cannot repay it. As Dillon and Chester ride out to deliver the devastating order, the marshal grapples with the moral weight of his duty to enforce the law against a hardworking family facing ruin.
Dodge City and the Blake farm in Ford County, Kansas, during Indian summer · Matt Dillon, Chester, Caleb Andrews, Ed Blake, Martha Blake, Jimmy Blake, Kitty, Clem the banker
Listen for: The tension between Dillon's sworn duty to uphold the law and his personal sympathy for the Blake family; Caleb Andrews' ruthlessness in demanding immediate foreclosure; the moral debate about justice and compassion.
Gunsmoke: The Noose (1960)
Matt Dillon encounters a peculiar man named Claude who wears a noose around his neck and is methodically testing a rope for a hanging. Claude claims he is waiting for someone to arrive in Dodge City whom he intends to hang for a killing, but only after the man confesses his guilt. Matt forbids any vigilante justice and warns Claude against causing trouble, but the strange man remains determined to carry out his plans.
Dodge City and the surrounding territory · Matt Dillon, Chester, Claude, Kitty
Listen for: The mysterious identity of the man Claude is waiting for and Matt's efforts to prevent an unlawful hanging
Gunsmoke: The Old Lady (1953)
Marshal Dillon and Chester stop to water their horses at Ellen's homestead and are shot at by the widow, who has grown bitter and suspicious since her husband Ethan's death five years ago. When Dillon encounters Ellen's son Luther at the saloon, he confronts the young man about his failure to help his struggling mother, but Luther is indifferent to her plight. Later, Cassie mentions rumors connecting Luther to cattle rustling.
Dodge City and the surrounding frontier homestead, with scenes at Ellen's ranch, the saloon, and the Marshal's office. · Marshal Matt Dillon, Chester, Ellen, Luther, Mitch, Cassie
Listen for: The tension between duty and compassion as Dillon tries to reach Luther about his mother's deteriorating condition, and hints of trouble brewing with cattle rustling accusations.
Gunsmoke: The Peace Officer (1960)
Matt Dillon arrives in Tascosa to hire a new sheriff for the town, as requested by the citizens committee. The current sheriff, Clegg Rawlins, was brought in to clean up the lawless town but has since become a tyrant himself. Rawlins confronts Dillon in his room, attempting to persuade him to abandon his mission through flattery and veiled threats.
Tascosa, a frontier town in the territory, and Dodge City · Matt Dillon, Clegg Rawlins, Kitty, Doc, Bartender
Listen for: Dillon's showdown with the corrupt sheriff Rawlins, and the tension between the marshal's duty and Rawlins' increasingly direct warnings about the dangerous ride back to Dodge.
Gunsmoke: The Professor (1960)
A scholarly professor named Milford arrives in Dodge City on foot after his horse runs away. He claims to be writing a book on Native American culture and collecting artifacts for scientific purposes. Matt Dillon and Chester encounter him while investigating a hold-up, uncertain whether this peculiar visitor is who he claims to be.
Dodge City and the Kansas plains · Matt Dillon, Chester, Milford
Listen for: A mysterious scholar arrives in town claiming academic pursuits while Matt Dillon grows suspicious of his true intentions.
Gunsmoke: The Round-Up (1953)
As the cattle-driving season ends in Dodge City, townspeople urge Marshal Dillon to deputize a large group of men to keep peace during the round-up celebration, when a thousand cowboys and homesteaders will flood the streets. Dillon refuses, insisting he'll maintain order his own way. That evening, an old friend named Cell Matlock arrives in town with troubling news: a man named Lowman has been hired to kill the marshal tonight.
Dodge City, Kansas, at the end of the cattle-driving season. · Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc, Summers, Torp, Kitty, Cell Matlock, Lowman
Listen for: Dillon's philosophical approach to law enforcement and his reunion with the mysterious Cell Matlock, who brings a warning of assassination.
Gunsmoke: The Sod-Buster (1961)
When Sedge Wilter and his daughter Bessie Mae arrive in Dodge City, they seem like ordinary travelers passing through town. Marshal Matt Dillon returns from a two-week pursuit with a dangerous prisoner, Cliff Matters, wanted for murdering an entire family. As tensions simmer between the newcomers and the town, unexpected complications begin to unfold.
Dodge City, Kansas; the Dodge House hotel, the Long Branch Saloon, and the marshal's office and jail · Matt Dillon, Doc Adams, Sedge Wilter, Bessie Mae Wilter, Miss Kitty, Chester, Cliff Matters
Listen for: The arrival of the Wilter family in Dodge City and Matt's return with prisoner Cliff Matters; Bessie Mae's mysterious activity at the jail with a buggy prepared outside
Gunsmoke: The Soldier (1953)
Marshal Matt Dillon locks up two soldiers, Gallagher and Spear, for fighting in a Dodge City saloon. When Gallagher arrives drunk and causing trouble, Spear tries to get him back to the fort, but both end up jailed. Realizing he was too harsh on Spear, who was only trying to help, Dillon rides out to Fort Dodge to explain the situation to Captain Shaw and ask for leniency.
Dodge City and Fort Dodge, Kansas Territory in the 1870s · Matt Dillon, Gallagher, Spear, Chester, Captain Shaw, Colonel Doby, Larson
Listen for: Marshal Dillon's growing regret over his quick judgment and his attempt to make amends with the soldiers and their commanding officer; the tension between civilian law and military discipline.
Gunsmoke: The Square Triangle (1952)
Marshal Dillon encounters the alluring Mrs. Ava Morley, whose dangerous attraction to men has already caused two deaths in Dodge City. When a cattle-buying trip turns deadly, a man is stabbed to death and money is stolen, with suspicion falling on newcomer Red Lawson. Dillon must ride out to investigate the murder at the camp and track down the killer before more blood is spilled.
Dodge City and the surrounding territory in the West, with scenes in the saloon, the street, and a cattle camp at Buffalo Flats · Matt Dillon, Chester, Ava Morley, Red Lawson, Al Morley, Jesse Wells, Kitty
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances surrounding Al Morley's death and whether Red Lawson is truly guilty of the murder and theft, or if there is more to the story than it appears.
Gunsmoke: The Wake (1961)
A traveling man named Gus Mather arrives in Dodge City with his friend Orson Boggs already dead in a coffin. After burying Boggs at Boot Hill with minimal ceremony, Mather announces he will hold a wake that evening to honor his fallen companion. Doc Adams and Chester become suspicious of the unusual circumstances surrounding Boggs's death and the hasty burial.
Dodge City, Kansas and Boot Hill cemetery · Doc Adams, Chester Proudfoot, Gus Mather, Marshal Matt Dillon, Orson Boggs
Listen for: A wake held in honor of a deceased man whose mysterious death and quick burial raise questions about his true fate
Gunsmoke: Trojan War (1953)
Marshal Dillon encounters three notorious outlaws—the Parks Brothers and Chuck Evans—in Dodge City and warns them to stay out of trouble. When a gold shipment stage is ambushed on the trail with the driver and shotgun guard killed, Dillon and Chester investigate the crime scene and discover the outlaws' trail leading toward the river.
Dodge City and the trail to the west, 1953 · Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty, Ed Parks, Rio Parks, Chuck Evans, Will, Jack Houston
Listen for: The investigation of the stage robbery and the connection to the three dangerous men Dillon warned earlier in the episode.
Gunsmoke: Tumbleweed (1960)
A mysterious man named Maples arrives in Dodge City with a portable gallows mounted on his wagon, claiming that swift execution is the solution to the town's violence. Marshal Dillon must decide whether to allow this self-appointed executioner to operate in his town or send him away, while the community becomes increasingly divided over Maples' methods and philosophy.
Dodge City and the surrounding territory in the American West · Matt Dillon, Chester, Tumbleweed, Maples, Kitty
Listen for: A philosophical debate about justice and punishment, and the tension between Maples' brutal efficiency and Marshal Dillon's measured approach to law and order.
Gunsmoke: Two Mothers (1960)
Marshal Dillon arrests Jake Meissner for killing a man in a drunken brawl. Jake's mother, Ms. Meissner, comes to see Dillon and insists her boy was a good, God-fearing man led astray by drink. When Dillon explains the law must take its course and Jake will hang on Thursday, Ms. Meissner makes a chilling threat: she will kill the marshal if her son is executed.
Dodge City, Kansas - the marshal's office and surrounding town · Matt Dillon, Chester, Ms. Henshaw, Jake Meissner, Ms. Meissner, The Calhoun brothers
Listen for: A tense confrontation between Marshal Dillon and a grieving mother who crosses the line from pleading for mercy to making a death threat against the law itself.
Gunsmoke: Westbound (1953)
Marshal Dylan arrives in Abilene to arrest Jack Daggard, a wanted killer, and bring him back to Dodge City for trial. After a tense confrontation in a saloon, Dylan successfully takes the young man into custody, but learns that Jack has two older brothers who won't take kindly to his arrest. With four hours until the next train departs, Dylan must keep his prisoner safe while the Daggard brothers close in.
Abilene, Kansas, in a saloon and hotel · Marshal Dylan, Chester, Jack Daggard, Bill Hickock, Constable Rourke, Hotel Clerk
Listen for: The tension builds as Marshal Dylan secures his prisoner against mounting threats from the Daggard brothers, with Chester sensing danger from the start.
Gunsmoke: Wild West (1953)
Marshall Dillon encounters a boy named Yorkie whose father has been taken by men who stole their horses. The boy's story is unclear, but Dillon sets out to investigate and rescue Yorkie's father from somewhere in the territory, while the boy rides to Dodge for fresh horses and reinforcements.
The Kansas Territory near Dodge City, beginning at the Pawnee River and moving to the Kelly ranch. · Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshall, Yorkie Kelly, a young boy, Hattie Kelly, Yorkie's stepmother, Chester, the deputy in Dodge
Listen for: A mystery develops as Dillon tries to determine what really happened to Yorkie's father and whether the boy's account of kidnapping is accurate or imagination.
Gunsmoke: Wind (1953)
Marshal Dillon returns to Dodge City to find a man has been killed in a shooting on the Texas Trail. A new woman named Dolly Varden has arrived in town, claiming to bring luck to any man who pays her, and a gambler named Frank Paris has appeared around the same time. Dillon investigates whether Dolly and Paris are working together to fleece the town's men, leading to potential violence.
Dodge City, Kansas - a frontier town with saloons and gambling establishments · Matt Dillon, Chester, Kitty, Dolly Varden, Frank Paris, Doc, Mr. Witherspoon
Listen for: Dillon's investigation into whether a mysterious woman and a gambler are conspiring to cause trouble; the moral questions about luck, responsibility, and frontier justice
Gunsmoke: Word of Honor (1953)
Doc returns to Dodge City after a two-day absence and reluctantly reveals he was summoned to treat a young man shot in the back. Though Doc managed to remove the bullet lodged in the man's spine, the patient died from the shock of the surgery. The gunmen who brought Doc to the remote location force him to swear on his word of honor never to reveal their identities or location, threatening to kill him if he breaks his promise.
Dodge City and a remote location past Fort Dodge in Kansas Territory · Matt Dillon, Doc, Chester, Kitty
Listen for: Doc's moral struggle between his promise of honor and his duty as a marshal's friend; the gunmen's threats and their concern about a $20,000 sum; Matt and Chester's frustration at being unable to solve the murder without Doc's help.
Gunsmoke: Wrong Man (1960)
Marshal Dillon receives a warning from a fellow lawman about a dangerous criminal named Jim Wardell who may be passing through Dodge City. Wardell is a smooth-talking dude who kills with a knife and shows no mercy. That same day, a charming stranger calling himself Jack Norman arrives in town and immediately makes a good impression on the locals, including Miss Kitty.
Dodge City, Kansas Territory in the American West · Matt Dillon, Chester, Miss Kitty, Blair, Jack Norman, Jim Wardell
Listen for: A question of identity as the charming stranger's true nature comes into question
Gunsmoke: Xmas Story (1952)
Marshal Matt Dillon is traveling back to Dodge City on Christmas Eve after delivering a prisoner. He encounters a drifting stranger named Cowley whose horse has gone lame, and the two share a ride together. As they journey toward town, Matt reflects on the Christmas spirit in Dodge and encounters the kindhearted John Bumbie, who is planning to propose to Mrs. McNish that evening.
The Kansas Territory and the town of Dodge City on Christmas Eve · Matt Dillon, Cowley, Chester, Doc, Kitty, John Bumbie, Mrs. McNish
Listen for: The contrast between Matt's solitary, weary journey and the warmth of Christmas celebration awaiting him in Dodge; the stranger Cowley's mysterious interest in learning about the town and its people; John Bumbie's joyful announcement of his engagement plans.
Have Gun, Will Travel: 106 episode guides
Have Gun, Will Travel: A Matter of Ethics (1959)
Paladin is hired by a murderer named Holgate to protect him from being lynched when he's taken to stand trial in a Wyoming town. Holgate killed the son of a prominent citizen named Max Bender in a drunken saloon argument, and the Bender family is determined to see mob justice rather than allow a fair trial. Paladin must escort his client to court and keep him alive long enough to face legal proceedings.
San Francisco in 1875, then a train journey to a small Wyoming town named after Max Bender. · Paladin, Holgate, Sheriff, Max Bender, Miss Bender, Boy messenger
Listen for: Paladin's practical philosophy about law and order, his negotiation of his fee, and his confrontation with the Bender family who want vengeance rather than justice.
Have Gun, Will Travel: About Face (1959)
Paladin discovers that Hey Boy is betrothed to a girl in China whom he has never met, arranged in a marriage contract made when he was nine years old. Now a go-between has arrived in San Francisco to finalize the arrangement, but Hey Boy has fallen for Miss Wong. Paladin must navigate the dangerous world of San Francisco's Chinatown and the powerful Gee-san-yap Tong, whose leader is the notorious hatchet man Bloody Pete, to resolve this impossible situation.
San Francisco, 1875; the Carlsen Hotel and Chinatown · Paladin, Hey Boy, Miss Wong, Nei Chen (go-between), Gikung (the girl's father), Bloody Pete (Gee Come Ho)
Listen for: Paladin's struggle with the clash between Chinese tradition and modern American life; the reveal that Hey Boy's betrothed family controls the most powerful tong in Chinatown; Miss Wong's surprising reaction to learning of the engagement.
Have Gun, Will Travel: All That Glitters (1959)
Paladin accepts a $500 job to guard a shipment of $50,000 in gold traveling by stage from San Francisco to Los Angeles for a banker named McElrath. The money is meant as a loan to help a Los Angeles bank survive financial panic. Paladin poses as an ordinary passenger, with the gold hidden among the luggage, hoping to catch the bandits by surprise.
San Francisco and the road to Los Angeles in 1875. The Carlton Hotel and a stagecoach traveling through Southern California. · Paladin, Thomas Michael Ryan (McElrath), Laura Berry, Clavaro Martinez
Listen for: The clash between Paladin's romantic evening plans and his acceptance of dangerous work; the revelation that Laura Berry is the daughter of the banker he's trying to help; the ambush by Martinez's banditos and the discovery of the hidden gold.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Anything I Want (1959)
Paladin is summoned to help recover $80,000 in gold bullion that vanished along with a mule train on a mountain trail in the Sierra Nevada. He discovers abandoned mules and a frozen body, then encounters a man named Frenchy Bodine who disarms him and brings him into a scheme to retrieve something valuable from a remote mountain location.
San Francisco and the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountains, 1875 · Paladin, Frenchy Bodine, Joe, P.D., Frida, Mr. Whitehead
Listen for: A tense mountain journey with armed men who distrust Paladin, mysterious references to what they really need the mules for, and hints of a scheme that may involve the missing gold.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Apache Concerto (1960)
Paladin is hired by a music company to find Professor Oscar Ailes and his niece Elsa, who have gone missing in Arizona while selling harmoniums. He encounters them fleeing from pursuers and learns that renegade Apache half-breeds led by a man named Chivaro have been raiding the territory. Marshal Bone and his Indian scouts are tracking Chivaro, and Paladin agrees to help escort the professor and his niece to safety.
Arizona Territory, 1875. A rough desert road and an armed camp in the wilderness. · Paladin, Hey Boy, Mr. Alonso, Professor Oscar Ailes, Elsa Ailes, Marshal John Bone, Chivaro
Listen for: The unusual contrast between the refined music of Elsa's harmonium performance and the dangerous wilderness setting, as the enchanting music threatens to distract the guards from their duty to watch for Chivaro's renegades.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Assignment in Stone's Crossing (1959)
Paladin accepts a job in Stone's Crossing after a series of coin tosses, but his horse breaks down in the Nevada desert. After shooting a man he was hired to kill, he's pursued by a vengeful posse who mistake him for the dead man Curtis and capture him at a waterhole. Now facing execution by hanging, Paladin must find a way to convince his captors of his true identity before it's too late.
Nevada territory and Stone's Crossing, 1875 · Paladin, Miss Wong, Ed Wills, Crowley, Mike Hanson, Jules Cleaver, Myron Curtis
Listen for: Paladin's predicament deepens as he's about to be hanged by men who refuse to believe he is not the criminal Curtis they seek.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Bad Bert (1960)
Paladin is hired by the Countess of Dunkley-Tatsbury to find her youngest son Bertrand, who left England years ago feeling unwanted by his father. When Paladin learns that Bertrand's photograph matches that of Bad Bert, a notorious outlaw wanted across the Southwest territories, he realizes his search will be far more complicated than a simple family reunion.
San Francisco, 1875; the Carlton Hotel and territories of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas · Paladin, Countess of Dunkley-Tatsbury, Missy Wong, Bad Bert (Bertrand, Earl of Dunkley-Tatsbury)
Listen for: Paladin's wry observations about the irony of a gentle English nobleman becoming a dangerous road agent; the Countess's tender memories of her favorite son contrasted with the grim reality of his outlaw reputation.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Birds of a Feather (1959)
Paladin arrives in Pueblo, a town divided by a railroad dispute between the Western Pacific and Rio Grande lines fighting for control of a right-of-way through Raymond Gorge. Both sides offer him work as a hired gunman, but Paladin devises an alternative plan involving a legal eviction notice and a cash settlement to break the costly deadlock.
Pueblo in 1875, a town caught in the middle of a railroad war over control of a crucial gorge passage. · Paladin, Charles Foster, Ralph Cole, John Sookie, Sheriff Quinn
Listen for: Paladin's clever negotiation to end violence without drawing his guns, and his manipulation of legal and financial pressure to resolve the conflict.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Bitter Vengeance (1959)
Paladin agrees to escort a dying woman named Janet Stalker back to her birthplace, but the journey into the desert becomes a trap. Janet and her companion Doke reveal themselves as the widow and brother of Byron Cully, a man Paladin shot in self-defense two years earlier in Virginia City. They plan to leave Paladin to die slowly of thirst in the Mojave Desert as revenge for the death.
San Francisco and the Mojave Desert, 1875 · Paladin, Janet Stalker Cully, Doke Cully, Hey Boy (hotel clerk)
Listen for: The tense confrontation in the desert as Paladin discovers the elaborate trap set for him, and Janet's bitter recollections of her dead husband Byron Cully.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Bitter Wine (1959)
Paladin is summoned to the Donatello vineyard, where the owner's prize wines are being ruined by oil seeping from a neighboring well operated by the stubborn Timothy Jerome Gorman. When Paladin attempts to broker peace by suggesting simple technical fixes, Gorman refuses to cooperate, claiming he has no money and no sympathy for the Italian vintner. Paladin leaves to investigate further, but returns to find the dispute escalating into open conflict.
California wine country, 1875. The Donatello vineyard and Gorman's oil well operation nearby. · Paladin, Senor Donatello, Teresa Donatello, Timothy Jerome Gorman
Listen for: A clash between old-world viticulture and new industrial enterprise, with Paladin caught between a passionate vintner and a ruthless oil prospector who refuses compromise.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Blind Courage (1959)
Paladin is hired by the wealthy John Sutherland for the surprising sum of $5,000 to teach him to shoot. Sutherland has built a soundproofed room on his estate for practice, but refuses to explain why he needs the skill. Paladin soon discovers the remarkable truth: Sutherland has been completely blind for almost a year, yet remains determined to master marksmanship.
San Francisco, 1875. The Carlsen Hotel and the Sutherland estate on Nob Hill. · Paladin, John Sutherland, Elizabeth Sutherland, Hey boy
Listen for: Paladin's growing curiosity about why a blind man would pay such a large sum to learn shooting, and what Sutherland plans to do with this dangerous new skill.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Bonanza (1959)
Paladin is hired by a wealthy mine owner to investigate mysterious disturbances at a silver mine in Virginia City, Nevada. After a fire broke out in the mine and killed several workers, the surviving miners refuse to return to work, claiming they hear groaning and laughing and feel phantom hands around their necks. The mine owner believes the superstitious workers are spooked by ghosts, but Paladin suspects something more sinister is at play.
Virginia City, Nevada in 1875, including the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco and a silver mine 1200 feet underground. · Paladin, Mr. Curry, Mrs. Emma Curry, Dan (Curry's brother, superintendent), Miss Wong
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into the ghostly disturbances at the silver mine and his attempt to separate genuine supernatural phenomena from deliberate trickery designed to keep workers away.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Bring Him Back Alive (1960)
Paladin accepts a $3,000 job from Sheriff Eggers to track down Fred Lormer, who killed a man in Little Spring and fled across the state line. The sheriff demands Lormer be brought back alive within four days to stand trial, but Paladin discovers the victim was the son of Jim Radford, a reform candidate running against the sheriff in an upcoming election.
San Francisco in 1875, then the town of Little Spring and the Nevada desert · Paladin, Miss Apalini, Sheriff Eggers, Fred Lormer, Jim Radford
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into why the sheriff is so insistent on getting Lormer back quickly, and the political complications surrounding the case
Have Gun, Will Travel: Bringing Up Ollie (1960)
Paladin visits his old friends Ollie and Cora in Oro City, Colorado, only to discover that Ollie is in jail after racing his wagon drunk down the street and hitting a stagecoach. Ollie seems oddly content with his imprisonment, claiming he deserves it and is happy to be there, but Paladin finds his friend's behavior baffling and wants to understand what has really changed him.
Oro City, Colorado, 1875. The action moves from the street to the sheriff's office where Ollie is being held in jail. · Paladin, Cora Bierd'sly, Ollie Bierd'sly, Sheriff Moody, Missy Wong
Listen for: Ollie's cryptic explanation about why he seems content in jail, hinting at old memories and loss that have changed him; Paladin's attempts to make sense of his friend's unusual happiness despite his circumstances.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Brother Lost (1959)
Paladin escorts a young woman named Marietta Fulton to Hila Bend to find her brother, from whom she was separated years ago. When outlaws ambush their stagecoach, they kidnap Marietta and shoot Paladin, leaving him wounded and desperate to rescue her before the outlaws disappear into the frontier.
San Francisco and Hila Bend, California, 1875. A stagecoach route and a doctor's office in a frontier town. · Paladin, Marietta Fulton, Dr. Jonas, Sheriff Tom Honshoo, Outlaws (Duke, Ferdy, Keith)
Listen for: The tense stagecoach holdup, the outlaws' violent threats, and Paladin's determination despite his wound to save the kidnapped young woman.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Caesar's Wife (1960)
Paladin is hired by Jeremiah Smoot, a reformed gunslinger who has promised his wife Polly never to use his guns again, to protect him from his neighbor Ezra Mason. Jeremiah suspects Mason of improper intentions toward Polly and fears he may be forced to break his vow to defend his wife's honor.
1875 San Francisco and the Salinas Valley region, including Jeremiah's hacienda and Ezra Mason's property · Paladin, Jeremiah Smoot, Polly Smoot, Ezra Mason, Miss Wong
Listen for: The tension between Jeremiah's promise to his delicate, nocturnal wife and his suspicions about Mason's visits; Paladin's investigation of the neighbor's intentions.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Comanche (1959)
Paladin travels to Montana near the Little Big Horn after being hired by a woman whose son, Corporal Henry Carver, has run away with a girl named Becky. When a cavalry troop arrives at the waterhole where Paladin has hidden the fugitives, Paladin encounters his old acquaintance Captain John Keel, who is now serving under Custer. A civilian named Dolan is also with the troop, hunting the same young couple for his own purposes.
Montana Territory near the Little Big Horn River, 1875. A remote waterhole in Indian country where a cavalry troop is stationed. · Paladin, Miss Wong, Corporal Henry Carver, Becky, Captain John Keel, Sam Dolan, George Custer
Listen for: Paladin's encounter with his old military acquaintance Captain Keel and the tension created by the arrival of Dolan, who wants revenge on the young couple for different reasons than Carver's mother.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Contessa Marie Desmoulins (1959)
Paladin is hired by the dying Countess Marie Desmoulins to find her grandson Andre, who disappeared six months ago after his father's death. The boy has fallen under the influence of a gunfighter named Fezzlin and is now gambling in the mining town of Placer, Oregon. Paladin tracks the two men into the mountains, only to find himself caught between them at gunpoint.
1875 San Francisco and the Rogue River country of southern Oregon, including the Desmoulins Ranch and the mining town of Placer near Grave Creek. · Paladin, Countess Marie Desmoulins, Andre, Fezzlin, Hay Boy
Listen for: Paladin's tense confrontation with Fezzlin in the mountain camp, and the revelation that Andre may not want to return home despite his grandmother's wishes.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Dad-Blamed Luck (1960)
Paladin accepts a job from Jamie Howard to help recover a gold mine near Columbia that Howard claims was stolen from him. On the ride to Columbia, Howard reveals he's gambled away the gold samples he showed Paladin as proof, and admits that the local sheriff—who is in league with the mine's current owner—was the one who ran him off the claim. Their arrival in town takes an unexpected turn when the sheriff arrests them both for horse theft, a crime Howard apparently committed without telling Paladin.
San Francisco in 1875 and the road to Columbia, California, near Yankee Hill in the Gold Country · Paladin, Jamie Howard, Sheriff Farrell
Listen for: Paladin's frustration grows as Jamie Howard reveals one deception after another—first losing the gold to poker, then hiding that the sheriff is his enemy, and finally admitting to stealing the sheriff's horse. The tension builds as they ride into town and are immediately arrested.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Deadline (1960)
Paladin is hired as foreman of a railroad construction crew in Nevada, where a narrow-gauge track must be completed within three weeks to save the struggling town of Wilway. The project faces sabotage from Pat Casey, a tough freight hauler whose business would be ruined by the railroad's completion, and Paladin must contend with troubled workers and equipment failures as he races against the deadline.
Wilway, Nevada, 1875; a railroad construction camp and the town's saloon · Paladin, Hey Boy, Alan Hurley, Pat Casey, Vince, Casey (bartender)
Listen for: The whip trick that helps Paladin control a situation, and the revelation that the previous foreman was being paid off by Pat Casey to sabotage the work.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Death of a Young Gunfighter (1959)
Paladin is hired by a grieving rancher to hunt down Juan Morita, a notorious killer who murdered the rancher's son in a gunfight. When Paladin arrives in a New Mexico town, he finds the body of Morita's brother displayed as bait, but refuses to participate in the brutal scheme. As Morita arrives seeking revenge, Paladin discovers the situation is far more complicated than a simple matter of justice.
A small New Mexico town in 1875, centered around a hotel, livery stable, and the surrounding adobe buildings and dusty streets. · Paladin, Juan Morita, John Seabree, John Haskell
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Paladin and the vengeful Morita, and Paladin's moral struggle over the ethics of the job he's been hired to do.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Deliver the Body (1959)
Paladin is hired by the mayor of Silver Flat, Nevada to find Ben Tyler, a man accused of murdering the local sheriff. Paladin learns that Tyler carries a small 36-caliber star pistol and tracks him to a gambling hall in Hayes, where Tyler claims he has an alibi and can prove his innocence.
Silver Flat, Nevada and the town of Hayes, 1875. Silver Flat is described as an ugly town set between mountains, with buildings lining a rutted street, half of them saloons. · Paladin, Mayor S.J. Lovett, Ben Tyler, Nelson, Sheriff Pret
Listen for: Paladin's moral confrontation with Nelson the lawyer about shielding a suspected murderer, and Tyler's insistence that he can prove his innocence with a witness from Carson City.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Doctor from Vienna (1960)
Paladin is hired by Mrs. Flacker, a wealthy San Francisco widow, who has been robbed of $100,000 in jewels while experiencing a mysterious blackout. She finds sand in her shoes and damp clothing suggesting she left her room during the night, yet has no memory of doing so. An appointment with Dr. Dreckle, a phrenologist working in the hotel, appears in her engagement book in what looks like her handwriting, though she insists she never wrote it and doesn't know the doctor.
The Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, 1875 · Paladin, Belle Whitney, Mrs. Flacker, Dr. Dreckle
Listen for: The mystery of Mrs. Flacker's missing jewels and unexplained night-time absence from her room; the suspicious Dr. Dreckle and the forged appointment in her engagement book
Have Gun, Will Travel: Dressed to Kill (1960)
While delivering a payroll shipment to a railroad construction crew, Paladin rescues a well-dressed young man named Henry Matthews Jr. from an alley mugging in the rough town of Terminal. Matthews insists on repaying Paladin's kindness by inviting him to supper at his family's private railway coach, where Paladin meets Matthews' father, the railroad president, and his sister Alice, who is decidedly less welcoming than her brother.
Terminal, a dirty frontier town near a railroad construction camp, and the Matthews family's private railway coach, 1875 · Paladin, Henry Matthews Jr., Alice Matthews, Mr. Matthews (senior), Hey Boy
Listen for: Paladin's growing suspicions about the two men who attacked Matthews and why they might be watching the Matthews family and his valuable cargo
Have Gun, Will Travel: Dusty (1960)
Dusty, a young boy, arrives at Paladin's San Francisco hotel with his life savings to hire the gunfighter. He wants Paladin to stop his Uncle Muncie and a man named Jeter from shooting Dusty's dog, Mr. Big. Paladin agrees to ride back to Uncle Muncie's ranch to intervene.
San Francisco in 1875 and Uncle Muncie's remote ranch property · Paladin, Dusty, Uncle Muncie, Jeter, Mr. Big (a dog), The Thompsons (neighbors)
Listen for: A tense confrontation between Paladin and the abusive Uncle Muncie over the fate of Dusty and his dog; Dusty's story of how he found Mr. Big and why his uncle wants him dead.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Eat Crow (1960)
Paladin rescues a man and woman from a flash flood, but the man turns out to be Adam Foley, an ex-convict whom the local sheriff has ordered out of town. Foley claims he's trying to make a fresh start with his injured wife, but the sheriff suspects he may be planning to rob the gold shipment that's now being diverted through town due to washed-out roads.
A small Arizona town near Phoenix, 1875. A doctor's office and the sheriff's office are mentioned. · Paladin, Adam Foley, Tricia Foley, Sheriff Hepler, Shorty Smith, Hey Boy
Listen for: The growing tension between Paladin and Sheriff Hepler over whether ex-convict Adam Foley deserves a second chance, and hints that Foley's arrival may not be accidental given the diverted gold shipment.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Ella West (1958)
Paladin is hired by Tom Carter, a show promoter who has signed the famous frontierswoman Ella West to perform in his traveling exhibition. Carter fears that Ella's wild and unrefined behavior will ruin his show before it even opens, and he asks Paladin to tame her into the legendary romantic figure that audiences expect to see.
A traveling show's camp or venue in the Old West, 1958. · Paladin, Ella West, Tom Carter, Tracy Calvert
Listen for: Paladin's attempts to manage the headstrong and sharp-tongued Ella West, who immediately clashes with him and resists his efforts to refine her behavior.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Extended Viva (part 2) (1960)
Paladin has successfully delivered a mysterious organ crate to San Xavier Mission through a war zone, but discovers the crate has been stolen from the hotel boardwalk. A man named Steve Perkins claims he won Paladin's wagon and horses in a poker game, leading to a violent confrontation in the street.
San Xavier Mission and surrounding towns in Mexico during a revolution, 1875; a mission, military outposts, and a small town hotel with boardwalk · Paladin, Tono, Father O'Toole, General Perez, Pancho, Steve Perkins, Miss Wong, Hey Boy
Listen for: Paladin must recover his stolen wagon and organ before they disappear into the desert, while dealing with the mysterious Pancho and the dangerous Steve Perkins
Have Gun, Will Travel: Fair Fugitive (1959)
Paladin agrees to transport a fugitive prisoner from Fort Gilman to Baltimore for Captain Sam Jeffers of the Texas Rangers, who is busy dealing with a threatened jail break. When Paladin learns the prisoner is a woman named Magda Salvon whom he knew well years ago in San Francisco, he faces an uncomfortable reunion and the challenge of delivering her safely across dangerous territory.
Texas border region, 1875. The Carlton Hotel in San Francisco at the beginning, then the Texas Rangers post at Company D near the Mexican border, and the journey to Fort Gilman. · Paladin, Captain Sam Jeffers, Miss Wong, Hey Boy, Magda Salvon
Listen for: Paladin's complicated past with the prisoner Magda Salvon and how their reunion affects his mission to transport her safely while the border region is unstable.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Finn Alley (1959)
Paladin is asked to help find Miss Wong, a young Chinese girl who disappeared from the Carlton Hotel after being given a package to deliver by a mysterious woman in black. Paladin traces the girl to Mammy King, a woman who traffics in servant girls, and learns that Miss Wong has been taken to a boarding house on Finn Alley in the waterfront district, where she faces an uncertain fate.
San Francisco in 1875, primarily at the Carlton Hotel and the waterfront district known as Finn Alley · Paladin, Hey Boy, Miss Wong, Linda, Mammy King
Listen for: A tense investigation into the criminal underworld of San Francisco's waterfront, where young women are trafficked and sold into servitude; Paladin's confrontation with Mammy King and his discovery of Miss Wong's location.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Five Days to Yuma (1960)
Paladin accepts a seemingly straightforward assignment to transport a prisoner named Jeremy Thompson to Carson City, Nevada for the governor, with payment of $2,000 plus expenses. As Paladin and his cherub-faced prisoner travel by stagecoach toward their destination, Thompson confidently predicts that his mysterious accomplice will prevent them from reaching Carson City, leaving Paladin to wonder what dangers await on the road ahead.
San Francisco and the route to Carson City, Nevada, 1875; begins at the Carleton Hotel in San Francisco, moves to a stagecoach journey with stops at Elk Grove and other waypoints. · Paladin, Jeremy Thompson, Wilson, Mr. Finlitter, An old woman passenger, A whiskey drummer passenger, The stagecoach driver
Listen for: The mention of Thompson's mysterious accomplice and hints of trouble ahead; the interactions between the passengers on the stagecoach, particularly the talkative old woman and the whiskey drummer.
Have Gun, Will Travel: For the Birds (1960)
Paladin is approached by Mr. Higbee, a businessman hired to deliver two rare peacocks from Ceylon to a wealthy New York collector named Solomon Fisk Bibber. After initially refusing the job, Paladin agrees to escort the birds from the docks to the train station. During loading, the cage breaks open and the peacocks attack a dock worker, but Paladin manages to capture them safely.
San Francisco in 1875, the Carlton Hotel and the waterfront docks; later a train compartment bound for New York · Paladin, Hey Boy, Mr. Higbee, Solomon Fisk Bibber, Dock hand
Listen for: The distinctive cry of the peacocks, discussions of their rarity and value, and the chaos when the birds escape their cage at the docks
Have Gun, Will Travel: French Leave (1960)
Paladin is hired by a French Secret Service agent, Monsieur Pouland, to guide him into the Western frontier to locate and capture Marius, an escaped prisoner from Paris who has fled to America. When they pass through Hangtown, they discover that Marius is the very Frenchman who ran off with a local woman named Lola, making the townspeople hostile to any Frenchman in their midst.
San Francisco and the Western frontier, including the town of Hangtown, in 1875 · Paladin, Monsieur Pouland, Miss Wong, Big Red, Marius, Lola
Listen for: Paladin's quick thinking as he navigates the conflict between his French employer's mission and the angry townspeople's desire for revenge; the revelation of Marius's identity in Hangtown.
Have Gun, Will Travel: From Here to Boston (1960)
Paladin meets Lavinia Todd Hunter, a charming visitor from Boston who has come to San Francisco with her brother Miles. As Paladin and Lavinia grow close over several days, Miles reveals to his sister that they have come west to kill Paladin and claim an inheritance from a lawyer back in Boston. They devise a plan to poison him with brandy during an intimate dinner in his room.
San Francisco, 1875, at the Carlton Hotel · Paladin, Lavinia Todd Hunter, Miles Todd Hunter, Hay Boy
Listen for: A sinister plot unfolds as the charming visitors from Boston befriend the famous gunslinger, with murder on their minds.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Gunshy (1959)
Paladin travels to Big Pine, Montana to help recover stolen money and goods from an old Chinese laundry owner whose uncle was robbed by three escaped convicts. Paladin arrives at Ma Warren's boarding house and begins investigating the whereabouts of the three criminals.
Big Pine, Montana, 1875 - a boarding house near the Canadian border · Paladin, Hey Boy (the laundry owner's nephew), Ma Warren, Chuck Anderson, Nancy Warren, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Fry, Mr. Dayton
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into three fugitives who robbed a Chinese laundry of nearly $1000 and are heading toward Canada; tensions surface at the dinner table among the other male boarders.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Helen of Abajinian (1959)
Paladin is hired by Samuel Abajinian, leader of an Armenian wine-growing colony, to bring back his daughter Helen, a dancer who has eloped with a young cowboy named O'Reilly. Paladin tracks them through the mountains and finds them camping together, with Helen torn between her feelings for O'Reilly and her duty to her family.
An Armenian colony in Soma Valley, California, and the mountain wilderness in 1875 · Paladin, Samuel Abajinian, Helen Abajinian, O'Reilly
Listen for: A dramatic confrontation at a cottonwood grove where Paladin catches up to the runaway couple, with Helen caught between love and family obligation.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Hell Knows No Fury (1960)
Paladin arrives in White Water Falls to help Billy Boggs, a shopkeeper who fears Henry Arbuthnot will kill him over attentions the man's wife Amelia is paying to Billy's store. Paladin meets the alluring Mrs. Arbuthnot and begins investigating the situation to understand the real dynamics between all three parties.
White Water Falls, 1875. Billy Boggs' fashionable clothing store and later Mrs. Arbuthnot's home. · Paladin, Billy Boggs, Amelia Arbuthnot, Henry Arbuthnot, Hey Boy
Listen for: The tension between Billy's claims of innocence and his obvious attraction to Mrs. Arbuthnot; Paladin's skillful interview technique as he gathers information from multiple sides of the dispute.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Hey Boy's Revenge (1959)
Paladin returns to the Carlton Hotel to discover that Hey Boy, his former helper, has disappeared after receiving notice of an accident at a railroad construction site in Cold Water. When Paladin learns that a Chinese worker named Kim Sung died under suspicious circumstances and that Hey Boy's brother Kim Chang seeks revenge, he travels to confront the section superintendent Travis, only to find the situation more complicated than it first appears.
San Francisco in 1875, and the railroad settlement at Cold Water on a plateau in the mountains. · Paladin, Hey Boy (Kim Chang), Travis, Mr. Chung, Kim Sung
Listen for: The mystery of Kim Sung's death and whether it was truly an accident or murder, and what becomes of the young Hey Boy who travels to Cold Water seeking justice.
Have Gun, Will Travel: High Wire (1959)
Paladin travels to Salamander City, California to retrieve a young woman named Irene Stanford who has abandoned her respectable life to work in a saloon. Upon arrival, he discovers that Irene is actually a woman named Reina who is devoted to a small acrobat named Dooley Delaware. When a powerful local man named Marquette pressures Dooley into a dangerous high-wire walking bet for money, Paladin becomes suspicious of Marquette's intentions and offers to stake Dooley himself.
Salamander City, California, 1875. The story centers around the Salamander Saloon where acrobat Dooley Delaware performs. · Paladin, Hey Boy, Irene Stanford / Reina, Dooley Delaware, Marquette, Bolo, Barkeep
Listen for: A tense confrontation between Paladin and the corrupt local boss Marquette over a dangerous wager involving a high-wire walk, with Dooley Delaware caught in the middle.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Homecoming (1959)
Paladin travels to Hammond after receiving a telegram from Will Stanhope, president of the Overland Line. Ed Stacy, wrongly imprisoned for a stage robbery years ago, has just been released after a deathbed confession from the real culprit clears his name. Stanhope fears Stacy will seek revenge and hires Paladin to prevent bloodshed, but complications arise when Stacy's angry brother Ben confronts Paladin, and Paladin discovers the townspeople have turned against Stacy on Stanhope's orders.
Hammond, a frontier town, and the Carlsen Hotel in San Francisco in 1875. The story centers on the Overland stage office and local businesses in Hammond. · Paladin, Will Stanhope, Ed Stacy, Ben Stacy, Sheriff Clyde, Miss Wong
Listen for: A tense moral conflict as Paladin navigates between a guilty man trying to buy peace and a wronged man struggling to rebuild his life while everyone in town conspires against him.
Have Gun, Will Travel: In an Evil Time (1959)
Paladin is hired to recover $50,000 stolen from a bank in Merced. Following a trail into the mountains, he discovers the legendary outlaw Pappy French, wounded with a broken leg after his horse threw him. Paladin fixes the leg and finds himself in an uneasy partnership with French, who offers him a cut of the stolen money in exchange for help reaching his destination.
San Francisco and the mountains near Merced, California, 1875 · Paladin, Pappy French, Mr. Malone, Morley, Bull
Listen for: The tense negotiation between Paladin and the wounded outlaw, and the revelation that two surviving gang members are pursuing them.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Irish Luck (1960)
Paladin is hired by an insurance company to survey freight routes through Nevada. While crossing a mountain pass, he rescues a man named O'Bannon who has fallen from his horse, learning it is St. Patrick's Day and the man's wife Katie's birthday. Months later, passing through the town of Tawana, Paladin discovers that O'Bannon is on trial for robbing a stage and killing a shotgun rider.
Nevada in 1875, spanning a mountain pass, the O'Bannon farmhouse, and the town of Tawana · Paladin, Miss Wong, O'Bannon, Katie, Judge, Sheriff
Listen for: The Irish brogue of O'Bannon, the rescue scene on the cliff, and the revelation of O'Bannon's arrest for a serious crime
Have Gun, Will Travel: Killer's Widow (1959)
Paladin is hired by a bank manager to recover $30,000 stolen by outlaw Steve Morrow before a wealthy depositor forecloses on the bank. Paladin visits Lucy Morrow, the widow of the man he killed two months earlier, hoping she knows where the stolen money is hidden.
Coloma, California, 1875. A bank, a hotel, and a cabin with a rose garden. · Paladin, E.J. Randolph, Lucy Morrow, John Griffin, Steve Morrow
Listen for: Paladin's awkward confrontation with Lucy Morrow as he tries to recover the stolen money while dealing with the guilt of having killed her husband.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Landfall (1959)
Paladin arrives at Elizabeth Mitchell's logging camp in Washington Territory after receiving her urgent telegram. He finds her struggling to keep the camp operating against the interference of a neighboring logger named Hoffman, who has hired the violent Axel Grundel to intimidate her workers. Elizabeth desperately needs Paladin's help to get her logs through and save the camp from financial ruin.
A logging camp near Palmer Junction in Washington Territory, Cascade Mountains, 1875, with flashback to San Francisco earlier in the year. · Paladin, Elizabeth Mitchell, Hoffman, Axel Grundel, Max, Jeff, Hey Boy
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into why Hoffman is blocking Elizabeth's logging operation and what stakes are involved in getting the logs to market.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Like Father (1959)
Paladin is hired by Mrs. Clell Thomas to travel to the mining town of Wairika and prove her husband's innocence in a murder charge. Upon arrival, Paladin is arrested after a brawl with the local sheriff's son and thrown into a cell with Clell Thomas himself, who is awaiting trial and wants nothing to do with Paladin's help.
Wairika, a bustling mining town in the mountains, 1875. The action moves from the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco to the jail in Wairika. · Paladin, Mrs. Clell Thomas, Miss Wong, Clell Thomas, Sheriff Jeb, Henry Thomas, Judge Baker
Listen for: Paladin's efforts to investigate the murder charge while dealing with Clell's refusal to cooperate and the hostile local sheriff who wants him out of town.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Lina Countryman (1960)
Paladin is hired by a San Francisco merchant to escort his schoolteacher daughter Lena Countryman back to the city after the sheriff warns of death threats against her. When Paladin reaches the small town of Valaya, Lena reluctantly explains that Dutch Talbot, a wanted outlaw, blames her for his son's death and is coming to kill her. As Paladin and Lena travel together, they are ambushed on the road and taken captive by Talbot's men, who bring them to a remote location where Dutch Talbot waits.
San Francisco and the small town of Valaya in 1875, a peaceful community on the banks of a river near San Pablo Bay. · Paladin, Lena Countryman, Dutch Talbot, Mr. Countryman, Alex (hotel staff), The Colonel, Sheriff
Listen for: The growing tension between Paladin and Lena as she reveals why she's been threatened, and the sudden ambush that puts both their lives in danger.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Little Guns (1960)
Paladin arrives in Preston, Arizona at the request of Mayor Jim Ellis, a former confidence man turned politician. Two feuding ranchers, Marsh Jordan and Jack Sanders, are on the brink of a gunfight over water rights, threatening to plunge the entire valley into a destructive range war that could ruin the town.
Preston, Arizona, 1875. The Carlton Hotel and a local saloon in the town of Preston. · Paladin, Jim Ellis, Mayor of Preston, Marsh Jordan, Jack Sanders, Hey Boy
Listen for: The tense confrontation between the two ranchers in the saloon, and Paladin's attempt to defuse the situation by questioning whether violence is the answer.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Love-Bird (1959)
Paladin travels to Deadwood City after receiving a letter from Holly Bannon, a woman who works as a dealer at the Red Bird Saloon. Holly has hired him for $2,000 but before she can explain her needs, a jealous man named Doss interrupts them, leading to a confrontation. Holly then confides that she fears for her life and needs Paladin's help.
Deadwood City, 1875, primarily the Red Bird Saloon and Grand Central Hotel in the mining town. · Paladin, Holly Bannon, Doss, Hey Boy, Barkeep
Listen for: The developing mystery of why Holly Bannon fears for her life and what role the jealous Doss plays in the danger she faces.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Lucky Penny (1960)
Paladin arrives at the Lucky Penny mine to investigate a gold shipment robbery that has been blamed on Charlie Hodges, the former superintendent. Charlie insists he's innocent and suspects the mine itself may be a fraud, questioning whether a rich vein was ever truly discovered by the newcomer Joe Penny.
San Francisco area, 1875. The Lucky Penny goldmine and a small hotel in the nearby town. · Paladin, Matt Penrod, Charlie Hodges, Joe Penny
Listen for: A mystery involving a supposedly newly discovered gold vein, a mine operating on a 24-hour schedule, and questions about whether the riches are real or part of an elaborate scheme.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Maggie O'Bannion (1959)
Paladin is hired by a gentleman in San Francisco to investigate why three of his ranch riders have gone missing on the open range. His investigation leads him to the remote O'Bannion ranch near the Brazos River, where he meets the ranch's owner, the refined Miss Margaret O'Bannion, and her foreman Cyrus who has just departed on a cattle drive. Stripped of his weapons and hired as kitchen help, Paladin must uncover the truth about the missing men while working undercover on the ranch.
The O'Bannion ranch near the Brazos River in Texas, 1875, and San Francisco's Carlton Hotel · Paladin, Miss Margaret O'Bannion, Cookie, Cyrus, Webster, Jake
Listen for: The contrast between Miss Margaret's refined, educated manner and the rough ranch hands; Paladin's clever deduction about his identity from a callus on his thumb; the mysterious disappearance of three ranch riders and the foreman's sudden cattle drive
Have Gun, Will Travel: Martha Nell (1960)
Paladin arrives in Greenwood to investigate the murder of a young man named Roy, who was killed in an alley after winning money at a saloon gambling table six weeks earlier. The sheriff, Clem, suspects someone local is responsible, and asks Paladin to look into the case with fresh eyes. As Paladin begins interviewing witnesses, including Roy's widow Martha Nell, he discovers that Sam, a local man who knew the couple and helped Roy get a job, has been growing close to the grieving widow.
Greenwood, a small town about 30 miles from San Francisco, 1875. The investigation centers around the town's saloon, general store, and rooming house. · Paladin, Sheriff Clem, Martha Nell, Sam, Roy (deceased), Sir Wong
Listen for: Paladin questions Martha Nell about her husband's final evening and learns that Roy was celebrating his first paycheck by gambling. Watch for clues about Sam's involvement and his increasing closeness to the widow.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Montana Vendetta (1960)
Paladin receives an urgent summons from Sid Muller in Beaver Fork, Montana and sets out through a harsh winter landscape. While climbing a snow-covered mountain, an avalanche buries him, but a mysterious hunter named Daniel Carr rescues him and nurses him back to health in an abandoned cabin. As Paladin recovers, he realizes that Carr deliberately shot a man on the mountainside, and the avalanche was triggered by that very shot.
Northern Montana in winter, a settlement near Beaver Fork, and an abandoned sheep herder's cabin in the snow-covered mountains. · Paladin, Hey Boy, Sid Muller, Daniel Carr, Old timer, Mrs. Abbott
Listen for: Paladin's growing realization of Daniel Carr's crime and the moral complexity that emerges as his rescuer reveals his guilty conscience about the murder he committed.
Have Gun, Will Travel: My Son Must Die (1960)
Paladin's fishing trip with a young boy in the California mountains is interrupted when they discover a girl being attacked by a man named Carlos who seems determined to kill her. After rescuing Marlene Carter and bringing her safely home, Paladin learns she runs a remote ranch with only an elderly Mexican woman named Toleta for company, and Carlos's violent pursuit remains a mystery.
The San Felicia and Santa Lucia Mountains of California in 1875, near a remote ranch in a heavily wooded valley. · Paladin, Hey boy, Marlene Carter, Carlos, Toleta
Listen for: The answer to why Carlos is so desperate to kill Marlene Carter, and what threat she poses that makes her life in danger.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Nataemon (1960)
A dying surgeon hires Paladin to find a young doctor he wronged ten years ago by falsely blaming him for a patient's death, ruining the doctor's career and causing him to abandon his family. Paladin's search takes him upriver into hostile Indian territory, where he survives an attack on a riverboat and must help an injured scout find safety.
San Francisco in 1875; the Missouri River in Sioux territory; a burning riverboat and the surrounding wilderness. · Paladin, Miss Wong, The dying surgeon, Benjamin Tubbs, An Indian woman
Listen for: A riverboat attack by hostile Indians using fire arrows; Paladin's escape into the water with the injured scout; the arrival of an Indian woman who speaks the Sioux language.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Nellie Watson's Boy (1960)
Johnny, the young son of Paladin's deceased friend Nellie Watson, appears at Paladin's hotel asking for help and revealing he has run away from his stepfather George. Paladin convinces Johnny to return to the ranch, believing the boy belongs with his legal guardian, and accompanies him to see the situation for himself. Upon arrival, Paladin witnesses George's harsh treatment of both the boy and animals, and must now decide what role he should play in Johnny's troubled home life.
San Francisco in 1875, then a remote ranch in the countryside. · Paladin, Johnny (Nellie Watson's boy), George (stepfather), Hey Boy (Paladin's servant)
Listen for: Paladin's philosophy about running from problems and the revelation of George's cruel nature; the tension between what Johnny claims and what Paladin observes firsthand.
Have Gun, Will Travel: No Visitors (1958)
Paladin abandons a thankless job in Nevada and encounters a desperate woman and her baby dying of typhoid fever in a remote wagon. When he seeks help from the town's doctor, he discovers she is a capable woman physician facing community hostility. Together they must defy the town's violent opposition to venture into the desert and attempt to save the sick family.
Nevada desert and a small town, 1875 · Paladin, Cleo, The Woman in the Wagon, Her Baby, Dr. Phyllis Zachary, Jeremiah Mulroney, Mr. Davis, Mr. Tiford
Listen for: A baby's cry across the desert stillness; the townspeople's fearful ultimatum; Paladin's growing respect for Dr. Zachary's determination despite community prejudice.
Have Gun, Will Travel: North Fork (1959)
Paladin receives an urgent message summoning him to North Fork, where a community of religious settlers called the Men of Knights faces mounting trouble. When he arrives, he finds tension between the settlers and locals like Judd Pope, who resents their presence, especially after one of their own, Tildy, left her former life to join them. The settlers' fields have been burned and their land is threatened.
San Francisco in 1875 and the town of North Fork · Paladin, Hey Boy, Miss Wong, Mr. Chang, T. Buchanan, Tildy, Judd Pope, Mr. Bruckner
Listen for: A confrontation in a store between Judd Pope and the settlers, and Paladin's assessment of the troubles facing the religious community at North Fork.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Oil (1960)
Young F. Milton Gardiner seeks Paladin's help to negotiate the purchase of oil-producing property in Reward, California, offering him a royalty share. Paladin agrees on condition that Gardiner take his advice and not promise royalties to others. Upon arriving in Reward, they meet the suspicious Claude Spicer and his associate Doc Belldon, who claim another buyer is already interested in the land.
San Francisco in 1875 and the town of Reward in California's Joaquin Valley, during an oil boom. · Paladin, F. Milton Gardiner, Claude Spicer, Doc Belldon, Tom Watson, Murphy
Listen for: Paladin's investigation of Claude Spicer's suspicious dealings and whether the oil property is genuine or a swindle.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Out of Evil (1959)
Paladin travels to Carson City to investigate the theft of $10,000 in gold from Roy Tarpley's mansion. Tarpley insists that Johnny Yeager, a young hired hand who was recently fired, stole the money and disappeared. However, Tarpley's daughter Elaine reveals she knows Johnny's whereabouts and claims he is innocent.
Carson City and the Washoe Mountains near Carson City, Nevada, 1875. The Tarpley mansion in the mountains and the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco. · Paladin, Roy Tarpley, Mrs. Tarpley, Elaine Tarpley, Johnny Yeager, Hey Boy
Listen for: A young woman's desperate plea to help the man she loves and plans to marry, and questions about whether the obvious suspect is truly guilty of the theft.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Pat Murphy (1960)
Paladin helps a desperate woman get her sick baby to a doctor in Cotton Willow, Arizona, only to discover the physician has been arrested by a bounty hunter named Leo Grange on an old murder warrant from Missouri. Paladin must confront Grange and decide whether the child's life or the law takes priority.
Arizona Territory, 1875 - a remote ranch, the town of Cotton Willow, and the desert between them · Paladin, Elizabeth Higgins, Hey Boy, Dr. Murphy, Leo Grange, The Sheriff
Listen for: The tension between justice and compassion as Paladin faces off against the ruthless bounty hunter, and the ethical dilemma of whether an old debt to society outweighs a child's immediate need for medical care.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Prunella's Fella (1960)
Paladin accepts a job from wealthy silver miner Mr. Denton to help him find a hidden valley in Arizona rumored to contain rich ore deposits. During a violent storm, Paladin and Denton take shelter in a cabin where they discover a young woman named Prunella who has been thrown from her horse. After nursing her back to health, they offer to escort her home through the treacherous canyon country.
San Francisco and Arizona Territory, 1875. The Carlton Hotel, a line cabin during a storm, and a hidden valley in a deep canyon. · Paladin, Mr. Denton, Prunella Hartsook, Hey Boy
Listen for: A stranger seeking Paladin's help for a dangerous expedition into Apache country; a mysterious young woman rescued from a storm; the beginning of a journey into hidden territory.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Ranse Carnival (1959)
Paladin is hired to transport a third payroll shipment from a bank in Yuba City to Jack Regan's ranch near Oroville, California. While traveling with Luke Williams, the foreman, the two men are ambushed by Rance Carnival, an escaped convict and former associate of Williams who has his own deadly reasons for stopping them.
California, 1875: San Francisco's Carlton Hotel, Yuba City, and the road to Oroville ranch · Paladin, Miss Wong, Jack Regan, Luke Williams, Rance Carnival
Listen for: A tense confrontation in the wilderness between Paladin and an escaped outlaw seeking revenge, with payroll money at stake and a shocking betrayal revealed.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Return Engagement (1960)
Paladin travels to Tucson after receiving a message from a man named Todd Griffin. At a cantina, he encounters Curly, an old acquaintance who has just been released from six years in territorial prison. Griffin hires Paladin to protect him from McLean, a young man who was imprisoned and recently released, having made a threat six years ago to kill Griffin on sight. Paladin agrees to take the job, though Griffin refuses to explain why McLean made this threat.
Tucson, Arizona, 1875. Cantinas, corrals, and the town streets. · Paladin, Todd Griffin, Curly, McLean
Listen for: The mystery of what really happened between Griffin and McLean six years ago, and whether Curly's release from prison and his presence in Tucson are connected to this threat.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Road to Wickenburg (1958)
Paladin arrives in the town of Blue Bell and is drugged by a scheming woman named Sue Tyler working with the local Goodfellow family. When he wakes, he discovers he's been robbed of his money, gun, and horse. Realizing the Goodfellows control the town and the corrupt sheriff won't help, Paladin confronts the family directly with a dangerous ultimatum.
The town of Blue Bell in 1875, including a saloon, sheriff's office, and the surrounding area. Paladin is heading toward Wickenburg. · Paladin, Sue Tyler, Saul Goodfellow, Jack Goodfellow, Sheriff, Jim Goodfellow, Ed Goodfellow, Hey Boy
Listen for: The opening threat where Paladin warns he has one bullet left and will kill the first person who speaks; the revelation of the Goodfellow family's control over the town; Paladin's confrontation with the family about his stolen belongings.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Roped (1959)
Paladin is riding back to San Francisco when he becomes lost in the coastal valley and stumbles upon a remote cabin. The desperate owner, Dirk, mistakes him for a hired gun sent by a rival rancher and strikes him down. Now Paladin must navigate a dangerous situation where his hosts believe he's a threat to their horse-stealing operation.
A remote cabin in the coastal valley near Salinas, California, 1875. The cabin belongs to Dirk, a man engaged in horse stealing who lives with his wife Agnes. · Paladin, Dirk, Agnes, Miss Wong
Listen for: Paladin's card identifying him as a hired gun, the misunderstanding about his true purpose, and the tense confrontation when Dirk realizes he may have made a terrible mistake.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Sam Crow (1960)
Paladin receives an urgent telegram from his old friend Skitter Hickshaw claiming that someone is going to murder his friend Sam Crow. Paladin rides four days to the small town of Hamburg, Oregon, only to discover that Sam Crow is actually a bird—a talking raven that Skitter found injured and nursed back to health. A committee of women, led by the stern Mrs. Pennybrook, has formed to shoot the bird because it has learned to call Mrs. Pennybrook by an insulting name that Skitter taught it.
Hamburg, a small town near Oregon, in 1875. The story begins at Paladin's headquarters at the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, then moves to Skitter's house and Mrs. Pennybrook's home. · Paladin, Skitter Hickshaw, Sam Crow (a raven), Mrs. Pennybrook, Winifred
Listen for: The humorous reversal when Paladin discovers his dangerous mission involves saving a talking bird from an angry women's committee. The tension between Skitter's affection for Sam and the town women's legitimate grievances about the bird's behavior.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Search for Wylie Dawson (1960)
Paladin travels to El Paso to meet with his old friend Mel McCleary, a lawyer who has been burdened by guilt. Years ago, McCleary prosecuted a man named Wiley Dawson for a Wells Fargo holdup and murder, but Dawson has recently been exonerated when another man confessed to the crime. McCleary asks Paladin to find the fugitive Dawson, who has been living as a hunted man for years, so that McCleary can try to make amends. Paladin's search leads him south across the border to a small Mexican town where he begins to track down clues about Dawson's whereabouts.
El Paso, Texas and a small Mexican town across the Rio Grande, 1875 · Paladin, Hey Boy, Hop Sing, Mel McCleary, Wiley Dawson, Maria, Estévan
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into the whereabouts of an innocent man wrongly imprisoned, and his efforts to help an old friend make amends for a legal injustice
Have Gun, Will Travel: Sense of Justice (1959)
Paladin arrives in the town of Arcadia to help Sheriff Grayson protect Andy, a simple-minded man accused of murdering Jim Briggs. The townspeople, led by Briggs' mother, are determined to lynch Andy before the judge arrives Wednesday, but Paladin believes Andy may be innocent and works to find proof that will convince the angry mob.
Arcadia, a small town in an ugly notch between two mountains, 1875. The action centers on the sheriff's office and jail. · Paladin, Sheriff Grayson, Andy, Julia Grayson, Mrs. Whitter Briggs, Tom Chisholm, Jim Briggs
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into the Briggs murder and his attempts to prove Andy's innocence before the lynch mob arrives at three o'clock.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Shanghai Is a Verb (1960)
Paladin's young servant Hey Boy disappears after a quarrel with Miss Wong, who works at the Carlton Hotel. Concerned for the boy's safety, Paladin searches Chinatown, consulting the powerful Chung Wu who directs him toward the Barbary Coast. With the help of Harry the hack, Paladin begins combing the rough waterfront district to find the troubled youth.
San Francisco, 1875. The Carlton Hotel, Chinatown, and the Barbary Coast waterfront district. · Paladin, Hey Boy, Miss Wong, Chung Wu, Harry the hack
Listen for: Paladin's careful navigation of Chinatown's power structures and his resourceful use of local connections to track down the missing boy in the dangerous Barbary Coast.
Have Gun, Will Travel: So True, Mr. Barnum (1960)
Paladin receives a letter from a man in Mexico offering to share the location of buried gold in exchange for $2,000. Recognizing it as a classic con game, Paladin agrees to guide his trusting employee Hey Boy and the members of the Celestial Dragon Society to the Arizona desert to search for the treasure, hoping the journey might somehow lead them to the swindler and recover their money.
San Francisco in 1875, and the Arizona desert near the Mexican border · Paladin, Hey Boy, Miss Wong, Bill Sweeney, Arizona Ranger, Professor Burdick
Listen for: Paladin's explanation of the treasure scam to Hey Boy, and the encounter with Arizona Ranger Bill Sweeney who reveals information about a criminal hiding across the border in Mexico
Have Gun, Will Travel: Somebody Out There Hates Me (1960)
Paladin receives a newspaper clipping containing a public death threat from Bartolot Tejada, a man he sent to prison years ago, who declares he will kill Paladin on March 14th in the town of Bedrock. Paladin travels to Bedrock to meet his would-be killer face-to-face.
San Francisco and the town of Bedrock, 1875 · Paladin, Miss Wong, Arthur Jensen, Bartolot Tejada
Listen for: A tense confrontation between Paladin and the vengeful ex-convict Tejada, who has orchestrated his arrival at the same hotel
Have Gun, Will Travel: Stardust (1959)
Paladin receives a telegram from Lola Blackwood, a former actress he knew in San Francisco, asking him to come at once. He travels to her ranch in Grass Valley and discovers she is now engaged to a man named Boon Caldwell, who makes it clear that Paladin is no longer welcome. When Paladin investigates the telegram at the local telegraph office, he learns that it was actually sent by Laurie, the young girl living with Lola, not by Lola herself.
San Francisco and the town of Grass Valley in California, 1959 · Paladin, Lola Blackwood, Laurie Gallagher, Boon Caldwell, Hey Boy, telegram clerk
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into why he was summoned to Grass Valley and what Laurie's true motives might be for sending the telegram
Have Gun, Will Travel: Stardust (1960)
Paladin receives a telegram from the famous retired actress Lola Blackwood asking for his urgent help in Grass Valley. When he arrives, he discovers that Lola did not send the telegram and is surprised to find her engaged to a man named Boone Caldwell who seems hostile to Paladin's presence. An investigation into who sent the forged telegram begins.
Grass Valley, California, at the hotel and telegraph office. Paladin travels from San Francisco. · Paladin, Lola Blackwood, Boone Caldwell, Laurie, Hotel desk clerk, Telegraph operator
Listen for: The mystery of who forged Lola's telegram and why they wanted to bring Paladin to Grass Valley, and the tension between Paladin and the possessive Boone Caldwell.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Stopover in Tombstone (1959)
Paladin arrives in Tombstone, Arizona on routine business and finds the town in chaos. After stopping a saloon brawl, he's deputized by the injured Sheriff Clay to help keep the peace. When a woman named Rosie Dugan arrives seeking help for a sick girl who came to town looking for her husband—a young prisoner named Whitey Hale—Paladin must decide whether to release him on bail.
Tombstone, Arizona in 1875; the town is crowded and chaotic with rough men; the action moves between the Alhambra Saloon, the Sheriff's office, and Rosie Dugan's place at the Crystal Palace. · Paladin, Hey Boy, Sheriff Clay, Whitey Hale, Rosie Dugan, Jim Akins
Listen for: A tense saloon confrontation where Paladin must stop an armed man from shooting, followed by Paladin's reluctant agreement to serve as deputy; later, Rosie Dugan's arrival with urgent news about a sick woman and a prisoner's fate.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Strange Vendetta (1958)
Paladin attends the opera in San Francisco where he meets Don Miguel Rojas, a distinguished Mexican visitor, and his wife Donia Maria. That same evening, Don Miguel is stabbed behind the curtain by an unseen assailant. Poisoned and dying, Don Miguel hires Paladin for $1,000 to escort his body safely back to his home in Santa Martino, fearing his enemies will desecrate it.
San Francisco, 1875. The Carlton Hotel and the opera house. · Paladin, Don Miguel Rojas, Donia Maria, Dr. Mejio
Listen for: A mysterious blood feud from Mexico, a poisoned knife blade, and the question of whether Paladin can safely deliver Don Miguel's body to its destination.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Talika (1960)
Paladin travels to Fort Bleaker in Tucson to investigate why young Lieutenant Amos Leland, the son of an old friend and grandson of a distinguished general, is threatening to resign his Army commission. Upon meeting Amos, Paladin discovers the lieutenant has stumbled upon military irregularities and has begun conducting unauthorized investigations on his own, convinced that someone is trying to kill him and determined to flee rather than face the consequences of his actions.
Tucson, Arizona and Fort Bleaker, 1875. A hotel room in Old Town Tucson. · Paladin, Colonel Amos R. Leeland, Lieutenant Amos Leland, Pedro
Listen for: A young Army officer torn between duty and conscience, convinced he has uncovered dangerous corruption but taking increasingly reckless actions to expose it. Paladin attempts to convince him to work through proper channels rather than flee into hiding.
Have Gun, Will Travel: That Was No Lady (1960)
Paladin is hired by the respectable citizens of Brackwater to shut down the Paradise Saloon and remove its proprietor, A.J. Banyan. When Paladin arrives at the saloon, he discovers that A.J. Banyan is a woman—a tough, formidable woman who runs the establishment with an iron fist and refuses to be intimidated or forced out of town.
Brackwater, a cow town south of the Dakotas, primarily in the Paradise Saloon; opens in San Francisco at the Carlton Hotel in 1875. · Paladin, Felber Fidd, A.J. Banyan, Jake
Listen for: Paladin's realization that his usual methods won't work against a female opponent, and A.J. Banyan's commanding presence and refusal to back down from the men trying to drive her out of town.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Boss (1960)
Paladin is hired by the wealthy rancher Ira Stokes to kill a man named Carl Nielsen for $3,000, but Paladin refuses the job. Arriving in the town of Alder Bend, Colorado, Paladin witnesses Stokes's brutal dominance over people and animals alike, and discovers that Nielsen is a local attorney standing up to Stokes's tyranny.
Alder Bend, Colorado, 1875. The Stokes ranch and the main street of town. · Paladin, Ira Stokes, Carl Nielsen, Leah Stokes, Hey Boy
Listen for: Paladin's refusal to become a hired killer despite mounting financial incentives, and his sympathy for the one man in town who refuses to bow to Stokes's domination.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Colonel and the Lady (1959)
Paladin is hired by Colonel Lathrop, a man writing a history of the Old West, to locate a woman named Gloria Morgan who was once a prominent figure in the mining camp of Lord Star Nevada during the silver boom. As Paladin begins his investigation, he discovers that the Colonel's motivations may not be what they seem, and he learns that the Colonel's wife may be suffering because of his obsession with finding Gloria Morgan.
Sacramento, California, 1875, and the mining camp of Lord Star Nevada · Paladin, Colonel HP Lathrop, Mrs. Lathrop, Hey Boy, Indian servant girl
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into the mysterious Gloria Morgan and the revelation of the Colonel's true motives behind his search.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Dollhouse in Diamond Springs (1960)
Paladin travels to Diamond Springs to find bank robber Grant Hallack and recover stolen money, hired by bank owner Mr. Baldwin. He reconnects with an old Army acquaintance, Wake Lachten, who invites him to stay at his home and mentions that Wake's wife Lydia witnessed the robbery firsthand. When Paladin meets Lydia, she refuses to discuss the traumatic incident, and the next morning Paladin learns she has mysteriously left town on the eastbound stage, returning to Boston.
Diamond Springs and San Francisco, 1875. The story moves from the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco to the town of Diamond Springs and the Lachten home. · Paladin, Wake Lachten, Lydia Lachten, Mr. Baldwin, Grant Hallack, Hey Boy, Miss Wong
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into the bank robbery and his growing suspicion about Lydia's sudden departure and her reluctance to discuss her experience with the robber.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Englishman (1959)
English aristocrat James Brunswick arrives in Montana to claim his inheritance—a share of a ranch co-owned by his cousin Felicia Carson, a capable woman managing the property alone. Brunswick and Paladin travel to Fleetown, where Brunswick's refined manners and unfamiliarity with frontier ways make him the target of local pranks, testing whether he can adapt to his new life in the rugged West.
Fleetown, Montana Territory, 1875; a working cattle ranch in the American West. · Paladin, James Brunswick, Felicia Carson, Wadi, Angie, Harry Blackfoot
Listen for: The clash between English aristocratic gentility and rough frontier culture, as Brunswick learns that ranching demands toughness and practicality rather than refined manners.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Five Books of Owen Deaver (1959)
Paladin arrives in the quiet town of Three Winds to visit his old friend Sheriff Barry Deaver, only to discover that Barry has died and his son Owen has taken over as sheriff with strict new laws disarming all visitors and limiting alcohol sales. When Paladin encounters a gang of rough cowboys causing trouble, Owen's harsh enforcement leads to a knife fight and arrest, setting the stage for conflict between Paladin's code and Owen's rigid interpretation of law and order.
Three Winds, a small, quiet town in the American West, 1875. The sheriff's office and a local saloon. · Paladin, Owen Deaver, French, Mason, Enfield, David, Ma Deaver
Listen for: Paladin's arrival at the Carlton Hotel, the revelation of Sheriff Barry Deaver's death, Owen Deaver's strict gun control and alcohol rationing laws, the confrontation with the Enfield gang, and the knife fight that lands a prisoner in Owen's jail.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Gunsmith (1959)
Paladin arrives in a town to find an elderly German gunsmith, Hans Riker, brutally beaten by a gunfighter named Link Dobi who wants to buy a perfectly crafted gun from Riker's collection. Though Riker refuses to sell and fears Dobi's violence, Paladin decides to intervene before Riker gives in to the demands.
A frontier town, primarily in Hans Riker's gun shop, 1875 · Paladin, Hans Riker, Link Dobi, Sheriff King, Hey Boy
Listen for: A skilled gunsmith's moral struggle over a dangerous weapon and a gunfighter's pursuit of the perfect gun for deadly purposes.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Hanging Cross (1958)
Paladin arrives at the Beecher Ranch in Colorado after being summoned by rancher Matt Beecher, who claims to have recovered his son Robbie, kidnapped by Pawnee six years earlier during a tribal conflict. But Paladin discovers the boy speaks only Pawnee, may not actually be Beecher's son, and Chief Kalate arrives demanding the return of the child, setting the stage for a dangerous confrontation.
The Beecher Ranch in Colorado Territory, near a Pawnee camp, during Christmas time in 1958. · Paladin, Matt Beecher, Tater, Maude, Peter, Chief Kalate
Listen for: Paladin's efforts to determine the boy's true identity and his tense negotiations with both the stubborn rancher and the grieving Pawnee chief.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Lady (1959)
Paladin is hired by the Honorable Diana Coulter, an English woman, to guide her from San Francisco to Shiprock, Arizona, where she plans to live with her brother on his ranch. As they begin their journey through the rough Arizona territory, the proper and aristocratic Diana proves to be both demanding and resourceful, carrying a Martini Henry rifle and insisting on proper conduct from her American guide.
San Francisco in 1875, transitioning to the Arizona Territory en route to Shiprock · Paladin, Diana Coulter, Hey Boy
Listen for: The clash between English propriety and American frontier ways as Paladin and Diana navigate both their geographical journey and their cultural differences; Diana's expectations of decorum in the wilderness
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Lonely One (1960)
Paladin arrives in a small town hired by banker Melvin Jeffery to drive away Court Newman, whom Jeffery believes is courting his daughter Myra only for her money. However, Paladin discovers that Court is actually an old army acquaintance, and Myra insists that she genuinely loves Court and will not be separated from him.
A small town in the foothills, 1875, including the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, the Jeffery home, and a local saloon. · Paladin, Melvin Jeffery, Myra Jeffery, Court Newman
Listen for: Paladin's reunion with his former military colleague Court Newman and the conflict between Myra's love for Court and her father's determination to keep them apart.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Map (1960)
Paladin agrees to impersonate Jim Griffin, a discharged soldier who was part of a trio that stole $80,000 in army payroll three years ago. The money was buried and divided into three map pieces among the conspirators. Paladin must convince Griffin's girlfriend Anna that he is really Griffin, obtain his map fragment, and meet the other thieves to locate the hidden payroll.
San Francisco and surrounding towns, 1875. The Carlton Hotel, the Presidio, a farmhouse 15 miles from San Francisco, and the Blue Nose Saloon in Johnson City. · Paladin, Colonel Potter, Jim Griffin, Anna Baker, Mrs. Baker, Wiley Carson, Hey Boy, Bartender
Listen for: Paladin's dangerous masquerade as a discharged criminal and his first encounter with Wiley Carson, one of the other men involved in the theft.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Monster of Moon Ridge (1959)
Paladin arrives in Bo-town near Moon Ridge to investigate reports of a mysterious monster terrorizing the mountain. A young woman named Emily Beller has been affected by an old epidemic that left her mentally damaged, and locals claim she was carried off by something inhuman. Paladin must determine what is really happening on the mountain.
Bo-town and Moon Ridge, near Placerville, 1875. The Carlton Hotel in San Francisco at the start. · Paladin, Hey Boy, Jake Kelly, Sheriff, Emily Beller, Mr. Beller
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into local legends versus reality as he questions townspeople about the monster and visits the Beller household.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Odds (1960)
Paladin's horse breaks down in the Nebraska plains, leading him to the Buford farm where young Jim accidentally shoots him. While recovering, Paladin discusses the burden of living by the gun with Jim's father, a struggling farmer who fears his son is enchanted by the gunfighter's reputation. When Paladin and Jim drive into town, they stumble upon bank robbers making their escape.
Nebraska plains and a small town, 1875. The episode opens in San Francisco at the Carlton Hotel before moving to a remote farm and then to town. · Paladin, James Buford, Jim Buford, Colonel Van Courtney, Hey Boy
Listen for: Paladin's philosophy on guns and responsibility, the tension between Jim's youthful admiration for gunfighting and his father's desire for him to become a farmer, and the clash between rural life and frontier violence.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Outlaw (1958)
Paladin is hired by a banker named Alcorn to stop the outlaw Manfred Holt from reaching Plaserville, where Holt has escaped from jail after killing two deputies. Paladin catches up with Holt during a gunfight with the sheriff in a thicket, and discovers that Holt is trying to reach his wife's cabin to see his newborn son before facing justice.
San Francisco and the wilderness near Plaserville, during the present day of the story · Paladin, Ned Alcorn, Manfred Holt, Sheriff Jake Ludlow, Abe, Gage, Mr. Davis
Listen for: The tense showdown in the thicket as Paladin closes in on the fugitive Holt, and Holt's emotional plea to visit his newborn son
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Return of Doctor Thackeray (1959)
Paladin receives an urgent telegram from Dr. Phyllis Thackeray, a courageous physician he once knew, asking him to come to the Barton Ranch. He arrives to find her isolated and treating a smallpox patient, and she asks him to use his gun to keep the ranch hands from leaving until she can control the outbreak that could spread deadly disease across the territory.
The Barton Ranch near Stockton, California, 1875 · Paladin, Dr. Phyllis Thackeray, Tom Barton, Mr. Barton, Fred, Nate
Listen for: Paladin's reunion with Dr. Thackeray and the escalating tension as the ranch hands return early, threatening to expose the smallpox outbreak and scatter across the region
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Silver Queen (1959)
Paladin meets the charming French woman Annette Vargas at the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco. She reveals that her late friend Leddy Kane, a mining partner, left her his share of the Rimrock Mine in his will. When Vance Crawford, another mine partner, arrives and offers her only a thousand dollars for the claim, dismissing the will as worthless, Paladin must help her protect her inheritance from those who would exploit her.
San Francisco, 1875. The Carlton Hotel and its surroundings. · Paladin, Annette Vargas, Leddy Kane, Vance Crawford, Hey Boy
Listen for: A story of inheritance and deception involving a valuable silver mine, with Paladin called upon to help a foreign woman navigate American law and greed.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Statue of San Sebastian (1959)
Paladin receives a telegram from rancher Ian Crown offering a large sum of money and travels to San Sebastian, California. On the way, he encounters a young boy named Pedro who steals his wallet at a mission church. At the mission, Paladin learns that Crown owns a valuable statue of Saint Sebastian that was taken from the church and refuses to return it unless the mission pays him two thousand dollars—a sum the poor parish has struggled to collect over ten years.
San Sebastian, California, and the mission church; 1875 · Paladin, Ian Crown, Father Bartolome, Pedro, Hey Boy
Listen for: Paladin's investigation into why Crown wants to hire him and the conflict between the rancher and the mission over the stolen statue
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Teacher (1959)
Paladin arrives in a small Nevada town where schoolteacher Miss Stanton is under threat from rancher Breck, a former Quantrill raider who wants her to stop teaching the truth about Quantrill's brutal wartime conduct. With the town cowed and students withdrawn from school, Paladin decides to help the determined teacher stand her ground against intimidation and violence.
A small Nevada town, 1875, centered around a one-room schoolhouse and nearby ranch · Paladin, Miss Stanton, Mr. Breck, Morse Kaufman, Mr. Caldwell
Listen for: Paladin's argument that teachers are worth fighting for because education and truth are essential to society; his attempts to convince parents to support Miss Stanton despite Breck's threats
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Too, Too Solid Town (1960)
Paladin prepares to attend a dedication ceremony in Lawrence, Kansas, where his old cavalry unit will reunite and unveil a statue of General Ulysses Grant. While at a San Francisco saloon, he unexpectedly encounters Billy Bedlow, an old friend from West Point and the cavalry who has just been released from military prison after serving five years. When Paladin learns that Billy seems to be hunting for someone, he realizes his old friend may be in serious trouble.
San Francisco, 1875, primarily at the Carlton Hotel and a local saloon · Paladin, Miss Wong, Billy Bedlow, Barkeep, Derry
Listen for: Paladin's reflection on his past military service and the mysterious circumstances surrounding Billy Bedlow's imprisonment and apparent search for vengeance.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Wager (1959)
Paladin is hired to escort railroad man Morgan and his fiancée Stacy to Silver City, as Morgan has been threatened by a syndicate determined to buy him out. On the desert journey, Paladin spots a mysterious gunman following them and discovers he is Howard Gorman, a hired killer with a reputation. When Gorman confronts them at dinner in Rough and Ready, a fight erupts and Paladin is forced to kill him—but Paladin remains puzzled about why Gorman was really after Morgan.
1875 San Francisco and the desert trail to Silver City, including a stop in Rough and Ready. · Paladin, Mr. Morgan, Stacy Neal, Howard Gorman, Danbury
Listen for: Paladin's growing confusion about Gorman's true motives and why the hired killer seemed so eager to die in their confrontation.
Have Gun, Will Travel: The Warrant (1960)
Paladin is confronted in his San Francisco hotel room by bounty hunter Chig Simpson, who presents a wanted poster offering $500 for Paladin's capture, dead or alive. Paladin insists the poster is fake and explains he killed a man in self-defense in Hogan four weeks ago when the young man forced him to draw. Simpson reveals that the dead man was Sheriff Walker's son, which explains the warrant. Despite Paladin's warnings that Sheriff Walker wants him alive and Simpson will never collect the reward if he kills him, Simpson remains determined to take Paladin to Hogan.
San Francisco, 1875. Paladin's room at the Carlton Hotel and the surrounding area as Simpson takes him to Hogan. · Paladin, Hey Boy, Chig Simpson, Sheriff Walker
Listen for: The escalating tension between Paladin and Simpson as Paladin tries to convince the bounty hunter that the poster is fraudulent and that killing him will prevent Simpson from collecting his reward.
Have Gun, Will Travel: They Told Me You Were Dead (1960)
Paladin receives word that Ellen Stonham, a woman he loved and believed dead for twelve years, is alive and needs his help in Dakota territory. He travels to a remote schoolhouse to find her now married to Mr. Carson with a son who has been taken by Indians. Paladin agrees to rescue the boy despite the complications and dangers involved.
San Francisco in 1875 and Dakota territory near Fort Rinaldi, including a schoolhouse and reservation lands · Paladin, Ellen Stonham/Mrs. Carson, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Carson, Red Cloud, Jimmy (Ellen's son)
Listen for: Paladin's reunion with Ellen after twelve years and his discovery of her marriage and missing son; the tension between his past love and present circumstances
Have Gun, Will Travel: Three Bells to Perdido (1959)
Paladin is hired by Jesse Reed to bring back Dave Enderby, an outlaw who shot Reed and ambushed his men when Reed tried to rescue his daughter from Enderby in the Mexican outlaw town of Perdido. Paladin travels to Perdido, where the town's custom is to ring bells when strangers arrive or leave, and confronts Enderby in the local cantina.
Perdido, an outlaw town in Mexico, and San Francisco in 1875 · Paladin, Jesse Reed, Hey Boy, Dave Enderby, Señor O'Brien, the Alcalde
Listen for: Paladin's first encounter with Enderby in the cantina, where knife-throwing and gunplay establish the danger of the task ahead
Have Gun, Will Travel: Treasure Hunt (1959)
Young John Meriwether arrives in San Francisco as a stowaway, seeking Paladin's help to find his late father's buried treasure using a map that arrived in the mail. When someone breaks into John's hotel room and attacks him while searching for the map, Paladin agrees to protect the boy and help him locate the lighthouse saloon in Sacramento, where the map's mysterious return address originated.
San Francisco, 1875. Paladin's room at the Carlton Hotel. · Paladin, John Meriwether, Miss Wong, Hay Boy
Listen for: A young runaway's desperate quest to prove his absent father was not a failure, and the mysterious intrusion that suggests others are after the same treasure map.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Viva (part 1) (1960)
Paladin is hired by Father O'Toole to retrieve an organ sent from France as a gift for a small mission church on the Rio Grande. The Bishop is visiting for the first time in eight years, and the organ is meant to impress him. Paladin and Tohono, an Indian boy raised by the priest, travel to the Mexican port of Matamoros to collect the organ and bring it back through territory torn by revolution.
San Francisco in 1875 and the Rio Grande border region of Mexico, including the port of Matamoros. · Paladin, Father O'Toole, Tohono, Miss Wong, Bagshaw
Listen for: Paladin navigates Mexican bureaucracy and customs red tape to secure the organ crate for delivery to the mission.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Way for the Delta Queen (1960)
Paladin is hired by Colonel Tulliver to serve as bodyguard for the Delta Queen, a Mississippi riverboat racing against the Stonewall Jackson to St. Louis. Before the race even begins, someone sabotages the Queen's rudder cable, and Paladin must discover who aboard the boat is trying to ensure their defeat.
San Francisco and the Mississippi River aboard the Delta Queen riverboat, 1875 · Paladin, Colonel Tulliver, Captain, Boy
Listen for: A mysterious saboteur tries to prevent the Delta Queen from winning her race, and Paladin begins investigating among the passengers and crew.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Wedding Day (1959)
Paladin travels to Ashton, Kansas for the wedding of Judge Lindsey's daughter Susan, an old friend from his past. Upon arrival, he discovers that Susan is marrying Tom Cameron, a newcomer to the area, rather than David Brinker, the local man who grew up with her and clearly still harbors feelings for her. As the wedding celebration unfolds, tensions simmer beneath the festive surface.
Ashton, Kansas and the Lindsey ranch, 1875. The story begins at the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco before moving to the wedding celebration. · Paladin, Susan Lindsey, Judge Aaron Lindsey, David Brinker, Tom Cameron, Hey Boy
Listen for: The reveal of why David Brinker is leaving town despite his obvious love for Susan, and what complications might arise from the wedding celebration as the evening progresses and a traditional custom is suggested.
Have Gun, Will Travel: When in Rome (1959)
Paladin escorts an elderly Ohio couple, Mr. and Mrs. Temple, to their daughter's ranch near San Jose after they arrive at the Carlton Hotel waiting for their son-in-law who never appears. During the stagecoach journey, a notorious bandit known as the Professor stages a holdup at Midway Station, and when Mr. Temple attempts to resist, he is shot. Paladin must now deal with the aftermath of violence and the Temples' conflicting feelings about his methods.
San Francisco to San Jose, 1875, including the Carlton Hotel and Midway Station stagecoach stop · Paladin, Mrs. Temple, Mr. Temple, The Professor, Emma Jean, Stage driver, Station keeper
Listen for: The Professor's polite manner contrasting with his ruthlessness as a bandit; Paladin's confrontation with Mrs. Temple over whether his use of force actually helped or made things worse; the tension between civilized city manners and frontier violence
Have Gun, Will Travel: Winchester Quarantine (1959)
Paladin travels to a remote ranch owned by Joe Whitehorse, an educated Indian facing severe troubles. Whitehorse's cattle are mysteriously dying, and his powerful neighbor McNally forbids any animal to leave McNally's land, threatening to shoot any horse that crosses the boundary. Paladin must discover what is causing the cattle plague and find a way to help Whitehorse navigate the dangerous situation.
A remote ranch in the West near the town of Brotherton, 1875 · Paladin, Joe Whitehorse, McNally, Pee-vee, Mrs. Whitehorse, the bartender
Listen for: The cause of the cattle sickness and whether Paladin can help Whitehorse overcome McNally's tyranny and the prejudice he faces from the townspeople.
Have Gun, Will Travel: Young Gun (1959)
Paladin is hired by a desperate rancher facing a severe drought to help protect his water supply. When a young gunman named Calvert arrives in town and kills the rancher's hand, Paladin discovers the rancher expects him to act as an executioner rather than solve the real problem threatening the ranch.
The town of Benedict and the Wellman Ranch in the drought-stricken West · Paladin, Mr. Wellman, Jeff, Casey, Calvert, Barney the bartender
Listen for: The opening scene between Paladin and a man discussing brandy and water, followed by the tense gunfight in Benedict's dusty street, and Paladin's realization that his client has misunderstood what services he provides.
Frontier Gentleman: 40 episode guides
Frontier Gentleman: A Horse For Kendall (1958)
Frontier Gentleman Kendall arrives in Deadwood needing a horse for his travels and seeks advice from a local named Squatty Reynolds. Reynolds directs him to horse trader Woolah Simmons, who sells Kendall a sturdy long-distance horse for forty dollars on a week's trial. When Fitch Talman and his associates mock the purchase, the proud Simmons makes a large bet that Kendall's horse can outperform any horse in Deadwood in an endurance race from Deadwood to Cheyenne.
Deadwood, in the American West, at Woolah Simmons' stable and saloon · Kendall, Squatty Reynolds, Woolah Simmons, Fitch Talman, Bill Talman
Listen for: The colorful dialect of frontier horse traders as they negotiate the sale of an unlikely champion horse, and the growing tension as an ambitious bet is made that could cost Simmons everything.
Frontier Gentleman: Aces And Eights (1958)
An English correspondent for the London Times arrives in Deadwood seeking stories about the West. He meets various colorful characters including Calamity Jane, Jack McCall, and learns about Wild Bill Hickok, who may become the new marshal despite local opposition and dangerous enemies.
Deadwood, Dakota Territory - a thriving frontier town with a general store, saloons, and mining operations in the surrounding hills · JB Kendall, Judd Scott, Jack McCall, Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, Tim Brady
Listen for: The English correspondent's observations of frontier characters and conflicts, discussions of Wild Bill Hickok's reputation and potential new role as marshal, and tensions between those who support and oppose him
Frontier Gentleman: Advice To The Lovelorn (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a frontier gentleman, meets Tom Hart on a stagecoach heading to Cheyenne. Hart is eager to reunite with his fiancée Carrie Hudson, whom he hasn't seen in a year. When they arrive at the Blue Star Cafe where Carrie works, they find the owner Charlie Banister wounded and the cafe closed following a shooting. Charlie reveals that Carrie has married Jack Feeney, a gambling saloon owner, and Hart learns the difficult truth just as he prepares to confront them.
Cheyenne, Wyoming, primarily at the Blue Star Cafe and Holloman's Saloon · J.B. Kendall, Tom Hart, Carrie Hudson, Charlie Banister, Jack Feeney
Listen for: The tension builds as Hart discovers his fiancée has married another man while he was away, and he heads to the saloon seeking answers despite warnings about his volatile temper.
Frontier Gentleman: Belle Siddons Strikes Back (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a frontier gentleman and correspondent, joins Marshal Boone May on an armed stage coach carrying fifty thousand dollars in gold through Dakota Territory. They expect to be ambushed by robbers, but the situation becomes complicated by the involvement of Belle Siddons, a clever and mysterious woman who runs a gambling establishment in Deadwood.
Deadwood and the stage route to Rapid City, Dakota Territory, 1958 · J.B. Kendall, Belle Siddons, Boone May, Archie McLaughlin, Kettley
Listen for: The tension builds as the heavily armed coach sets out on its perilous journey, with hints that Belle Siddons may be connected to the planned robbery in unexpected ways.
Frontier Gentleman: Belle Siddons' Encore (1958)
A newspaper correspondent named Kendall reunites with a woman known as Madame Verde, who has opened a gambling establishment in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. As she prepares for her first night of business, a local man named Mr. May arrives with offers of protection, raising questions about whether her true identity might already be known in town.
Deadwood, Dakota Territory; a gambling tent on Main Street in the badlands district · Kendall, Belle Siddons (Madame Verde), Mr. May, Archie McLaughlin
Listen for: Kendall and Belle's reunion and their discussion of her new gambling business; Mr. May's visit and his mysterious interest in protecting Belle; hints about her past identity and whether it will be discovered.
Frontier Gentleman: Charlie Meeker (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a London Times correspondent in Rosebud territory, hears rumors of a Sioux uprising led by Chief Sitting Bull. He seeks out Charlie Meeker, a local writer, and expresses his desire to interview the chief himself. Though dangerous, Meeker helps Kendall arrange a meeting with Johnny DeShel, a half-breed scout and interpreter, who agrees to guide them to Sitting Bull's camp for a fee.
Rosebud, a frontier town in Montana territory, during a period of tension between settlers and the Sioux Indians. · J.B. Kendall, Charlie Meeker, Jackson Beeson, Dolly, Johnny DeShel
Listen for: Kendall's determination to get his story despite the dangers of approaching a war-ready Sioux camp, and the mysterious character of Johnny DeShel, whose loyalties seem uncertain.
Frontier Gentleman: Daddy Buckbucks (1958)
In Cheyenne, a correspondent for the London Times meets Kerry Chase, editor of the Daily Press, who introduces him to Buck Wharton, the richest man in the West. Wharton, a rough and boisterous cattle baron, takes a liking to the Englishman and invites him to ride his private train with him and his young wife Minnie to conduct some business at a nearby location.
Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory in the 1870s, including the Cheyenne Club and the railroad station. · J.B. Kendall, Kerry Chase, Buck Wharton, Minnie Wharton, Jasper
Listen for: The colorful and profane personality of Buck Wharton, the wealthy cattle baron who claims to be able to buy and sell anyone; his relationship with his much younger wife Minnie, a former dancer; and Kendall's observations of frontier wealth and character.
Frontier Gentleman: Gentle Virtue (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a newspaper correspondent from London, arrives in Deer Lodge, Montana Territory, where he meets prospector Billy Moore. Billy introduces Kendall to poker at the Deadbroke Bar, where a game develops among Billy, Turkey Johnson, Neil Daggers, the taciturn Mr. You, and Kendall himself. As the evening progresses, Turkey Johnson begins winning significantly, but Kendall finds himself with a strong hand and enters into a high-stakes pot.
Deer Lodge, Montana Territory, at the Deadbroke Bar · J.B. Kendall, Billy Moore, Turkey Johnson, Neil Daggers, Mr. You
Listen for: The escalating poker game and the mounting tensions among the players as stakes rise
Frontier Gentleman: Gold Digger (1958)
A traveling writer named J.B. Kendall shares a meal with two prospectors, Frank Twist and Charlie Longbaugh, in the Black Hills near Deadwood. Frank is lovesick over a girl named Mary at the Green Front saloon, while Charlie warns that she only cares about Frank's money. When Frank discovers an enormous nugget of pure gold while venting his frustration at a creek, the three men believe they have struck it rich—but questions immediately arise about whether the gold actually lies within their claim.
A mining camp and creek in the Black Hills of Dakota Territory near Deadwood, 1958 · J.B. Kendall, Frank Twist, Charlie Longbaugh, Mary
Listen for: The discovery of the gold nugget and the growing uncertainty about whether it's on their property; Frank's emotional attachment to Mary and Charlie's cynical view of her intentions
Frontier Gentleman: Holiday (1958)
A newspaper correspondent from the London Times arrives in Missouri to investigate a dying man who has been left at the sheriff's office with a note claiming he is the notorious outlaw Cole Williams. The man, known locally as Bill Adams, refuses to confirm his identity, and the correspondent must navigate around the protective sheriff to uncover the truth before the man dies.
Batesville, Missouri, at a hotel serving as a gathering place for officials investigating the identity of a dying man. · The Correspondent (Kendall), Sheriff, Bill Adams (possibly Cole Williams), Mr. Bandy, A Woman whose husband was killed by Williams, Army Officers, Doctor
Listen for: The correspondent's investigation unfolds as he interviews townspeople and officials; Bandy's colorful personality and drinking habits provide moments of humor as he agrees to help gather witnesses for the correspondent's story.
Frontier Gentleman: Indian Lover (1958)
A newspaper correspondent in Deadwood learns that Crow Dog, a Sioux policeman sentenced to hang for killing Chief Spotted Tail, may have had a hidden motive rooted in tribal revenge. Crow Dog's attorney urges the correspondent to use his newspaper influence to help save his client's life, but Crow Dog himself seems resigned to his fate.
Deadwood, Dakota Territory, 1958; includes an attorney's office and a jail cell · JB Kendall, Harry Clum, Crow Dog, Spotted Tail, Crazy Horse
Listen for: The tension between white man's justice and Sioux custom; Crow Dog's stoic acceptance of his execution; questions about whether revenge within the tribe justifies his act in his own eyes
Frontier Gentleman: Justice Of The Peace (1958)
In Wyoming territory, J.B. Kendall, a correspondent for the London Times, travels to Dry Creek to write about Amy Robinson, one of the first women to serve as a justice of the peace in America. When a Rapaho Indian named Jack Red Dog is arrested for murder, the townspeople, led by Big Nose George and Tipp Butler, threaten to lynch him before his trial can take place. Mrs. Robinson must fight to uphold the law and ensure Red Dog receives a fair hearing despite the hostile resistance of the community.
Dry Creek, a mining settlement in the South Pass district of Wyoming territory, 1858 · J.B. Kendall, Amy Robinson, Sheriff Harry Gody, Jack Red Dog, Big Nose George Haney, Tipp Butler
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Mrs. Robinson and the lynch mob, her bold defiance as she fines Tipp Butler for contempt of court, and the dramatic decision to move the prisoner to Rock Springs to ensure his safety and the promise of justice.
Frontier Gentleman: Kendall's Last Stand (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a frontier gentleman, is sent by the military to rescue civilians stranded at Castle Butte while the Army pursues the Sioux. Leading a small party including Lieutenant Snow and a Crow scout named Six Toes, Kendall rides toward the settlement and discovers a raiding party has attacked the cabin where the civilians are sheltering.
Montana territory near Castle Butte, Rosebud Creek, during the Indian Wars era when Colonel Custer is pursuing the Sioux · J.B. Kendall, Lieutenant Snow, Sergeant Wilson, Six Toes, Colonel Custer, Captain Thomas, Captain Tannen
Listen for: The tense rescue mission unfolds as Kendall's small military party races to reach trapped civilians before a Sioux raiding party returns to finish what it started.
Frontier Gentleman: Mighty Mouse (1958)
J.B. Kendall, an English newspaper correspondent, is traveling by stagecoach near Laramie, Wyoming when six armed bandits stop the coach and rob the passengers. One of the outlaws is shot dead by a fellow passenger, and Sheriff Arthur Harper promises Kendall that the stolen valuables—including five thousand dollars in gold and twenty dollars from Kendall's wallet—will be recovered by nightfall.
A stagecoach on the road west of Laramie, Wyoming Territory, and the sheriff's office in Laramie. · J.B. Kendall, Sheriff Arthur Harper, Clem, Harper's deputy, The stage driver, Judge (fellow passenger), Mr. Barnaby, Six bandits, one killed
Listen for: The tension of the stagecoach robbery, the mysterious death of the bandit leader, and the sheriff's confident promises to recover the stolen goods and clean up the territory.
Frontier Gentleman: Mighty Tired (1958)
J.B. Kendall and fellow miner Thaddeus Clark board a train to Cheyenne, both having been robbed by the Jesse James gang outside Laramie. When they spot two gang members, CD and Billy, sneaking onto the train, Clark and Kendall decide to turn the tables and recover their stolen gold.
A train departing from a Wyoming station, heading toward Cheyenne in 1958. · J.B. Kendall, Thaddeus Clark, CD, Billy, Jesse James, the conductor
Listen for: The tense confrontation as Kendall and Clark sneak up on the outlaws with guns drawn, demanding their stolen gold back.
Frontier Gentleman: Nasty People (1958)
Traveling through Kansas in heavy rain, J.B. Kendall seeks shelter at a remote trading post run by the Grover family. A stranger warns him that dark and peculiar things happen at this house, and that people have gone missing here, but Kendall decides to stay the night anyway.
A remote trading post and store in Kansas, between Independence and Osage Mission, during a rainstorm · J.B. Kendall, Albert Grover, William Grover, Sally Grover, Mrs. Grover, A stranger
Listen for: The mysterious warnings about the Grover family and the strange atmosphere at their house; the cryptic questions about spirits and the dead; the odd behavior of Mrs. Grover and Sally
Frontier Gentleman: Nebraska Jack (1958)
A frontier gentleman encounters Nebraska Jack, a legendary weathered old scout and trader who has settled in Wyoming with his large family. Jack recounts his colorful past as a guide, prospector, and fighter, and explains how he came to live with multiple wives in his imposing riverside blockhouse.
Wyoming territory, along a river trail near Nebraska Jack's three-story blockhouse home · The Frontier Gentleman, Nebraska Jack, Ollimanigan, Mary, Nebraska Jack's wives and children
Listen for: Nebraska Jack's tall tales of his adventures as a scout, trader, and fighter, and his unconventional family arrangement in the remote frontier
Frontier Gentleman: Powder River Kid (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a frontier gentleman traveling through Montana territory with an old prospector named Scales and his sleeping brother Paul, encounters three riders. One of them, a wounded man named Bill, is suffering from a gangrenous gunshot wound and refuses to seek proper medical help. Kendall recognizes the danger of the man's condition, but Scales makes a shocking discovery about the stranger's true identity.
Montana territory and the road to Fort Benton, Montana, during the 1950s era of the Old West · J.B. Kendall, Scales, Paul Scales, Bill Logan, Jack, Bill's wife
Listen for: Kendall's conversation with old Scales about frontier life, the arrival of the three mysterious riders, and Scales' revelation about the wounded man's identity as a notorious outlaw
Frontier Gentleman: Preacher (1958)
In Deadwood, Dakota Territory, JB Kendall encounters a desperate man named Thomas Yorby at the gunsmith's shop who is fleeing from a vengeful pursuer determined to kill him. When the gunman confronts Yorby outside the shop, Kendall intervenes to prevent an unarmed man from being shot, driving the attacker away temporarily. Yorby reveals he is exhausted by years of running from this threat and sees no escape from his fate.
Deadwood, Dakota Territory, at a gunsmith's shop and surrounding streets, winter approaching · JB Kendall, Thomas Yorby, Josiah Mallet, the gunman
Listen for: A tense confrontation between a desperate fugitive and his pursuer, with Kendall's intervention raising questions about Yorby's mysterious past and what he has done to earn such relentless vengeance.
Frontier Gentleman: Rainmaker (1958)
In drought-stricken Kansas, a traveling rainmaker named Darby Bowman arrives in town with a bold guarantee: he'll bring rain for $1,000. He hires a visiting journalist named Kendall as his assistant and puts up a sign advertising his services. When Bowman takes to the streets making his pitch, he faces skepticism from both the locals and the sheriff, but he offers a challenge—give him 24 hours or the town pays nothing.
The town of Ossivatme in Eastern Kansas during a severe three-month drought. · Slim Kendall (the journalist narrator), Darby Bowman (the rainmaker), Sheriff Finnick, Stanja (a local farmer)
Listen for: Darby Bowman's confident sales pitch and the tension between his outrageous claims and the town's desperation for rain. The clash with Sheriff Finnick sets up the central conflict of whether Bowman will be run out of town or prove his abilities.
Frontier Gentleman: Random Notes (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a frontier gentleman writing his final report before returning to England, recalls various incidents from his travels through the American West. He shares random notes of colorful characters and events encountered during his months journeying through Montana, Fort Benton, Kansas, and other territories. These memories range from patent medicine salesmen and frontier duels to eccentric miners and amateur theatrical performances.
The American West during the frontier era, including Helena Montana, Fort Benton, Kansas, and various locations across the territories; the framing device is a train journey to New York. · J.B. Kendall, Shorthorn Tom, Mattie Silks, Katie Fulton, Court Thompson, Othello, Casio
Listen for: Colorful frontier dialogue and vernacular, including Shorthorn Tom's explanation of Western expressions and frontier speech patterns; the botched performance of Shakespeare's Othello with a Texas cowhand; and accounts of unusual frontier incidents like a duel between two women.
Frontier Gentleman: Remittance Man (Ben Wright Audition) (1958)
J.B. Kendall, an English writer for the London Times, arrives in the Montana town of South Sunday hoping to collect a remittance from England and observe frontier life. He finds the town governed by an unusual law: no one except the sheriff can carry guns. Kendall registers with Sheriff Clanton and settles into the Empire Hotel, where he meets Lila, a widow working at the saloon, who warns him about the tensions between the sheriff's authority and men like Deputy Farley who resent his control.
South Sunday, Montana Territory, a frontier town with a strict no-guns law enforced by the sheriff. · J.B. Kendall, Sheriff Frank Clanton, Deputy Jake Farley, Lila, the express office clerk
Listen for: The growing conflict between Sheriff Clanton's gun prohibition and the men of the town who chafe under his strict authority, and Kendall's complicated background that prevents him from returning to England.
Frontier Gentleman: Remittance Man (John Dehner Audition) (1958)
J.B. Kendall, an English writer for the London Times, arrives in South Sunday, Montana Territory to observe frontier life. The town operates under an unusual law forbidding anyone from carrying guns, enforced strictly by Sheriff Clanton. Kendall registers as required and settles in, intrigued by the town's strict order and the brewing tensions with nearby Sioux and Cheyenne tribes.
South Sunday, Montana Territory in the 1880s frontier era, including the dock, sheriff's office, and a local establishment. · J.B. Kendall, Sheriff Frank Clanton, Deputy Jake Farley, Lila, Harry the bartender
Listen for: Kendall's observations about the unusual gun ban and its effects on frontier justice; the mysterious dynamics between Sheriff Clanton and the townspeople; Lila's cryptic warnings and her relationships with the men in town.
Frontier Gentleman: School Days (1958)
J.B. Kendall arrives in Rotten Head Gulch on voting day and discovers the town is casting ballots to keep their school teacher, Miss Jones, rather than have her reassigned to the rival town of Goose Creek. The miners have enlisted Kendall as an emergency voter to help them outnumber Goose Creek's ballot count, but Miss Jones arrives and demands an honest election.
Rotten Head Gulch, a small mining town in the West, at Dirty Charlie's Saloon and the local schoolhouse · J.B. Kendall, Miss Jones, Jim, Buck, Shorty, George
Listen for: The conflict between the miners' scheme to pad the ballot and Miss Jones's insistence on election integrity; Kendall's discovery that the schoolhouse teaches 20 grown men rather than children
Frontier Gentleman: Shelton Brothers (1958)
J.B. Kendall, an English writer, arrives in South Sunday, a Montana town with an unusual law prohibiting the carrying of guns. He registers with Sheriff Clanton and settles into the Empire Hotel, where he meets Lila, a woman working there. When Deputy Farley discovers Kendall talking with Lila over drinks, tensions rise as Farley warns him to stay away from her.
South Sunday, Montana territory, in a town with a strict no-gun law. The action takes place at the Express office, Sheriff Clanton's office, the Empire Hotel, and its saloon bar. · J.B. Kendall, Sheriff Clanton, Deputy Dick Farley, Lila, Bartender Harry, Express office clerk, Mr. Farley
Listen for: The conflict between Kendall's presence as an outsider and the town's suspicions of strangers; the tension between Farley and Kendall over Lila; and hints of trouble brewing with the Sioux and Cheyenne that Kendall hopes to witness.
Frontier Gentleman: The Actress (1958)
A correspondent for the London Times arrives in Virginia City, Montana, and is captivated by Miss Ulaia Robinson, a celebrated actress performing Shakespeare at Skinner's saloon. After her performance, Kendall manages to meet her, but her business associate Mr. Grimes proves protective and suspicious of his intentions.
Virginia City, Montana Territory, primarily at Skinner's saloon and later at a hotel · JB Kendall, Miss Ulaia Robinson, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Skinner
Listen for: The dynamic between Kendall and Robinson as they meet, and the tension created by Grimes's protective presence
Frontier Gentleman: The Belljoy's Prisoner (1958)
J.B. Kendall and fellow stagecoach passengers are detained in Shoshone by Deputy Sheriff CB Belljoy, who believes the person who robbed the Bearclaw saloon of fifty dollars escaped on their stage. Belljoy, who serves as sheriff, judge, jury, and mayor, conducts a kangaroo court to determine which passenger is guilty. When one traveler is sentenced to two years in jail, Kendall finds himself imprisoned and awaiting further developments.
Shoshone, Wyoming Territory - the Shoshone Hotel and jail · J.B. Kendall, CB Belljoy, Mr. Black, Willis, Charlie, Paul, Ben Johnson
Listen for: The absurd workings of Belljoy's one-man justice system and how Kendall and the other passengers respond to being held and tried for a crime they didn't commit.
Frontier Gentleman: The Cannibal (1958)
A stagecoach bound for Deadwood gets stranded at a way station in Chugwater, Wyoming, during a violent rainstorm. Among the passengers are J.B. Kendall, a British journalist writing about the West; Boone Thompson, a machinery salesman; and Duncan and Rose Webster. As the night progresses, tensions rise among the stranded travelers, and mysteries emerge about the other guests.
A way station for the Cheyenne and Black Hills Stage Line in Chugwater, Wyoming Territory, during a rainstorm that has blocked the mountain pass to Deadwood. · J.B. Kendall, Bob Saunders, Bill Cuttle, Boone Thompson, Duncan Webster, Rose Webster, Jack Chase
Listen for: The mounting friction between the passengers, particularly Duncan Webster's strange behavior and nervousness, and hints about Bob Saunders' secret recipe stew.
Frontier Gentleman: The Cat Man (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a correspondent for the London Times, finds himself swept up in a wild adventure when he helps an eccentric Irish cat trader named Shane Kerrigan escape from a saloon with a cargo of valuable cats. The two set off together toward Deadwood, where Kerrigan plans to sell his feline cargo to rid the town of vermin, while an angry pursuer named Dan follows close behind.
The American West in Wyoming and heading toward Deadwood, including a saloon called Dan's Bloody Bucket and an open wagon on the frontier. · J.B. Kendall, Shane Kerrigan, Dan, Margaret, The Princess (a cat)
Listen for: The spirited clash between the proper English journalist and the colorful Irish cat trader as they escape on horseback with their precious cargo of 62 cats, pursued by the vengeful Dan.
Frontier Gentleman: The Claim Jumpers (1958)
J.B. Kendall befriends a teenage runaway named Bill Richmond on the trail in Montana territory. After sharing a meal and hearing prospecting tales from three rough miners who visit their camp, Bill becomes inspired to search for gold. At dawn, Bill discovers what appears to be a rich gold vein in a nearby gulch, and the three miners eagerly offer to help him stake and register a proper claim.
Montana territory mining country, near Fort Benton, along a trail with a campsite in a sheltered spot off the main road. · J.B. Kendall, Bill Richmond, Jack Kenton, Rod Goodall, Doncy Abbott
Listen for: The three miners' tall tales about finding gold, Bill's discovery of what he believes is a gold vein in the rocky bank of a gulch, and Kendall's warnings to Bill about registering his claim and keeping the find secret from strangers.
Frontier Gentleman: The Cowboy (1958)
Kendall, a newspaper correspondent from England, meets Slim, a lean cowboy heading to Laramie. They ride together and hear gunshots from the hills, discovering a settler named Theodore Belding has been killed and his wife Clara taken captive by four Indians who burned their wagon. Slim and Kendall decide to pursue the raiders up the canyon.
The American frontier near Laramie, Wyoming, moving through hills and canyons in the late afternoon and evening. · Kendall, Slim, Theodore Belding, Clara Belding, Jack McCall
Listen for: The description of frontier life from an outsider's perspective, Slim's tracking skills and knowledge of the land, and the escalating danger as they pursue the Indian raiders.
Frontier Gentleman: The Education Of Kid Yancy (1958)
In Cheyenne, Wyoming, frontier gentleman J.B. Kendall observes a cattle drive arriving in town with twelve trail herders who have brought 2,000 animals over 1,000 miles. When the rowdy Texians hit town for celebration, Kendall becomes drawn into the story of Kid Yancy, a young drover whose stern handler Nick Kermitty has promised the boy's father to keep him away from whiskey and women. As Nick succumbs to drinking, Kendall finds himself responsible for the boy and his savings.
Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, in a barbershop and saloon · J.B. Kendall, Kid Yancy, Nick Kermitty, the barber, Millie, the newspaper man
Listen for: The clash between the rowdy behavior of Texas trail herds arriving in town and the attempts to keep young Kid Yancy on the straight and narrow path despite temptations.
Frontier Gentleman: The Gambling Lady (1958)
A mysterious woman named Madame Verde arrives in Cheyenne with a traveling gambling operation and quickly draws business away from the local saloons. J.B. Kendall, a traveling newspaperman, seeks her out for an interview and witnesses her coolly handle a drunk and violent customer, learning she was once Mrs. Newt Hallott, an army surgeon's widow who discovered her talent for cards. As Kendall leaves her establishment, local gambling hall owners meet secretly to discuss the threat she poses to their business.
Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, 1958. A large gambling tent near the railroad depot and surrounding saloons. · J.B. Kendall, Carrie Chase, Madame Verde, Jonas Luke, Mr. Lesignor
Listen for: The mysterious Madame Verde's evasive answers about her past, her cool control of a dangerous situation in the tent, and the ominous meeting of local gambling hall owners plotting against her.
Frontier Gentleman: The Honkeytonkers (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a London Times reporter, arrives at the Jug of Blood saloon in a booming frontier town just as a brawl erupts over a cheating incident at poker. When he politely refuses to leave without seeing the entertainment, he's drawn into the saloon where he meets the amiable cowpuncher Walleye Smith and the hostess Annie. His innocent acceptance of a dance with Crystal incites the jealous Wild Bill Baskin to threaten violence.
The Jug of Blood saloon in a frontier town swollen with miners and fortune-seekers, somewhere west of the Missouri on the way to Virginia City. · J.B. Kendall, Walleye Smith, Annie, Crystal, Wild Bill Baskin, Jake (saloonkeeper)
Listen for: The clash between Kendall's British civility and frontier rough behavior; the escalating tension between Kendall and the drunken Baskin; the tragic resolution when Baskin's attempt at violence turns against himself.
Frontier Gentleman: The Last Of Belle Siddons (1958)
Frontier correspondent John Kendall becomes entangled in the pursuit of outlaw McLaughlin when a woman named Belle Cydons treats an injured gang member and falls under suspicion by peace officer Boone May. Kendall must navigate his loyalty to Belle, his duty as a journalist, and the law when May pressures him for information about McLaughlin's whereabouts and the stolen gold he's hidden.
Deadwood and the surrounding frontier territories, including Little Cottonwood Creek and the trail to Cheyenne · John Kendall, Boone May, Belle Cydons, McLaughlin, Johnny Brown
Listen for: The tension between loyalty and law, Kendall's moral dilemma over protecting Belle while under suspicion, and Boone May's interrogation techniques
Frontier Gentleman: The Librarian (1958)
JB Kendall encounters a desperate woman named Almira Danworthy who has been driven from her homestead claim in Dakota Territory by a mysterious stranger. Her husband died while she was back East, and now someone has occupied the 160 acres she fought to establish, threatening her right to keep the land she must prove up on within six months.
Dakota Territory, near Fort Pier and Pyrr, on and around a remote homestead claim, 1958 · JB Kendall, Almira Danworthy, Unknown man at cabin
Listen for: Kendall confronts the man who has taken over Almira's claim to determine his intentions and try to resolve the dispute.
Frontier Gentleman: The Lost Mine (1958)
Correspondent J.B. Kendall arrives in Fort Benton, Montana to write about the gold fields for the London Times. A newspaper editor directs him to Shorthorn Tom, a grizzled old prospector, who claims to have discovered a lost mine rich with gold nuggets in a cave in the Highwoods mountains years ago. After losing the location in a blizzard that killed his partner, Tom has searched unsuccessfully for eight years to relocate it.
Fort Benton, Montana Territory, primarily in a ramshackle prospector's shack and newspaper office · J.B. Kendall, John Warren, Shorthorn Tom
Listen for: Kendall's British perspective on frontier life, the prospector's colorful dialect, and the debate over whether Tom's lost mine is real or merely a tall tale.
Frontier Gentleman: The Trial (1958)
A tough frontier gunman named George McKeown is accused of murdering Jack Furlong in Fort Benton, Montana, based on a witness who claims to have seen him arguing with the victim shortly before the shooting. With no lawyer willing to defend him due to local politics and family connections to the judge, McKeown reluctantly accepts help from J.B. Kendall, a reporter for the London Times who believes in his innocence and volunteers to defend him at trial.
Fort Benton, Montana, at a newspaper office and saloon during a murder trial · J.B. Kendall, George McKeown, Mr. Warren, Marshall O'Connor, Judge Barry, Clint Wallace, Jack Furlong
Listen for: The tension between McKeown's volatile temperament and Kendall's reasoned defense strategy; testimony from the mule skinner witness; Judge Barry's impartiality given his family connections to the victim.
Frontier Gentleman: The Well (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a traveling Englishman, stops at a remote Wyoming homestead to water his horses and meets Meg Calder, a woman from Connecticut living with her silent daughter Annie while her husband Wally digs a new well. When Wally returns with news that cattleman Selfridge and his gang have burned down a neighboring homesteader's claim and are driving out settlers, Kendall offers to stay and help defend the property against the coming trouble.
A homesteading cabin in Wyoming territory, one year into settlement, with a drying well and a new well being dug behind the house. · J.B. Kendall, Meg Calder, Wally Calder, Annie (Anne Meredith) Calder, Selfridge, the Allen boys, Old Man Hovlin
Listen for: The tension between homesteaders' legal claims and cattlemen's violent efforts to drive them out; Meg's determination to hold her land despite the danger.
Frontier Gentleman: Wonder Boy (1958)
J.B. Kendall, a reporter for the London Times, visits a tailor shop in Deadwood territory seeking a new suit. He meets a shy, polite young man of sixteen or seventeen named Dick who works in the shop and discovers the boy is an extraordinary marksman, practicing to improve his already remarkable speed with a gun. As Kendall witnesses Dick's incredible shooting ability, the boy's father Paul suddenly arrives badly injured.
A tailor shop in Deadwood, Dakota Territory · J.B. Kendall, Dick, Paul, Uncle Amos
Listen for: Kendall's amazement at Dick's shooting skill demonstrated from the hip at twenty-five feet, and the mysterious arrival of Dick's injured father.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: 89 episode guides
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Address Unknown (1952)
A poorly dressed woman and her four-year-old son Tommy are traveling to visit relatives near the Mexican border. When the boy returns from fetching water at a nearby ranch, his mother has vanished, leaving behind only a suitcase and lunch spread. Texas Rangers Jason Pearson and Clay Morgan arrive to investigate the mysterious disappearance.
A dirt road in rural Texas, 40 miles northeast of the Mexican border, in August 1940 · Ranger Jason Pearson, Ranger Clay Morgan, Tommy, Tommy's mother, The rancher
Listen for: The Rangers examine the woman's abandoned belongings and follow mysterious tracks into the brush as they begin their investigation into her disappearance.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Alibi (1952)
When two truck drivers stop at a roadside store on Highway 28 near Bankrupt, Texas, they discover the proprietor, Deacon, beaten unconscious on the floor and the cash register emptied. Ranger Jase Pearson arrives to investigate what appears to be a robbery that turned violent, and begins questioning potential suspects in the area.
Deacon's roadside store and surrounding ranches near Bankrupt, Texas on Highway 28, 1952 · Ranger Jase Pearson, Sheriff George Hoffer, Chuck Robertson, Jim Patrick, Deacon, John Sampson, Dodie Carson
Listen for: The investigation into who robbed and beat Deacon, with clues including beer bottles, a blood stain by the refrigerator, and empty cash drawers pointing toward a violent customer.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Apache Peak (1950)
A body is discovered dumped along a Texas highway, shot three times with a .38 caliber gun. Ranger Pearson investigates and determines the victim was likely driving the car from which he was thrown, possibly a New York-registered vehicle heading west toward El Paso. The ranger begins a methodical search along the western route, questioning residents and stopping at small towns to track down leads about the mysterious murder.
Texas highways and small towns, beginning near Wichita Falls and extending toward the route to El Paso and Apache Peak, October 4th · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff, Captain Stimson, Highway Patrol
Listen for: The details Ranger Pearson uncovers about the murder victim's identity and the mystery of who was driving the car with him
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Bad Blood (1951)
Aircraft worker Joe Prager is found dead in his trailer outside Cheney, Texas, struck with a cast iron frying pan. He was planning to rejoin the Army, and Texas Ranger Jason Pearson must discover who killed him and why, using evidence like mysterious tire tracks found at the scene.
An isolated house trailer on the outskirts of Cheney, Texas, September 1950 · Ranger Jason Pearson, Joe Prager, Russ, Orvin, Joanne, Sheriff, Medical Examiner
Listen for: The ranger's investigation into tire tracks and the discovery of a cast iron frying pan as the murder weapon, along with clues about Joe's recent conflicts.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Birds of a Feather (1952)
A dying man named Fred Mieder is found shot on a road outside Baker, Texas. Before he loses consciousness, he manages to name John Warren as his attacker. Ranger J. Bryson and the sheriff visit Warren's home to question the prominent citizen about his connection to the wounded man.
Baker, Texas, February 1940. A small town with a union high school, hospital, and surrounding ranch country. · Ranger J. Bryson, Sheriff, Fred Mieder, John Warren, Ben, Freddy, Joey, Doctor
Listen for: The tense conversation between two men planning a mysterious job in the pre-dawn darkness, and the revelation of who shot Fred Mieder.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Blind Justice (1951)
A stray guide dog appears at a roadside café in West Texas, showing signs of abuse and malnutrition. Ranger Jason Pearson and the local sheriff discover the dog belongs to a blind man who went missing three days ago. They follow the dog's trail into the remote badlands toward the Mexican border, hoping to find the man alive.
West Texas badlands near the Rio Grande, March 1940 · Jason Pearson, Sheriff, Pete Salverson, the blind man (missing)
Listen for: The ranger and sheriff track the guide dog through harsh desert terrain, discovering clues that suggest foul play rather than an accident.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Blood Harvest (1951)
When ranger Jason Pearson investigates the death of Robert Mullen, a disabled war veteran found pitchforked to death in his alfalfa field, he discovers that Mullen was preparing to sell off most of his crop. The ranger must determine whether Mullen was killed during a robbery or if there is another motive behind the murder.
Rural Texas farmland, including Mullen's alfalfa field and surrounding properties; Holesville · Ranger Jason Pearson, Robert Mullen, Slim Ferdinand, Harry Trent, Sam Richardson, Sheriff, Ellie (Mullen's sister)
Listen for: The ranger's investigation into why Mullen came out to his field at night and the mystery surrounding the missing alfalfa crop.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Blood Relative (1950)
When Will Bonner, proprietor of a general store in Stump Hill, Texas, is shot dead and his wife critically wounded during a robbery, Ranger Jason Pearson investigates. A witness identifies Ben Bonner, Will's nephew fresh out of Huntsville prison, as a man who quarreled with Will earlier that day over a claimed share in the store and threatened to kill him if he didn't pay up.
Stump Hill, Texas; June 26-27, 1949. A general store and surrounding town. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Will Bonner, Ben Bonner, Mac Kennedy, Sheriff, Liz Bonner, Jody, Sadie Watto
Listen for: The investigation unfolds through witness accounts and physical evidence as the ranger tracks down Ben Bonner and uncovers details about a mysterious phone call that sent him fleeing in the night.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Blood Trail (1952)
Sheriff Dave Fellows finds Dr. Thomas staggering down Main Street in Whitney, Texas, bleeding heavily from wounds sustained in a violent fight at his office. Dr. Thomas dies from blood loss before he can explain what happened. When Texas Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate, he discovers the doctor's office ransacked and learns that Carl Hinkle, a German immigrant whose wife died under the doctor's care six weeks earlier, had an appointment with Dr. Thomas the night he was killed.
Whitney, Texas, during a heat wave in July 1929; Dr. Thomas's office and Carl Hinkle's home near the railroad depot · Sheriff Dave Fellows, Ranger Jason Pearson, Dr. Thomas, Carl Hinkle
Listen for: The blood trail leading from the doctor's office to Main Street, and the ranger's discovery that Dr. Thomas was knocked unconscious and mistakenly left for dead by his attacker
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Breakdown (1951)
When Constable Jim Wiley discovers a stranded motorist on Good Friday 1937, he offers assistance—but the stranger shoots and kills him. Texas Rangers Jay Pearson and Steve Clark are called to investigate, and fingerprints on the abandoned car reveal the killer is Rex Lang, a violent escaped convict with a trail of murders across multiple states.
Rural Texas, Good Friday 1937, beginning near the town of Roemer and expanding to a statewide manhunt · Jay Pearson, Captain Stinson, Steve Clark, Jim Wiley, Rex Lang
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Constable Wiley and the killer at the roadside; discussion of Rex Lang's violent past and his pattern of murders; the Rangers' determination to end his trail in Texas
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Bright Boy (1952)
A teenage boy wearing glasses steals an expensive sedan after an accomplice injures the car's owner with a knife. Texas Ranger Jase Pearson is called to investigate what appears to be part of a larger car theft ring that has stolen five vehicles in recent weeks.
Texas highways and rural areas, a hospital, and a house in the countryside · Ranger Jase Pearson, Captain Mavis of the Highway Patrol, Tom, Larry, Mr. Dikes, Cousin Melvin
Listen for: Details about the teenage car thieves and their operation, the investigation into the stolen vehicles, and who else is involved in the theft ring.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Candy Man (1950)
When a hardened criminal named Say Good manipulates fellow prisoner Abbott into smuggling a gun and hacksaw into their Texas jail cell by threatening Abbott's pregnant wife, the two men kill a jailer and escape. Texas Ranger Jason Pearson pursues the fugitives, using his wits to track their movements based on expected behavior patterns.
Texas countryside and county jail, 1950s · Jason Pearson, Say Good, Abbott, Sheriff Leonard Gin, Mrs. Abbott, Ranger Jim Leeds, Farmer
Listen for: The clever detective work of Ranger Pearson, who deduces the fugitives' likely path and needs; the coercion and threats that force Abbott into complicity; the farmhouse discovery of the escaped prisoners.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Canned Death (1951)
When rancher Bob Farrick and his family die after eating a meal, a Texas Ranger is called in to investigate. The autopsy reveals the deaths were caused by botulism from improperly canned sausage meat, but no canning equipment is found in the Farrick home, suggesting the contaminated food was a gift from someone else who unknowingly prepared it.
Texas ranch country and town, January 1940 · Ranger Jase Pearson, Sheriff, Bob Farrick, Doc, Mike Howdy, Mr. Burton
Listen for: The investigation into a mysterious poisoning that turns out to be accidental, the search for the source of contaminated homemade canned meat, and the arrival of an insurance investigator with questions about the heavily insured family.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Christmas Payoff (1951)
When a mysterious stranger with a bandaged arm arrives at Dr. Edward Hartley's office on Christmas Day, the alert nurse Alice Leonard recognizes him from watching the car parked outside for hours. The doctor quickly hides Alice in a supply closet and calls the sheriff, but the man produces a gun and shoots the doctor dead. Texas Ranger Pearson arrives to investigate the murder of the well-liked physician and must uncover the meaning of a threatening note the doctor received weeks earlier.
Dr. Hartley's medical office on Christmas Day · Dr. Edward Hartley, Alice Leonard, The killer, Ranger Pearson, Sheriff
Listen for: The threatening note with cut-out newspaper letters warning of a payoff, and the black car with a dented front fender that may help identify the killer
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Christmas Present (1950)
On December 21st, 1931, during the Depression, two armed men dressed as Santa Claus rob the newly opened Panhandle Equity Bank in North Texas, escaping with $63,800 in cash. Texas Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate the crime, which left the bank guard, Miss Keene the teller, and bank vice president Leon Peabody all knocked unconscious.
North Texas, Panhandle Equity Bank and surrounding area, December 1931 · Jason Pearson, Texas Ranger, Leon Peabody, second vice president of Panhandle Equity Bank, Miss Keene, bank teller, Lovett, bank guard, Police Chief
Listen for: The ranger's investigation into the smooth bank robbery and his deduction that one of the robbers was tall based on the positioning of a getaway car's seat and rear-view mirror.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Clean Up (1950)
When oil boom transforms the small Texas town of Kilman, organized crime moves in. A murder investigation into oil operator Joe Powell's death reveals a widespread extortion and theft ring, prompting Texas Rangers to send undercover operatives to dismantle the criminal operation from within.
Kilman, Texas - a small oil boom town that has grown from 3,000 to 12,000 residents due to a new oil strike · Jason Pearson, Captain Stinson, Steve Clark, Frankie Gennaro, Joe Powell, Herb Enfield
Listen for: The Rangers discover that stolen oil is being hauled at night and that crime syndicates are extorting payments from oil operators. A murder weapon with Type O blood may help identify the killers.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Clip Job (1952)
An elderly widow named Mrs. Agnes Howell comes to Bolton searching for a man named George Collie, who convinced her to invest her entire life savings of $6,000 in an oil venture, promising to turn it into $50,000. When she collapses from starvation at a local drugstore, Ranger Jase Pearson and Sheriff Ted Dryer learn that Collie vanished after taking her money a month ago. The Rangers recognize Collie as a con artist they've been tracking, and they begin investigating his movements in the nearby town of Minden.
The towns of Bolton and Minden in North Texas, January 1950. A drugstore, a county hospital, and a hotel. · Mrs. Agnes Howell, Ranger Jase Pearson, Sheriff Ted Dryer, George Collie, Mr. Crander, the drugstore clerk
Listen for: The Rangers' investigation into George Collie's con game and how they track down a smooth-talking swindler who preys on lonely widows.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Cold Blood (1952)
When a farmer's wife is murdered, he blames his hired hand Eli Wilbur. Before the law can arrest him, Eli flees to his sister Nellie's house, bloodied and frightened, claiming the farmer beat him after accusing him of the crime. Texas Rangers Jace Pearson and Clay Morgan arrive to investigate the strangling death and must find Eli before an angry mob does.
East Texas farmland and the town of Lundy, April 22, 1935 · Ranger Jace Pearson, Ranger Clay Morgan, Eli Wilbur, Nellie Johnson, Ralph Dean, The Sheriff, Clay Morgan
Listen for: The mystery of who actually killed Mrs. Dean and why Eli ran when confronted with the accusation. Watch for the Rangers' clever questioning and their discovery of clues at Nellie's house.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Conspiracy (1951)
Captain Clint Stenson of the Texas Rangers investigates when Mrs. Wendell claims her husband Ed was murdered by Ray Thorpe, despite Thorpe having been exonerated by the grand jury in a self-defense ruling. When Stenson has Wendell's body exhumed, the medical examination reveals a shocking truth that suggests a conspiracy involving local law enforcement and witnesses.
Crescendo, Texas and surrounding county, October 17th, 1926 · Captain Clint Stenson, Mrs. Wendell, Ray Thorpe, Jason Pearson, Steve Clark, Sheriff, County Attorney Lou Morrison, Medical Examiner
Listen for: The discovery at the cemetery that changes everything; the ranger's realization that powerful people in town are involved in covering up the truth.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Cover-Up (1952)
Farmer Lee Gaynor finds a Mexican worker named Sanchez Mendoza cleaning blood from the floor of his neighbor Russell Hines' farmhouse. Hines is missing, his wallet and car remain behind, and blood is found throughout the house. Ranger Jay Pearson arrives to investigate what appears to be a murder, tracking Mendoza into the hills after the farmhand flees.
Rural Texas farmland, the Hines farmhouse and surrounding hills and woods · Lee Gaynor, Russell Hines, Sanchez Mendoza, Ranger Jay Pearson, Sheriff Art Buckley, Dave Morgan
Listen for: The ranger's pursuit of the fleeing suspect into the hills and his interrogation of Mendoza's story about Hines hiring him for farm work before supposedly going on vacation.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Dead Give-Away (1950)
A young woman and her four-month-old baby are found murdered in their farmhouse near Ashton, Texas on December 4th, 1945, after Mrs. Deen calls the sheriff reporting an intruder. Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate a crime with no apparent robbery motive, and discovers evidence suggesting the killer had a regular key to the house and escaped by car into the western hills.
A farmhouse four miles outside Ashton, West Texas, on December 4th, 1945, with investigation extending to the surrounding hills and roads. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Chase, Mrs. Deen, Mr. Walter Deen, Sheriff Ross, Phone operator
Listen for: The discovery of the killer's trail leading west from the house, evidence of a car waiting on a back road, and a cigarette butt that reveals the brand the killer smokes.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Dead or Alive (1950)
A massive explosion at the Texas City harbor in 1947 kills hundreds, leaving many bodies unidentified. Texas Ranger Jace Pearson helps families identify victims at a makeshift morgue, but a shocking discovery suggests a wanted criminal may have used the disaster to escape his past. Days later, a safe robbery in nearby Landstone threatens to confirm that assumption.
Texas City and Landstone, Texas, April 1947; includes the Texas City High School Gymnasium used as a temporary morgue and a mercantile store in Landstone. · Jace Pearson, Bud Kurtz, Vance Young, Mrs. Young, Sheriff Joe Pastrone, Captain Stinson
Listen for: The connection between the Texas City explosion and a mysterious safe robbery that may reveal whether a supposedly dead criminal is still alive.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Deadhead Freight (1951)
A woman's body is discovered sewn into a duffel bag aboard a deadhead freight train near Lubbock, Texas in 1938. Ranger Jason Pierce takes over the investigation and uses clues from the bag and its contents to narrow down where the body was loaded onto the train, focusing his search on an area near a cotton field where migrant workers are operating.
Santa Fe freight yards in Lubbock, Texas and the surrounding cotton belt region in 1938 · Ranger Jason Pierce, Captain Stinson, Brakeman, Railroad Detective, Gin Operator, Old Rosie
Listen for: The clever deduction that places the time and location of when the body was loaded onto the train based on the train's schedule and the unusual soil found on the duffel bag
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Death Plant (1951)
A homemade bomb hidden in a pickup truck kills Sylvia Peters and critically injures her husband Tom on the night of September 18th, 1946, near Pembroke, Texas. Tom immediately suspects Will Fenton, the truck's previous owner, whom he had been planning to sue. Rangers investigate the crime and question Fenton and his wife about their possible involvement.
Rural Texas near Pembroke, September 18-19, 1946. The action takes place at a country church, the Peters farm gate, a hospital, and the Fenton farm. · Tom Peters, Sylvia Peters, Will Fenton, Burn Fenton, Ranger Pearson, Sheriff, Joel McCray
Listen for: The details of how the homemade bomb was constructed and planted, and the Rangers' investigation into who set the trap and why.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Death Shaft (1951)
A skeleton is discovered in an abandoned mine in Black Hawk Canyon, Texas, identified through wallet and dental records as Gilbert Madden, a mine broker who vanished eight months earlier. Ranger Jase Pearson begins investigating the murder, learning that Madden's widow received a final letter from her husband around March 18th and discovering that a strange old man named Willie, who lives near the mine, had pestered Madden about inspecting his worthless claim.
Black Hawk Canyon in the Big Bend country of West Texas, and the Sheriff's office in the nearby town, in 1941. · Ranger Jase Pearson, Sheriff Benson, J.C. Wilford, Fred Blaisdell, Gilbert Madden, Mrs. Madden, Willie
Listen for: The discovery of the body with a bashed-in skull; the suspicious new padlock on the mine entrance; Mrs. Madden's account of her husband's disappearance and his last letter mentioning Willie's pestering; Ranger Pearson's investigation into whether Willie had a motive for murder.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Death by Adoption (1951)
Harry Cashman, owner of a used car lot in Central City, Texas, is found dead in his office after his wife becomes concerned when he fails to return home. Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate what appears to be a robbery-murder, finding clues including mysterious yellow chalk on the carpet and no clear motive for the killing.
Central City, Texas in September 1937, primarily at Harry Cashman's used car lot and his home. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Harry Cashman, Stryker, Hazel Cashman, Chief Dan Simmons
Listen for: The sinister conversation between Cashman and Stryker that sets up the central conflict, and Ranger Pearson's methodical investigation techniques as he begins piecing together the crime.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Death in the Cards (1951)
A gambler named Toby has been extracting money from Will Gentry for two months to pay off card game debts. When Will's stepfather Chester refuses to give him more money and threatens to confront Toby himself, Chester is shot dead at his own front door. Texas Ranger Jason and Sheriff Bennett must track down the elusive gambler before he escapes across the border.
Reeves County, Texas, January 1947—the Gentry ranch house and a rooming house in Biggerstown · Ranger Jason, Sheriff Bennett, Will Gentry, Chester Gentry, Toby the gambler, Mrs. Packer, the landlady
Listen for: The rangers discover peculiar footprints in the frost that seem odd in some way they can't quite identify, suggesting the case may not be what it first appears.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Dream Farm (1952)
A family from Iowa—John, Ethel, and their twelve-year-old son Robert—arrives in Texas to start a new life on a farm. Late that night, they pick up a stranded motorist on a deserted highway, but the man pulls a gun, robs them, and shoots all three before taking their car and fleeing. The next morning, the parents are found dead, but Robert survives and is rushed to the hospital, where Texas Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate the brutal crime.
Rural Texas highway and Coronaville, Texas, June 1941 · John Wood, Ethel Wood, Robert L. Wood, Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff King, The gunman
Listen for: The description of the killer as recalled by young Robert, and the clues the Rangers gather from the stolen car and the crime scene.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Drive-In (1952)
A couple is robbed at gunpoint at a drive-in theater by a heavyset young man and an unseen girl who helps him escape. Ranger Pearson begins investigating the theft of the couple's car, a typewriter, and a package of stockings, looking for clues to identify the criminals before they strike again.
A drive-in theater three miles outside Corvary in July 1947, and the local sheriff's office. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Mr. Harper, Mrs. Harper, Ruth, Sheriff, Deputy Sandy, The robber
Listen for: The ranger's clever deduction that the girl accomplice might try to exchange the stolen stockings for a different size, revealing how investigators use everyday details to solve crimes.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Ex-Con (1952)
Tom Dawson, an ex-convict struggling to find work, is visited by a mysterious man named Elsie who offers him $1,000 to commit murder and make it look like robbery. Tom accepts the job and leaves town heading north, but his worried wife goes to the Texas Rangers and tells them everything. Ranger Jason and Sheriff Simms set out to find Tom before he can carry out the crime.
High Point, southwest Texas, September 1940 · Tom Dawson, Liz Dawson, Elsie, Ranger Jason, Sheriff Simms
Listen for: The tension between Tom's desire to provide for his family and his vulnerability to criminal temptation; the wife's desperate attempt to stop her husband from making a terrible mistake.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Finger Man (1952)
When prisoners Leon Desser and Carl Foley attempt a jail break at the sheriff's office, they take the deputy hostage. A Texas Ranger arrives to help contain the situation, but discovers the deputy has been murdered during the escape attempt. The ranger must now identify which prisoner committed the killing using forensic evidence.
A sheriff's office jail in Texas with cells upstairs · Leon Desser, Carl Foley, Deputy Joe, Sheriff, Texas Ranger Jason, Ted
Listen for: The tense jail break sequence and the discovery of the deputy's body; the ranger's investigation into who wielded the murder weapon
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Fool's Gold (1950)
Two bank robbers attempt to hold up a bank in Live Oak, West Texas in 1946. During their getaway, their stolen sedan crashes, killing one of the robbers and an innocent man and child in another car. Ranger Jace Pearson investigates the crash and dead robber to track down the escaped accomplice.
Live Oak, West Texas in 1946, including a bank, hospital, and sheriff's office · Ranger Jace Pearson, Roads, Sheriff, Doctor, Deputy Sheriff, Bank teller, Posse members
Listen for: Details about the crash investigation, fingerprint evidence, blood type analysis, and the search for the escaped robber with distinctive gold front teeth
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Fugitive's Trail (1951)
On the night of January 21, 1948, Ben and Mrs. Purvis return to their ranch near Newby, Texas to find Dave Fenton, a young man who has been dating their babysitter Arlene Rankin, dead from a shotgun wound. The Purvises' shotgun is missing, and Arlene has disappeared. Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate whether Arlene killed Fenton in a jealous rage or if something more complex occurred.
A ranch on the outskirts of Newby, Texas, in January 1948 · Ranger Jason Pearson, Ben Purvis, Mrs. Purvis, Arlene Rankin, Dave Fenton, Sheriff, Lenny Hayes, Miss Sutton
Listen for: The ranger's investigation into the missing babysitter and the murder weapon, and what Lenny Hayes reveals about Arlene's relationship with the deceased
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Hanging by a Thread (1950)
On May 5th, 1947, Sheriff Hanson of Finney, Texas receives a phone call from George Hawk saying he's going to kill himself, but when the Sheriff arrives at Hawk's ranch, he finds the man hanging from a wire in the barn. Ranger Jase Pearson is called to investigate what appears to be a suspicious death. Evidence at the scene suggests foul play rather than suicide, and a heated breakfast confrontation between Hawk and his two ranch hands—drunk old Tom and the quiet Brad Johnson—provides potential motives for murder.
Finney, Texas and the Hawk ranch on Gun Creek Road, May 1947 · Ranger Jase Pearson, Sheriff Hanson, George Hawk, Millie Hawk, Old Tom, Brad Johnson
Listen for: The investigation into whether George Hawk's death was suicide or murder, and which of the ranch hands might be responsible.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Helping Hand (1951)
A man is found murdered on a remote West Texas road, killed by a blow to the head with a rock. Ranger Chase Pearson arrives to investigate the crime scene, discovering the victim's abandoned car with mysterious gasoline drips underneath. As evidence is collected and examined, Pearson must unravel the circumstances surrounding Arthur McShane's death.
West Texas, November 1950, along a deserted road near Longridge and Wally's Cafe · Ranger Chase Pearson, Joe, Rusty, Arthur McShane, Sheriff, Wally, Highway Patrol
Listen for: The discovery of the rock used as a murder weapon, the mysterious gasoline leak under McShane's car, and Ranger Pearson's methodical investigation of the crime scene in heavy rain.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Hitchhiker (1952)
A hitchhiker convinces rancher Hard Carter to help him pass through a police roadblock by pretending to be his nephew. As the manhunt for an escaped prisoner intensifies, Ranger Pearson and Sheriff Ford begin investigating when a gas station attendant reveals he couldn't get a clear look at the supposed nephew.
Rural Boca County, Texas, April 1947. A ranch, gas station, roadblock on Farm Road 102, and surrounding countryside. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Sam Ford, Hard Carter, The Hitchhiker, Charlie Hollister, Clark
Listen for: The tense confrontation between the hitchhiker and the rancher at gunpoint, the casual conversation at the roadblock that nearly goes wrong, and the gradual realization by law enforcement that something is amiss with the stranger's story.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Illusion (1952)
Amy West frantically reports to Sheriff Minton that someone attempted to kill her by turning on the gas in her home. When Texas Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate, he finds evidence of an explosion but discovers a troubling pattern: Amy has made similar claims twice before, each time without proof of an intruder. As the ranger and sheriff interview Amy and her devoted husband Mark, they begin to suspect that Amy's fears may stem from her own troubled mind rather than a genuine threat.
Texas, at the West Ranch House and the sheriff's office in town · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Glenn Minton, Amy West, Mark West, Dr. Sobomark
Listen for: The investigation into whether Amy West is being hunted by a killer or is experiencing psychological delusions; the ranger's consultation with a psychiatrist about Amy's condition.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Jailbird (1952)
Escaped prisoner Jim Hackett and his wife flee after killing a constable in Oak Bluff, Texas. Texas Rangers Jason Pearson and Clay Morgan pursue them on a highway, forcing their stolen car off the road where they discover the car's owner dead inside. The rangers find a crumpled letter fragment in Hackett's handwriting mentioning someone named Len, leading them to investigate one of Hackett's former prison associates.
Texas in 1939, including the town of Oak Bluff, highways, a state prison lab in Austin, and prison files. · Jim Hackett, Hackett's wife, Ranger Jason Pearson, Ranger Clay Morgan, Constable Simmons, Len Jeter
Listen for: The rangers' investigation into Hackett's prison connections and their pursuit of the escaped convict across Texas.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Joy Ride (1951)
Two teenagers steal a car in the small Texas town of Purdy and attempt to rob a liquor store late at night. When the store owner resists, they shoot him dead and flee with stolen bottles. Ranger Jase Pearson arrives to investigate the murder and begins tracking the killers by following physical evidence left at the crime scene.
Purdy, Texas and surrounding areas, December 3rd, 1946 · Ranger Jase Pearson, Sheriff Frank Cochran, Chuck, Joy/Ruby, Malcolm Barnes, Mrs. Bond
Listen for: The ranger's methodical investigation technique, using spilled liquor spots and tire marks as clues to track the fleeing suspects.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Just a Number (Audition) (1950)
Ranger J. Pearson is assigned to investigate a triple murder at the Evans Ranch in Carson County. Nine-year-old Billy Stevens discovers the bodies of Carl Evans and his family, and Pearson must piece together the evidence—a mysterious clump of mud from a boot, missing hogs that broke through a fence, and a feed purchase made six days before the murders—to establish when the killings occurred.
Carson County, Texas—the Stevens Ranch and Evans Ranch, and the town feed store · Ranger J. Pearson, Sheriff Larkins, Sam Stevens, Billy Stevens, Tom Evans, Carl Evans
Listen for: The careful detective work of matching clues: Pearson discovers a peculiar clump of mud under the bed with the imprint of a boot heel, notices hogs that have escaped through a broken fence, and tracks Tom Evans's last feed purchase to narrow down the time of death.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Killer's Crop (1951)
A young woman named Kitty Barrows is found dead on a deserted highway near San Antonio. Texas Rangers investigate her mysterious murder, learning that she led a wild double life—working as a car hop while maintaining a flashy lifestyle funded by unknown sources. The Rangers must track down a mysterious man in a leather jacket who was seen with her repeatedly.
Texas, primarily near San Antonio and Ransford, in April 1947 · Kitty Barrows, Micker, The Boss, Sheriff, Jason, S.B. Cullen, Mrs. Wormser
Listen for: Details about Kitty's connections and the mysterious man in the leather jacket who may have information about her death
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Knockout (1952)
A rancher named George Whelton is found dead in his hotel bathroom, apparently killed during a struggle. Texas Rangers Pearson and Morgan arrive to investigate, discovering evidence suggesting the killer was a large, powerful man who wiped away fingerprints but overlooked a clear print on the bathroom faucet.
A hotel, with the primary focus on Whelton's second-floor room and bathroom. · George Whelton, Sheriff, Jason Pearson, Clay Morgan, Desk Clerk, Mrs. Beale, Younger Man, Girl
Listen for: The Rangers' discovery of the fingerprint on the faucet and the white powder on the floor; Mrs. Beale's account of hearing three people in the room—an old man, a younger man with a deep voice, and a girl with a piercing laugh.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Last Stop (1952)
A passenger train derails in West Texas in July 1931, injuring many. Ranger Jason Pearson investigates and discovers evidence that someone deliberately placed a railroad tie on the tracks to cause the wreck. The investigation turns to a local man who lives alone, tends goats, and harbors a strong hatred for trains after one killed his cow.
West Texas, near Ravenna, in July 1931. A derailed passenger train and the surrounding railroad tracks. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Wagner, Mr. Morton, A young man who yells at trains
Listen for: The ranger's methodical investigation of the wreck scene, the discovery of the deliberate sabotage, and the chase after a suspicious suspect.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Little Sister (1952)
A young woman in a red satin dress returns to her impoverished hometown and persuades her younger sister to help her rob a movie theater. The two girls stage a holdup at the ticket booth, striking the manager and stealing money from the safe before fleeing. Texas Rangers Jason Pearson and Clay Morgan arrive at the scene to investigate the crime.
A movie theater in rural Texas, September 1947. The story begins at a ramshackle house on a dirt road in the country before moving to the town's movie house. · Jason Pearson, Clay Morgan, the older sister, the younger sister (age 15), the ticket seller, Mr. Ball (manager), Paul (father), the deputy sheriff
Listen for: The details the ticket seller provides about the two robbers' appearances, and the Rangers' investigation as they begin tracking down leads in the case.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Living Death (1950)
Two murders in different locations—one near the Rio Grande border and another in West Texas—prove to be connected when ballistics tests show both were killed with the same gun. Rangers Jase Pearson and Clyde Klein team up to investigate, discovering evidence of narcotics smuggling. They stake out crossing points along the border near Big Bend, hoping to catch the smugglers in action.
West Texas and the Rio Grande border region, 1948. · Jase Pearson, Clyde Klein, Captain Stinson, Nico, Sankir
Listen for: The Rangers' systematic detective work linking the two murders through ballistics evidence, and their patient stakeout operation along the remote border country.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Logger's Larceny (1951)
A paymaster at a lumber mill in East Texas disappears with $18,000 in company payroll money. Ranger Chase Pearson arrives to investigate, learning that the paymaster left the bank in the afternoon with the cash. As Pearson questions the logging crew working near the road that day, a nervous young helper hints at a possible accident, leading the ranger to suspect the money may not have been taken at all.
A lumber mill in the Piney Woods region of East Texas, September 1938 · Ranger Chase Pearson, Sheriff Stanton, Mr. Browning, Bob Hutton, Bull Evans, the young helper
Listen for: The discovery of Hutton's wrecked car near Pine Creek and the ranger's growing suspicion that this is no ordinary theft
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Misplaced Person (1952)
A young boy discovers the bruised and beaten body of a dead woman in the brush near his home. Texas Rangers Pearson and Morgan investigate, finding a purse with a receipt bearing Dr. Schiller's name and number. The doctor claims he doesn't know the victim, but the Rangers must dig through missing persons reports to identify her and track down the truth.
Stockville County and Corpus Christi, Texas, including a rural area, a mortuary, a trailer court, and a fishing trawler in Red Fish Bay · Ranger Jason Pearson, Ranger Clay Morgan, Buddy Clark, Mrs. Clark, Dr. Schiller, Thomas Red Arm, Mrs. Fields
Listen for: The investigation into an unidentified murder victim unfolds as Rangers search for clues in the victim's purse and track down the mysterious Dr. Schiller. A missing persons report finally provides the victim's identity and points to her husband as a suspect.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Night Chase (1952)
Cattle rustlers strike at Jim Fuller's ranch near Durham, Texas. When Fuller spots men with flashlights and a truck near his herd, he alerts the sheriff. Texas Rangers Pearson and Clay Morgan set up a roadblock on Farm Road 48 to intercept the fleeing rustlers.
Rural Texas ranch country near Durham, May 5th, 1937. Farm Road 48 and surrounding ranchland at night. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Ranger Clay Morgan, Jim Fuller, Susana Fuller, Sheriff, A man named Pepe, Betty
Listen for: A tense chase sequence as the rangers pursue the rustlers' truck, a confrontation at an isolated shack, and mysterious exchanges between the suspects.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Nighthawk (1952)
A young couple is robbed at gunpoint at a remote airfield late at night. The robber flees with the girl in his car. Hours later, a boy is found shot dead on a college football field, and the girl—injured but alive—is discovered nearby. Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate what appears to be a desperate crime with deadly consequences.
A small Texas town with a rural airfield and a college football field, during nighttime and early morning hours. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Wilson, Todd Miller, Julie Thomas, Chris Snyder, the robber
Listen for: The ranger's deduction that the robber is likely a local who knew the town well, and the shocking discovery that the crime has escalated to murder.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: No Living Witnesses (1951)
On a Monday morning in November 1939, Sheriff Ross Betsby and Mrs. Blackburn discover Dr. Walter Hemet dead in his office in Harper's Landing, Texas. A Texas Ranger investigates and determines the doctor was killed to silence him after treating a wounded gunshot victim late Saturday night.
Harper's Landing, Texas, in November 1939. The investigation takes place at Dr. Hemet's home and medical office. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Ross Betsby, Mrs. Blackburn, Dr. Walter Hemet
Listen for: The Rangers' deduction that the doctor was killed to prevent him from reporting a bullet wound to authorities, and clues including a .303 slug and blood-stained denim shirt found in the office.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Open and Shut (1951)
A wealthy rancher's daughter Connie returns home hysterically screaming that a man with a gun has killed someone on the old cattle road. Ranger Jace Pearson is called to investigate the murder of Bob Brady, the rancher's accountant, who was shot with his own gun during what appears to be a robbery. Following footprints from the crime scene, Pearson tracks the killer to an old shack where he finds Jose Morales.
Texas ranch country, 1945. The crime occurs on an old cattle road near the Mestin ranch; the investigation leads to an isolated shack used as a line house. · Ranger Jace Pearson, Sheriff Sykes, John Mestin, Connie Mestin, Bob Brady, Jose Morales
Listen for: The methodical detective work as Pearson examines the crime scene, follows the killer's footprints across the ranch, and tracks down the suspect at the remote shack.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Paid in Full (1951)
West Texas farmer Nick Hubbard refuses to pay his sharecropper Jose Morales the full amount owed him for cotton work, offering only fifty dollars and forcing him to leave the land. Two days later, Morales is found dead in a thicket, shot in the back of the head with a shotgun. Texas Ranger Jase Pearson arrives to investigate and begins questioning those connected to the case.
West Texas, August 1941. A farm, a thicket near a shortcut path to town, and rural roads. · Ranger Jase Pearson, Nick Hubbard, Min Hubbard, Jose Morales, Sheriff
Listen for: The ranger's logical deduction about where and how Morales was killed based on the position of the body and the undisturbed thicket.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Pick-Up (1951)
A man's body is found in a rocky ravine near Ralston, Texas, shot in the chest. Rangers Jason Pearson and Clay Morgan investigate and discover the victim is Carl Jessup, an oil field worker who disappeared after being paid his wages two nights earlier. The Rangers must determine whether Jessup fell from a passing freight train or was deliberately pushed to his death.
Stone Canyon and Ralston, Texas; oil fields and railroad tracks in a rural area near a ravine · Ranger Jason Pearson, Ranger Clay Morgan, Julio Ramirez, Hamlin, Carl Jessup, Whitey, Joe
Listen for: The Rangers piece together clues from a laundry mark and oil stains on the body to identify the victim and track his connection to the oil boom town of Ralston.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Play For Keeps (1950)
Sheriff Smithers is killed during a confrontation with Constable Jim Dunn and a man named Walton, who operates an illegal gambling operation. The body is found the next morning in a ditch, and when the local investigation stalls, Texas Ranger Jason Pearson is sent to take over the case and find the real killer.
Bradshaw County, Texas, including the town of Bradshaw and the wagon road where the body is discovered · Ranger Jason Pearson, Constable Jim Dunn, Sheriff Smithers, Walton, Captain Stinson, Frank Carlin, editor of the Bradshaw Times
Listen for: The details of the confrontation that led to the sheriff's death, Ranger Pearson's investigation of the crime scene and evidence, and his suspicions about Constable Dunn's involvement or knowledge of the murder.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Play for Keeps (1951)
When Sheriff Smithers is found murdered in a ditch beside an old wagon road, Constable Jim Dunn conducts what appears to be a thorough but unsuccessful investigation. The citizens of Bradshaw grow impatient, and the Texas Rangers send Ranger Jason Spears to take over the case. Spears begins his inquiry by examining the crime scene and questioning those involved.
Bradshaw County, Texas, in the town of Bradshaw and surrounding areas including an old wagon road north of town · Ranger Jason Spears, Constable Jim Dunn, Sheriff Smithers, Warden, Captain Stinson, Frank Carland, Bob, Alton
Listen for: Ranger Spears investigates the murder of Sheriff Smithers, examining the crime scene and the constable's handling of the case, while uncovering potential conflicts of interest in the local law enforcement.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Prelude to Felony (1952)
Sheriff Hankins investigates the disappearance of four calves from Buck Wattley's ranch. The Wattley children, Reno and Henri, claim to have spotted the missing calves on the property of their neighbor, Gus Schmidt, and the ranger and sheriff go to confront him about the alleged theft.
His mother, Texas; Buck Wattley's ranch and Gus Schmidt's neighboring property; July 7th, 1951 · Sheriff Allen Hankins, Buck Wattley, Ranger Jase Pearson, Reno Wattley, Henri Wattley, Gus Schmidt
Listen for: The investigation unfolds as the ranger examines Schmidt's livestock and questions mount about whether the calves truly belong to Schmidt or have been stolen from Wattley.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Pressure (1951)
Sheriff Morton and Texas Ranger Jace Pearson investigate the murder of Mike Redford when an elderly farmhand named Lucifer confesses to shooting his boss. However, inconsistencies in Lucifer's statement and suspicious injuries on Lucifer's grandson Chad suggest the confession may not be what it appears to be.
Lingua, Texas in January 1933, including the Negro Quarter across the railroad tracks, a jail, and Redford's farm in the hills. · Sheriff Ross Morton, Texas Ranger Jace Pearson, Lucifer, Chad, Mike Redford, Pedro, Sam Bill
Listen for: The sheriff and ranger compare Lucifer's confession with earlier events showing Redford treated Lucifer fairly, and Ranger Pearson notices suspicious scratch marks and bruises on Chad's face and wrists.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Quicksilver (1950)
On May 22, 1947, Jim Stockholm visits town to buy hog feed, then returns to his ranch in Carson County, Texas. A week later, the bodies of Jim, his wife Flo, and their ten-year-old son Carl are discovered. Ranger Jay Pearson investigates the crime, using clues from the ranch to narrow down the time of death and begin tracking the killer.
Stockholm Ranch in Carson County, Texas, May 1947 · Ranger Jay Pearson, Sheriff Lockins, Jim Stockholm, Flo Stockholm, Carl Stockholm, Charles, Jimmy Duff
Listen for: How Ranger Pearson uses evidence from the hogs and feed sacks to solve the murders; the investigation into who visited the Stockholm ranch
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Room 114 (1950)
A man is found murdered in room 114 of the Alamo Hotel with his throat slashed. Ranger Jay Person investigates and discovers the registered guest, Henry Bolin, is not the victim but may be the killer. The Rangers must track down Bolin and identify the mysterious dead man before the suspect can escape.
Texas, including the Alamo Hotel, the town of Lone Star, and a cattle ranch · Ranger Jay Person, Sheriff James Kerfuss, Henry Bolin, Ranger Steve Clark, Mexican woman (Senyara)
Listen for: The crucial detail of the eyeglasses that reveals the victim is not who the hotel clerk thought, and the Rangers' pursuit of the cattle herds heading to the railhead.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Round Trip (1952)
Ranger Jay Pearson investigates the murder of Robert Dixon, a driver who picked up passengers for extra income to fund his son's college education. Dixon is found shot twice in the head in a ditch south of Colby, Texas, his pockets emptied. A slip of paper in his car provides the first lead: a passenger named Dave Hobart picked up at a travel agency the previous evening.
Texas, primarily near Colby and Houston, in 1952 · Jay Pearson, Robert Dixon, Sheriff, Dave Hobart
Listen for: The investigation into Dixon's murder unfolds as Ranger Pearson pursues the lead of the mysterious passenger and discovers bloody clothing near the abandoned car.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Sell-Out (1952)
A hardware store owner, Jim Reeves, is shot during a holdup at his store in Corville County. Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate the robbery and interview witnesses, including Nancy Taylor who was working at the store. With Reeves critically wounded and fighting for his life, the ranger must track down the robber before it's too late.
A hardware store in Corville County, Texas, and the local hospital · Ranger Jason Pearson, Jim Reeves, Nancy Taylor, Sheriff, Charlie, Mr. Coz, The Robber
Listen for: A tense armed robbery and shooting, followed by the ranger's investigation into the crime
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Smart Kill (1952)
A feed and grain building in Carville burns to the ground with a man trapped inside, his body too badly burned for immediate identification. Ranger Jace Pearson arrives to investigate and discovers the building's doors were padlocked from the outside, making it murder. With only the building's owner Ed Woodley and his partner Sam Taylor holding keys, Pearson must determine who the victim is and how he came to be locked in the building before it burned.
The town of Carville, at a burned-out feed and grain building and surrounding farms · Ranger Jace Pearson, Sheriff Fuller, Ed Woodley, Sam Taylor, Martha, Sharon Taylor
Listen for: The investigation into the locked building and the identity of the burned victim, with suspicion falling on those who held keys to the structure
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Soft Touch (1950)
A Texas Ranger arrives at a ranch house to investigate the brutal beating death of an elderly couple. The only clues are a fragment of expensive letterhead paper found clutched by the victim, horseshoe prints indicating the killer rode a horse from San Antonio, and a witness who saw an unfamiliar car arriving at the ranch just before the murders.
A ranch 30 miles from Salt Flats, Texas, on a Sunday in August 1949 · Ranger Jason Pearson, Bill Ross, Judy Ross, Sheriff, Big Chuck Whitaker
Listen for: The mysterious piece of letterhead paper and the significance of the San Antonio license plate frame on the car that was seen at the ranch
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Square Dance (1951)
At a square dance in West Texas, a drifter harasses a rancher's wife named Mrs. Rogers and gets into a fight with her husband Mort when he tries to intervene. The stranger stabs Rogers fatally in the throat and flees into the night. Ranger Jason Pearson and the local sheriff must track down the killer among the dance-goers and surrounding ranches before he disappears completely.
The Fun Spot, a barn-like dance hall on the outskirts of Bankerville in West Texas, on a Saturday night in October 1949. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Mort Rogers, Mrs. Rogers, The drifter, Sheriff, Captain Stinson, Deputy Charlie Higgins
Listen for: The tense confrontation at the dance hall, the discovery of Rogers' body, and Pearson's methodical investigation including the shakedown of all witnesses and the dispatch of clothing samples to Austin for blood analysis.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Stick-Up (1952)
A drifter attempts to rob Tom Baker's roadside café but shoots and kills the old cook, General, during a struggle for a gun. The thief escapes in a stolen red pickup truck with bullet holes in it. Ranger Jason Pearson and the sheriff track down the truck's owner, Ed Jaffe, a man with a criminal past, and must determine whether he was involved in the robbery and murder.
A roadside café in Texas and a nearby ranch, 1952 · Ranger Jason Pearson, Tom Baker, General, Sheriff Gunther, Ed Jaffe, Martha Jaffe, The robber/killer
Listen for: The tense robbery scene in the café, the investigation that follows, and the questioning of Ed Jaffe about his stolen truck
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Sweet Revenge (1951)
Blake Wilkins returns home after two years away, hoping to reconcile with his family. His brother Judd reveals that their father rejected Blake's letter of apology and never wanted to see him again. That night, Blake is found shot dead in a remote shack on Judd's property, and Ranger Pearson must investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
A ranch in Texas, March 1944. The story begins at Judd Wilkins' ranch house during a rainstorm and moves to a remote shack where Blake's body is discovered. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Judd Wilkins, Alva Briggs, Blake Wilkins, Sheriff
Listen for: The ranger's careful reconstruction of the shooting, examining the bullet's trajectory and the killer's likely hiding place near the water trough.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Blow Off (1951)
A gas station attendant is robbed and shot at his pump on a rural Texas highway. Two drifters in an old car commit the crime but return to the scene to report the murder, posing as innocent witnesses. Ranger Jay Person begins investigating the case and discovers fingerprints that lead him to question the helpful couple.
A gas station at the intersection of a farm road and Highway 75 near Glenwood, Texas, and the town of Corsa Cana, during June 1947. · Ranger Jay Person, Sheriff Pruitt, Aaron Kortwright, John Bishop, Belle
Listen for: The criminals' arguments about how to escape without enough gas in their tank, and their clever decision to return to the scene and report the crime themselves to avoid suspicion.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Boomerang (1952)
When elderly Roscoe Crider fails to reach the bank with $1,400 after his daughter Ethel nags him about money and his friendship with the slovenly Sam White, Ranger Jason Pearson is called in to investigate his disappearance. The ranger and sheriff discover Crider's horse and buggy abandoned at Born's Lake with signs of his footprints leading to the water and a rowboat drifted in the reeds.
A rundown farm and the office of Sheriff Nielsen in Texas, with the investigation leading to Born's Lake. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Nielsen, Mrs. Ethel Hadley, Roscoe Crider, Sam White, Ruthie
Listen for: The tense family conflict over money and Sam White's influence on the elderly Roscoe, followed by the discovery of abandoned items at the lake that suggest foul play or suicide.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Broken Spur (1950)
When a rancher named Milton Thomas is found dead in a fire at his remote Texas home, the autopsy reveals he was already dead before the flames started. Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate what appears to be murder disguised as accident. Among the burned ruins, he discovers a broken spur and evidence of a hasty escape on horseback.
A small ranch 10 miles south of Cranston, Erwin County, Texas, in June 1948 · Ranger Jason Pearson, Milton Thomas, Sheriff, Jack
Listen for: The discovery of the broken spur at the crime scene and the ranger's deduction about the killer from the footprints and horse tracks he finds at the escape point.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Cactus Pear (1950)
Ranch hand Robert Coots is found shot dead on the Triangle Ranch on March 28, 1947. Texas Ranger Jase Pearson investigates the killing and discovers evidence suggesting the killer arrived on horseback, had a fistfight with Coots before shooting him with a shotgun, and deliberately obscured his trail. Ranger Pearson works to track down the weapon and identify the killer's horse.
The Triangle Ranch in Texas, March 1947 · Ranger Jase Pearson, Robert Coots, Mr. Gault, Sheriff, Audi Brake, Ed the blacksmith
Listen for: Ranger Pearson's careful detective work as he reconstructs the crime scene, analyzes hoof prints and shotgun wounds, and pursues leads through the town blacksmith and ranch owner interviews.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Dead Give-Away (1951)
On the night of December 4th, 1945, a young woman calls the sheriff from her farmhouse near Ashton, West Texas, reporting someone prowling outside trying to break in. When the sheriff arrives, he finds Mrs. Deneen and her four-month-old baby dead from gunshot wounds. Ranger Jason Pearson is called to investigate what appears to be a senseless killing with no clear motive or sign of robbery.
A farmhouse four miles from the town of Ashton in West Texas, December 4th, 1945, in the early morning hours. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Ross, Mrs. Deneen, Mr. Deneen, Ted Mullen
Listen for: Pearson and the sheriff discover a suspicious piece of bailing wire shaped like a key near the broken side door, but when tested it proves too weak to turn the lock, suggesting the killer had a real key. They track footprints westward from the house to an old wagon road where they find fresh tire tracks, indicating the killer used a car for escape.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Devil's Share (1950)
Frank Wellen, a dirt farmer, is found dead in his kitchen on the evening of October 26, 1939. Texas Ranger Jason Pearson arrives to investigate the murder, which occurred around dinnertime. As Pearson questions Frank's brother Jeff and his fiancée Marjan, a dispute over money between Frank and Uncle Joe—a man who works the farm on shares—emerges as a possible motive.
A dirt farm in Texas, October 26, 1939. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Frank Wellen, Jeff Wellen, Marjan Galks, Uncle Joe, Belle, Sheriff
Listen for: The tense confrontation between brothers over a woman and money, and Ranger Pearson's methodical questioning of witnesses at the crime scene.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Hatchet (1951)
When English teacher Mr. Driscoll is found murdered in his home on Sunday morning in Rock Point, Texas, Texas Ranger Pearson arrives to investigate. The Halleck family discovered the body while preparing for church, and Ranger Pearson must piece together what happened the night before, including a mysterious intruder spotted on Rancher Finney's property around 11 o'clock.
Rock Point, Texas, Sunday May 16, 1941. The Halleck home and neighboring properties. · Ranger Pearson, Jim Halleck, Hattie Halleck, Robert Halleck, Sheriff Albin Jeffers, Mr. Driscoll, Rancher Finney, Gene McCrady
Listen for: Details about Robert's late-night activities and the mysterious intruder spotted on Finney's ranch; the investigation into Driscoll's murder and the search for a weapon.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Ice Man (1952)
On September 17, 1948, a burglar strikes a farmhouse nine miles from town, stealing over $80 and leaving a distinctive calling card. Texas Ranger Jase Person arrives to investigate what appears to be the work of a criminal known as the Ice Man, a serial burglar who operates in a predictable pattern and always hits two nights in a row on opposite sides of town. Following the thief's trail, Jase and the sheriff track footprints leading southeast from the farmhouse toward the highway, searching for clues to the burglar's identity and destination.
A farmhouse nine miles outside town in Texas, September 1948, and the surrounding fields and highways. · Ranger Jase Person, Sheriff, Mrs. Dryer, Mr. Dryer, Cap Stinson
Listen for: Details about the Ice Man's methods, including his use of an ice pick to breach doors, his habit of eating from the family's icebox before robbing, his preference for gloves and snuff, and his pattern of striking twice in the same area on consecutive nights.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Lucky Dollar (1950)
On a sweltering August night in 1945, a burglar breaks into Joe Barry's store near Corpus Christi, steals the day's receipts and a lucky dollar bill, and fatally wounds Barry's wife Clara. Ranger Jason finds a crucial clue: a torn corner of the stolen lucky dollar stuck under adhesive tape on the register. When the mutilated bill surfaces at a local bank days later, the investigation turns toward a man named Ramos.
A small South Texas town near Corpus Christi, August 1945 · Ranger Jason, Joe Barry, Clara Barry, Sheriff Jennings, Captain Stinson, Jim Mofft, Ramos
Listen for: The burglar's distinctive whispering voice that Joe Barry remembers; the detail of the torn corner of the lucky dollar bill that provides the critical clue to tracking the thief.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Open Range (1950)
When cattleman Maury Buckland is shot and killed by rustlers stealing cattle from his ranch, Texas Ranger Pearson takes the case. With only a cigarette butt and matchbook left behind, Pearson deduces the killer is left-handed and sets out to find the stolen cattle, which hold the key to solving the murder.
Texas ranch country and Camp Hood, August 1948 · Ranger J.S. Pearson, Maury Buckland, Dave Buckland, Sheriff Clyde Johnson, Bud Kurtz, Pete
Listen for: The detective work as Pearson pieces together clues from cigarette butts and matchbooks; the radio dispatch coordinating with commission houses; the search across Camp Hood's open range.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Rub Out (1952)
At a border town boxing match, young fighter Johnny Buck collapses during his bout and is rushed to the hospital, where doctors suspect he may have been poisoned. His manager Mike Morales, who was absent from the fight despite being Buck's corner man, becomes the prime suspect when Buck dies. Rangers investigate Morales's disappearance and his troubled relationship with his sister Nina, who has been secretly seeing Johnny Buck.
A border town featuring a boxing arena and hospital, with a dressing room and waiting room · Johnny Buck, Mike Morales, Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Haines, Nina Morales, Slim Corey, Chico Valdez, Doc Signlon
Listen for: The revelation of why Mike Morales disappeared from the fight and what happened between him and Johnny Buck the night before
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Trap (1951)
Two truck drivers, Warren Grover and Luther Sims, are found dead near a remote detour road, their cargo missing. Ranger Jason Pearson investigates the scene, discovering clues that suggest the hijacking was carefully planned with inside knowledge of the truck's route and timing.
A dead-end road near Landon's Creek and a detour off the main highway in Texas, at night · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Archer, Warren Grover, Luther Sims
Listen for: The ranger's methodical examination of the crime scene and his theory about how the hijackers used a fake detour to trap the truck
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Trigger Man (1950)
Two dangerous fugitives, the Gordon brothers, are fleeing south toward the Mexican border after robbing and murdering a service station attendant in Oklahoma. When a deputy sheriff and his teenage son are shot near Mineral Wells, Texas, Ranger Jase Pearson is sent to investigate and track down the killers before they escape across the border.
Texas and Oklahoma, 1947. The action moves from a service station in Pied, Oklahoma to a hospital in Palo Pinto County, Texas, with a shooting incident in a mulberry grove near Mineral Wells. · Ranger Jase Pearson, Captain Stinson, Jasper Leech, Joe Gordon, Tiny Gordon, Deputy Sheriff, Deputy's son, Doctor
Listen for: The deputy's account of the ambush in the mulberry grove where he and his son were shot by the Gordon brothers; Ranger Pearson's determination to catch the fugitives before they reach Mexico.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The Wheelchair Killing (1951)
When an elderly, wheelchair-bound man named Swain is found beaten to death in his isolated home near Colby, Texas, a phone call alerts the sheriff to the crime. Texas Ranger Jase Pearson joins the investigation and discovers that the murder weapon was a sock filled with sand, bearing the markings of Army-issue equipment. The evidence points toward someone from the nearby CCC camp, and Ranger Pearson and Sheriff Saunders prepare to investigate the camp to find their suspect.
Colby, Texas, near the Great Piney Woods, including Swain's isolated home, the sheriff's office, a funeral home, and a nearby CCC camp. · Ranger Jase Pearson, Sheriff Pete Saunders, Sheriff's Deputy, Old man Swain, Deputy Rag, Doc, Lab technician
Listen for: The discovery of the murder weapon—a sock filled with sand—and the crucial detail that it bears Army-issue markings, which leads the investigators toward the CCC camp.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The White Elephant (1950)
A dead man is found in a parked car with Oklahoma license plates on a West Texas road, bearing no identification and with his pockets cleaned out. Ranger Pearson investigates gasoline receipts found in the car and follows a trail of evidence that leads to a hobo who jumped from a freight train after slugging the brakeman, eventually tracking the suspect on foot across the countryside.
West Texas, 1950; a freight train, a parked coupe on a roadside, and the surrounding countryside · Ranger Pearson, Sheriff Caldwell, Banker, Brakeman, Hobo
Listen for: The clever detective work piecing together clues: the grease sample, fingerprints, gasoline receipts under the sun visor, and the tracking of footprints that reveal the suspect favoring his left leg from a jump off the moving train.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The White Elephant (1951)
A hobo is found dead in a freight car outside a West Texas town on January 16th, 1950. Texas Ranger Jason Pearson and Sheriff Caldwell investigate the mysterious circumstances, discovering footprints, grease smears, and gasoline receipts at the scene. The rangers track a suspect across the desert, following evidence of an injured leg and worn shoe heels.
West Texas, January 16th 1950. A freight train, a gondola car, the desert, and Sheriff Caldwell's office. · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff Caldwell, A brakeman, A hobo suspect
Listen for: The clever detective work as Rangers follow physical evidence—footprints, grease samples, fingerprints, and worn shoe heels—to track down their suspect across the harsh Texas landscape.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: The White Suit (1950)
Notorious gunman John Elliot Bascom escapes from the Livo County Jail early on the morning of June 23rd, 1947, after overpowering the deputy on duty. Texas Ranger Jase Pearson arrives to investigate and quickly learns that Bascom has stolen a red pickup truck from a farmer along Route 7. The ranger and Sheriff Olson pursue him through the countryside as Bascom abandons the truck in Big Wash and heads into rough, broken terrain on foot.
Livo County, Texas, including the county jail, sheriff's office, Route 7, Two Mile Bridge, and Big Wash · Joel McCray, Ranger Jase Pearson, Sheriff Chris Olson, Ranger Harris, John Elliot Bascom, Deputy George Keaton, Uncle Ben, Bob McDougal
Listen for: The search intensifies as the rangers track the escaped prisoner through the Texas countryside, using walkie-talkies and coordination with local law enforcement to close off escape routes.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Three Victims (1952)
On a Saturday afternoon in August 1935, a young couple discovers three shooting victims on a rural Texas road: a man and woman dead in their car, and a wounded teenage boy named Henry Elman. A Black man named Joe Cartwright is found near the scene, and Texas Rangers bring him in for questioning as suspicion falls upon him.
Rural Texas, 18 miles south of Horton, August 1935. A hilly section of Texas countryside and the sheriff's office in town. · Henry Elman, Joe Cartwright, Jim Duncan, Alice Duncan, Ranger Jay Spierson, Sheriff, Young couple on horseback
Listen for: The Rangers' investigation into the shooting, Joe Cartwright's interrogation and contradictory statements, the discovery of blood on his sleeve, and the promise that Henry Elman may provide crucial identification.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Travesty (1952)
Phil Clampett reports to Captain Stinson that a tire was stolen from his car near Corona while he stopped at a roadside diner. When Clampett contacts the sheriff about his earlier report to a deputy, he receives a letter denying any such report was ever filed. Ranger Pearson is assigned to investigate this suspicious discrepancy between Clampett's account and the sheriff's denial.
Texas Rangers headquarters and the Corona County area of Texas, February 1951 · Captain Stinson, Phil Clampett, Sheriff Halstead, Jerry Matthews, Ranger Chase Pearson
Listen for: The investigation into whether a deputy sheriff deliberately failed to file a theft report, and tensions that arise when the accused deputy learns he is under suspicion.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Troop Train (1952)
Two soldiers desert from a troop train in the Texas darkness. One wants to see his sick mother, the other has other plans. When a rancher is brutally beaten while his car is being stolen, Texas Rangers must track down the escaped soldiers before they disappear into the landscape.
East of Humboldt, Texas and surrounding areas in 1952; a troop train, Mather's ranch, and the town of Pinker · Ranger Jason Pearson, Ranger Morgan, PFC Dorsey, Leo Benson, Mr. Mather
Listen for: The tensions between the two deserters as their escape plan goes wrong, and the Rangers' methodical investigation using Army records and physical evidence to track the soldiers.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Uncertain Death (1952)
Two elderly men hear gunshots and a woman's cry at a remote lake near Cambridge, Texas. A woman's handbag is recovered from the water bearing the name Lucy Regan, a kindergarten teacher. Ranger Pearson investigates whether Lucy was murdered, questioning her last known companion, cowhand Ken Bowman, who admits driving a black four-door sedan and being with her the previous evening.
East Texas near Cambridge, at a lake and nearby ranch · Ranger Jason Pearson, Sheriff, George, Ollie, Lucy Regan, Ken Bowman
Listen for: The ranger's investigation into the mysterious shooting and the discovery of Lucy Regan's handbag in the water
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Unleashed Fury (1952)
Texas Rangers Jason Pearson and Clay Morgan search for Charlie Brock, a dangerous escaped mental patient who murdered his parents years ago. After breaking out of the state hospital's isolation room using an ingenious method with string and scouring powder, Brock flees into the countryside near Houston, and the Rangers must track him down before he strikes again.
Texas countryside near Houston, April 1938; state hospital isolation room · Ranger Jason Pearson, Ranger Clay Morgan, Charlie Brock, Ralph, Jenny (or Doris), Dr. Gallis
Listen for: The details of Charlie Brock's escape method using string coated with wax and scouring powder to saw through the bars of his isolation window; the Rangers' pursuit across brush and creek beds.
Tales of the Texas Rangers: Wild Crop (1951)
Pete Jennings, a ranch hand courting Mary Adams, is found beaten to death near Burrowville, West Texas on a Saturday night in October 1947. Ranger Jase Pearson investigates the murder, discovering evidence of a brutal fight in a small clearing and signs that two people were involved in the struggle.
A ranch near Burrowville, West Texas in October 1947 · Ranger Jase Pearson, Sheriff, Pete Jennings, Mary Adams, Bud Adams, Buzz
Listen for: The ranger's careful examination of the crime scene, including the pattern of disturbed leaves and blood evidence that reveals two men were involved in the fight.
The Six Shooter: 25 episode guides
The Six Shooter: A Pressing Engagement (1953)
Britt Ponson, a drifting plainsman, arrives in Powder Creek to find the whole town convinced he's getting married. The rumor has spread throughout the community, and everyone congratulates him on his engagement, though he has no idea who he's supposed to be marrying or how this misunderstanding started. Britt tracks down the source of the rumor and confronts Minnie Flint to learn the truth behind the false announcement.
Powder Creek, a small town in the Western Territories, on a warm October day · Britt Ponson, Quint Todd, Minnie Flint, Helen Reister, Fred, Johnnie
Listen for: The mystery of how and why a completely false engagement rumor spreads through town, and what Minnie Flint's actual motives are for starting it
The Six Shooter: Anna Norquist (1954)
A Swedish woman named Anna Norquist arrives by train in a small Western town to marry Peter Calgren, a man she has been corresponding with for two years who promised to send her money to come to America. She encounters Brit Ponson, the Six-Shooter, and learns that Peter has been arrested for murdering a man named Seth Quincy and is scheduled to be hanged the following Monday. Anna must grapple with the shock that her intended husband is accused of a serious crime.
A small Western town in the territories, around the railroad depot and main street, in the early morning after a murder · Brit Ponson (the Six-Shooter), Anna Norquist, Peter Calgren, Marshall Burke, Seth Quincy, Mrs. Henderson, Clyde Henderson, Willie
Listen for: The revelation that Peter Calgren, the man Anna came to marry, is in jail awaiting execution for murder, and Brit's growing suspicion that something may not be as straightforward as it seems
The Six Shooter: Apron Faced Sorrel (1954)
Sixteen-year-old Clay arrives by train at Rustville Station to spend the summer on a ranch in the western territories. Britt Ponson, a local rancher and gunfighter, meets Clay at the station and brings him to Mr. Poindexter's spread, where Clay will work alongside Britt and Poindexter's son Jeff, learning the ways of ranch life for the first time.
A ranch near Rustville Station in the western territories, 1954. The story begins at the train station and moves to Mr. Poindexter's 500-acre cattle ranch. · Britt Ponson, Clay, Mr. Poindexter, Jeff Poindexter
Listen for: A city boy's first encounters with ranch work and western life; the relationship between young Clay and the experienced gunfighter Britt Ponson, who knew Clay's mother years ago in Dakota.
The Six Shooter: Aunt Emma (1954)
Britt Ponce returns to Powder Creek after three months working cattle and finds a letter waiting from his aunt Emma, who has decided to move to town and settle down to keep house for him. When Britt visits the general store, Ethan Green River informs him that Emma has already arrived and is preparing a room for him in her new house, expecting him to live with her.
Powder Creek, a town in the Western territories, including Ethan Green River's general store and Emma's new house · Britt Ponce, Ethan Green River, Aunt Emma
Listen for: Britt's reaction to his aunt's unexpected arrival and her plans for him to settle down, and how he navigates this challenge to his wandering lifestyle.
The Six Shooter: Battle At Tower Rock (1954)
Brit arrives in Tower Rock for the county fair and discovers the town deeply divided. A rivalry between two sisters, Thelma and Bessie, has escalated from a dispute over birthday gifts into a bitter feud that has split the entire community in half, with families taking sides and social groups fracturing.
Tower Rock, a Western town hosting a county fair on August 20th, with the action centered around the hotel, the Whitford Bank, and the homes of the feuding families. · Brit (The Six-Shooter), Rome Madden, Kermit Bingham, Bessie Madden, Thelma Bingham, The Judge, The Undertaker
Listen for: The details of how a simple gift-giving competition between sisters has torn apart an entire town's social fabric, and what role Brit will play as he becomes drawn into the conflict.
The Six Shooter: Ben Scofield (1953)
Britt Ponsett, a drifting gunslinger known as the Six-Shooter, arrives in Clay City to shoe his horse and learns that the Wells Fargo office was robbed the night before, with one man dead and another gravely wounded. Hoof prints at the scene match those of a horse belonging to Sheriff Scofield's son Ben, who left town two days earlier. Ponsett and the reluctant sheriff follow a blood trail into the desert, where they surround a cabin harboring a young, wounded fugitive.
Clay City and the surrounding territories of the American West, with a robbery at the Wells Fargo office and a pursuit into the desert · Britt Ponsett (the Six-Shooter), Sheriff Ed Scofield, Heavy Norton (blacksmith), Fred Wilmer (wounded robbery victim), Ben Scofield (sheriff's son), Doc Heddy, the young fugitive
Listen for: The dramatic tension between Ponsett and Sheriff Scofield as the evidence points toward the sheriff's own son; Ponsett's patient tracking skills and psychological understanding of human nature; the confrontation at the cabin in the moonlight
The Six Shooter: Britt Ponsett's Christmas Carol (1953)
A boy running away from home on Christmas Eve meets a stranger by a campfire who tells him a story about a miserly man named Ebbon who despises Christmas. When Ebbon refuses his nephew's dinner invitation and orders his foreman to tear down a cabin sheltering a sick child, the ghost of his dead partner Jake appears to him, burdened with chains of greed, warning him of consequences to come.
A campfire in the Texas territories on Christmas Eve; a hotel room in town where Ebbon lives · Britt Ponsett, Johnny, Ebbon (Evan), Johnny's nephew, Quorum the foreman, Jake (ghost)
Listen for: A western adaptation of A Christmas Carol with Ebbon as the miserly protagonist confronted by the ghost of his former partner Jake
The Six Shooter: Capture Of Stacy Gault (1953)
Britt Ponset stops in the town of Elk Point, where he finds it eerily quiet and learns that an outlaw named Stacy Gault has been robbing banks in the territory. A local posse led by Ed Scott has formed to capture Gault, who was last seen riding through the canyons nearby. With most of the town's able-bodied men out hunting the criminal, Sadie Benson hopes Britt will stay for supper and perhaps help defend the town if needed.
The town of Elk Point and surrounding territory in the American West, late afternoon. · Britt Ponset, Sadie Benson, Stacy Gault, Ed Scott, Sheriff Henry, Marshall Andrews
Listen for: Sadie Benson's description of the bandit Stacy Gault and his recent crimes; the details of Ed Scott's posse and the $10,000 reward being offered.
The Six Shooter: Cheyenne Express (1954)
Britt Ponset, the Six Shooter, discovers a recently extinguished campfire on the trail and investigates. He encounters a desperate man named Wilbur English who mistakes him for someone called Russ and opens fire. After a tense gunfight, Ponset wounds English and learns the truth about his identity and his fear of being hunted by Russ Winter.
A dark canyon trail in the Western territories, near Yellow Mason, with an abandoned campsite. · Britt Ponset, Wilbur English, Floyd Winters, Russ Winter
Listen for: A tense nighttime confrontation between two strangers on the trail, a case of mistaken identity, and the revelation of a man fleeing for his life.
The Six Shooter: Crisis At Easter Creek (1954)
In the town of Easter Creek, the community faces a crisis: their old organ has broken down just days before Easter services, and they need fifty-two dollars to purchase a replacement from a neighboring town. Reverend Broome convinces Rick Ponson, a newcomer to the congregation, to lead a fundraising campaign, though Rick protests he cannot accomplish the task. Rick sets out to raise the money before Easter arrives.
The town of Easter Creek, where the community holds services in the mercantile while saving to build a proper church. · Rick Ponson, Reverend Broome, Mrs. Peoples, Mr. Farley, Mrs. Applefield
Listen for: Rick's reluctant efforts to raise fifty-two dollars for a new organ; the townspeople's determination to have music for their Easter service.
The Six Shooter: Double Seven (1954)
Britt Ponset, a wandering Texas gunman, arrives in a frontier town and encounters his old acquaintance Gid, who runs the Double Seven ranch. Gid is facing cattle rustling problems and has hired the fast-gun Clint Sutton to protect his interests, but Britt expresses concern about bringing in such a volatile man. After coffee and conversation at Christy's cafe, Britt encounters an old friend named Farron who hints at mounting tensions between the large ranches and struggling small farmers in the area.
A frontier town and the Double Seven ranch in the Western territories, near Santa Fe. · Britt Ponset, Gid, Christy, Clint Sutton, Farron, Terry Waddell, Fred Gover
Listen for: The developing conflict between large and small ranches, Gid's decision to hire the gunslinger Clint Sutton, and hints of cattle rustling and violence to come.
The Six Shooter: Duel At Lockwood (1954)
Wes Singer, a young gunfighter new to Lockwood, has killed two men in quick succession and proven himself faster than anyone the town has seen. When word reaches him that Brit Ponchets, a notorious six-shooter, is staying at the Lockwood hotel, Singer publicly announces he'll be in town at four o'clock that afternoon to confront him. As the townspeople prepare for the inevitable showdown, Sheriff Hittleman watches with concern, having already warned Singer about starting trouble.
Lockwood, a town in the Western territories, including a newspaper office, a ranch, and various town locations in the 1880s frontier era. · Wes Singer, Brit Ponchets, Sheriff Hittleman, Pete Drum, Granny, Wyatt Barker, Todd Apple, Rex Jeffers
Listen for: The build-up to a gunfight between young Wes Singer and the experienced gunfighter Brit Ponchets, with Sheriff Hittleman trying to maintain order as the confrontation approaches.
The Six Shooter: Escape From Smoke Falls (1953)
Britt Ponset arrives in Smoke Falls for a charity box supper auction, where a rivalry erupts between two men bidding for a meal with the pretty Ellen Proudly. Before the evening ends, a prisoner named Dean Paul escapes from jail and shoots the local sheriff, leaving the wounded lawman asking for Britt by name.
Smoke Falls, a small western town where a charity box supper auction is taking place at a local residence. · Britt Ponset, Ellen Proudly, Miss Proudly, Spud Hookers, Tom, Dean Paul, Sheriff Tinsmith, Doc Poster
Listen for: The confrontation between the two rivals over Ellen's box supper, the sudden jail break and shooting, and why the wounded sheriff specifically requests to see Britt Ponset.
The Six Shooter: Gabriel Starbuck (1953)
Britt Ponson, the Six-Shooter, arrives in Yellowcrest for a haircut and encounters his old friend Elf Crandall at the barber shop. Britt learns that the town has grown to nearly 700 people and now has a bank, and that the townspeople have decided they need a younger sheriff to replace the aging Gabriel Starbuck, who has served the town for forty years. The barber pressures Britt to help break the news to Gabe, though Britt resists getting involved in the uncomfortable situation.
Yellowcrest, a growing Western town with a barber shop and sheriff's office · Britt Ponson (the Six-Shooter), Gabriel Starbuck (the sheriff), Elf Crandall, Breezy (the barber), Al (townsperson)
Listen for: The tension between the town's progress and loyalty to an aging lawman who built the town, and hints of trouble brewing as Britt heads to confront Gabe about his forced retirement
The Six Shooter: General Guilford's Widow (1954)
Brit Ponset, a drifter on horseback, stops at a remote ranch for directions and water. He meets Hannah Gilford, the wife of General Gilford, who insists her husband is still alive despite the fact that he and his cavalry regiment were wiped out five years ago. The townspeople believe Hannah has lost her mind and refuses to accept her husband's death, but Ponset begins to wonder what really happened to the general.
A remote ranch in a dry region of the state, and the nearby town where supplies are obtained. · Brit Ponset, Hannah Gilford, Mr. Trailer, General Gilford
Listen for: The mystery of General Gilford's fate and whether Hannah Gilford truly believes he is alive or knows something others don't.
The Six Shooter: Helen Bricker (1954)
Britt Ponsett returns to Yellow Crest after months on the range and discovers that Helen Bricker, a woman from his past, has returned to town as the wife of Billy Stark, a man recently arrested and imprisoned at Fort Bryan. The townspeople shun her for her association with Stark, and Britt finds himself caught between old acquaintance and community disapproval.
Yellow Crest, a small town in the western territories, primarily at the general store and surrounding streets. · Britt Ponsett, Helen Bricker, Jim (postmaster), Sheriff Ritter, Pete (deputy), Billy Stark, Tim Slater
Listen for: The tension between Britt's personal connection to Helen and the town's harsh judgment of her; revelations about Billy Stark's arrest and imprisonment; Tim Slater's urgent arrival with news.
The Six Shooter: Johnny Springer (1954)
Britt Ponson, the Six Shooter, hears a shot in the night and discovers that Sid Tucker, the hotel clerk, has been shot during a robbery. Sheriff Sam suspects the outlaw Johnny Springer, known for his deadly reputation. Britt and the sheriff set out to track down the killer, following the trail of the stolen money box eastward from town.
A hotel and the surrounding western territory at night and into the following morning. · Britt Ponson, Sheriff Sam, Sid Tucker, Doc France, Johnny Springer
Listen for: The mystery of whether Johnny Springer is truly the shooter, and the pursuit across the desert landscape as Britt and the sheriff follow the trail of the stolen money.
The Six Shooter: Johnny Stringer (1954)
The night clerk at a hotel, Sid Tucker, is shot and robbed during what appears to be a holdup. The only clue is Sid's identification of his attacker as Johnny Stringer, a young and deadly outlaw. Britt and Sheriff Sam set out to track down Stringer, following his trail eastward from town after discovering the discarded money box along the way.
A western town hotel and the surrounding territory, late at night and into the following day · Britt, Sheriff Sam, Sid Tucker, Doc France, Johnny Stringer
Listen for: The shooting and robbery at the hotel; Sid's identification of Johnny Stringer as his assailant; the discovery of the empty money box on the trail
The Six Shooter: More Than Kin (1953)
Britt Ponset arrives in Virtue City, a mining town experiencing a new silver strike boom, to pick up supplies. At the hotel, he encounters an old acquaintance, Arch, who has reinvented himself as a theatrical impresario named Archibald Plunkette, now married to Maggie and performing dramatic productions. When the audience at their show becomes dissatisfied, Arch and Maggie face a crisis that forces them to make difficult decisions about their newfound theatrical venture.
Virtue City, a mining town in the Western territories experiencing a silver mining boom, inside a hotel and theater · Britt Ponset, Arch/Archibald Plunkette, Maggie/Madame de la Seine
Listen for: The reunion between old acquaintances taking unexpected turns as Arch and Maggie's theatrical ambitions collide with harsh reality; Britt's observations about their transformation and reinvention
The Six Shooter: Quiet City (1954)
The Sick Shooter rides into Quiet City and reconnects with Sheriff Poggibyre, finding the town transformed from a small frontier settlement into a growing community with schools, churches, and a railroad. The sheriff's son Buzz, now educated and ambitious, has decided to leave town to study law back east rather than follow his father's path, creating tension between the old lawman and the new generation who believe the frontier days are finished.
Quiet City in the Western Territories, primarily the sheriff's office on the main street · Britt Ponsett (the Sick Shooter), Sheriff Poggibyre, Buzz Poggibyre
Listen for: The conflict between frontier justice and modern civilization, as an aging sheriff struggles with his son's rejection of the lawman's life in favor of becoming a lawyer.
The Six Shooter: Revenge At Harness Creek (1954)
The Six Shooter arrives in town early for a cattle drive and stays with the Hardcourt family. Young Lex Hardcourt, eager to prove himself grown, quarrels with his older brother Cash about joining the Silver Spur drive. That night, someone is shot at Luke's gambling hall, and Cash emerges grim-faced from the scene.
A Western town with the Hardcourt family home and Luke's gambling hall, during the preparation for a cattle drive to New Mexico. · The Six Shooter (Britt), Cash Hardcourt, Lex Hardcourt, Mrs. Patriot, Hannah Joseph, Luke
Listen for: The tension between brothers as Lex defies Cash's authority, and the mystery of who was shot at Luke's gambling hall.
The Six Shooter: Sheriff Billy (1953)
Britt Ponset rides into the drought-stricken town of Dawson to take a job at Dave Engleman's ranch. He finds the jail has been newly renovated by the town's young new sheriff, Billy Riddle, who took the position after the previous sheriff Saul Gordon was killed. Billy asks Britt to join him for dinner and reveals he is searching for his estranged father, Blake Riddle, whom he has never met.
The town of Dawson in the western territories, including the jail and a local café, on a Sunday afternoon during a drought. · Britt Ponset, Sheriff Billy Riddle, Milt, Dave Engleman
Listen for: The mystery of Sheriff Billy's missing father and Britt's reaction to the young lawman's personal quest.
The Six Shooter: Shooting Of Wyatt King (1954)
Brett Ponset, a skilled gunslinger known as the Six Shooter, arrives in Copper Springs just as the outlaw Wyatt King is brought in wounded. The townspeople assume Ponset shot King, but Ponset denies any involvement. When King regains consciousness, he insists that Ponset is the one who shot him, leaving Ponset bewildered and determined to discover the truth.
Copper Springs, a town in the Western territories, and surrounding areas including Tenderfoot Creek. · Brett Ponset (the Six Shooter), Wyatt King (the Wyoming Kid), Sheriff Hampton, Dr. McIntyre, Jonas, Ollie, Mayor
Listen for: The mystery of who really shot Wyatt King and why the outlaw falsely identifies Ponset as his shooter.
The Six Shooter: Thicker Than Water (1954)
A drifter named Gus Proctor arrives in Clover Fork after years of wandering, hoping to reunite with his wife Janet and young son Ted. A stranger tells him that Janet died of pneumonia over a year ago and that Ted now lives with Janet's sister Amy, who has taken over Janet's dressmaking business. Gus decides to visit the boy he hasn't seen in years.
A cabin near Clover Fork and the town of Clover Fork, in the western territories · Gus Proctor, Amy, Ted Proctor, Fred Baker, Mrs. Peters, Brit
Listen for: The reunion between Gus and his family, and how young Ted reacts to discovering his father is alive after being told he was dead.
The Six Shooter: Trail To Sunset (1954)
The Sick Shooter finds a wounded man in the snow high in the mountains. The stranger reveals he's a wanted outlaw with a price on his head who shot a stagecoach driver during a holdup, and he's desperate because his horse went lame and a posse is after him. Britt must decide whether to turn him in for the reward or help him reach a doctor.
A snowy mountainside near Sunset, in the western territories. · Britt Ponset (The Sick Shooter), The wounded outlaw, Scar (Britt's horse)
Listen for: The tense gunfight on the hillside and the moral dilemma that follows when Britt discovers his wounded opponent's true identity.