Chester's Mistake: Gunsmoke (April 12, 1959)

“Chester's Mistake” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast April 12, 1959. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Chester returns to Dodge City from visiting his family in the panhandle, but embarrassingly forgets to pick up important papers from Doll Heart that Marshal Dillon had asked him to retrieve. When Joe Fries volunteers to get them on his way through, Chester becomes mortified as the news spreads around town, and he struggles with the shame of his mistake.

Dodge City and the surrounding territory, including the Marshal's office, saloon, and town streets

Characters: Matt Dillon, Chester, Joe Fries, Sam (bartender), Doc

Listen for: Chester's repeated apologies and offers to make up for his mistake, the townspeople's gentle ribbing about his forgetfulness, and his growing embarrassment as word of the incident spreads

Written from the episode itself; it 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.