Claustrophobia: Gunsmoke (June 26, 1954)

“Claustrophobia” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast June 26, 1954. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Marshal Matt Dolan and his deputy Chester discover a dead man named Riley in an abandoned cabin. While investigating, they encounter two suspicious men, Giles and Deaver, who seem to know more about Riley's death than they should. Dolan suspects the pair of murder but lacks proof, and must escort an eccentric hog farmer named Obi-Ridges to Dodge City.

The Kansas frontier, including a remote cabin, the surrounding prairie, and the trail to Dodge City.

Characters: Matt Dolan, Chester Crawford, Obi-Ridges, Giles, Deaver, Jim Branch, Riley

Listen for: The tense confrontation between Dolan and the two suspicious riders, and Obi-Ridges' unusual lifestyle living outdoors with his hogs.

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.