Groat's Grudge: Gunsmoke (February 8, 1959)

“Groat's Grudge” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast February 8, 1959. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

A mysterious stranger named Janssen Groat arrives in Dodge City and begins making unusual preparations: he has a gunsmith repair an old Confederate Navy Colt pistol, orders a military coffin from the storekeeper, and arranges for a preacher to conduct a burial service. Marshal Dillon learns that Groat intends to use the restored gun to settle an old score, raising questions about who will need burying.

Dodge City, Kansas - the Long Branch Saloon, gun shop, general store, and Dodge House

Characters: Marshal Matt Dillon, Kitty, Chester, Janssen Groat, Gunsmith, Storekeeper Schrugg, Jonas

Listen for: References to the Civil War, a Confederate pistol, an old grudge that Groat means to settle, and the mysterious identity of the person for whom Groat is arranging the funeral.

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.