Second Son: Gunsmoke (January 12, 1958)

“Second Son” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast January 12, 1958. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Marshal Matt Dillon encounters a well-spoken British man named Sedgley Carstairs who has lost his horse in a poker game to Pete Newsom and walks into Dodge City hoping to win it back. As Matt gives him a ride into town, he tells Carstairs a tall tale about Joe Masurak, a legendary steel worker, while Chester and Doc discuss what a British second son is and wonder what Carstairs is doing in America.

Dodge City and the surrounding territory in the American West, with scenes in town including a saloon and Doc's office.

Characters: Matt Dillon, Sedgley Carstairs, Chester, Doc, Pete Newsom, Sam

Listen for: Matt's tall tale about the legendary Joe Masurak and his incredible feats in the steel industry; Chester's suspicious commentary about Carstairs and British second sons; discussion of why British second sons come to America.

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.