The Coward: Gunsmoke (October 9, 1955)

“The Coward” is an episode of Gunsmoke, the old-time radio show, first broadcast October 9, 1955. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Marshal Matt Dillon finds a cowboy named Jack Massey shot dead in Doc Adams' office, sitting in Chester's chair and wearing a hat like Matt's. Doc believes the killer mistook Massey for Matt, and someone has been threatening to shoot the marshal. Matt learns that Eby, a man he once exposed as a coward, has been in town for several days and may be behind the attempt on his life.

Dodge City in the 1870s, including Doc Adams' office, the Long Branch saloon, and the streets of town

Characters: Matt Dillon, Chester, Doc Adams, Jack Massey, Kitty, Eby

Listen for: The tension as Matt pieces together clues about who wants him dead, and his growing anger at the cowardly method of shooting someone in the back rather than facing them directly

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.